Bhakti movement

E102077

The Bhakti movement was a medieval Indian devotional trend that emphasized personal love and devotion to a chosen deity over ritualism and caste distinctions, profoundly shaping the subcontinent’s religious and cultural life.

All labels observed (17)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (78)

Predicate Object
instanceOf devotional movement
religious movement
social reform movement
associatedWith Abhangas
Bhagavata Purana
Bhakti poetry
Ramcharitmanas
Vachanas
criticized empty ritual practices
social hierarchy based on birth
doctrine grace of God
rejection of caste-based religious privilege
salvation through devotion
emphasizes loving relationship with a chosen deity
personal devotion
encouraged bhajan
congregational singing
kirtan
simple forms of worship
flourishedIn medieval India
hasPart Alvar movement
Nayanars
surface form: Nayanar movement

Sant bhakti
Shaiva bhakti
Sufi–Bhakti interactions
Vaishnava bhakti
influenced Bhagavata tradition
Indian music
Indian poetry
Indian temple culture
Indian vernacular literature
North Indian devotional traditions
Sant tradition
Shaivism
Sikhism
Vaishnavism
keyFigure Andal
Appar
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Bhagat Kabir
surface form: Kabir

Madhvacharya
surface form: Madhva

Manikkavacakar
Meera Bai
surface form: Mirabai

Namdev
Narsinh Mehta
Ramanujacharya
surface form: Ramanuja

Bhagat Ravidas
surface form: Ravidas

Sundarar
Bhagat Surdas
surface form: Surdas

Tukaram
Tulsidas
Vallabhacharya
mainConcept bhakti
devotion to a personal god
opposes Brahmanical orthodoxy
caste distinctions
ritualism
originatedIn South India
Tamil region
promotes direct relationship with God
emotional expression in religion
equality of devotees
use of vernacular languages in worship
region South Asia
surface form: Indian subcontinent
religion Hinduism
religiousOrientation monotheistic tendencies
personal theism
startTime 7th century
timePeriod circa 7th to 17th century
usesLanguage Awadhi
Bengali
Braj
Gujarati
Hindi
Kannada
Marathi language
surface form: Marathi

Tamil
Telugu

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (104)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Tawhid-i Ilahi influencedBy Bhakti movement
Divine Faith influencedBy Bhakti movement