THE BASICS OF BHAKTI AS A FORM AND PIVOTAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BHAKTI MOVEMENT

Abstract

The medieval Indian history faced drastic upheavals that affected common man’s way of life. Many changes took place in almost all phases of life. However, the major changes in religion and religious theologies of the time affected a lot to socio-political life of the people. The most important religious development was the emergence of Bhakti Movement. The term Bhakti that is often used today sounds simple yet contains a profound meaning. There are different interpretations of Bhakti available as it has been presented in different context by different people. It was spontaneous and was outcome of retrospection by the reformers of medieval era. Surprisingly the works created by the poet-saints of medieval time shared tremendous resemblance in their objectives. They mainly advocated a new religion that led to reform of the vices that had taken place in ancient Vedic Brahminic religion. May be that is the reason they share many similar characteristics. Some of the great literary scholars even evaluated, interpreted, and represented the term and theology of Bhakti.