Bhakti Movement — Saints and Philosophy

5.1 Origins and Tamil Bhakti (6th–9th Century)

The Bhakti movement represents a profound spiritual and social revolution — direct, personal devotion to God that bypassed ritual, caste, and priestly intermediaries.

Alvars (Vaishnava Bhakti)

Twelve Tamil saints (6th–9th century CE) composed 4,000 Tamil verses collectively known as Nalayira Divya Prabandham ("4,000 Sacred Compositions"). The collection was compiled by Nathamuni (c. 824–924 CE), who rediscovered lost works and taught them as the "Tamil Veda." Key Alvar saints:

• Nammalvar — author of Tiruvaimoli (1,102 verses), individually called "Tamil Veda"
• Andal — only female Alvar; composed Tiruppavai
• Periyalvar and Kulashekhara Alvar

Nayanmars (Shaivite Bhakti)

63 Tamil saints whose hymns were compiled in the Tirumurai (12 books). The first seven books — collectively called Tevaram — contain hymns by:

• Appar (Tirunavukkarasar)
• Sundaramurthy (Sundarar)
• Thirugnana Sambandar

The Tiruvachakam by Manikkavacakar (9th century) is a later addition (book 8).

5.2 Maharashtra Bhakti — Varkari Sampradaya

The Varkari movement centred on pilgrimage to Pandharpur (Maharashtra) to worship Vithoba (Vitthal/Vishnu). Key saints:

• Dnyaneshwar (1275–1296 CE): Composed Dnyaneshwari (1290 CE) — a Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita in 9,000 verses — at age 15/16; also composed Amritanubhava
• Namdev (c. 1270–1350 CE): Tailor-saint; abhangas appear in both Marathi collections and the Sikh Adi Granth
• Eknath (1533–1599 CE): Scholar-saint who translated and commentated on Sanskrit texts in Marathi
• Tukaram (1608–1650 CE): Greatest Varkari poet; abhangas confront social hierarchy and emphasise equality before God; persecuted by Brahmins but vindicated

5.3 North Indian Bhakti (14th–17th Century)

Ramananda

Ramananda (c. 1360–1450 CE), disciple of Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita school, became the bridge between the southern and northern Bhakti streams. He preached in Hindi (not Sanskrit) and accepted disciples regardless of caste. His 12 disciples included Kabir (a Muslim weaver), Raidas (a cobbler), and Sena (a barber).

Kabir (c. 1440–1518 CE)

Kabir preached Nirguna Bhakti — devotion to a formless, unnamed God (called Ram, Hari, Allah interchangeably). His key teachings:

• God is within every human heart; caste is spiritually meaningless
• Rituals of both Hinduism and Islam are obstacles to true devotion
• Dohas and padas compiled in three main collections: Bijak (Kabir Panthis), Adi Granth (Sikhs), Granthavali (Dadu Panthis)

Mirabai (c. 1498–1547 CE)

Mirabai, Rajput princess-saint of Merta (Rajasthan), married into the Chittor royal family and renounced domestic life for devotion to Krishna as her "divine spouse." She composed hundreds of bhajans in Rajasthani and Brajbhasha — the most famous being "Payo Ji Maine Ram Ratan Dhan Payo." She represents the female voice and anti-patriarchal spirituality of the Bhakti movement.

Surdas (c. 1478–1583 CE)

Surdas, blind Vaishnava saint of Braj (Agra region), composed approximately 125,000 verses in Brajbhasha, compiled as Sur Sagar — primarily devoted to Krishna's childhood (Bal Lila) and youth. He is one of the "Ashtachap" — eight poet-saints patronised by Vallabhacharya's Pushtimarga sect.

Tulsidas (1532–1623 CE)

Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas (1574–1577) in Awadhi — the definitive North Indian vernacular Ramayana, with 10,902 lines in seven books. He also wrote Vinaypatrika, Kavitavali, and other texts. The Ramcharitmanas is read aloud (Ram Katha) in millions of Hindu homes daily — arguably the single most influential text in North Indian popular culture.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534 CE)

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Bengali Vaishnava saint, founded the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition. He emphasised kirtan (devotional singing) and prema bhakti (pure love of Krishna). His followers established the six Vrindavan Goswamis tradition; the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) traces its lineage to this tradition.

5.4 Sikh Religion (15th–17th Century)

Guru Nanak (1469–1539 CE)

Guru Nanak, born at Nankana Sahib (now Pakistan), preached four core principles:

• Ek Onkar — One God
• Kirat Karo — honest work
• Vand Chakko — share with others
• Naam Japo — meditate on God's name

He made four extensive journeys (udasis) across India and to Mecca and Baghdad. His compositions form the core of the Adi Granth (later Guru Granth Sahib).

Guru Granth Sahib (compiled 1604)

The Sikh holy scripture was compiled by the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev. It contains hymns of six Sikh Gurus plus compositions by 15 saints including Kabir, Namdev, Raidas, Farid, and others — a uniquely inclusive scripture. The tenth and last Guru, Gobind Singh (1666–1708), declared it the eternal Guru.

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