TEACHING OF BHAKTI MOVEMENT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Bhakti movement was a Hindu religious movement of the medieval period that promoted the
belief that salvation was attainable by everyone. The movement is closely related to Islamic Sufism, which
appeared around the same time: both advocated that a personal expression of devotion to God is the way to
become at one with him. Bhakti movement swept through central and northern India, initiated by a loosely
associated group of sants. Ramananda, Ravidas, Srimanta Sankardeva, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,
Vallabhacharya, Surdas, Meera Bai, Kabir, Tulsidas, Namdev, Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram and other mystics
spearheaded the Bhakti movement in the North while Annamacharya, Bhadrachala Ramadas, Tyagaraja
among others propagated Bhakti in the South. Bhakti movement in India is responsible for many rites and
rituals associated with the worship of God by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs. It stressed the mystical union of the
individual with God.
They created a climate of opinion which continued to work through the succeeding centuries. Their
teachings were reflected even in the religious ideas of present day Indian society.. The impact of their
teaching can be seen in the continuous struggle between the orthodox and liberals till to day. This article
have aim to highlight the teachings of prominent bhakti reformers and their impact on society