Chaitanya (1485–1533)
- Chaitanya’s concern, unlike that of Kabir, was not with bringing people to an understanding of a God, beyond all creeds and formulations; it was to exalt the superiority of Krishna over all other deities. It was, in other words, a revivalist, not a syncretic movement, a return to a worship of Vishnu under one of his most appealing forms, the loving ecstatic Krishna.
Jnanesvara (1271-1296)
- Jnanesvara wrote his commentary on the ‘Bhagwat Gita’ called ‘Bhavartha Dipika’ which is commonly known as Jnanesveri. It is the fountainhead of Maharashtrian Devotionalism. He also composed “Amritanubhava” (immortal experience), based on the philosophy of the Upanishads and “Haripatha”, a song admiring Hari (Vishnu). He firmly opposed the Brahmans who would not allow the lower castes to read the scriptures.
Namdev (1270-1350)
- Namdev was a contemporary of Jnanesvara. He was a tailor by caste. He was surrounded by other low-caste saints.
- A staunch devotee of Vithala (avatar of Vishnu) of Pandarpur, Namdeva spent much of his time in worship along with his followers, chanting mostly in his own verses. He wrote many abhangs (songs composed and sung by saints in Maharashtra in praise of God’s glory) in Marathi and Hindi. He travelled as far as Punjab where his teachings became so popular that they were later absorbed in the Guru Granth (The holy Sikh Book).
Saint Eknath (1533 – 1599 CE)
- He was a scholar of Varkari sampradaya and Vaishnavism, the branch of Hinduism that is characterised by devotion to God Vishnu and his incarnations (avatars). He is known to have enriched Marathi literature and had translated various Sanskrit texts into Marathi.He introduced a new form of Marathi religious song called Bharood. He was known for resolving conflicts between householder duties and the demands of religious devotion. He was against caste distinctions and spread the message that there was no distinction in God’s eyes between Brahmin and outcaste or between Hindu and Muslim.
Sur Das
- Sur Das lived at the court of Akbar and was popularly known as the blind bard of Agra. Sur Das is believed to have been a disciple of Vallabacharya. Sur Das preached religion of love and devotion to a personal God. He wrote inspiring and moving poems, Hindi poems about Lord Krishna. Krishna’s bal lila constitutes the first great theme of Sur Das poetry. According to him, love is a sublimated theme representing the irresistible attraction of the gopis of Brindavan towards Krishna.
Mirabai
- Mirabai was born in Kudh of Merta district of Rajasthan. She was the great granddaughter of Rana Jodhaji, founder of Jodhpur. She was married to Bhoj Raj, son of Rana Sanga of Mewar. She became a devotee of Lord Krishna, left the palace and began singing her songs (bhajans) and preaching the path of love on God.She was the first to introduce Giridhara Gopala cult of Brindavan and also the first to introduce Bhajan in Bhakthi movement Her bhajans were composed in the language of Vraj Bhasha.
Raidas
- He lived at Banaras and earned his living by mending shoes. He lived a life of simplicity and contentment. Instead of indulging in high philosophic speculation about God and nature in his hymns, he aimed at the unity of Hinduism and Islam. There is a spirit of harmony in his writings. He rejected the theory of incarnation, looked upon the world as the play of God and advocated complete surrender to Him.
