The earliest Bhakti movements in India emerged around the 7th century CE and were led by several influential saints who emphasized personal devotion to a deity over ritualistic practices. The movement began with the Alvars and Nayanars in Tamil Nadu. The Alvars, such as Nammazhvar and Periyalvar, devoted their lives to the worship of Lord Vishnu, expressing their love through devotional hymns. Similarly, the Nayanars, including Thirugnana Sambandar and Appar, dedicated their hymns to Lord Shiva, highlighting personal devotion and direct experience of the divine. This early Bhakti tradition focused on intense, personal devotion and accessibility to the divine through love and surrender rather than through complex rituals. The movement emphasized devotion over caste distinctions, making spirituality more inclusive. This set the stage for later Bhakti saints across India, such as Kabir, Mirabai, and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who continued to spread the Bhakti message and challenge established religious practices. The early Bhakti movements were pivotal in shaping devotional practices and fostering a more personal, inclusive approach to spirituality in India.