பக்தி இயக்கப் பரவலாக்கத்திற்கானச் சமூக மறுமலர்ச்சிச் சிந்தனைகளும் சமகால பொருத்தப்பாடும்: Social Renaissance Thoughts for the Spread of the Bhakti Movement and Their Contemporary Relevance

Abstract

The Bhakti movement, which emerged and flourished in Tamil Nadu between the 6th and 9th centuries CE, was not merely a movement for religious expansion, but evolved into a catalyst for social renaissance. It presented counter-narratives to the hierarchical social structures—such as caste dominance, gender discrimination, and linguistic hegemony—that had frozen within the feudal social system. The foundational pillars that enabled the Bhakti movement to reach the masses were its devotional literary works. This research paper analyzes the social reform thoughts expressed through Tamil Bhakti literature, specifically the Panniru Tirumuraigal (Twelve Tirumurai volumes of Saivism) and the Nalayira Divya Prabandham (Four Thousand Divine Hymns of Vaishnavism). Furthermore, from a socio-historical perspective, it explores how these texts serve as a viable platform for discussing and addressing the social issues of the 21st century.

Keywords

• Social Renaissance
• Linguistic Hegemony
• Spiritual Equality
• Social Hierarchy
• Religious Extremism
• Social Dynamics