Question

Discuss the influences and importance of bhakti movement

Answer 1

Karen Pechelis states that the word Bhakti should not be understood as uncritical emotion, but as committed engagement. Bhakti movement in Hinduism refers to ideas and engagement that emerged in the medieval era on love and devotion to religious concepts built around one or more gods and goddesses.

The main principles of Bhakti movement were :

(1) God is one,

(2) To worship God man should serve humanity,

(3) All men are equal,

(4) Worshipping God with devotion is better than performing religious ceremonies and going on pilgrimages, and

(5) Caste distinctions and superstitious practices are to be given up.

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