BHAKTI MOVEMENT

Published on 22 Oct 2025

This movement originated in South India in the 7th and 10th CE, mostly in the poems of Alvars and Nayanars. 9th century with Shankaracharya spread over all parts of India and by the 16th century was a great spiritual force to reckon with, especially after the great wave made by Kabir, Nanak and Shri Chaitanya.

Factors that led to the rise of Bhakti Movement

Social

Evils in the Hindu Society: The common people in Hindu society sought a liberal religion that embraced simple practices instead of blind faiths and social dogmas was prevalent during the time.

Example: Namadeva and Ramananda disregarded the ban on people of different castes cooking together and sharing meals.

Status of Women: The Bhakti movement provided a platform for women to express their spiritual aspirations and challenge the patriarchal norms of society.

Example: Mirabai, Andal, and Akka Mahadevi, expressed their devotion to God through their writings and challenged societal expectations.

Social Context: The Bhakti movement provided a unifying force by emphasizing the commonality of spiritual experience and promoting a sense of community among diverse groups.

Example: Society witnessed political instability, social unrest, and cultural clashes during medieval India due to foreign invasion.

Religious

Complexity of religion: The high philosophy of the Vedas and Upanishads were very complicated for the common people, they wanted a simple way of worship, religious practices and social customs.

Example: Shankara, Ramanuja, Kabir, Nanak, Shri Chaitanya emphasized worship in the simplest way of devotion and love.

Critique of Ritualistic Practices: The common people desired simplicity in worship, religious practices, and social customs, finding Vedas and Upanishads complex.

Example: Tukaram's verses conveyed the universal nature of love and the need for spiritual sincerity over ritualistic practices.

Influence of Sufism: The ideas and practices of Sufi saints had a significant impact on the Bhakti saints, leading to the syncretic elements seen in the movement.

Example: Inspired importance of love, devotion, and a personal relationship with God from Sufism.

Cultural

Vernacular Language and Accessibility: The Bhakti movement democratized religious discourse by using regional languages to reach the masses instead of Sanskrit, which was predominantly used by the elite.

Example: Mirabai's devotion and her compositions in the vernacular language of Rajasthani continue to inspire people to this day.

Impact of Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement led to devotional transformation of medieval Hindu society, wherein Vedic rituals or alternatively ascetic monk-like lifestyle for moksha gave way to individualistic loving relationship with a personally defined god.

Social

Social Equality: The Bhakti movement challenged the rigid caste hierarchy prevalent in society during that time and emphasized the equality of all regardless of their caste or social status.

Example: Teachings of Bhakti saints like Ravidas and Namdev emphasized the oneness of all humanity and rejected caste-based distinctions.

Women Empowerment: Their contributions broke societal barriers and empowered women to actively participate in religious and social spheres.

Example: Mirabai defied social conventions by openly expressing her devotion to Lord Krishna, despite facing opposition from her family and society.

Religious

Religious Harmony: The movement sparked awareness among Hindus and Muslims, revealing the emptiness of rituals and superstitions and fostering mutual understanding.

Example: Kabir promoted a syncretic approach, drawing inspiration from both Hinduism and Islam.

Religious Tolerance: The Bhakti movement advocated for religious tolerance and acceptance of diverse beliefs.

Example: Guru Nanak Dev, founded Sikhism, which incorporated elements from both Hinduism and Islam.

Democratization of Religion: It broke the monopoly of religious authority held by the priestly class and gave individuals the freedom to engage directly with the divine without intermediaries

Example: Bhakti saints like Kabir, Ravidas, and Mirabai belonged to lower castes and challenged the prevailing caste hierarchy.

Language

Vernacular Literature: They shifted the focus from classical Sanskrit and composed devotional poetry and songs in native languages.

Example: Saint Tukaram through his writing popularized Marathi as a literary language.

Cultural Revitalization: The use of local languages in devotional literature and songs strengthened cultural identity and pride, fostering a sense of belonging among the people.

Example: The Bhakti movement in the Tamil region, led by saints like Nayanars and Alvars, revitalized the Tamil language and culture.

Democratization of Language: It empowered individuals by enabling them to express their devotion and spirituality in their own languages.

Example: Kabir composed Dohas (couplets) in a mixture of Hindi and Brij Bhasha, democratized religious expression by transcending linguistic barriers

Art and Cultural

Cultural Integration: The Bhakti movement united diverse regions, languages, and backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and shared cultural identity.

Example: The annual Ratha Yatra festival in Puri shows cultural integration facilitated by the Bhakti movement.

Music and Dance: The verses and compositions accompanied by musical instruments, became an integral part of religious gatherings and festivals.

Example: The compositions of Jayadeva, in Gita Govinda, led to development of Odissi dance depicting the divine love between Radha and Krishna.

Iconography and Visual Arts: It transformed the portrayal of deities in temple art with sculptures and paintings with emotions of love and devotion.

Example: The depiction of Radha and Krishna in Pahari miniatures, Rajasthani paintings, exemplifies the intimate and emotional portrayal of divine love.

Moral

Emphasis on Inner Experience: It developed a humanitarian attitude. It pointed out the virtues of contentment and self- control.

Example: Bhakti saint Namdev stressed the significance of ethical conduct.

Ethical and Moral Values: They stressed the importance of virtues such as compassion, love, truthfulness, and service to humanity, thus inspiring individuals to lead virtuous lives.

Example: Tulsidas' Ramcharitmanas, Lord Rama, emphasized righteousness, compassion, and devotion.

With such long-lasting impacts, the religious depression of medieval society was set aside. The teachings acted as a healing balm to the suppressed classes. A deep-rooted change came about to lay the foundations of a liberal and composite Indian society.