The Bhakti movement led to the emergence of many monotheistic beliefs in India. Elucidate with reference to at least three Monotheistic saints of North India.
The Bhakti movement aimed to bring religious reforms through devotion (bhakti). Bhakti refers to devotional surrender to a personally conceived God for attaining salvation. It started in South India (Kerala and Tamilnadu) in the 8th century and gradually spread to North and East India. The movement peaked during the 15th to 17th centuries, emphasizing singing and chanting of devotional compositions.
Monotheism in Bhakti:
- The monotheistic movement is the concept of monotheism, which means belief in one God. The one who is the creator.
- The features of the monotheistic movement are the synthesis of many traditions, Nirgun outlook, Independent path and Against orthodoxy.
- Monotheistic leaders give importance to spiritual gurus, the community singing devotional songs and repeating the divine name. The monotheistic movement in India began in the 15 century.
- Many saints are associated with the monotheistic movement.
- They were aware of each other’s teachings and influences.
- The Vaishnava concept of bhakti influenced the monotheists, and Sufism is the Islamic belief and practice according to which Muslims seek to find the one God.
- Monotheists believe that there is the only way to build communication with the creator or the one God is bhakti.
The main proponents of monotheistic tradition were Kabir, Guru Ravidas and Guru Nanak.
Kabir
- He was the earliest and undoubtedly the most powerful figure of the monotheistic movements that began in the 15th century.
- He belonged to a family of weavers (Julaha – who were indigenous converts to Islam). He spent the greater part of his life in Banaras.
- He is regarded as the greatest of the mystic saints, and his followers are called Kabirpanthis
- Kabir is also a proponent of Nirguna bhakti (the Supreme Being without form and properties).
- This concept, which came into philosophy with the Advaita School, caught the imagination of Kabir as well as Tulasidas.
- Kabir’s strong opposition to idolatry stems from this philosophy.
- Bijak is the best-known of the compilations of the compositions of Kabir.
- His verses are found in the Sikh holy scripture, Adi Granth.
- Guru Nanak mentions Kabir in his work, Janam Sakhi (Evidence on the Story of Birth), and states that he is a ‘Bhagat’ (devotee) equal in merit to Nanak himself.
- Kabir Das’ writings had a great influence on the Bhakti movement and includes titles like Kabir Granthawali, Anurag Sagar, Bijak, and Sakhi Granth.
- Kabir’s object was to reconcile Hindus and Muslims and establish harmony between the two sects.
Guru Ravidas
- Ravidas was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century AD.
- Venerated as a guru (teacher) in the region of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, the devotional songs of Ravidas have had a lasting impact on the bhakti movement.
- He was a poet, saint, social reformer and spiritual figure.
- If tradition and medieval era texts are to be believed, then Ravidas was one of the disciples of the bhakti saint poet Ramananda and a contemporary of the bhakti saint-poet Kabir.
- Ravidas’ devotional songs were included in the Sikh scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib.
- The Panchvani text of the Dadupanthi tradition within Hinduism also includes numerous poems of Ravidas.
- Ravidas taught the removal of social divisions of caste and gender and promoted unity in pursuing personal spiritual freedoms.
- The songs of Ravidas discuss Nirguna-Saguna themes and ideas that are at the foundation of the Nath yoga philosophy of Hinduism.
- He frequently mentions the term Sahaj, a mystical state with a union of the truths of the many and the one.
Guru Nanak
- The teachings and philosophy of Guru Nanak form an important part of Indian philosophical thought.
- He was the first Sikh Guru and the creator of Sikhism, as well as a Nirguna Bhakti Saint and social reformer.
- He preached his ideas much in the same way as Kabir and other monotheists, but due to various developments later, his teachings led to the emergence of a mass religion, Sikhism.
- Both Sufism and Bhakti contributed to the development of Nanak’s religious philosophy. So his teachings comprise the noblest principles of Hinduism and Islam.
- His philosophy consists of three basic elements: a leading charismatic personality (the Guru), ideology (Shabad) and Organization (Sangat).
- He repudiated idol worship and did not favour pilgrimage nor accept the theory of incarnation.
- He preached Nirguna bhakti (the Supreme Being without form and properties).
- He emphasised having a true Guru for revelation.
- He advised people to follow the principles of conduct and worship: sach (truth), halal (lawful earning), khair (wishing well of others), niyat (right intention) and service to the lord.
- He denounced the caste system and the inequality it caused. He argued that the acts or deeds of individuals should judge caste and honour.
- He laid stress on concepts of justice, righteousness and liberty.
- His verses mainly consist of two basic concepts, Sach (truth) and Nam (name).
- The bases of the divine expression for him were formed by the Sabad (the word), Guru (the divine precept) and Hukam (the divine order).
- He introduced the concept of Langar (a community kitchen).
- The hymns he composed were incorporated into the Adi Granth by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjun, in 1604.
Bhakti saints encouraged simple and ethical living as a path to salvation, challenging immoral societal norms, challenging social evils like untouchability and encouraging individuals to live justly. The Bhakti movement made salvation accessible to women and lower castes, breaking down rigid caste barriers and creating a more inclusive society. Bhakti saints popularized religious teachings in vernacular languages, enhancing social awareness. The movement vocally opposed societal evils like infanticide, sati, adultery, and substance abuse, contributing to the gradual erosion of these practices. Music and dance forms such as kirtana, and devotional dance forms like Sattriya flourished, enriching India’s cultural heritage. The movement integrated music and poetry into religious worship, creating a lasting legacy in Indian performing arts.
News:
Prime Minister pays tribute to Sant Kabir Das on his birth anniversary on June 11
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