Phase 4: Post-independence Hinduism

Hinduism and Hindu social structure were deeply transformed during the Muslim rule, beginning 8th century. A large number of Hindus and Buddhists got converted to Islam. During this time Bhakti cult seems to have gained in more importance when saints like Tulsidas, Mira Bai and Surdas composed poetry in various dialects of Hindi and other languages in use and their writings became an inseparable part of Hindu religious texts. They drew heavily from Puranic mythologies which expounded religious narratives of creation and destruction of universe, Hindu ontology, ethics, and genealogies of gods and goddesses, sages, and kings. The official religion of the Muslim rulers including the Mughals was Islam but Hindus were free to practice their own religion. Under certain rulers, however, they had to pay Jizya (i.e., a poll tax for their safety). It is possible that since during this time original scientific works stopped or the scientists moved more towards the south (Kerala) several aberrations occurred. For example, astrology rather than astronomy became a central facet of Hindu religion. Mathematical and empirical spirit was on decline and magic and devotion were firmly established. One may argue that precisely during this time Hindus developed a more fatalistic attitude towards life or what Max Weber called the other worldly theodicy (i.e., a view which gives precedence to an illusionary world of gods and goddesses, spirits and transcendence rather than a this worldly theodicy as found in Protestant religion which was responsible for the rise of capitalism by developing a rational organization of the world).