explain the impact of the thoughts and teachings of bhakti saints. how female Bhakti saint defy social obligation
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Bhakti as a concept means devotion and surrender. Originating from South India in the 7th century, the Bhakti movement propagated the idea that God dwells in each individual and one could attain God through faith and devotion. Earlier historians perceived the Bhakti movement as a literary or at best an ideological phenomena which had religion at the basis of its inspiration. But later it also came to be regarded as an attempt at bringing about an egalitarian society, or as a protest against Brahmanical monopoly.
With everyone equal in the eyes of God, the movement brought religion and spirituality to the marginalized classes – specifically women, whose religious expression was restricted in many ways. It was a movement that not only aimed at individual salvation and a mystical union with God but also towards socio-religious egalitarianism. It liberated both God and man (inclusive of woman) from the shackles of Brahminical monopoly. The movement created a space where one could have a personal relationship with God and removed all intermediaries, rendering all Brahminical traditions, and the role of Brahmin priests futile.
With such an alternative religious system in place, many women and lower-caste individuals joined the movement and expressed themselves with no inhibitions. The quest for salvation no longer required Sanskrit mantras and rituals, but included dignity of labour.
The movement saw several women saints as well as saints from lower castes leading masses in their own regions, and singing songs and poems in their vernacular language. The Bhakti movement was not just one movement, but an accretion of smaller regional movements towards salvation and against oppressive
Bhakti saints rejected all fixities to religion and spirituality. When temples closed doors on them, they, freeing their god from closed doors, carried him in their hearts; they either discouraged idol worship and worshipped a nirguna (formless) god or substituted him as one of those who could dwell in humble abodes
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