Bhaktikaal
By the thirteenth century, there was a great mess in the field of religion. The superstitions practised by the Siddhas and Yogis etc. were spreading in the public, even the orthodox class was dominated by stereotypes and hypocrisy. Due to the influence of Mayanism, feelings of public opinion and inaction were beginning to flourish in society. At such a time a huge cultural movement took place across India in the form of Bhakti movement, which established the social and personal values that were eminent in the society.
Bhaktikal is known in Hindi literature from 1375 to 1700. The medieval period of Hindi literature is famous as Bhaktikal. This time is popularly known as Bhaktikal. Bhaktikal is the best era of Hindi literature. The beginning of Bhaktikaal is believed to be from the fourteenth-fifteenth centuries. The best works of Hindi literature and all the best poets have been in this era. There are famous devotees called Alwar Bandhu in the south. Many of these were from lower castes. He was not even educated but was very experienced. The Aalvars were followed by a tradition of Acharyas in the south of which Ramanujacharya was the chief. Ramanand went on to follow in the tradition of Ramanujacharya. Ramanand's personality was extraordinary. He was the greatest maestro of that time. He ended the distinction of high and low in the field of devotion. He made qualified people of all castes his disciples.
jaati-paanti poochhe nahin koee.
hari ko bhajai so hari ka hoee.
Ramananda emphasized the worship of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu. Ramananda and his disciples carried the Bhaktiganga of the south to the north. Bhaktidhara started flowing throughout North India. At that time qualified saints and Mahatma devotees emerged all over India.
Mahaprabhu Vallabhacharya established Pushtimarga and propagated the worship of Vishnu to Krishnavatar. The Leela-song spread by Vallabhacharya affected the whole country. The famous poets of Ashtachhap spread the teachings of Vallabhacharya to the masses composed in sweet poetry. After Vallabhacharya, the Madhva and Nimbarka sects also had a profound influence on the public mind. Two other sects of the cultivation area also existed at that time. The saint sect influenced by the yoga path of the Naths, in which Sant Kabirdas is prominent. Sufism of Muslim poets is not very different from the typical Daivatism of Hindus. Some passionate Muslim poets wrote exquisite works steeped in Sufism.
Famous poet
Kabir, Raidas, Nanak, Dadudayal, Sundar Das, Malukdas, Qutaban, Manjhan, Jayasi, Usman, Surdas, Parmanandadas, Kumbhanadas, Nandadas, Hitharivansh, Haridas, Rasakhan, Dhruvadas, Mirabai, Tulsidas, Agradas, Nabedas during the Bhaktikal period With the help of his devotional compositions, he increased the Hindi literature. Even though there may be a difference in the name-form of the worshipers of these poets, the spirit of dedication is present in all.
Poetic streams
Four major poetic streams are found in Bhaktikal:
Gyaanaashrayee shaakha
Premaashrayee shaakha
Krshnaashrayee shaakha
Raamaashrayee shaakha
Both the Gyaanaashrayee shaakha and Premaashrayee shaakha come under the Nirguna sect.
Both the Krshnaashrayee shaakha and the Raamaashrayee shaakha come under the Saguna sect.
Devotees and poets of the Gyaanaashrayee shaakha were nirgunists and worshipped the name. He respected the Guru very much and did not believe in caste differences. He gave importance to individual practices. They used to oppose false pretences and stereotypes. Almost all the saints were illiterate but very rich in terms of experience.
Premaashrayee shaakha
The poetry stream of the Muslim Sufi poets of Premaashrayee shaakha was considered as lovemaking because it was their belief that love meets God. Like God, love is also omnipresent and God can only have a relationship of love with a living being, that is the core of his creations. He has written love sagas. These love songs are composed on the Persian style of masnavis. The language of these gathas is Awadhi and Doha-Chaupai verses are used in them. Despite being Muslim, these poets have written stories related to Hindu life. Without denying, these faqir poets have described divine love through physical love.
Krshnaashrayee shaakha
The Krshnaashrayee shaakha has been the most publicized and disseminated. There have been poets of the highest order in many sects. Among them, there have been great poets like Surdas of Vallabhacharya's confirmation-sect. The positions of Shirdomani devotee-poet Surdas of Vatsalya and Shringaaras have had the greatest influence on the later Hindi literature. Poets of this branch have often written Muktak poetry. The poems of Shri Krishna's child and adolescent form have attracted these poets, so in their poems, there has been a predominance of sweetness over the grace of Shri Krishna. The principal poets of this sect were Surdas, Nandadas, Meera Bai, Hitharivansh, Haridas, Rasakhan, Narottam Das etc. Rahim was of similar time.
Raamaashrayee shaakha
Leela-Purushottam Krishna had an anthem under Raamaashrayee shaakha while Tulsidas, the head poet of Rambhakti branch, meditated Maryada-Purushottam Rama. Therefore, the poet Tulsidas considered Ramchandra to be adorable and with 'Ramcharitmanas', took the Ram Katha from door to door. Tulsidas is considered the best poet of Hindi literature. Tulsidas, the coordinator, had all the qualities of Loknayak. Your Holiness and sweet voice made all the levels of the public beautiful. You wrote Ramkatha in all the languages and verses prevailing at that time. You have done the most important work in the upliftment of the people. Agradas, Nabhadas and Pran Chand Chauhan also fall in this category.
Rama: In the disciple tradition of Ramanujacharya, followers of Sri Ramananda are worshipers of Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu, the incarnation of Lord Rama. Believe in avatarism. His Rama in the form of Parabrahma. They combine modesty, power and beauty. In beauty, they have lost to Tribhuvan. With power, they suppress the wicked and protect the devotees and by virtue, teach the world of ethics. He is Maryadapurushottam and the locker.
