Hinduism - 18.

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18. Great movements of reform

 

Side by side with these philosophical systems, a large body of

devotional literature in the spoken languages of India has been

developed. This was due to the advent of great reformers-Ramananda,

Kabir, Nanak, Mirabai, Vallabhacarya, Caitanya, Tulasidasa, and Tukaram.

Ramananda and his Muslim disciple Kabir emphasized the belief in a

supreme deity and recognized no caste distinctions, although they

accepted the doctrines of Karma and Samsara. Nanak founded the religion

of the Sikhs. He was under the influence of Islam as well as of Hinduism

and, like Kabir, he believed in Karma and Samsara, Maya and Moksha. He

laid great stress on a personal God and a society of disciples not bound

by caste or race restrictions. The militant character of Sikhism was a

later development due to Aurangzeb's intolerance and persecution.

 

The great saints of Maharashtra and Bengal created a wonderful

literature of Bhakti based on the worship of Rama or of Krishna.

Vallabhacarya, in particular, attacked Sankara's Advaita doctrine.

He preached that by Gods grace alone can man obtain release. Caitanya, a

contemporary of Vallabha, and his followers called Goswamis, were

itinerant preachers whose sincerity of religious experience brought

about a reformation in Bengal. The common features in Bhakti cults have

been pointed out by D. S. Sarma in his Renaissance of Hinduism:

 

· Belief in one supreme God of Love and Grace.

 

· Belief in the individuality of every soul, which is

nevertheless part of the Divine Soul.

 

· Belief in salvation through Bhakti.

 

· The exaltation of Bhakti above Jnana and Karma; and, also

above, the performance of rites and ceremonies.

 

· Extreme reverence paid to the Guru.

 

· The doctrine of the Holy Name.

 

· Initiation through a mantra and a sacramental meal.

 

· The institution of sectarian orders of Sanyasins.

 

· The relaxing of the rules of caste, sometimes even ignoring

all caste distinctions.

 

· Religious teaching through the vernaculars.

 

It was out of these Bhakti cults that the Sikh group transformed itself

into a military brotherhood. Bhakti cults gave rise to such works as the

Ramayana by Tulasidasa, the Abhanga of Tukaram and the poems of devotees

like Ramprasad of Bengal and Tayumanavar of South India and passionate

outpouring of Mira Bai. All these helped to popularize the spirit of

devotion and resulted in a great religious revival in many parts of

India.