Give examples of differences and conflicts between religious beliefs and practices during 8th century and 18th century.

Or

Explain the textual traditions regarding religious beliefs.

There were conflicts during 8th and 18th century between different methods of worship, to attain state’s grants and to gain a place anywhere. Following examples could be given in this regard:

(i)    Worship of Goddess : Forms of worship of goddess were often classified as Tantric. Tantric practices were widespread in many parts of subcontinent. These practices were open for both men and women.

Except this, within the ritual context differences of caste and class were often ignored. Many of these ideas also influenced Shaivism and Buddhism. Especially in the norhtern, eastern and southern parts of subcontinent, all these beliefs and practices were classified in the form of Hindu.

(ii)    Differences in Vedic and Puranic Traditions : These differences would become clear if we would compare Vedic and Puranic traditions. Deities like Agni, Indra and Soma had completely lost their importance during Vedic age. They are rarely visible in textual or visual representatives. But we can see a glimpse of Vishnu, Shiva and the goddess in Vedic mantras, probably their Puranic form was changed. However, even after these discrepancies, the Vedas were continued to be regarded as authoritative.

(iii)    Situation of Conflict : There were sometimes conflicting situations as well. Followers of Vedic tradition generally condemned those practices which went beyond the closely regulated contact with the divine through performance of precisely chanted mantras. On the other hand there were people who were engaged in tantric practices. They often ignored the authority of the Vedas. Except this, devotees often tried to project their respective deity, Shiva or Vishnu, as supreme. Relations with other traditions like Jainism or Buddhism were also often fraught with tension. Even then there were less chances of open conflict. Example of Bhakti tradition could be given in this regard.

(iv) Bhakti Tradition : Bhakti tradition included the devotion ranged from the routine worship of deities within temples to ecstatic adoration when devotees could attain a state like a trance. The singing and chanting of devotional compositions was a part of this type of worship. It was particularly applicable on Vaishnava and Shiva sects.