Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement refers to the theistic devotional trend that emerged in medieval Hinduism[1] and later revolutionised in Sikhism.[2] It originated in the eighth-century Tamil south India (now Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and spread northwards.[1] It swept over east and north India from the 15th century onwards, reaching its zenith between the 15th and 17th century CE.
*Meaning
*Main Features
*Development
*The Path Of Bhakti
*Impact

1. BHAKTI MOVEMENT By: Deepak Nahar (17BCB0068)

2. MEANING OF BHAKTI S ingle - minded intense devotion to God. It was a complete surrender of oneself to God. The movement which emphasized primarily these ideas was the Bhakti movement - devotion to God. Bhakti to God was accepted as salvation .

3. MAIN FEATURES OF BHAKTI 1. Unity of God or one God though known by different names. 2. Bhakti, intense love and devotion, the only way to salvation. 3. Repetition of the True Name. 4. Self-Surrender 5. Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies and blind faith.

4. 6. Rejection of idol worship by many saints 7. Open- mindedness about deciding religious matters. 8. No distinction of different castes, higher or low 9. Need of a guru for guidance advocated by some. 10. Preaching’s through local or regional languages and travelling from place to place for spreading the religious message. MAIN FEATURES OF BHAKTI Continued..

5. Many doctrines of the Bhakti cult may be found in the Bhagavad-Gita. The idea of the unity of God is reflected in the words, “Even those devotees who worship other gods worship Me alone.” (IX 23). It is not the way of worship but the love of a selfless devotee of pure heart that matters for “Whoever offers to me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water … I accept ” . Continued.. MAIN FEATURES OF BHAKTI

6. However, the real development of Bhakti took place in South India between the 7th and the 12th centuries through the teachings of poet saints known as Alvars and Nayanar whose hymns were collected and compiled in the 10th century. The Sufi saints of the Muslims also emphasized devotion to Allah (God). The spiritual yearning made Kabir, Guru Nanak, Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsi Das, Chaitanya and others, the great exponents of Bhakti movement. Development of the movement

7. The Path Of Bhakti The earliest saints who appeared after Buddhist era on the Indian scene were Alvars (a.k.a. Alwars). They came from present day Tamilnadu.  According to modern scholars the Alvars flourished between seventh and ninth centuries A.D. They were worshippers of Vishnu and are known as Bhagavata.

8. The Path Of Bhakti Vishnu's incarnation is Krishna, who for is popular in Western India. The Guptas in North and Pallavas in South were followers of Vishnu and Bhagavata teachings. The Alvars who are twelve in number were great mystics and sang their mystic experiences in simple poems known as Pashuras composed in ecstatic love towards the Lord which depict different bhavas (attitudes).

9. IMPACT OF BHAKTI With a view to understand the impact of the Bhakti movement, we have to consider the background under which the movement gained momentum. Under the impact of the Muslim rule, the Hindus had suffered a lot materially, morally and spiritually. The Muslim rulers in general wanted to enforce the Islamic laws on the Hindus.

10. IMPACT OF BHAKTI The Muslim rule had put dread in the hearts of the Hindu masses. Consider music: Kirtan at a Hindu Temple, Qawalli at a Dargah (by Muslims), and Gurbani at a Gurdwara derive from the Bhakti movement. (800-1700 ). Singing of Bhajans and dancing formed an important part of this worship. Apart frorn being overwhelmingly ritualistic, the worship tended to be intensely emotional . Continued..