Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti and Sufi movement was the glorious religious movement introduced with the idea to promote Love and devotion toward God. Although Indian society is known for its various religions, creeds, and faiths, it shows different values in its forms. On the one hand, the Bhakti movement originates with the idea to approach society, walk on the path of Love and devotion. In contrast, the Sufi movement came into existence to provide a deep understanding of Islamic philosophy under the roof of Hinduism. Nevertheless, both the revolutionary movements brought positive changes to different sections of society, especially in the life of women. Let’s discuss the impact, salient features in detail. 

Sufi movement 

• The evolution of the socio-religious movement led the Muslim saints to provide a deep study of Vedantic philosophy and Buddhism culture in Indian society. The movement was proposed between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. However, the Muslim saints closely witnessed the values of the Indian religion and planned to develop Islamic philosophy, giving rise to the Sufi Movement. 
• The movement was the reaction to the Hindu influence on Islam, which influenced both Hindus and Muslims to provide a single platform. The Muslim saints taught the essence of Love and devotion through their ideologies and beliefs. 
• Eventually, the saints were called Sufis, owing to their Wool garment styles. They consider Love to be the only way to reach God by singing and dancing for their Lord. Some leading Sufis are Fariduddin Ganj-i-shakar, Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti etc.

The Bhakti movement 

The Bhakti movement is another socio-religious movement in Indian history, proposed in the early medieval period. It was purely rooted in the devotion to God. The leading saints of the Bhakti movement are Ramanuja, Vallabhacharya, Nanak, Kabir, Sri Chaitanya, and Ramananda.

All the leaders approached devotion and Love to identify God. Thus, because of this movement, the movement is known as the Bhakti Movement.

Although the concept was not new to Indian society, it was not given importance in the medieval period. The roots of Bhakti can be found in the Vedas, which now is an integral part of Hindu society.

What were the main features of the Bhakti movement?

The main features of the Bhakti movement include-

• Bhakti, devotion, and Love are the sole essence of salvation.
• There is only one God with different names.
• Self-surrender
• Repeating the actual name.
• Strictly objectifying blind faith, ceremonies, and superstitious rituals.
• A confident mindset for deciding about religious matters.
• No differentiation in caste.

Role of women in the Bhakti movement 

• Like the saints, women also took an active part in the Bhakti movement during the medieval period. The women challenged the superstitious birds of the society by chanting mantras, singing poems, songs about life. 

• At times when the feminist restricted to enter any particular space, the women broke all stereotypes by pleasing their way of living life. It led to a positive change to reform polity, society and relationships, and religions in India.

• Not only this, but the strong women left their children and family and then travelled ways to reach their God. They not only excavated the lord status from their husbands but also gave up their families and motherhood. In this way, the Bhakti movement played a different role for men and women. 

• On the one hand, the male followers followed their path by remaining a householder; on the other hand, female followers could only follow the Bhakti movement if they sacrificed their domestic life and discarded their marital ties altogether. 

• Although, Mirabai is the most prominent example of women sacrificing their household life to worship their Lord Krishna. Mirabai was the Rajput princess of the 15th century who denied marrying Raja Bhojraj and spent hours worshipping Lord Krishna at the temple. Also, she followed the same path even after the death of Raja Bhojraj and refused to live a life of a widow. She sang songs and poems for her God all through her life. 

• Therefore, the Bhakti movement developed the roots of feminism in India. The women created an autonomous space for themselves with their devotion and unfolded all the societal norms that bound them. The feminist displayed an epitome of true strength to the world by inspiring many to follow their choice. They overshadowed material realities and social identities only to proceed with their journey of devotion. 

• Henceforth, the Bhakti and Sufi movements act differently to form the structure of society. Different ideas propelled both revolutions. Saints formed the Sufi movement to introduce Islamic Philosophy, then the other Bhakti movement aimed at devoting oneself to worshipping the Lord. 

Conclusion 

The Bhakti and Sufi movement brought revolutionary changes to Hindu society in the early medieval period. It broke many superstitious beliefs and norms regarding the lower-category caste and Hinduism. The Muslim saints in the Sufi movement constructed the roots of Vedantic, Islamic philosophy, and Buddhism culture through Sufism. Whereas, the Bhakti movement helped the Hindus and their women take the journey of Love and devotion to God. Undoubtedly, the women in the Bhakti movement sheered their devotion and tenacity toward Lord Krishna by sacrificing their household lives. Both the movement meant different in shaping the structure of Hindu society.