251. Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra and Namdev, 1270-1350 A.D.

The main trends in bhakti in Maharashtra took the form of a number of sant traditions that developed between 13th to 17th centuries. More emphasis was given to Guru and satsang, the company of the good, as a path to self-realization. Verses were composed in abhang form based on an old folk song form called Ovi. There  were five main sampradaya or Sant tradition in Maharashtra. The Mahanubhav Sampradaya, The Nath tradition , The Datta tradition The Samarth tradition The Varkari tradition Namdev is regarded as a link between the  northern Bhakti movement and the Maharashtra Bhakti movement. He was born nearly two hundred years before Nank and one hundred and thirty years before Kabir and his period is said to have been between 1270-1350 A.D. Namdev was born into a family of low-caste tailors, though as he grew he showed little interest in the family profession or in any worldly affairs. As is sometimes common in rural India, he was married as a child, at age 11. He eventually had four children. His marriage was not a happy one, however, as his wife belittled Namdev's devotion to God, while Namdev, for his part, did little to earn much needed income for the family. He taught that the only way to attain God is through Bhakti and there was no place for cast distinctions here.