RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS OF MEDIEVAL INDIA

 RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS OF MEDIEVAL INDIA ➤ The Bhakti Movement began in South India in the 7th Century.The Alvars (Vaishnavites) and Naynars popularised the Bhakti cult in South India. There were 12 Alvar Vaishnavite and 63 Naynar Saivite Saints. The writings of these saints were collected in the Tirumurai. The Tirumurai has been called as the Tamil Veda. Periya Puranam was composed by Shekkilar in the reign of the Chola king Kulottunga I.

 Ramananda was the first great Bhakti saint of North India. Raidas, Kabir, Dhanna, Pipa were his disciples. Kabir (1440-1518) belonged to a family of weavers. Kabir spent greater part of his life in Banaras. Kabir’s verses were included in Adi Granth.Raidas was a tanner. Dhanna was a Jat peasant from Rajasthan.Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was born at Nankana Sahib. Kabir and Nanak were Nirguna Bhakti saints. Vallabhacharya was a Telugu Brahmana. He was the founder of Pushti marga (way of grace)

 Chaitanya (1486-1533) was the most prominent Vaishnav saint of Bengal. He popularized Krishna Bhakti. He was looked upon as living Krishna. Jnaneswar (1275-1296) was the pioneer Bhakti Saint of Maharashtra. Jnaneswar wrote Jnaneswari. Jnaneswari is a commentary on Bhagavad Gita.

 Jnaneswar was the author of many hymns called Abhangas.Namdeva (1270-1350) was a tailor by caste. Namdeva travelled to North India and Punjab. Namdev’s Bhakti Songs have been included in the Adi Granth. Namdeva is considered to be a part of the Varkari tradition.

 In Assam, Sankaradeva (1449-1568) introduced bhakti. Sankaradeva’s sect is called Mahapurushiya dharma.Dadu (1544-1603) was inspired by Kabir’s doctrine. Tukaram’s teachings are in the form of Abhangas or dohas. Tukaram founded the Varkari Sect. Ramdasa wrote Dasabodha. Ramdasa was the Guru of Shivaji. The Lingayat Sect was founded by Basava.The biography of Chaitanya is ‘Chaitanya charitamrita’. The biography of Chaitanya was written by Krishnadas Kaviraj.

  

The disciples of Kabir later formed the Kabirpanthi sect. Jagjivan Das founded the Satnami sect. Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas, Vinaypatrika, Kavitavali. Surdas wrote Sur Surawali, Sahitya Ratna, Sursagar.Mirabai was a Rajput Princes of Merta. Mirabai married to Bhojraja, son of Rana Sanga. Mirabai was famous for her devotion to Krishna.

 Mirabai advocated image-worship and observance of special fasts. Mirabai wrote Several poems like Padavali; Ramanuja advocated the philsophy of Vishistadvaitavada. Madhvacharya founded the Dvaita philosophy. Nimbarka propounded the Dvaitadvaita philosophy.Nimbarka founded the Sanak Sampradaya.