Sant Mirabai Janmotsav

Context: 'Sant Mirabai Janmotsav,' an event dedicated to celebrating the 525th birth anniversary of Sant Mirabai is scheduled to take place in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. During the event, the Prime Minister will unveil a commemorative stamp and coin as a tribute to Mirabai. This event will signify the commencement of a year-long series of programs in honour of Mirabai.

Mirabai (1498-1546):

• Mirabai (Meera), was born into the Rathore Rajput royal family in Kudki, located in the present-day Pali district of Rajasthan.
• She spent her formative years in Merta and was the great-granddaughter of Rana Jodhaji, the founder of Jodhpur.
• In 1516, she was unwillingly married to Bhoj Raj, the crown prince of Mewar, and faced various challenges in her marital life.
• Mirabai's life took a transformative turn when she became a devoted follower of Lord Krishna. Her unwavering devotion led her to abandon the royal palace and embark on a spiritual journey. She saw Krishna as the beloved and is considered to be high example of Premabhakti.
• After the death of her husband, she left the kingdom of Mewar and embarked on pilgrimages.
• In her later years, she is said to have lived in Dwarka or Vrindavan. 
• Mirabai advocated for the inclusion of all, irrespective of factors like birth, poverty, age, and sex, in receiving divine grace.
• Mirabai's contribution to the Bhakti movement is manifested in her devotional songs and lyrics, constituting a rich cultural heritage and her bhajans continue to be sung across India.
• Mirabai's legacy endures through the continued singing of her compositions, especially the popular ‘Payoji Maine Naam Ratan Dhan Payo.’ 
• She is mentioned in Bhaktamal written by Nabha Dass. 

About Bhaktamal (Bhaktamaal)

• Bhaktamal (written in early 17^th century) is a poem written in Braj Language by Nabha Dass. 
• Bhaktamal compiles life history of more 200 bhaktas from Puranic times to Bhakti movement.
• Though written as hagiography, the book recounts no miraculous events and is widely believed to be an unbiased account of bhaktas across all sectarian paths. 
• Nabha Dass belonged to the sect of Ramananda Sampradaya, the sect following the teachings of Saint Ramananda.

Bhakti movement in India

• It originated in the Tamil region during the 6^th-7^th centuries AD and gained prominence through the poetic expressions of the Alvars and Nayanars, representing Vaishnavite and Shaivite perspectives, respectively. 
• In the 12th century, Basavanna initiated a significant phase of the Bhakti movement in the Kannada region.
  • Despite posing a threat to the caste hierarchy and societal fabric, Basavanna (a minister of King Bijjala from Kalachuri Dynasty) and his disciples, including Akkamahadevi, Allama Prabhu, and Devara Dasimayya, produced a rich literary tradition known as Vachana sahitya.
  • These Vachanas conveyed profound observations on spiritual and social aspects.
• In Maharashtra, the Bhakti movement gained momentum in the late 13th century, led by the Varkaris. Influential figures like Jnanadev, Namdev, and Tukaram played a pivotal role, leaving behind verses that encapsulated the essence of Bhakti.
  • Tukaram, a Shudra by caste, rebelled against societal norms by becoming a merchant and defying Brahminical injunctions against writing on religious matters. 
  • Writing in Marathi rather than Sanskrit, Tukaram faced opposition from the orthodoxy. 

Expansion of Bhakti movement to the North:

• As the Bhakti movement gained traction in South India, Vaishnava scholars and saints played a pivotal role in elucidating its philosophical teachings. 
• Ramanuja, for instance, introduced the doctrine of Vishistadvaita, also known as qualified monism, which stood in contrast to the absolute monism advocated by Adi Sankara.
• The Bhakti movement originating in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, subsequently spread to Karnataka, Maharashtra, and eventually reached North India in the 15th century.
• It reached its pinnacle during the 15th and 17th centuries.

Causes for the origin of Bhakti movement:

Social evils and dissatisfaction

• The genesis of the Bhakti movement can be traced to the prevalent social evils in Hindu society.
• The rigid caste system, irrelevant rituals, blind faiths, and economic disparities due to casteism created discontent among common people.
• The monopolization of religion by Brahmins further fuelled dissatisfaction, prompting a need for a more liberal form of religion.

Challenge from Islam

• The emergence of Islam in India posed a significant challenge to Hinduism.
• Unlike Buddhism and Jainism, which lost vitality over time due to the tolerant outlook of Hinduism, Islam presented a formidable challenge.
• With Muslims becoming rulers by the 13th century AD, their religion, characterized by universal brotherhood, equality, absence of caste system, and monotheism, attracted Hindus, especially the oppressed Sudras.

Influence of Sufism

• Sufism, a reform movement within Islam, played a crucial role in the origin of the Bhakti movement.
• Prominent Sufi saints like Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya fostered a spirit of reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims. 
• The liberal approach of Sufism influenced Hindu saints, contributing to the development of Bhakti ideals. 

Appeal of simple devotion

• The complexity of Vedic and Upanishadic philosophy led common people to seek a simpler form of worship and religious practices.
• The paths of Gnana marga and Karma marga were perceived as difficult, making Bhakti marga, a simple way of devotion, an appealing alternative for salvation from worldly life.

Role of religious reformers

• Hindu religious reformers responded to the egalitarian message of Islam, especially appealing to the lower classes of Hindu society.
• The medieval period witnessed various revivalist movements in Hinduism under different sages and saints, all rooted in the Bhakti philosophy. 

Salient features of Bhakti movement:

• Bhakti reformers championed the principle of monotheism, advocating the belief in the oneness of God. This foundational concept sought to unify spiritual practices and direct devotion towards a singular divine entity.
• The Bhakti movement underscored the significance of self-surrender as a means to attain divine bliss and grace. Devotees were encouraged to submit themselves entirely to the will of God in their spiritual journey.
• Recognizing the need for guidance, Bhakti reformers acknowledged the role of gurus as mentors and preceptors. These spiritual leaders played a crucial part in guiding individuals on their path to salvation.
• A key principle of the Bhakti movement was the promotion of universal brotherhood. Bhakti leaders rejected societal divisions based on birth, emphasizing the idea that all living beings, including humans, were children of God.
• Bhakti reformers were vocal critics of idol worship, challenging the prevalent practice of revering physical representations of deities. They argued for a more direct and personal connection with the divine.
• A distinctive feature of the Bhakti movement was the stress on singing hymns with profound devotion. Devotees expressed their love and devotion to God through the composition and recitation of devotional songs.
• Bhakti leaders vehemently condemned the caste system, emphasizing that all individuals, regardless of their birth, were considered as God's children. This stance aimed at breaking down social barriers and fostering equality.
• The Bhakti movement rejected the significance of ritualistic practices, pilgrimages, and fasting as a means of achieving spiritual growth. Instead, emphasis was placed on the purity of heart and devotion.
• A notable aspect of the Bhakti movement was its disregard for the sanctity of any particular language. Bhakti leaders composed poems and hymns in the language of the common people, making spirituality accessible to a wider audience.

Some of the important proponents of the Bhakti movement:

• Kabir
  • Despite limited historical evidence on his life, he is believed to have been a weaver and a disciple of Ramananda.
  • Kabir's poetry emphasized on the universality of God, attracting a wide following.
  • A religious radical, Kabir denounced the narrowness of both Hindu and Islamic sectarianism. 
  • His message resonated strongly with the lower classes of Hindu society.
  • Denunciated polytheism, idolatry, and caste divisions, seeking to break barriers between Hindus and Muslims.
• Ravidas
  • Ravidas, a poet saint of the 15th to 16th century Bhakti movement, is venerated as a guru in regions like Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Spoke against caste and gender divisions, advocating unity in the pursuit of personal spiritual freedoms.
• Guru Nanak
  • Guru Nanak, born in 1469, founded Sikhism, emphasizing monotheism and strict morality. Over two centuries, Sikhism expanded under the leadership of its ten gurus.
  • Sikhism stressed the oneness of God and adherence to strict moral principles.
  • Sikh teachings fostered a strong sense of community among adherents.
  • Gurus faced conflicts with the Mughal empire, leading to persecution and martyrdom. 
  • Guru Govind Singh was the last guru, after whom the Granth Sahib became the religious authority.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1485–1533)
  • Chaitanya of Bengal presented a distinctive aspect of the Bhakti movement, focusing on the exaltation of Krishna over other deities.
  • Unlike Kabir, Chaitanya's movement was revivalist and centred on the worship of Vishnu, particularly in the form of Krishna.
  • Bengal Vaishnavites, under Chaitanya's influence, did not seek to reform Hinduism but stressed devotion to Krishna.
  • Chaitanya made disciples from all classes, popularizing group devotional singing accompanied by ecstatic dancing.

Significance of the Bhakti movement:

The Bhakti movement played a pivotal role in redefining the accessibility of salvation. Previously confined to the first three social orders, salvation became inclusive, offering a path to spiritual redemption for everyone. Women and individuals from the lower strata of society found an all-encompassing route to salvation through the Bhakti movement.

Impact on Medieval Indian society:

• Social impact of Bhakti movement:
  • One of the most significant social impacts was the rejection of caste distinctions by followers of the Bhakti movement. They mingled based on equality, sharing meals from a common kitchen, and aimed to loosen the bonds of caste.
  • The movement fostered harmony among different societal sections and elevated the status of women.
  • The practice of 'Sati' faced resistance, and the Bhakti saints emerged as social reformers condemning various social evils.
• Religious impact:
  • The Bhakti movement awakened Hindus and Muslims to the futility of ritualism and superstitions.
  • The movement encouraged religious toleration, exemplified by the inclusion of messages from different sects in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs.
• Promotion of regional languages:
  • The Bhakti saints communicated their teachings through local languages, making spirituality accessible to the common people.
  • This shift from Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian contributed to the promotion of regional languages.
  • Saints like Kabir, Surdas, and Tulsidas expressed their devotion in languages like a mixture of Hindi, Braj Bhasha, and Awadhi.
  • The use of regional languages made religious knowledge more inclusive, allowing people from all walks of life to actively participate in and understand the spiritual discourse.
• Moral values:
  • The movement instilled a spirit of piety in daily life, promoting hard work, honest means of earning wealth, and social service to the poor. It emphasized humanitarian values, contentment, and self-control. 

While the Bhakti movement had a profound impact on society, its two-fold objective—reforming Hinduism and fostering harmonious relations between Hindus and Muslims—was only partially realized. The movement gave rise to Sikhism and contributed to the broad outlook of rulers like Akbar. However, it also led to further divisions within the Hindu society, exemplified by the emergence of distinct groups like the followers of Kabir known as Kabir Panthis.