Dialectics Between Bhakti and Mukti Movements in India

The Bhakti and Mukti movements in India, often viewed as a unified spiritual phenomenon, are in reality two distinct ideological streams that reflect contrasting visions of social order and liberation. While the Bhakti movement, as represented by figures like Tulsidas, Mirabai, and Surdas, emphasized devotion and religious faith, the Mukti movement, championed by Sant Ravidas, Kabir, and Dadu, sought radical social transformation. Sant Ravidas?s concept of ?Begumpura? represents an egalitarian vision of a casteless, classless society, challenging the hierarchical structures reinforced by mainstream Bhakti traditions. The historiographical interpretation of these movements has often diluted the revolutionary essence of the Mukti movement by subsuming it under Bhakti, thereby neutralizing its potential for social change. This paper re - examines the dialectics between Bhakti and Mukti movements, highlighting their inherent contradictions and the need to recognize Mukti as an independent liberation movement. Through an analysis of literary and historical sources, this study asserts the continued relevance of the Mukti movement in contemporary struggles against caste - based oppression and social injustice.