Medieval History 12

MEDIEVAL
HISTORY
Religious Movements in 15th-16th Centuries
Bhakti Movement
• The Bhakti movement was based on the doctrine that the relationship between God and man is
through love and worship rather than through performing any ritual or religious ceremonies.
• It was in South India for the first time that Bhakti movement grew from a mere religious doctrine to a
broad based popular movement based on social and religious equality. It was led by popular saint
poets called ‘Alvard, who represented emotional side of Vaishnavism through collective songs called
Prabandhas. It declined after the 10th century.

• But it was revived as a philosophical and ideological movement by 'Acharya (who represented
intellectual side of Vaishnavism in the 11th century). Most important among them was Ramanuja,
whose disciple Ramananda took it to North India.
• Main Features : 1. Discarded rituals and sacrifices 2. Emphasised purity of heart and mind,
humanism and devotion 3. Monotheistic in nature 4. God has either form (Saguna) or be formless
(Nirguna) 5. Knowledge was a constituent part 6. An egalitarian movement denounced casteism. 7.
Best form of worship is singing Bhajans and realisation of God by personal effort. No need of
priestly class 8. Saint, preached in local languages.

Bhakti Saints
• Ramanuja (1017-1137): The Vaishnava saint from South India. The earliest exponent of Bhakti
movement and Vishitadvaita philosophy.
• Ramananda (14-15 Century): The first great Bhakti saint of North India who opened the doors of Bhakti
without any distinction of birth, caste, creed or sex.
• Kabir (1440-1510) : The most radical disciple of Ramananda, who was opposed to caste, creed, image
worship, unnecessary rituals and sought to remove distinction between Hindus and Muslims and
believed in social unity.
• Guru Nanak (1469-1538): A Nirguna Bhakti saint and social reformer. The first Sikh Guru and founder
of Sikhism.
• Chaitanya (1486-1533) : One of the greatest saints of Krishna Bhakti cult and founder of Gaudiya
or Bengal Vaishnavism.
• Vidyapati (14-15th Century) : Maithili saint-poet who wrote thousands of love-ballads on Radha-
Krishna ('Padavali').
• Purandar Das (1480-1564) : The foremost and the most prolific Vaishnav saint-composer in
Karnataka. Believed to have laid the foundations of the modern phase of Karnataka music.
• Mirabai (1498-1546) : The Rathor princess of Merata and daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga of Mewar.
The most well-known woman Bhakti saint of the Krishna cult of ‘ Vaishnavism.
• Vallabhacharya (1479-1531): A great saint of the Krishna Bhakti cult of Vaishnavism, who
propounded the philosophy of Pushti Marg.
• Surdas (1483-1563): A blind poet of Agra. He sang the glory of Krishna in his 'Sursagar'.
• Tulsidas (1532-1623): The greatest saint-poet of the Ram Bhakti cult of Vaishnavism. The
celebrated author of Ramcharitamanas', 'Kavitawali' and 'Gitawali', ,
• Shankara Deva (1449-1568) : The founder of the Vaishnava devotional movement in Assam.
• Dadu Dayal (1544-1603) : A Nirguna Bhakti saint belonging to the tanner caste, who was born in
Gujarat but spent his whole life in Rajasthan. Founder of the Dadu panth.
• Thyagaraja (1767-1847): A Telugu who spent his life in Tamil Nadu. The greatest saint-composer
of Karnataka music. He adorned God in the form of Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu and Hero of
Valmiki's Ramayana.
Bhakti Saints of Maharashtra
• Jnanesvara / Jnanadeva (1271-1296) : The fountain-'head of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra,
founder of Marathi language and literature, wrote a long commentary on the Bhagvad Gita, called the
‘Bhavarthadipka’ more commonly known as ‘Jnaneshvari'.
• Namadeva (1270-1350): A contemporary of Jnanesvara. He was a tailor by caste and was opposed to
all caste distinctions. The object of his devotion was Vithoba or Vithal (identified with Vishnu) of
Pandharpur. The cult of Vithoba or Vithal known as Varkari sect was founded by Namadeva.
• Eknath (1533-1599) : A great scholar saint from Maharashtra who wrote a commentary on the
Ramayana called the ‘Bhavartha Ramayana' and another commentary on the eleventh book of the
Bhagavata Purana.
• Tukaram (1598-1650) : The greatest Bhakti poet from Maharashtra, wrote devotional poems,
known as Abhangas, which are the glory of devotional poetry.
• Ramdas (1608-1681) : The last great saint poet from Maharashtra. 'Dasabodha' is the compilation
of his writings and sermons.

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• Sufi Movement
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MEDIEVAL

Prabandhas. It declined after the 10th century.

whose disciple Ramananda took it to North India.

(Nirguna) 5. Knowledge was a constituent part 6. An egalitarian movement denounced casteism. 7.

priestly class 8. Saint, preached in local languages.

‘Bhavarthadipka’ more commonly known as ‘Jnaneshvari'.

known as Abhangas, which are the glory of devotional poetry.

of his writings and sermons.

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