Yogis, Bhaktas & Sufis: Religious Traditions in Medieval North India, c. 1000-1450

Yoga has become highly popular worldwide and is generally received with enthusiasm in the western world. But it is mysterious in nature as, several interpretations have been offered by scholars from antiquity to recent times. Earlier, Yoga was practiced in the spiritual, philosophical and metaphysical sense in Indic traditions. In the medieval period, it was transformed by Hathayoga where physical exertions were applied to achieve the path of Samadhi. Also, it influenced two mainstream traditions prevalent in north India, Hinduism and Islam, in creating their respective mystical movements.

This book focuses on the influence of yoga on the Bhakti and Sufi traditions from the eleventh to fifteenth century in northern India. It discusses the history of yoga and the formation of the Nathpanthi tradition. A major part of the book offers comparative analysis of the influence of yogic traditions on the beliefs, ideas, practices and philosophy applied by Bhakti and Sufi saints in medieval India. It also undertakes intertextual analysis of well-known Hathayogic manuals, hagiographies and poetry written by yogis, bhaktas and Sufis, including important texts such as the Gorakhbani.

The book also discusses anecdotes of supernatural competitions between yogis and Bhaktas-Sufis, and differences between diverse spiritual traditions. It will be beneficial for readers interested in yogic studies, Hinduism and Islamic traditions, comparative religions, and history of religion in medieval India.