Que. The Vaishnava Bhakti tradition of the fifteenth century contributed to the flourishing of provincial literature. Discuss with appropriate examples.
पंद्रहवीं शताब्दी की वैष्णव भक्ति परम्परा ने प्रादेशिक साहित्य के उत्कर्ष में योगदान दिया। उपयुक्त उदाहरणों के साथ विवेचना कीजिए।
Structure of the Answer
(i) Introduction: Highlight the role of the “Vaishnava Bhakti tradition” in promoting vernacular literature and making religious ideas accessible to local communities.
(ii) Main Body: Discuss how Vaishnava Bhakti fostered “provincial literature” by inspiring poets and saints in different regions, with suitable examples.
(iii) Conclusion: Emphasize the lasting impact of the “Vaishnava Bhakti tradition” in shaping regional literary landscapes and preserving cultural heritage.
Introduction
The “Vaishnava Bhakti tradition” of the 15th century played a crucial role in developing provincial literature by promoting devotion in “vernacular languages.” Saints and poets from different regions enriched literary traditions through devotional compositions.
Influence of Vaishnava Bhakti on Vernacular Literature
(i) Tamil Literature (Alvars’ Influence): The “Alvar saints” in South India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, composed devotional hymns like the “Nalayira Divya Prabandham,” which became foundational texts in Tamil Vaishnavism, enriching Tamil literature with spiritual themes.
(ii) Bengali Literature (Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Contributions): Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Vaishnavism deeply impacted “Bengali literature.” His followers, such as “Krishnadasa Kaviraja,” wrote the Chaitanya Charitamrita in Bengali, fostering a literary tradition centered on Krishna devotion.
(iii) Marathi Literature (Sant Tukaram and Eknath): In Maharashtra, “Sant Tukaram” and “Eknath” used Marathi to write “abhangas” (devotional songs), making religious teachings accessible to the masses. Their works significantly influenced Marathi “spiritual literature.”
(iv) Kannada Literature (Contributions of Purandara Dasa): “Purandara Dasa,” known as the father of Carnatic music, composed “devotional songs” in Kannada, incorporating Vaishnava ideas. His contributions laid the foundation for Karnataka’s rich devotional literary tradition.
(v) Assamese Literature (Sankardev’s Literary Revival): “Sankardev,” the pioneer of the Bhakti movement in Assam, wrote in Assamese, producing works like the Kirtan Ghosa and Borgeets, fostering a “literary revival” and promoting Vaishnavism in the region.
Vaishnava Bhakti’s Role in Democratizing Literature
(i) Shift to Vernacular Languages: The “Bhakti saints” rejected Sanskrit as the sole medium of religious expression, promoting “vernacular languages” to communicate their teachings. This led to the flourishing of local literature across India.
(ii) Literature for Common People: By composing in local languages, Vaishnava saints democratized religious expression, allowing the “common people” to access spiritual texts. This inclusivity helped provincial literature thrive among diverse audiences.
(iii) Oral Tradition and Accessibility: The oral traditions of “Bhakti poetry” ensured that literary works could reach illiterate populations, preserving the message of devotion while contributing to the cultural and literary memory of regions.
(iv) Women’s Participation in Literature: Vaishnava Bhakti tradition encouraged women to compose devotional poetry. Notable figures like “Mirabai” in Rajasthan wrote extensively in Hindi, contributing to the regional literature and promoting gender inclusivity in literary production.
(v) Influence on Folk Literature: The teachings of Bhakti saints inspired “folk literature” and performances, such as “Bhajans” and “Kirtans,” which became essential mediums for transmitting religious and moral lessons, enriching local oral literary traditions.
Regional Literary Traditions Flourishing under Vaishnava Influence
(i) Vraja Literature (Vallabhacharya’s Contribution): In the Vraja region, “Vallabhacharya” promoted Krishna Bhakti, leading to the creation of Vraja literature, particularly in Braj Bhasha, focusing on the pastimes of Krishna, exemplified in texts like Sur Sagar by “Surdas.”
(ii) Oriya Literature (Influence of Jagannath Cult): In Odisha, the “Jagannath cult” inspired Vaishnava poets like “Jayadeva,” whose Gita Govinda in Sanskrit influenced later Oriya literature. Devotional songs in Oriya celebrating Jagannath flourished under Vaishnavism.
(iii) Gujarati Literature (Contributions of Narsinh Mehta): “Narsinh Mehta” composed devotional songs in Gujarati, focusing on Krishna Bhakti. His compositions laid the foundation for the Vaishnava devotional tradition in Gujarat, influencing subsequent literary developments.
(iv) Telugu Literature (Influence of Annamacharya): “Annamacharya,” the saint-poet of Andhra Pradesh, composed thousands of songs in Telugu in praise of Lord Venkateswara, contributing immensely to the regional Vaishnava literary tradition.
(v) Hindi Literature (Surdas and Tulsidas): “Surdas” and “Tulsidas” contributed greatly to Hindi literature. Surdas’ Sur Sagar and Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas played pivotal roles in popularizing Vaishnava Bhakti in Hindi, setting a standard for Hindi devotional literature.
Conclusion
The “Vaishnava Bhakti tradition” of the 15th century fostered a literary renaissance, enriching vernacular languages and promoting cultural inclusivity. Its influence on provincial literature laid the foundation for enduring “regional literary traditions” in India.
