Equality and Bhakti Movement in India
Challenging Caste: Equality and Social Reform in the Bhakti Movement of India
by Arvind Kumar Mishra*,
- Published in Journal of Advances and Scholarly Researches in Allied Education, E-ISSN: 2230-7540
Volume 15, Issue No. 7, Sep 2018, Pages 359 - 362 (4)
Published by: Ignited Minds Journals
ABSTRACT
The Bhakti Movement originated in India as a reaction against the caste system and ritualism. It was started by the Vaishnava and Saiva saints of south India. It attacked the caste system and preached equality of all people by emphasising over the doctrine that there is only one God and all people are equal in the eyes of God. The teachings of bhakti saints like Guru Nanak, Kabir and Ravidas helped in reforming the Indian society. They tried to evolve a new social order by following the principles of equality and by denouncing caste distinction.
KEYWORD
Bhakti Movement, India, caste system, ritualism, Vaishnava, Saiva saints, equality, God, bhakti saints, Guru Nanak
36 - Jayant Lele- The Bhakti Movement in India: A critical introduction, p.12.
I am hopeful I am the servant of your slaves For your leavings I‘ve brought my basket.‖37 Dalit Bhakti voices talking about denial of dignity, rights and freedom could spread the large scale awareness among masses especially Untouchables. While concluding I would say that I too agree with the view that ―The Bhakti Movement was a sublimation of terrible worldly sufferings, pain and misery that found natural outlet in sweet-sad and poignant devotional songs.‖38 Bhakti movement had a tremendous impact on society. It could also become so popular because the Bhakti saints who led this movement were mainly from the oppressed and lower sections of society and they spoke out the things which they experienced as well. Many people raise the question that if it was so popular and powerful then why could it not change and annihilate the whole social structure? Here it should be kept in mind that Bhakti Movement was not a revolutionary movement and also it could not get the support of ruling and dominant classes. Whatever this movement could do to address the issues of various equalities was outstanding and exemplary.
REFERENCES:
1. Mishra, Vijay (2000). Devotional Poetics and the Indian Sublime. New Delhi: D. K. Printworld (P) Ltd. 2. Verma, Vidhu (2011). Non- discrimination and Equality in India: Contesting Boundaries of Social Justice. London: Routledge. 3. Shobha, Savitri Chandra (1983). Social Life and Concepts in Medieval Hindi Bhakti Poetry: A Socio-Cultural Study. Delhi: Chandrayan Publications.
37 - Jayashree B. Gokhale-Turner: Bhakti or Vidroha: continuity and change in dalit sahitya, article in Tradition and modernity in Bhakti Movement by E.J. Brill, 1981, p.31. 38 - Hiren Gohain- The labyrinth of Bhakti: On some questions of medieval Indian history, EPW, Vol.22, No.46( Nov. 14,1987),p.1970.
5. Gohain, Hiren (1987). The labyrinth of Bhakti: On Some Questions of Medieval Indian History. EPW, Vol. 22, No. 46 (Nov. 14, 1987).
Corresponding Author Arvind Kumar Mishra*
ICSSR Doctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005
arvindmishra29@gmail.com