Impact of Bhakti Movement
- The Bhakti saints were also social reformers. The evil practice of Sati and caste rigidities received some setbacks.
- Women were encouraged to join kirtans. Mirabai, Laila (Kashmir) and Andal composed verses that are popular even today.
- In place of Sanskrit, Bhakti saints preached through the medium of local languages which could be understood very easily. Surdas used the ‘Brij’ dialect. Tulsi Das composed his works in ‘Awadhi’.
- Sankaradeva popularised Assamese, Chaitanya spread his message in Bengali, Mirabai in Hindi and Rajasthani.
- Kirtan at a Hindu Temple, Qawwali at a Dargah (by Muslims), and singing of Gurbani at a Gurdwara are all derived from the Bhakti and Sufi movement of medieval India (800-1700 CE).
- It popularised the idea of equality & brotherhood.
- It preached an inclusive path to spiritual salvation.
- Rulers adopted liberal religious policies under the impact of the Bhakti movement.
Women saints during the Bhakti movement
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Andal:
One of South India’s twelve Alvar poet saints, Andal, was a follower of Lord Vishnu. Andal conveyed the idea of finding the ultimate shelter in the deity (Vishnu) through her compositions. She chose love and dedication over elaborate ceremonies and rituals.
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Meerabai:
The mystic saint Meerabai, who lived in the sixteenth century, composed hymns to her god Krishna. Saint Meerabai showed a contempt for outdated societal and familial norms. She used her compositions to communicate the message of everyone being treated equally and of devotion to the almighty.
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Karaikal Ammaiyar:
A Nayanar saint from south India, Karaikal Ammaiyar is regarded as one of Tamil literature’s most adored characters. She emphasized the importance of love and commitment to achieving the divine.
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Akka Mahadevi:
One of the earliest female poets in the Kannada language was Akka Mahadevi. She belonged to the 12th-century Lingayat Shaiva sect. Her teachings urged followers to master their desires.
Bhakti – Individual Contributions
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Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533 CE):
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1533 CE) established modern Vaishnavism in Bengal.
- He was a proponent of Saguna Bhakti and popularised “Kirtans” (religious songs) as a means of worshipping God.
- Popularised the mantra “Hare Rama, Hare Krishna”.
- He popularised the practice of worshipping Radha and Krishna together. He explained the “Achintaya Bheda-Abheda” ideology.
- Did not reject scriptures or idol worship of God as Hari.
- He wrote the Sanskrit treatise “Siksastakam” in which he elucidated his ideas.
- He is the inspiration for the world-renowned ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), which was founded in the twentieth century.
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Shankara Deva:
- Promoted Bhakti cult in Assam.
- Translated Ramayana and Mahabharata into Assamese.
- He founded the Ekasarana (Neo-Vaishnavite) movement.
- He worshipped Krishna as ‘Ekasarana’ (One God), who was also known as Hari, Narayan, and Rama.
- His most well-known book, “Kirtana Ghosha,” was written in plain language and accessible to the general public.
- He wrote in Assamese and Brajavali (a combination of Maithili and Assamese).
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Kabir Das:
- He was the first to unite Hinduism and Islam.
- As a Nirguna saint, he publicly questioned the traditional ideas of major religions, including Hinduism and Islam.
- He condemned idol worship, fasting, pilgrimages, religious superstition, bathing in holy rivers, and formal worships.
- His poems are known as “Banis” or ‘Dohe’. His writings are included in the well-known book “Bijak”.
- Kabir says, “Ram and Rahim are the same.”
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Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1538 CE):
- Founded the Sikh religion and was the first of 10 Sikh Gurus. He initially worked as an accountant.
- Emphasised the middle path and the importance of the Guru in achieving enlightenment.
- He penned hymns and sang them with the assistance of an instrument called “Rabab” played by his attendant “Mardana”.
- Travelled over Asia, including Mecca and Baghdad, spreading the idea of One God.
- Promoted purity of character and conduct, rejecting idol worship, pilgrimage, and the caste system.
- Described God as “Waheguru,” who is shapeless, timeless, omnipresent, and unseen (Nirguna Bhakti).
- He founded Guru-Ka-langer (Community Kitchen) and supported “Tauhid-e Wazidi”.