DEVOTIONAL PATHS TO THE DIVINE -- CLASS 7

Bhakti Movement in South India

Bhakti Movement in South India

Learning Objective:

• What is Bhakti Movement?
• Why Bhakti Movement?
• Bhakti Movement in South India from 7th century AD to 9th century
• Nayanar and Alvar
• Important Teachings of Nayanar and Alvar
• Sacred books of Nayanar and Alvar

Note: Read the entire blog/lecture note as it will help in grabbing the concept and internalizing the learning. 

 Understanding Religious Development in Medieval India:

To understand religious development, it is important to understand society and social rules/norms of that time. Society under consideration is of 7^th century AD to 15^th century AD. The Society was based on caste system (upper caste, lower caste). Naturally there was inequality in the society as lower castes were not permitted to enter temples. There was no escape from rigid practices and beliefs. So how religion could give equality in this society? Bhakti movement made it possible. Then what this Bhakti Movement is? [Apart from that the society was in transition. People were changing their caste-based profession.And hence people were looking for social equality or break from the existing rigid beliefs and practices]

Before understanding Bhakti Movement, let me first explain very simple concept of religion – it was worship of god /it was attainment of god. There could be two ways to attainment of god. One was through ‘attainment of Knowledge’. But this way was difficult for common people. Only some privileged/special people of that time could attain it. Masses/large section of other castes could not enjoy the status of equality in religious matters.

Here the need for new path/way to access/find god was felt for the masses/large section of deprived people. This new path came from Bhakti Movement. The word ‘Bhakti’ we all understand; it is called devotion. This was a new way to worship. Now all people could worship through devotion to their personal gods. Saints who showed this path of Bhakti/devotion to personal gods are known as Bhakti Saints.

Q & A

What is Bhakti Movement? 

The word Bhakti means devotion (to personal god). Saints or Teachers preached devotion to personal god. Bhakti movement started in South India in 7th century AD. 

What was the need of Bhakti Movement?  

or

Why did many teachers reject prevalent practices or beliefs?

Whenever existing religious practices are not able to accommodate all sections of society, a new religious movement takes shape. The period under consideration i.e. 7th century AD to 15th century AD was based on caste system. The society was deeply divided into upper castes and lower castes. Entry to temple was not allowed for lower castes. There was no escape from rigid practices and beliefs. So how religion could give equality in this society? People were turning towards Buddhism and Jainism. As the prevailing practices and beliefs were the cause of social inequality, many thinkers and teachers of that time rejected these practices and beliefs. These teachers/saints preached Bhakti i.e. devtion to god in local languages. Naturally these saints came from all castes of society. Thus common people could find the ways to salvation.

Bhakti Movement: South India

The Bhakti Movement started in South India in 7^th century.  This movement started from Shiva Temple and Vishnu Temple. The saints who were devotees of Lord Shiva were called Nayanar saints [The nearest Sanskrit word that can be identified with Nayanar is ‘Nayaka’ means leader].The collection of Nayanar saints hymns  (poems) are called Devaram [or Tevaram meaning ‘Garland of God’]. Manikkavasaga [or Manikkavachagar], one of the Nayanar saints, composed hymns known as Tiruvasagam [or Tiru vackam, Tiru means sacred and vackam means utterances]. Nayanar saints promoted caste equality.

The saints who were devotees of Lord Vishnu were called Alvar saints [Alvar means one who is ‘immersed’ in the experience of God]. The collection of Alvar saints hymns  (poems) are called divyaprabandham.

Summary of Bhakti Movement: South India

Nayanar:

The hymns (songs) composed by 63 Nayanar saints have been complied in eleven (11) volumes. The collection of all eleven volumes is known as "Tirumurai".

The collection of first seven volumes (1st volume to seventh volume)is called "Tevaram" or "Devaram". This collection mainly consists of hymns composed by Appar, Nanasambandar, and Sundarmurti.

The eighth volume is known as "Tiruvackam" and has been composed by Manikkavasaga.   

Alvar:

Divya Prabandham is the collection of hymns by twelve (12) Alvar saints. 

Andal, the daughter of Periyalvar, was the renowned Alvar saint.

  Summary in tabulated form:

	Shiva Temple	Vishnu Temple
	Lord Shiva	Lord Vishnu
	Nayanar saints: Devotees of Lord Shiva	Alvar saints: Devotees of Lord Vishnu
	promoted caste equality,  Thus reduced social evils	Promoted caste equality,  Thus reduced social evils
Important saints	·   Appar ·   Nanasambandar ·   Sundermurti ·  Manikkavasaga(Manikkavachagar): composed ‘Tiruvasagam’ (Tiru+vackam)	·         Periyalvar ·         Andal (daughter of Periyalvar) ·         Tiruppam ·         Tondarradippodi ·         Nammalvar
Collection of hymns	Devaram (Tevaram)	Divyaprabandham (divya+prabandham)
Hagiography	Biographical hymns in praise of saints	Biographical hymns in praise of saints

 Questions for practice:

1. Name a woman Bhakti saint. (Hint: Andal)

2. What is Devaram/Tevaram? (Hint: collection of hymns of Nayanar saints. Nayanar were devotees of Shiva)

3. What is Divya Prabandham? (Hint: collection of hymns of Alvar saints. Alvar were devotees of Vishnu)

4. When and Where did the Bhakti Movement begin? (Hint: South India, 7th century AD)

5. How did the Bhakti Movement help in reducing social evils? (Hint: brought social equality ....)

6. What is Hagiography? (Hint: biographical hymns in praise of saints)

7. Name the work of Manikkavasaga. (Hint: Tiruvackam..... Tiru means sacred and vackam is utterances... )

8. The language chosen by Bhakti poets. (Hint: local language)