Question

write a short note on a new kind of Bhakti that emerged in South India during the 7th and 9th centuries​

Answer 1

Explanation:

A new kind of bhakti evolved in South India in the seventh to ninth century, comprising of the emergence of new religious movements which were led by Nayanars and Alvars. Nayanars were saints devoted to Shiva and Alvars were saints devoted to Vishnu.

Answer 2

—☆THE BHAKTI MOVEMENT

• The Bhakti movement began in south India between the 7th and the 10th centuries CE and emphasised on the emotional surrender of a devotee to a personal God.

• The Term, bhakti', which means 'devotion in Sanskrit focussed on an individual's relationship with God rather than on the meaningless rituals and ceremonies that had come to dominate religion in this period.

• Many historians are of the opinion that the socio-economic changes which took place during this period encouraged the emergence of the Bhakti movement. As cities grew and expanded during the medieval period, they attracted artisans and craftspeople from neighbouring regions by providing better opportunities for work.These artisans and craftspeople, as they settled into the new ways of life in a city, were attracted to the Bhakti movement because of its ideas of equality.

• The Bhakti movement attempted to break away from orthodox Brahmanism, which placed restrictions on the practice of religion for certain castes and women. The Bhakti movement encouraged the idea of religious equality instead.

—☆The Nayanars and the Alvars of South India

• The development of the Bhakti movement took place in south India between the 7th and the 12th centuries CE, under the leadership of the Nayanars (who worshipped Lord Shiva) and the Alvars (who worshipped Lord Vishnu).

• The Nayanars and the Alvars belonged to no particular caste, and were poet-saints who travelled from one place to another, composing beautiful devotional poems and setting them to music.

• They disagreed with many of the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism and rejected the rigid caste system.

• They believed in the idea of love and personal devotion to God as a means of salvation and carried their message to various parts of south India by using the local languages of the region.

• The hymns and the poems of the Nayanars and the Alvars were compiled in the 10th century a and set to music so that these could be used in the temples of the region.