The Bhakti movement refers to the theistic devotional trend that emerged in medieval Hinduism[1] and later revolutionised in Sikhism.[2] It originated in the eighth-century Tamil south India (now Tamil Nadu and Kerala) and spread northwards.[1] It swept over east and north India from the 15th century onwards, reaching its zenith between the 15th and 17th century CE. *Meaning *Main Features *Development *The Path Of Bhakti *Impact

1. BHAKTI MOVEMENT
By: Deepak Nahar (17BCB0068)

2. MEANING OF BHAKTI
 Single - minded intense devotion to God.
 It was a complete surrender of oneself to
God.
 The movement which emphasized primarily
these ideas was the Bhakti movement -
devotion to God.
 Bhakti to God was accepted as salvation.

3. MAIN FEATURES OFBHAKTI
 1. Unityof God or one God though known
by different names.
 2. Bhakti, intense love and devotion, the
only way to salvation.
 3. Repetition of the True Name.
 4. Self-Surrender
 5. Condemnation of rituals, ceremonies and
blind faith.

4.  6. Rejection of idol worship by many saints
 7. Open- mindedness about deciding
religious matters.
 8. No distinction of different castes, higher
or low
 9. Need of a guru for guidance advocated
by some.
 10. Preaching’s through local or regional
languages and travelling from place to
place for spreading the religious message.
MAIN FEATURES OFBHAKTI
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5.  Many doctrines of the Bhakti cult may be
found in the Bhagavad-Gita.
 The idea of the unity of God is reflected in
the words, “Even those devotees whoworship
other gods worship Mealone.” (IX 23).
 It is not the way of worship but the love of a
selfless devotee of pure heart that matters for
“Whoever offers to me with devotion, a leaf, a
flower, a fruit, or water …I accept”.
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MAIN FEATURES OFBHAKTI

6.  However, the real development of Bhakti took
place in South India between the 7th and the
12th centuries through the teachings of poet
saints known as Alvars and Nayanar whose
hymns were collected and compiled in the
10th century.
 The Sufi saints of the Muslims also
emphasized devotion to Allah (God). The
spiritual yearning made Kabir, Guru Nanak,
Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsi Das, Chaitanya and
others, the great exponents of Bhakti
movement.
Development of the movement

7. The Path Of Bhakti
• The earliest saints who appeared after Buddhist
era on the Indian scene were Alvars (a.k.a.
Alwars). They came from present day
Tamilnadu.
• According to modern scholars the Alvars
flourished between seventh and ninth centuries
A.D. They were worshippers of Vishnu and are
known as Bhagavata.

8. The Path Of Bhakti
• Vishnu's incarnation is Krishna, who for is
popular in Western India. The Guptas in North
and Pallavas in South were followers of Vishnu
and Bhagavata teachings.
• The Alvars who are twelve in number were
great mystics and sang their mystic experiences
in simple poems known as Pashuras composed
in ecstatic love towards the Lord which depict
different bhavas (attitudes).

9. IMPACT OF BHAKTI
 With a view to understand the impact of the
Bhakti movement, we have to consider the
background under which the movement
gained momentum.
 Under the impact of the Muslim rule, the
Hindus had suffered a lot materially,
morally and spiritually. The Muslim rulers in
general wanted to enforce the Islamic laws on
the Hindus.

10. IMPACT OF BHAKTI
 The Muslim rule had put dread in the hearts
of the Hindu masses.
 Consider music: Kirtan at a Hindu Temple, Qawalli
at a Dargah (by Muslims), and Gurbani at a
Gurdwara derive from the Bhakti movement. (800-
1700).
 Singing of Bhajans and dancing formed an
important part of this worship.
 Apart frorn being overwhelmingly ritualistic, the
worship tended to be intensely emotional.
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