Bhakti Movement: Origin, Main Principles, Causes, and its Effect [UPSC Medieval History Notes]

The Bhakti Movement in India

Introduction of Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement was a medieval religious reform movement that preached direct devotion to God without the mediation of a priest. It aimed to reform society by removing the boundaries of caste, creed and sex between the devotee(bhakta) and God (bhagwan).

Bhakti is rooted in the Sanskrit word “Bhaj“, meaning to serve. ‘Bhakti’ literally means fondness for, homage, faith or love, devotion, worship, and piety. The central theme of the Bhakti movement is that when devoted to God, a person must forget all distinctions and boundaries.

Main principles of Bhakti Movement

Main principles of the Bhakti movement are –

• God is one, but he can take many forms.
• Worshipping God with devotion is better than performing religious ceremonies and rituals and going on pilgrimages.
• Serving humanity is to worship God.
• All humans are equal, and all caste distinctions are meaningless.
• Superstitious practices are to be given up.
• Bhakti saints travelled to several places writing poems in vernacular languages, attracting many people under their fold.

The term ‘Bhakti’ itself originated in the Vedas for the first time and was extensively used in the Bhagwad-Gita by Vyasa. But the Bhakti movement as a socio-cultural phenomenon started much later in the 6th century CE.

The Bhakti movement first emerged in South India in the 6^th to 10^th century CE, mainly in the poems of Alvars and Nayanars. Later, it spread all over India, especially in North and East India, through the puranic literature such as Bhagavata-Purana and Bhagavad Gita. It reached its peak between the 14^th and 17^th centuries CE.

The Bhakti saints of South and East India are covered in this chapter. In the next chapter, we shall visit the religious developments in North India.

Causes of Bhakti Movement

• Religious factor – By the first millennium CE, religion grew to become highly ritualistic and superstitious, with many gods and conflicting ideologies. The Bhakti movement promoted a simple religion and a rational interpretation of religion based on love.
• Social factors – Indian society was plagued with many evils, such as the caste system, untouchability, atrocities against women, witchcraft and sacrifices. The religion earlier did not allow the untouchables or the women to perform sacrifices. However, the Bhakti religion was open to all.
• Political factors – Before the Turkish conquest, no heterodox belief could grow, as the society was dominated by the Rajput-Brahaman However, the advent of Islamic rulers deprived the Brahmans of their temple wealth and state protection. Thus, anti-Brahmanical and anti-caste ideologies could now challenge Brahmanical domination.
• Economic factors – With the growth of feudalism, oppressive revenue regimes based on regressive taxation and forced labour The bhakti movement represented the people against feudal oppression.
• Influence of Sufism –Bhakti and Sufism were based on the same ideas and emerged as a dissent against the orthodoxies in their respective religions.
• Solace in violent times – Masses suffered greatly under some fanatic rulers. There were instances of looting of temples and sacking of cities not only by the Western invaders but also by rulers within the country. Bhakti provided solace to the despairing hearts in the violent society.