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Meaning of Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement emphasized intense devotion and surrender to God alone as the path to salvation. It rejected rituals and idol worship, condemned discrimination based on caste, and promoted equality. The movement was led by poet saints in various Indian languages between the 7th-12th centuries and helped bring Hindus and Muslims closer by stressing a common devotion to God beyond religious differences. It aimed to reform Hindu practices and promote social harmony, though it had mixed success and also further divided Hindu society in some ways.

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284 views

Meaning of Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement emphasized intense devotion and surrender to God alone as the path to salvation. It rejected rituals and idol worship, condemned discrimination based on caste, and promoted equality. The movement was led by poet saints in various Indian languages between the 7th-12th centuries and helped bring Hindus and Muslims closer by stressing a common devotion to God beyond religious differences. It aimed to reform Hindu practices and promote social harmony, though it had mixed success and also further divided Hindu society in some ways.

Uploaded by

Aditya Nema
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Meaning of Bhakti Movement:

Usually it is accepted that the most characteristic feature of the religious


development during the medieval period was the movement which
emphasized single-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.

Main Features of the Bhakti Movement:


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.
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.
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” (IX,
26).
The doctrine of self-surrender is echoed in the words of Lord Krishna, “Give
up all religious paths, and take refuge in Me alone. I shall deliver thee from all
sins.” (XVIII 66). The idea of an open mind to decide for oneself in matters of
religion may be discovered in the lines,” … you do as thou choosest” (XVIII
63).

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.
Impact of the Bhakti Movement on the Medieval Indian Society:
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. The Muslim rule had put dread in the
hearts of the Hindu masses.
They wanted some solace to heal their despairing hearts. The Bhakti
movement brought them hope and support and inner strength to save
themselves. During the course of time, several evil practices had crept into the
Hindu society. There was a lot of caste and class distinction. Several divisions
had occurred.
There was a good deal of bitter men between the two communities i.e. the
Hindus and Muslims. Some healing touch was needed. Fortunately with the
foreign invaders, some Sufi Muslim saints had also come to India and settled
here. They were very liberal minded. They emphasized the virtues of love and
devotion, brotherhood and equality etc. This helped to bring the two
communities nearer. It also helped to harmonise the conflicting interests.
The saints of the Bhakti movement rejected the difference of caste and Uati’.
An important factor which led to the popularity of Bhakti movement was that
most of the promoters of this movement attempted to reconcile the
differences between the Hindus and the Muslims by stressing that Rama and
Rahim were one and the same. They condemned the hatred of the fanatic
Pandits and Mullas alike.
The Hindus realised that it was difficult to drive away the Muslim rulers and
Muslims from India. On the other hand the Muslims also appreciated that the
Hindus were in absolute majority and it was impossible to force all of them to
embrace Islam. So under the impact of the new movement both sides started
making efforts for coming closer to each other.
For the Hindus the effort was initiated by the Hindu saints of the Bhakti
movement and for the Muslims by the Sufi Saints.
The Hindu and as well as the Muslim saints emphasized religious simplicity.
They stressed human qualities and moral attitudes. They stressed that a true
religious man is one who is pure in thought and action.
The Bhakti saints believed in equality of man and man. According to them
there was no distinction and consideration of high and low on the basis of
birth. Their doors were open to all classes.
The Bhakti saints tried to generate an environment of good will between the
Hindus and the Muslims.
The Bhakti saints were social reformers also. They condemned several social
evils.
The Sufi Saints like Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, Bakhyiya Kaki, Nizamudin
Aulia and Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Delhi etc. attempted to restrain the fanaticism
of the Muslims and tried to bring them nearer to the Hindus. Several Hindus
became followers of the Sufi saints but without relinquishing their own
religion.
Social impact:
The most important social impact of the Bhakti movement was that the
followers of the Bhakti movement rejected the caste distinction. They began
to mix together on the basis of equality. They took their meals together from
the common kitchen. The movement tried to loosen the bond of caste.
A spirit of harmony among different sections of society and religion received
impetus.
The evil practice of ‘Sati’ received some set back.
The status of women received more importance.
Religious impact:
The movement aroused awakening among the Hindus and Muslims regarding
the futility of ritualism and superstitions. The feeling of appreciation of the
difference between the thought and practices of the two religions emerged.
The movement encouraged religious toleration. Guru Granth Saheb the
holiest book of the Sikhs which was complied later on included the messages
of saints belonging to different sects. This was on account of the spirit of
toleration preached by the Bhakti saints.
Promotion of regional languages of the common people:
In place of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian, the Bhakti saints preached through
the medium of local languages which could be understood very easily. For
instance the language of Kabir was a mixture of several languages of every day
use. Surdas used ‘Brij’ dialect. Goswami Tulsi Das composed his works in
‘Awadhi’.
Political influence:
Some of the rulers adopted liberal religious policies under the impact of the
Bhakti movement.
Moral influence:
The movement attempted to infuse a spirit of piety in the daily life of the
people. It emphasized earning of wealth through hard work and honest
means. It encouraged the value of social service to the poor and the needy. It
developed a humanitarian attitude. It pointed out the virtues of contentment
and self control. It drew attention to the evils of anger, greed and vanity.
Summing up:
The Bhakti movement succeeded to a very small extent in realizing its two-
fold objective i.e. bringing about reforms in Hinduism and developing
harmonious relations between the Hindus and the Muslims. It gave birth to a
new sect i.e. Sikhism. It is perhaps far-fetched to say that Akbar’s broad
outlook was on account of the impact of the Bhakti movement. The movement
further divided the Hindu society. For instance the followers of Kabir came to
be known as Kabir Panthis.

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