Devotional

Teachings
Of

The Saints of the Early

Medieval Period
 Shankaracharya
(8th century)

Shankaracharya was born in Kerala. He was a believer of Advaita or

the principle of oneness.

This principle said that the souls of all living beings are part of one
supreme god or Brahma only.

He also said that the world around us is an illusion or maya.

He preached that humans should give up all relations and follow the
path of knowledge to attain salvation.
 Alvars and Nayanars
(7th to 9th century)
The Nayanars were saints devoted to Lord Shiva and Alvars were saints
Nayanars devoted to Lord Vishnu. They started the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu.

Hagiographies (religious biographies) were composed on the lives of Alvars

and Nayanars.

They suggested that dedicated love towards Shiva or Vishnu was the only
way to salvation.

They discarded the ideas of giving up family life.

They composed music in the praise of gods and went from place to place
singing them so that common people could come to know about their
An Alvar philosophies.
 Ramanuja
(11th century)

Ramanuja, born in Tamil Nadu, was deeply influenced by the thoughts

introduced by the Alvars.

He preached that salvation could be attained only through intense

devotion to Vishnu.

He introduced the idea of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness. This meant

that individual souls remained distinct even when they merged with the
supreme soul.

He believed in the temple worship of God.

 Basavanna
(Mid 12th century)

Basavanna, along with his companions, started the Virashaiva

movement in Karnataka to protest against the temple worship.

He rejected the ideas about high and low castes and strongly insisted that all
human beings are equal.

He protested against the ill treatment of women.

He also preached against all forms of ritual and idol worship.

 Nathpanthis, Sidhhas & Yogis
(12th century)

The Nathpanthis, Sidhhacharyas and Yogis flourished in North India.

They criticized the rituals and customs followed in religions. They also
condemned the caste system and the differences that existed between rich and
poor.

They insisted on giving up the family life and relations and instead focus only
on meditation.

They advocated intense training of the mind and body through yoga, breathing
exercise and meditation.