Question

What was the Bhakti Movement? How did it help stimulate the development of regional languages?

Answer 1

Instruction:

• Write about the Bhakti Movement.
  • Streams of the movement.
  • Spread of the movement.
• Write how Bhakti movement proved to be the enabler of regional language.

Solution:

The Bhakti Movement originated in southern India. It was based on a deep love and devotion towards God. Alvars and Nayanars were the two streams of this movement. The Alvars are Vaishnavites, and the Nayanars are Shaivites.
The ideals of this movement spread to Northern India in the 14th century. Guru Nanak, Kabirdas, Tulsidas, Surdas, Tukaram, Mirabai, and Chaitanya were the main proponents of the Bhakti Movement in North India.

The poets of the movement wrote in the language of the masses. This in turn stimulated the development of regional languages like Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, and Gujarathi.