Nature and significance of Bhakti Movements

<–2/”>a >The Bhakti Movement in Indian history represents a movement that popularized devotional surrender to a personally conceived supreme God. Its origins are traced to the Brahamanical and Buddhist traditions of ancient India. It was in south India that it grew from a religious tradition into a popular movement based on religious Equality and broad based social participation. The movement led by popular saints reached its climax in the 10 century A.D.

The development of Bhakti movement took place in Tamil Nadu between the seventh andtwelfth centuries. It was reflected in the emotional poems of the Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) and Alvars (devotees of Vishnu).

The Bhakti movement in India was characterized by:-

(i) the rejection of the then existing ritual hierarchy and Brahmanical superiority’

(ii) The use of vernacular or local language in preference to Sanskrit (the language of the elite)

(iii) the emergence of the low-caste non-literate’ persons like Rameja Dasar, Pillai Uranga, Villi Dasar and Kanak Dasar in the south and Kabir-2/”>Kabir, Raidas, and Dadu in the north as great spiritual leaders. There was large scale participation of peasantry, artisans, and other lower classes as well as of ritually inferior but economically powerful groups like merchants and craftsmen in these devotional movements.Telangana.pscnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/bhakti-movement.jpeg” alt=”” width=”180″ height=”180″ />

The term bhakti is defined as “devotion” or passionate love for the Divine. Moksha or liberation from rebirth was not in the following of rules, regulations or societal ordering, it was through simple devotion to the Divine. Within the movement at large, useful distinctions have been made by contemporary scholars between those poet saints who composed verses extolling God with attributes or form, namely, “saguna” bhaktas, and, those extolling God without and beyond all attributes or form, “nirguna.”

Some of the famous Bhakti Saints are:-

Ramanuja: Born in A.D. 1166 in a small town near Chenni (Madras), Ramanuja was a worshipper of Vishnu and preached Vaishnavism. He had a great following in the South. Ramananda: The greatest preacher of this cult in north India was Ramananda. He discarded all caste distinctions and his disciples belonged to all castes.
Kabir: He was perhaps the most popular reformer of his times. He was a disciple of Ramananda. Kabir was against idol worship or any sort of rituals.
Namdeva: He was a Maratha saint, born into a low family. He too believed in the oneness of God. He travelled far and wide and had discussions with the Sufis. A large number of Muslims also became his followers.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: He was a religious teacher from Bengal and an ardent devotee of Lord
Krishna. HE travelled widely and popularized hymns sung in praise of Krishna.
Mirabai: Mirabai was a Rajput princess and a passionate devotee of Krishna. She preached in Brijbhasha, the common language of the people. Her song and verses are very popular even today.
Guru Nanak : Nanaka was born in 1469 in the village to Talwandi. Presently the place is known as Nankana in the Sheikhupura district of West Punjab. His parents belonged to Khatri caste. His father Kalu was the Patwari of the village. Nanaka was educated in the village school.
Vallabhacharya : Vallabhacharya was a Tailang Brahmin. He preached the worship of Vishnu in the form of Krishna. He was born in 1479 in the Telugu country. He visited Mathura, Vrindavan and many other sacred places and finally settled at Varanasi. The feeling of Bhakti or devotion can be traced back to the Rig Veda. It is the very first hymn of the Rig Veda, which gives expression to a feeling of intimacy with the highest god. In the Katha Upanisad it is said that the divine help, which is the reward to Bhakti, is necessary before one can be saved.

The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional movement that began in the 6th century CE and continued to grow in popularity throughout the medieval period. The movement emphasized the importance of personal devotion to a particular deity, rather than ritual or social status. Bhakti saints and poets wrote songs and poems in praise of their chosen deity, and their teachings spread through oral tradition and written texts. The Bhakti movement had a profound impact on Hindu culture and Society, and its influence can still be seen today.

The Bhakti movement was a response to the social and religious changes that were taking place in India at the time. The caste system was becoming increasingly rigid, and many people felt that they were being excluded from religious life. The Bhakti movement offered a way for people of all castes and social backgrounds to experience the divine.

The Bhakti movement also emphasized the importance of love and devotion in religious life. This was a radical departure from the traditional emphasis on ritual and sacrifice. The Bhakti saints taught that God could be found through love and devotion, not through external acts.

The Bhakti movement had a profound impact on Hindu culture and society. It helped to spread the message of love and devotion, and it made religious life more accessible to people of all backgrounds. The Bhakti movement also helped to promote Tolerance and understanding between different religious groups.

The Bhakti movement continues to have an impact on Hindu culture and society today. The teachings of the Bhakti saints are still widely read and studied, and their songs and poems are still sung in temples and homes throughout India. The Bhakti movement has helped to shape the Hindu faith into the vibrant and diverse religion that it is today.

Origin and development of the Bhakti movement

The Bhakti movement began in the 6th century CE in South India. The earliest Bhakti saints were Shaivites, who worshipped the god Shiva. The movement then spread to North India, where it became associated with Vaishnavism, the worship of the god Vishnu.

The Bhakti saints and their teachings

The Bhakti movement produced a number of great saints and poets, who wrote songs and poems in praise of their chosen deity. Some of the most famous Bhakti saints include:

Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 CE): A Shaivite saint who is considered to be one of the greatest philosophers in Indian history.
Ramanujacharya (1017-1137 CE): A Vaishnava saint who is considered to be the founder of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
Madhvacharya (1197-1278 CE): A Vaishnava saint who is considered to be the founder of the Dvaita Vedanta tradition.
Kabir (1440-1518 CE): A Sufi saint who is considered to be one of the most important figures in the Bhakti movement.
Mirabai (1498-1547 CE): A Vaishnava saint who is considered to be one of the most beloved figures in the Bhakti movement.

The Bhakti saints taught that God is love and that the only way to achieve salvation is through love and devotion. They also taught that all people are equal in the eyes of God, regardless of their caste or social status.

The impact of the Bhakti movement on Hindu culture and society

The Bhakti movement had a profound impact on Hindu culture and society. It helped to spread the message of love and devotion, and it made religious life more accessible to people of all backgrounds. The Bhakti movement also helped to promote tolerance and understanding between different religious groups.

The Bhakti movement today

The Bhakti movement is still alive and well today. There are many Bhakti groups and organizations that are active throughout India. The Bhakti movement continues to attract people of all ages and backgrounds, and it continues to play an important role in Hindu culture and society.

The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional movement that emphasized the importance of personal devotion to a particular deity. It began in South India in the 7th century and spread to North India in the 12th century. The Bhakti movement had a significant impact on Indian Society and culture. It helped to spread the Hindu religion to new areas and to popularize the use of vernacular languages in religious texts. The Bhakti movement also played a role in the development of Indian Literature and music.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Bhakti movement:

What is the Bhakti movement?
The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional movement that emphasized the importance of personal devotion to a particular deity. It began in South India in the 7th century and spread to North India in the 12th century.
Who were the main figures in the Bhakti movement?
Some of the main figures in the Bhakti movement include Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Vallabhacharya, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
What were the main teachings of the Bhakti movement?
The main teachings of the Bhakti movement were that God is personal and that He can be reached through personal devotion. The Bhakti movement also emphasized the importance of using vernacular languages in religious texts.
What was the impact of the Bhakti movement?
The Bhakti movement had a significant impact on Indian society and culture. It helped to spread the Hindu religion to new areas and to popularize the use of vernacular languages in religious texts. The Bhakti movement also played a role in the development of Indian literature and music.
What are some of the criticisms of the Bhakti movement?
Some of the criticisms of the Bhakti movement include that it was too emotional and that it did not emphasize the importance of ritual and tradition.
What is the legacy of the Bhakti movement?
The Bhakti movement is still an important part of Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism today. It has had a lasting impact on Indian society and culture.

The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional movement that began in the 6th century CE and continued to grow in popularity until the 18th century CE. The movement emphasized the importance of personal devotion to a particular deity, rather than ritual or caste. The Bhakti movement had a significant impact on Indian culture, and its influence can still be seen today.

Here are some MCQs about the Bhakti movement:

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the Bhakti movement?
(A) Personal devotion to a particular deity
(B) Emphasis on ritual and caste
(C) Use of vernacular languages
(D) Appeal to both men and Women
Who was one of the most famous Bhakti saints?
(A) Kabir
(B) Mirabai
(C) Tulsidas
(D) All of the above
Which of the following is not a goal of the Bhakti movement?
(A) To achieve salvation
(B) To improve social conditions
(C) To promote religious tolerance
(D) To overthrow the caste system
Which of the following is not a contribution of the Bhakti movement?
(A) The development of new religious texts
(B) The spread of Hinduism to new areas
(C) The promotion of Gender Equality
(D) The creation of new art and music
Which of the following is not a criticism of the Bhakti movement?
(A) It was too focused on personal devotion and not enough on social reform.
(B) It was too divisive, leading to conflict between different groups of Hindus.
(C) It was too influenced by foreign religions, such as Islam.
(D) It was too focused on the lower castes and not enough on the upper castes.

Answers:
1. (B)
2. (D)
3. (D)
4. (C)
5. (B)