Volume : IV, Issue : VIII, August - 2014

Bhakti Movement: A Socio–Religious Struggle of the Marginalised Society

Ms. Mohua Dutta

Abstract :

Bhakti Movement, as a socialist criticism, became a platform for the marginalised sections of shudras and atishudras to protest against social inequalities based on the ‘varna’ system, authorised by Manusmriti and other vedic scriptures. It belied the term ‘bhakti’ to not only mean institutionalised religion, but also individual salvation. The sants preached exemplary standards of castelessness and a non–hierarchical life of fellow humanism, spread the message of love and unity, and urged people to shed their slough of rituals and superstitions. Islam also played its role in spreading the message of equality through Sufism. The egalitarian reforms in the Vedic ideology further led to the division of Bhakti Movement into Saguna and Nirguna school, both having its separate set of ideals and practices. The tradition of dissent and protest culminated in the Sant Mat of Kabir and Nanak who spoke not only against the practices of untouchability, but also the social and economic concerns of the farmer and labour classes. 

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Article: Download PDF   DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

Ms. Mohua Dutta Bhakti Movement: A Socio-Religious Struggle of the Marginalised Society Indian Journal of Applied Research, Vol.4, Issue.8 August 2014

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