Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a 14th century saint who played an important role in promoting the idea of Krishna Bhakti. His ideas and thoughts are collected in a book 'Chaitanya Charitamrita' by Krishna Das Kaviraja in Bengali Language with Sanskrit verses.  It also describes the life journey of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in different phases.

Dadu Dayal was a saint from northern India. "Dadu" means brother, and "Dayal" means "the compassionate one". All of his teachings are recorded and composed by his disciples into two books namely "Dadu Dayal Ri Vani" and "Dadu Dayal Ra Doha". 

Guru Ravidas was a north Indian mystic in the 15th century. his devotional songs and poems are included in the Sikh Scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib. Sikh scriptures are recited and prayers take place in the temples devoted to Ravidas.

The doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and intense devotion or love towards the God was the the best means of attaining salvation.

Different saints of the north and south India had started a movement against the caste hierarchy, rituals, and blind faith. This movement is called the Bhakti movement. Saints of this movement stressed on equality. They said that 
God can be achieved through devotion and good deeds. Two forms of bhakti were introduced

During medieval period discrimination on the basis of caste, sex, religion was at the boom. People believed in untouchability and to fulfil useless rituals.  Due to these practices, people were suffering and as a result different saints, poets and social reformers gave birth to the Bhakti movement. Though the ideology of different saints might differ yet they all were agreed on the following points

Ramanand was born in Allahabad. He was a disciple of Ramanuja. He spread the message of devotion to Lord Rama. He challenged caste distinctions. He was against bad customs and ceremonies. He accepted his disciples without discrimination of caste, gender, religion, and birth.

The earliest bhakti movements (from sixth century to ninth century) were led by the 12 Alvars. These Alvars were“immersed” in devotion to Vishnu or Krishna.

The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu and the Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. They traveled extensively, composing hymns in Tamil, and sanctified specific locations as abodes of their deities.

Andal was the only female Alvar saint among 12 alvar saints of the south. She was the daughter of Alvar saint Periyalvar. Like other Alvar saints, she was also a devotee of Lord Vishnu. Her Tamil work Thiruppavi and Nachiar are still recited by devotees during the winter festival season of Margazhi.

Ramananda was a proponent of Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) and focused on Rama-bhakti. Statement I is generally associated with Ramanuja's influence, and statement II describes Dvaita (Madhvacharya), not Ramananda's specific philosophy.

Nayanars and Alvars saints led the bhakti movement in south India. They preached ardent love of Shiva (by Nayanars) or Vishnu(by Alvars) as the path of salvation. They were sharply critical of Buddhists and  Jainas. They were against the rigidity of rituals followed by the people. They stressed on devotion and love.

Nayanars are the worshipers of Shiva in Tamil Nadu.  Along with the Alvars, who are the worshipers of Vishnu, they participated in the Bhakti movement in the 6-8th century.

Shrimad Dasbodh is a classical 17th century Hindu Advaita Vedanta spiritual text. It was orally narrated by saint Samarth Ramdas, to his disciple Kalyan Swami.

The Bhakti movement significantly promoted the use of regional languages for devotional literature, but it was primarily a Hindu movement, not a Buddhist one.