Certain temples are regarded as uniquely sacred due to the saints’ presence in those spaces where they composed and sang their hymns. Their poignant verses still enter everyday contexts. In the social sphere, the poet-saints’ inspiring lives form the basis for the stories that mothers and grandmothers tell their children, generation after generation. An outstanding example of such melting devotion is the Thiruvachakam by Manikkavasagar.”
Lakshmi Jayachandran of Singapore shares her love of the Tamil Saivite saints: “The most inspiring aspect of the Nalvars’ poetry is their intense love and devotion expressed in exquisite language that touches the heart so directly. Every composition exudes intense and emotive bhakti rasa, which artists strive to express. It is no surprise, then, that all Carnatic and Bharatanatyam dance compositions are devotional in nature. Their compelling and lyrical songs permeate every major form of Indian classical dance and music. Indian philosophy, music, dance, literature, history, visual art, architecture, film and popular media are all influenced by these poet-saints. Vast bhakti saint networks contributed not only to the religious landscape of the past, but also to today’s living tradition of devotion. The bhakti environment created by these poet-saints influenced people from all walks of life, royalty and laymen, who were inspired by the pristine devotion of the saints and subsequently redefined their own lives as service to God. This, coupled with the burgeoning popularity of the divine songsters, kept Hinduism strong as it faced threats from other faiths. In the early seventh and eighth centuries, the Hindu Pallava and Chola kingdoms of southern India were at the height of their power. The early Vaishnava and Saiva bhakti saints composed hymns at a time when Jainism and Buddhism were gaining major popularity. From around the 6th century onwards, as far as historians can tell, regional bhakti poetry has been flourishing in the Indian subcontinent in various local languages.
The widespread devotional tradition of India is referred to as the Bhakti Movement. Belonging to diverse communities, regions, historical periods and composing in different languages, styles and contexts, these poet-saints are bound together through time by their steadfast love of God.
SINGING THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO THE DIVINE, dedicating every verse as an offering, visiting the most auspicious of temples, recounting their personal encounters with the Lord, and living a life of faith, surrender and utmost devotion characterizes all the bhakti saints of India. How a handful of God-adoring devotees changed the history of a nation
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