What was Sulikulh (Sul-i-Kulh)? What was the new order founded by Akbar? Give an example to show the liberal mind of Jahangir. How did the Bhakti cult remain active during the Mughal period?

a. Sulikulh:

Akbar’s religious policy was linked with the question how a ruler was to behave with his subjects. Akbar believed that a true ruler was one who could win confidence of all people irrespective of class, creed or religion.

This was expressed by the term Sulikulh, which means universal happiness.

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b. New order:

Din-i-Ilahi was the new order founded by Akbar.

c. Liberal Jahangir:

Like his father, Akbar, Jahangir too had a liberal frame of mind. This may be shown by an example. Orthodox Ulema, Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi, was very much opposed to the Sufi ideal. Jahangir punished him by putting him in the prison.

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d. Bhakti in Mughal Times:

The Bhakti cult that had begun in the Sultanate period remained very much active in the Mughal period as well. The Sikh Movement was carried on by the gurus after Nanak, the first guru.

Akbar was deeply influenced by Sikhism. It is known that Akbar visited the contemporary Sikh guru at Amritsar.

Though there was estrangement of relations between the Sikh gurus and the Mughal rulers, yet this cannot be taken as a regular feature. During the Mughal period the Bhakti Movement was carried to a climax by Dadu Dayal.

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Dadu did not identify himself either less with the Hindus or Mussalmans. He preached the message of universal religion through the brotherhood that he founded named Parabrahma Sampradaya.