What is the Bhakti Movement?

The Bhakti movement is a movement that influenced Hinduism. It was introduced in South India during the seventh to tenth century C.E. Some Indians followed the Hindu religion in the medieval period. In this period, the people worshiped the god which was very tough and more ritualistic. In this period Hinduism worshipped Shiva or Vishnu. There were two groups in Hinduism, Nayanars, and Alvars. Nayanars are the group of 63 saints that worship lord shiva and Alvars are the Tamil saints that worship lord Vishnu. The Bhakti movement believes that the god is one, everyone in various castes worships a god. Adi Shankaracharya was one of the famous philosophers in the 8th century that spread the bhakti movement.

Causes of the Bhakti Movement

The following are some of the causes of the Bhakti Movement:

1. Caste System: The caste System in Hinduism had developed unhappiness among the Hindus. Caste breaks into the lower and upper castes. People from lower castes were untouchable and were discriminated against by the upper caste.
2. Complexity of Religion: The philosophy of Vedas and Upanishads was tough to read for the simple or common people because people wanted to worship the god simply. So, the bhakti movement gives an easy way of worshiping god.
3. Impact of Islam: Similar to the bhakti movement, the Sufi movement was also popular for spreading the love for god and brotherhood between the people.
4. Believe in Guru: Saints such as Guru Nanak, and Kabir believe that without a guru one cannot achieve salvation or moksha because a guru guides his disciple and provides the right direction.
5. Simplicity in Religious Activities: Saints believed that god can only be achieved by singing bhakti songs in his praise. It reflects the love and feelings for the god.

Principles of the Bhakti Movement

The following are the principles of the bhakti movement:

• The Bhakti movement believes that the god is one.
• They spread equality and brotherhood.
• They believe that salvation or moksha can be achieved by worship of god.
• They are against the caste system.

Effects of Bhakti Movement

The following are the impacts or effects of bhakti movement:

• It did not believe in violence.
• It helped poor people to provide free hostels.
• It spread the cultural dance.
• It provided flexibility in the caste system.
• It spread and promoted the regional language.

The Bhakti and Sufi movements are the movements that influenced Hinduism and Islam. The Bhakti movement believes in Hinduism and the Sufi movement believes in Islam. Both movements connect to the god and spread peace and love in nature. In this article, we will look into the differences between Bhakti and Sufi movements. Apart from differences, we will also cover the causes, principles, and effects of Bhakti and Sufi movements.