what are the causes of the Bhakti Movement? discuss about Vaisnavites and Shaivites.
The French Revolution of 1789 was fueled by a mix of social, economic, and political issues that deeply affected the lives of ordinary people. Socially, France was a land of sharp inequalities. The society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else, known as the ThirRead more
The French Revolution of 1789 was fueled by a mix of social, economic, and political issues that deeply affected the lives of ordinary people. Socially, France was a land of sharp inequalities. The society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else, known as the Third Estate. Most people belonged to the Third Estate and were burdened with heavy taxes, while the privileged classes paid little or none. This created a deep sense of injustice and resentment among the common folk.
Economically, France was in turmoil. The country had accumulated massive debt due to expensive wars and the lavish lifestyle of King Louis XVI and his court. To make matters worse, poor harvests in the late 1780s led to food shortages and soaring bread prices. For many families, putting food on the table became a daily struggle, leading to widespread anger and desperation.
Politically, the absolute monarchy was increasingly seen as out of touch and oppressive. Enlightenment ideas promoting liberty and equality were spreading, inspiring people to question the existing order. When King Louis XVI called the Estates-General in 1789 to address the financial crisis, it quickly became clear that the Third Estate was vastly underrepresented. Frustration boiled over, culminating in the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a symbolic act that marked the start of the revolution. These interconnected grievances created a powerful wave of demand for change, leading to the upheaval that transformed France.
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The bhakti movement emerged as a reform movement to traditional vedic practices. It originated in 8th century kerala and tamil nadu. It was primarily practiced by the alvars( Vishnu bhakts) and Nayannars (Shiva bhakts). The movement travelled northernwards and was spread by renowned saints in such SRead more
The bhakti movement emerged as a reform movement to traditional vedic practices. It originated in 8th century kerala and tamil nadu. It was primarily practiced by the alvars( Vishnu bhakts) and Nayannars (Shiva bhakts). The movement travelled northernwards and was spread by renowned saints in such Sant gnaneshwar , Sant Shankraracharya, Kabirdas, Guru Nanak and Sant Meera bai
The movement was caused by…
1)Fear of spread of islam in Indian subcontinent.
2)Competition from Jainism and Buddhism for popularity and followers.
3)An effort to unify the followers of vedic practices within the country and bring them under an umbrella.
4)Effort to fight the caste discrimination prevalent with traditional vedic practices which made the masses turn to other religions
5)Making religion more accessible to the masses intellectually and materially by doing away with animal sacrifices and the focus on hymns and poems.
The Nayannars and alvars of south India were vaishnavites and shaivites respectively and they kickstarted the Bhakti movement. They came from all backgrounds included oppressed castes and preached their respective gods as the path to salvation using hymns and poems. There were 12 alvars and 63 Nayannars who were reknowned at this period.
Hence the Bhakti movement spread due to the above mentioned reasons and was kickstarted by the Nayannars and Alvars Leading to its prevalence from the 1th to the 16th century.
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