→ Bhakti = devotion/love of God; emerged as a reform movement challenging ritualism, caste system, and Brahminical orthodoxy
→ Origins: Roots in Tamil Nadu with Alvars (Vaishnavite saints) and Nayanars (Shaivite saints) — 6th–9th century AD; spread northward
→ Key Features: Direct personal contact with God (no intermediary priests); rejection of caste hierarchy ("all equal before God"); use of vernacular languages (not Sanskrit); emotional devotion; open to women and lower castes
→ Two Schools: Saguna (God with form — Ram, Krishna; Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai) and Nirguna (formless God; Kabir, Nanak, Dadu Dayal)
Bhakti & Sufi Movements
800–1700 AD | Religious Renaissance · Social Reform · Hindu-Muslim Synthesis | UPSC GS Paper I
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📋 Syllabus Context: Bhakti & Sufi movements are crucial for understanding the socio-religious history of India. They often appear as both direct and indirect questions in UPSC Prelims and Mains GS Paper I.
The Bhakti Movement — Overview
South India — Alvars & Nayanars (6th–9th century)
| Group | Deity | Key Saints & Works |
|---|---|---|
| Alvars (12 saints) | Vishnu/Narayana | Tamil devotional poems compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham (4000 Divine Compositions); prominent: Nammalvar, Andal (only female Alvar — wrote Tiruppavai), Periyalvar, Kulashekhara |
| Nayanars (63 saints) | Shiva | Works compiled as Tevaram (7 Tamil hymns of 3 leading Nayanars: Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar); Thiruvasagam by Manikkavachakar; fought against Buddhist and Jain influence in Tamil Nadu |
Philosophical Foundations — Acharyas
| Acharya | Period | Philosophy & Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Shankaracharya (Adi Shankara) | 788–820 AD | Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism): Brahman alone is real; world is Maya (illusion); Jiva (soul) and Brahman are identical; refuted Buddhism and re-established Hinduism; established 4 mathas (Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, Badrinath); wrote commentaries on Upanishads, Brahmasutras, Bhagavad Gita |
| Ramanujacharya | 1017–1137 AD | Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism): Brahman (Vishnu) is real, world and souls are real but are modes/attributes of Brahman; devotion (bhakti) is the path to salvation; strongly influenced Vaishnava Bhakti; preached in Tamil Nadu |
| Madhvacharya | 1238–1317 AD | Dvaita Vedanta (Dualism): God and individual souls are permanently distinct; strict Vaishnavism; South India; influence on Vaishnava devotion |
| Ramananda | 1400–1476 AD | First great Bhakti saint of North India; broke caste barriers by accepting disciples of all castes (including Kabir, Ravidas/Raidas, Dhanna, Sena); preached in Hindi (not Sanskrit); devotion to Ram |
North India Bhakti Saints
| Saint | Period / Region | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Kabir Das (Nirguna) | 1440–1518; Banaras (UP) | Weaver by caste; disciple of Ramananda; rejected both Hindu rituals and Islamic orthodoxy; preached oneness of God ('Ram and Rahim are one'); dohas (couplets) in simple Hindi; beloved across religions; Kabir Panth followers; Bijak is compilation of his works; UNESCO Intangible Heritage |
| Guru Nanak (Nirguna) | 1469–1539; Punjab | Born Hindu; influenced by both Hinduism and Islam; extensive travels (udasis); founded Sikhism; rejected caste, idol worship; emphasis on Ik Onkar (One God), Nam Simran (meditation on God's name); Guru Granth Sahib contains his bani (hymns) |
| Mirabai (Saguna) | 1498–1546; Rajputana | Rajput princess; devoted to Krishna; rejected husband's family after becoming widow; her bhajans (devotional songs) are still sung; symbol of women's liberation through devotion; famous works: Padavali; Krishna bhakti |
| Tulsidas (Saguna) | 1532–1623; UP | Wrote Ramcharitmanas (Ram's story in Awadhi — popularized Ram bhakti across North India); Hanuman Chalisa; also wrote Vinaya Patrika, Kavitavali; 'great literary work next only to the Vedas' according to Bengalis |
| Surdas (Saguna) | 1478–1581; UP | Blind saint-poet; wrote Sur Sagar (ocean of songs) — describes Krishna's childhood; devoted to Krishna |
| Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Saguna) | 1486–1534; Bengal | Founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism; emphasized kirtan (singing) and nama-sankirtana (chanting God's name) as moksha path; Krishna devotee; radical — ate with lower castes and Dalits; influence on ISKCON worldwide; his tradition led to Vaishnava revival in Bengal and Odisha |
| Tukaram (Saguna) | 1608–1650; Maharashtra | Greatest Marathi Bhakti saint; shopkeeper turned saint; Abhangas (devotional poems to Vitthal/Panduranga); Dehu (near Pune); Dnyaneshwar (13th c.), Namdev, Eknath also major Maharashtra Bhakti saints |
| Ravidas / Raidas (Nirguna) | 1450–1520 AD; UP | Untouchable cobbler-saint; disciple of Ramananda; challenged caste system radically; sacred to Dalits; work included in Guru Granth Sahib; famous for 'Man Changa to Kathauti Mein Ganga' (Pure heart is Ganga itself) |
Sufi Movement
→ Sufism: Mystical dimension of Islam; seeks direct personal experience of God through love, music, poetry, meditation — vs. orthodox legalistic Islam
→ Sufi = One who wears wool (suf) as sign of simplicity; or from Arabic 'safa' — purity
→ Concept of Fana: Annihilation of self in God; union with the Divine (Wahdut-ul-Wujud — Unity of Being)
→ Silsila: Chain of spiritual authority from teacher (pir/murshid) to disciple (murid); Khanqah = Sufi lodge where disciples live and learn
→ Sama: Devotional music session; qawwali (Muslim devotional music) developed by Amir Khusrau; spiritually significant for Sufis; opposed by orthodox Muslims
Four Main Sufi Silsilas in India:
| Silsila (Order) | Type | Key Saints & Features |
|---|---|---|
| Chishti | Ba-Shara (follows Sharia) | Most popular in India; Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer — most revered in India; 'Gharib Nawaz'); Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki (Delhi); Farid-ud-din Ganj-i-Shakar 'Baba Farid' (Punjab — his verses in Guru Granth Sahib); Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi — 'Mehboob-i-Ilahi'); Amir Khusrau (his disciple) |
| Suhrawardi | Ba-Shara | Active in Punjab and Sindh; Bahauddin Zakariya (Multan); closer to state power, criticized by Chishti for accepting royal grants |
| Qadiri | Ba-Shara | Founded by Abdul Qadir Jilani (Baghdad); Shah Nimatullah (Kashmir); Miyan Mir (Lahore — connection to Guru Hargovind, story of laying foundation of Harmandir Sahib) |
| Naqshbandi | Ba-Shara | Very orthodox; Baqi Billah (Delhi); Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Fateh-pur Sirhindi — 'Mujaddid Alf-i-Thani' = Reformer of second millennium); strongly opposed Akbar's Din-i-Ilahi, demanded reinstatement of Jizya |
Amir Khusrau (1253–1325): Indo-Persian poet, musician, scholar — "Parrot of India"; disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya; invented khayal (classical music style), qawwali, tarana; introduced ghazal in India; first to use Hindi/Hindavi in literature; wrote Tughlaqnama, Khazain-ul-Futuh, Nuh Sipihr
Other Important Bhakti Saints
| Saint | Region / Period | Key Contributions |
|---|---|---|
| Basaveshwara | Karnataka, 12th century | Founded Lingayat/Virashaiva movement; rejected caste system; promoted women's equality; established Anubhava Mantapa (democratic parliament of devotees); composed Vachana literature in Kannada |
| Lal Ded / Lalleshwari | Kashmir, 14th century | Kashmir Shaivite mystic poetess; her vakhs (verses) bridge Hindu and Islamic traditions; revered by both communities; influenced Nuruddin Rishi (Muslim mystic) |
| Dadu Dayal (Nirguna) | Rajasthan, 1544–1603 | Nirguna saint; founded Dadu Panth; rejected idol worship, caste, and pilgrimage; integrated Hindu-Muslim ideas; his bani included in Guru Granth Sahib |
| Namdev | Maharashtra, 1270–1350 | Early Bhakti poet; devotee of Vitthal (Panduranga); works in Marathi and Hindi; included in Guru Granth Sahib; tailor by profession; traveled with Dnyaneshwar |
| Dnyaneshwar / Jnaneshwar | Maharashtra, 1275–1296 | Wrote Dnyaneshwari (Marathi commentary on Bhagavad Gita) at age 21! One of the greatest Marathi literary works; key figure in Warkari tradition |
| Vallabhacharya | 1479–1531 | Pushti Marg (Path of Grace); Krishna devotion; established at Nathdwara (Rajasthan); Shuddhadvaita (Pure Non-dualism) philosophy |
Impact of Bhakti & Sufi Movements
→ Social Reform: Challenged caste system; women saints (Mirabai, Andal, Lal Ded) broke gender barriers; accepted Dalits and lower castes as equals before God
→ Religious Syncretism: Promoted Hindu-Muslim unity; Kabir's followers include both Hindus and Muslims; Sufi dargahs (shrines) visited by all communities
→ Regional Languages: Bhakti saints used vernacular languages — promoted Hindi (Braj, Awadhi), Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Tamil as literary languages
→ New Music Forms: Qawwali, Khayal, Bhajan, Kirtan, Abhangas — all developed through Bhakti/Sufi traditions
→ Democratic Access to Religion: Made religion accessible to common people without need for priests, rituals, or Sanskrit knowledge
→ National Integration: Saints' teachings crossed regional boundaries; Kabir revered in UP, Punjab, Gujarat; Chishti shrines across India
→ Literature: Rich devotional literature created in multiple languages — Ramcharitmanas, Sur Sagar, Abhangas, Divya Prabandham — form major part of Indian literary heritage
Quick Revision — Key Facts at a Glance
→ Alvars (12) = Vaishnavite saints; Nayanars (63) = Shaivite saints; both from Tamil Nadu
→ Shankaracharya: Advaita (Non-dualism); established 4 mathas (Sringeri, Dwaraka, Puri, Badrinath)
→ Ramanujacharya: Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism)
→ Madhvacharya: Dvaita (Dualism)
→ Kabir: Nirguna; weaver; rejected both Hindu and Islamic orthodoxy
→ Guru Nanak: Founded Sikhism; Ik Onkar (One God)
→ Tulsidas: Ramcharitmanas (Awadhi); Saguna (Ram devotion)
→ Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: Gaudiya Vaishnavism; kirtan; Bengal
→ Chishti: Most popular Sufi order in India; Ajmer (Moinuddin Chishti)
→ Nizamuddin Auliya: "Mehboob-i-Ilahi"; Delhi
→ Naqshbandi: Most orthodox Sufi order; Sirhindi opposed Din-i-Ilahi
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