Bhakti as an Ideology

The idea that Bhakti became “an ideological force in the restructuring of economy and society, with the Brahmanical temple as its focus,” especially during the Chola dynasty, is an important point. Champakalakshmi, however, adds a nuanced view, stating:

“If the hymns are read as registering a protest, it is important to see what they were protesting against or dissenting from. The hymns themselves provide ample evidence of the nature of protest or dissent, the social background of the hymnists who expounded Bhakti, and their attitude to caste hierarchy. The Bhakti hymns are dominated by three major themes. Foremost among them is the idea of devotion to a personal god. The second is a protest against orthodox Vedic Brahmanism and the exclusiveness of the Brahmanas in their access to divine grace and salvation, that is, an elitism in the religious sphere. The third is a vehement denunciation of the Jains and Buddhists as non-believers, heretics, and hence as ‘heterodox.’ Hints of the struggle between the Tamil hymnists and the orthodox Vedic Brahmanas are found in the poetry of Nammalvar, Tontaratippoti, and Mathurakai, and in the hagiography of the twelfth-thirteenth centuries, as, for example, in the story of Tiruppanalvar.” 

(Champakalakshmi, Religion, Tradition, and Ideology: Pre-colonial South India, Oxford, New Delhi (2011), 2012, pp. 59-60)

This scholarly approach of interpreting Bhakti hymns as a protest against “orthodox Vedic Brahmanism and the exclusiveness of the Brahmanas in their access to divine grace” offers an intriguing perspective. While the evidence from hymns and hagiographies supports this academic interpretation, the notion that Bhakti — and the kings who employed it — served economic interests to consolidate their power seems disconnected from the lived experiences of common people, both historically and today.

In my view, no government, whether a monarchy or a democracy, can adhere to a fixed ideology indefinitely. For instance, Nehru’s vision of social democracy has largely faded in India, although the country still retains its democratic principles. Furthermore, in any form of government, policies are shaped by both local political pressures and global economic realities. The same was likely true in the past, where no kingdom remained strong or stable for long periods, suggesting that ideologies, including Bhakti, were more fluid and subject to change over time.

12-6-2014