Bhakti Saints of Maharashtra

Active learning works well for this topic because the Bhakti saints spoke directly to people’s lives through poetry and everyday actions. When students explore their teachings through discussion, role play, and close reading, they connect with the humanism and simplicity of these saints more deeply than they would through lectures.

• Class 7
• Social Science
• 3 activities
• 20 min–40 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze the reasons why Marathi saints like Jnaneshwar and Tukaram rejected formal ritualism in favour of personal devotion.
2. Explain how the teachings of Bhakti saints promoted 'humanism' through their devotional poetry.
3. Evaluate the spiritual and cultural significance of Pandharpur as a central hub for the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.
4. Compare the devotional practices advocated by the Varkari saints with contemporary religious observances.
5. Identify key 'Abhangas' or devotional songs that exemplify the philosophy of the Bhakti saints.

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 35 min·Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Meaning of an Abhanga

Students read a translated Abhanga by Tukaram or Chokhamela (who was from an 'untouchable' caste). In small groups, they discuss what the poet says about 'true' vs. 'fake' devotion and present their summary.

Prepare & details

Explain the reasons why the Marathi saints rejected formal ritualism in favor of personal devotion.

Facilitation Tip: For Think-Pair-Share, ask students to contrast a saint’s decision to stay with family against the idea of becoming a wandering ascetic, using specific lines from their poems as evidence.

Setup: Standard classroom with moveable desks preferred; adaptable to fixed-row seating with clearly designated group zones. Works in classrooms of 30–50 students when groups are assigned fixed physical areas and whole-class synthesis replaces full group presentations.

Materials: Printed research resource packets (A4, teacher-prepared from NCERT and supplementary sources), Role cards: Facilitator, Researcher, Note-taker, Presenter, Synthesis template (one per group, A4 printable), Exit response slip for individual reflection (half-page, printable), Source evaluation checklist (optional, recommended for Classes 9–12)

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Role Play

⏱ 40 min·Whole Class

Role Play: The Varkari Pilgrimage

Students simulate the 'Vari' (pilgrimage) to Pandharpur. They walk in a line, 'singing' or reciting verses, and act out scenes where people of different castes share food and water, demonstrating the equality of the tradition.

Prepare & details

Analyze how these saints articulated and promoted 'humanism' through their devotional poetry and teachings.

Setup: Adaptable to standard classroom seating with fixed benches; fishbowl arrangements work well for Classes of 35 or more; open floor space is useful but not required

Materials: Printed character cards with role background, objectives, and knowledge constraints, Scenario brief sheet (one per student or one per group), Structured observation sheet for students watching a fishbowl format, Debrief discussion prompt cards, Assessment rubric aligned to NEP 2020 competency domains

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Renunciation vs. Family Life

The Marathi saints believed one didn't need to leave their family to find God. Students think about the pros and cons of this idea compared to being a monk. They pair up to discuss which path they find more practical for most people.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the spiritual and cultural importance of Pandharpur as a center for the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.

Setup: Works in standard Indian classroom seating without moving furniture — students turn to the person beside or behind them for the pair phase. No rearrangement required. Suitable for fixed-bench government school classrooms and standard desk-and-chair CBSE and ICSE classrooms alike.

Materials: Printed or written TPS prompt card (one open-ended question per activity), Individual notebook or response slip for the think phase, Optional pair recording slip with 'We agree that...' and 'We disagree about...' boxes, Timer (mobile phone or board timer), Chalk or whiteboard space for capturing shared responses during the class share phase

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Experienced teachers approach this topic by grounding abstract concepts like ‘universal love’ in concrete examples from the saints’ lives, such as Tukaram’s grain business or Namdev’s interactions with people of all castes. Avoid presenting these saints as distant, ascetic figures. Instead, highlight their rootedness in ordinary work and family. Research shows that when students see devotion as an everyday practice rather than an extraordinary one, they engage more deeply with the humanism at the heart of the Bhakti movement.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining the saints’ rejection of caste and ritualism, using their own words to describe how these ideas were lived out. They should also show empathy for the saints’ emphasis on serving others, linking it to their own experiences of community or family life.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Collaborative Investigation on the meaning of an abhanga, watch for students assuming all Bhakti saints were from the Brahmin caste.

What to Teach Instead

Use the provided caste diversity chart during the activity to highlight that Namdev was a tailor, Tukaram a trader, and Chokhamela a Mahar, and ask students to reflect on how this diversity shaped their messages of equality.

Common Misconception

During the Think-Pair-Share on renunciation vs. family life, listen for students believing the saints taught people to abandon their families and jobs.

What to Teach Instead

Refer to the family portraits or excerpts from Namdev’s poems shown during the activity to emphasize that the saints taught devotion through honest work, not by leaving the world behind.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After the Collaborative Investigation, pose the question: 'If you were a follower of the Bhakti saints, how would you explain the importance of helping others to someone who only believes in performing rituals?' Encourage students to use examples from the saints’ lives and teachings discussed during the activity.

Quick Check

During the Collaborative Investigation, provide students with a short excerpt from an 'Abhanga' (translated into simple Marathi or English). Ask them to identify one core message of the saint and explain how it reflects a rejection of formal ritualism or an emphasis on humanism, using their investigation notes.

Exit Ticket

On a small slip of paper, ask students to write down: 1. The name of one Bhakti saint from Maharashtra. 2. One reason they rejected formal ritualism, referencing the abhanga excerpt discussed in the Collaborative Investigation. 3. One word that describes the importance of Pandharpur to the movement, based on the Role Play activity.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to write a short abhanga in the style of Tukaram or Eknath, using a modern situation like a school or neighborhood to express devotion through service.
• For students who struggle, provide a partially filled Venn diagram comparing two saints’ backgrounds and teachings, asking them to fill in missing details from provided excerpts.
• Deeper exploration: Invite students to research how the Varkari tradition continues today, such as through the annual Wari pilgrimage, and compare it to other living traditions of devotion in India.

Key Vocabulary

Varkari Tradition	A devotional tradition in Maharashtra centered on the worship of Lord Vitthala at Pandharpur, known for its emphasis on pilgrimage and devotional singing.
Abhanga	A genre of devotional poetry, typically in Marathi, composed by saints like Tukaram and Jnaneshwar, often sung during pilgrimages.
Vitthala	A form of the Hindu deity Vishnu, primarily worshipped in Maharashtra, with his main temple located in Pandharpur.
Pandharpur	A holy town in Maharashtra, considered the spiritual capital of the Varkari tradition and the site of the famous Vitthala temple.
Humanism	In this context, the belief that true devotion involves compassion, empathy, and sharing the suffering of others, rather than solely focusing on rituals.