The Bhakti saints belonging to the Saguna school were confirmists. Whi...
Nirguna bhakti is the devotion towards a formless, all-encompassing God. The word ‘nirgun’ means ‘devoid of qualities,’ referring to the lack of physical attributes in God.
It is one of the two forms of devotion prevalent in Hinduism, the other one being Sagun Bhakti which sees God in a physical form. A prominent preacher of Nirgun Bhakti was Saint Kabir, one of the pioneers of the Bhakti movement.
The Bhakti saints belonging to the Saguna school were confirmists. Whi...
Introduction:
The Bhakti movement, which originated in medieval India, was a religious and social reform movement that sought to establish a personal and emotional connection between the individual and the divine. The movement can be broadly classified into two schools - Saguna and Nirguna. The Saguna school believed in the worship of a personal god with attributes (Saguna) while the Nirguna school emphasized the formless and attributeless nature of God (Nirguna).
Bhakti Saints and the Saguna School:
The Bhakti saints belonging to the Saguna school were proponents of devotional worship and believed in the existence of a personal god with attributes. They advocated the use of rituals, ceremonies, and symbols for the worship of the divine. Some of the prominent saints belonging to this school include Tulsidas, Mirabai, and Surdas.
Tulsidas:
Tulsidas was a saint and poet who composed the epic Ramcharitmanas, which narrates the life and teachings of Lord Rama. He was a devotee of Lord Rama and propagated the worship of Rama as a means to attain salvation. Tulsidas' works are filled with devotion and love for the divine.
Mirabai:
Mirabai was a mystic poet and devotee of Lord Krishna. She expressed her devotion through her soul-stirring poetry and songs. Mirabai's verses are filled with love, longing, and surrender to Lord Krishna. She is known for her unwavering devotion and disregard for societal norms.
Surdas:
Surdas was a blind poet and devotee of Lord Krishna. His compositions, known as the "Surdas ke Pad," depict his deep love and devotion for Krishna. Surdas' poetry revolves around the divine love between Radha and Krishna and the longing of the devotee to unite with the divine.
Kabir:
Kabir was a mystic poet and philosopher who rejected the rituals and dogmas of organized religion. He emphasized the unity of all religions and believed in the formless and attributeless nature of God. Kabir's verses are characterized by their simplicity, directness, and rejection of external forms of worship.
Conclusion:
Out of the given options, Kabir did not belong to the Saguna school of Bhakti saints. Unlike Tulsidas, Mirabai, and Surdas, Kabir rejected the worship of a personal god with attributes and advocated for a direct and personal experience of the divine. His teachings transcend religious boundaries and emphasize the unity of all beings.
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