Bhakti Movement emerged as a devotional trend in medieval age and it worked as silent revolution transforming the

socio-religious realm of Indian society.

• Originated in southern parts of India between 7-12 century CE. , it slowly percolated to northern India by end of

century CE. In South India there were two main group of Bhakti saints-

1. NAYANARS(Shiva devotees)

2. ALVARS( Vishnu devotees)

Word BHAKTI derived from Sanskrit word “BHAJ” meaning to share, participate and belong to.

Main characteristics of Bhakti Movement:

• There was emphasis on love and devotion towards god.

•Condemnation rituals, yagnas ,ceremonies and blind faith. Bhakti movement emphasized unity of god or one god

known by different names.

• The Bhakti movement gave emphasis on equality of all castes and bhakti saints treated people of all castes equally.

• Bhakti saints emphasis on equality and love created atmosphere of amity and Hinduism and Islam closer.

• Before the Bhakti movement, Sanskrit was the language to perform yagas or rituals and religious books or scriptures

were in Sanskrit . Bhakti saints preached and wrote in vernacular languages which were commonly understood by masses.

• Before the bhakti movement, rituals and yagnas were performed to achieve grace of god. But Bhakti marg which

emphasized on love and devotion towards god allowed common masses to achieve salvation.

• Due to bhakti, religion became democratic , spiritual and free of obsolete rituals and dogmas .

Two Schools of Bhakti :

1 . NIRGUNA SCHOOL:

• Imagined God as formless with no attribute or quality.

• Rejected idol worship.

• Example – KABIR , GURU NANAK and DADU DAYAL.

2 . SAGUNA SCHOOL:

• Thought of God having a definite form , quality , and positive attributes.

• Thought God manifests himself in incarnations.

• Believed in idol worship.

• Example – RAMANANDA , MIRABAI and SURDAS.

BHAKTI MOVEMENT IN SOUTH INDIA:

• Vaishnava saints who sang in praise of VISHNU or his avatar KRISHNA

• There were 12 alwars

• There hymns were compiled in “DIVYA PRABANDHAM”.

• ANDAL is only female Alwar saint(called MEERA of South)..

2 . NAYANARS:

•Shaivite saints who sang in praise of SHIVA.

• Originally, 63 Nayanar saints.

• The details of lives of saints is described in work called TEVARAM( also called Dravida Veda).

• Hymns of Nayanars are collected inta a volume called TIRUMURAI.

3 . LINGAYATS/ VIR SHAIVA:

•Shaivite sect in Hinduism emerged in 12 century CE in Karnataka region.

• Started by BASAVANNA and assisted by ALLAMAPRABHU and AKKA MAHADEVI.

• Rejected caste system and wanted egalitarian society.

BHAKTI MOVEMENT | GS ARTICLES