Chapter 6 of the Class 12 History NCERT book is titled Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts. This chapter takes us through a very crucial phase in Indian history when religious practices and ideas were transforming. It talks about how different religious traditions like Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and the Bhakti movement evolved. The chapter also focuses on devotional literature, like Tamil hymns and Sanskrit texts, and how people from different backgrounds started expressing their devotion in local languages.
I chose to write about this topic because religion is not just about rituals—it deeply affects how people think, behave, and connect with others. Through this chapter, students learn how religion in India changed from complex Vedic sacrifices to personal devotion. I believe it’s important to understand that change doesn’t happen suddenly; it’s often driven by ordinary people, poets, saints, and even political rulers. This chapter helps us see religion as a living and evolving force in Indian society. For students preparing for boards or competitive exams, this chapter offers real examples of how belief systems shaped and reshaped communities and cultures over centuries.
Key Shifts in Religious Ideas and Practices
The chapter mainly focuses on the period between 6th century BCE to 13th century CE, which saw big changes in religious life in India. Earlier rituals and sacrifices gave way to more personal devotion or bhakti, which became the core of many religious movements.
Major Developments Highlighted in the Chapter
- Decline of Vedic Rituals: Expensive and complicated sacrifices of the Vedic age started losing popularity. People began seeking simpler spiritual paths.
- Rise of Buddhism and Jainism: These religions focused on ethical living, non-violence, and personal effort. They rejected caste barriers and appealed to traders and common people.
- Growth of Puranic Hinduism: Gods like Shiva, Vishnu, and Devi became central. Stories of their greatness were written in Puranas and made accessible to common people.
- Bhakti Movement: Devotion became personal. Saints like Alvars and Nayanars in the South sang in local languages. Later, in the North, saints like Kabir, Mirabai, and Surdas followed the same path.
- Temple Worship: Temples became social and religious hubs. Kings built grand temples as a symbol of power and devotion.
Role of Devotional Texts in Spreading Religion
One big theme of this chapter is how religion spread not just through temples or kings but through words—songs, poems, and stories.
Examples of Important Devotional Texts
- Alvar and Nayanar Hymns: Composed in Tamil, these songs were emotional expressions of love towards Vishnu and Shiva.
- Bhagavata Purana: This Sanskrit text spread the idea of loving devotion towards Krishna.
- The Tevaram and Tiruvaymoli: These were collected poems of Shaivite and Vaishnavite saints, many of whom were from non-Brahmin backgrounds.
- Bhakti Saints’ Writings: In the North, poets like Kabir used simple Hindi to reject caste and promote devotion to a formless god.
These devotional texts made religion more personal and brought it to the common people’s doorstep. They were not just religious songs but also tools of social change.
Religious Pluralism and Tolerance
The chapter also highlights that many of these traditions didn’t exist in isolation. There was a lot of borrowing and blending.
- Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions often coexisted, and even kings who supported one built temples for the other.
- Many Bhakti saints rejected caste and untouchability, which made their messages very powerful.
- Jain and Buddhist texts were also translated into regional languages, which helped them reach wider audiences.
- The idea of a personal god who is loving and forgiving became central to many traditions.
Download PDF: NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 6 – Changes in Religious Beliefs
To study the full chapter in detail, you can download the official PDF version directly from here.
NCERT Class 12 History Chapter 6 – Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts
