#202: Bhakti Saints | Short notes revision

With PDF download link

20+ Bhakti Saints | Short notes🧵

Alternatively, click here to download PDF 🥰

___________________________________

1. Shankaracharya

• Disciple of Govindacharya

• Popular works: Vivekahudamani, Saundaryalahari, Bhajagovindam

• Founded Advaita Vedanta: Moksha achieved in this life (Jivanmukti), not after life & true self identical to Brahman

2. Ramanujacharya

• Disciple of Yamuna Muni & Vedprakash

• Wrote Sri Bashya, headed Srirangam Vaishnava Math,Worshipped Lord Vishnu

• Gave Vishista Advait: Non dualistic school, Doesn’t see the world as a mere illusion

3. Madhavacharya

• Works: Gita Bhashya, Anu Bhashya, Karma Nirnaya etc

• Gave philosophy of Dwaita/Dualism, aka Tattvavada

• Refutation of Mayavada of Sri Shankara; World is real, not just an illusion

4. Nimbaraka

• Disciple of Ramanujacharya

• Wrote Dashashloki & Vedant

• First to introduce Radhamadhav cult to worship Radha & Madhav

• Founded Dvaita Advaita: centred on balance b/w Advaita & Vishishtadvaita

5. Vallabhacharya

• First to promote Krishna Bhakti on Maha Bhagvad Purana

• Founded Shuddha Advaita with faith in Absolute union

• Prescribed Pushtimarga as means of salvation (extreme devotion to God)

6. Basavanna

• Philosopher, poet of Lingayat Saint (Shiva Bhakti)

• Propagated Vishishtadvaita (of Ramanujacharya)

• Social awareness via his poetry known as Vachanas & Anubhava Mantapa

7. Kabir

• 15 cent mystic poet/saint w/ verses in Guru Granth Sahib

• Formless god, first to reconcile Hinduism and Islam

• Kabir Panth & propagated Ram Bhakti

• Wrote: Sabad, Bijak, Holi, Rekhtal

8. Guru Nanak Dev

• Gave the concept of ‘Vahiguru’ i.e. shapeless, timeless, omnipresent, invisible entity

• Most famous teachings: only one god, all humans can have direct access to w/o priests

9. Mirabai

• First to introduce: Giridhara Gopala cult and Bhajans

• Bhajans in Vraj/Braj Bhasha

10. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

• Aka Gouranga & Vishambar

• Preached Gudik Vaishnavism (Bengal, Odisha)

• Main centre: Puri, first to introduce Kirtans

11. Tulsidas (seen in PYQs)

• Started Ramlila plays

• Contemporary of Akbar, wrote Ramcharitmanas in Avadhi

• Other works: Dohavali, Sahitya ratna/Ratna Ramayan, Gitavali, Krishna Gitavali/Krisnavali, Vinaya Patrika

12. Shankar Dev

• 1st to preach Vaishnavism in Brahmaputra valley

• Founder of Eka Saranadharma & Veerapurushamarga

• Credits for new forms of: Borgeet (Music) Sattriya (dance) & Brajavali (Literary Language)

13. Ekanath

• Pro-Marathi language use

• Devotion can be done with family life

• Works: Abhangas, Owees, & Bharuds

14. Namdev

• Profession: tailor, emphasised Men = Women

• Cultural unity b/w Marathas emphasised with new tradition called Mahapurusha Sampradaya

15. Tukaram

• Message: equality and Universal Brotherhood

• Shivaji contemporary, greatest Marathi Bhakti Reformer

• Popularised Vithoba cult, devotional songs called Abhangs on Vithalswami

Find 20+ Bhakti Saints compiled in one PDF by clicking here