Bhakti Poet Saints, The

Whilst Europe endured the Dark Ages in the 6th & 7th Centuries devotees of Shiva and Vishnu in Southern India were creating the Bhakti Movement. Some of these exponents, as in our volume, were bestowed with the title of saint but some had the additional title of sant, swami or goswami. Broadly speaking, Bhakti poetry, as in Hinduism itself, is divided into ‘Nirguna’, the idea that the divine is formless as exampled by Kabir and ‘Saguna’ which interprets the divine as having physical form as captured by Mirabai. The rapid spread, of the Bhakti movement, with its theme of love and devotion to God, proffered by these rebellious poet saints, did, over the following centuries, meld with much needed Hindu reforms and went to the heart of human existence. These ‘God possessing’ rather than ‘God fearing’ poets rejected hierarchies and intermediaries in their spiritual devotion and were critical of rules, regulations and ritual observances administered by Brahmin priests in the sacred but elitist court and temple Sanskrit. Their poems, in their local language, emphasised personal devotion as a route to salvation with kind deeds and a humble life rather than ritual mediation, stretched the fabric of society. They were all from lower castes and many were women giving the movement an egalitarian spirit that helped reinforce the message that god’s love was all-encompassing for every person willing to surrender to the divine. Furthermore, their verse was accessible, simple, innovative with new poetic forms and often expressed in songs with a fierce passion and ecstasy that demonstrated the movement’s focus on inner, mystical and authentic devotion and humility. Impromptu performances with provocative outbursts of singing and dancing in unconventional settings or public gatherings evolved into poetic presentations and community recitals as the rapid popularity of the movement spread. Although the language is every day and simple, many verses carry undercurrents of complex ideas, philosophical and psychological dilemmas, nuance and humour. 1 - The Bhakti Poet Saints - An Introduction 2 - His Ears Ringeth by Sambandar 3 - Thiruppavi (An Extract) by Andal 4 - Tiruvasiriyam by Nammalvar 5 - Navada Bhakti in An Untainted Heart by Gangasati 6 - Show Me Your Way Out by Akka Mahadevi 7 - Would A Circling Surface Vulture by Akka Mahadevi 8 - The True Name is Like Sandalwood by Namdev 9 - Amrutanubhav (An Extract) by Dnyaneshwar 10 - Vakh - If in the Flux of Time by Lal Ded 11 - Vakh - They Who Have Gained Experience by Lal Ded 12 - Acceptance by Janabai 13 - Where Shall I Go by Ramananda 14 - Vaishnav by Narsinh Mehta 15 - Pointless It Is To Lament by Narsinh Mehta 16 - Illusion and Reality by Kabir 17 - Song 6 - The Moon by Kabir 18 - I Laugh When I Hear That the Fish in the Water is Thirsty by Kabir 19 - It is the Mercy of My True Guru by Kabir 20 - Song 1 - Oh Servant Where Dost Thou Seek Me by Kabir 21 - Song 69 - If God Be Within the Mosque by Kabir 22 - The Light of the Sun by Kabir 23 - You Are Me and I Am You by Ravidas 24 - The Name Alone Is The Truth by Ravidas 25 - How to Escape by Ravidas 26 - Dhanasri Measure by Guru Nanak 27 - Gauri Dipaki Measure by Guru Nanak 28 - Shikshashtakam by Chaitanya 29 - Mine is Gopal by Mirabai 30 - Beloved Mohan by Mirabai 31 - Mira is Steadfast by Mirabai 32 - I Will Sing the Praises by Mirabai 33 - O Deluded Ones by Mirabai 34 - Enjoy the Company of True Saints by Mirabai 35 - Listen by Mirabai 36 - Sister Without the Lord I Cannot Carry On by Mirabai 37 - Hanuman Chalisa by Tulsidas 38 - To Arrange Words by Tu