Bhakti Movements- Regional Developments

The Bhakti Movement was an important religious movement during the medieval age that brought several social reforms. The movement emphasized intense devotion to God and equality amongst all human beings. Popular Bhakti movement saints like Sant Kabir and Guru Nanak preached devotion to God as the only means of salvation and breaking the cycle of life and death. Many Bhakti movement saints believed that the best way to praise God was by singing and dancing. 

Bhakti Movement in South India 

Doctrine of Vishishtadvaita 

Srimad Ramanujacharya was born in Tamil Nadu in the 11th century. He was heavily inspired by the Alvars (saints devoted to Vishnu) and preached that the means to attain salvation is through intense devotion to Vishnu. Ramanujacharya propounded the Doctrine of Vishishtadvaita. It clarifies that God is eternal and is empowered by manifestation. Ramanujacharya rejects the doctrine of Shankara that the materialistic world is an illusion and is not real. He believed that the materialistic world could not be overlooked as a simple illusion. In the Doctrine of Vishishtadvaita, Ramanujacharya propounded that even when the soul is united with God, it remains distinct.  

Basavanna’s Virashaivism 

In the mid-twelfth century, Basvanna and his companions Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi began a movement in Karnataka. This movement came to be known as Basvanna’s Virashaivism. The followers of Basvanna’s Virashaivism were known as Virashaivas, and they condemned Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women. Virashaivas were against idol worship and rituals and wanted equality amongst all living beings. 

The Saints of Maharashtra 

Maharashtra saw an increase in saint-poets between the 13th and 17th centuries. Some of the most popular saint-poets were Namdev, Eknath, Gyaneshvar and Tukaram. Their poems were written in simple Marathi, and to this day, their songs continue to inspire people. The saints of Maharashtra condemned discrimination based on birth, renunciation of family and livelihood and all forms of ceremonial activities. 

Cult of Vitthala 

The Vaishnava poet-saints were devotees of Lord Vithala, a Hindu-deity, considered to be a manifestation of God Vishnu, who is predominantly worshiped in Maharashtra and Karnataka. The cult of Vitthala was very popular amongst people. Devotees of Vitthala gave rise to the Varkari sect, who went to annual pilgrimages on Pandharpur. 

Siddhas and Yogis

Siddhas and Yogis belonged predominantly to the “lower” castes. They condemned conventional aspects of most religions like social order and rituals. Siddhas and yogis preached renunciation of the material world to attain salvation. They believed that they could achieve oneness with the ultimate reality by training their mind and body with practices like meditation, yoga and healthy eating habits. 

Main Features of the Bhakti Movement 

• The Bhakti movement saints acted as guides who emphasized self-surrender to obtain the grace of God
• The Bhakti movement saints preached deep devotion and faith to God to attain salvation and free themselves from the shackles of life and death
• During the Bhakti movement, many people denounced the caste system as they argued that all living beings were created equal in the eyes of God
• Popular Bhakti movement saints composed their teachings into poems and songs in commonly spoken languages. They didn’t consider any language sacred and even condemned ritualistic acts such as fasting and going on pilgrimages

Impact of the Bhakti Movement on Society 

• The movement encouraged people to become intolerant towards social evils like infanticide, caste-based discrimination, Sati and communal animosity
• The movement even paved the way for several rulers to adopt a more liberal approach to ruling
• The Bhakti movement promoted the growth of regional language and literature. Several saints used regional languages for better communication with people
• It also made a significant religious impact. It led to unity amongst the Hindu and Muslim communities and encouraged communal harmony

Conclusion:

The Bhakti movement significantly impacted Indian society. It brought several social reforms and bridged the tensions between the two dominant religions- Hinduism and Islam. The Bhakti movement also played a significant role in the spread of regional languages.