How did the Bhakti Movement transform religious and social life in India during this period?

From the 6th century, the Bhakti Movement spread across India, transforming religious practices. The Ālvārs, who were Viṣhṇu devotees, and the Nāyanārs, who were Śhiva devotees, led the movement in the South. The movement emphasised personal devotion to God over elaborate rituals. Most importantly, Bhakti cut across social divisions, including caste and gender barriers. This made religion more accessible to common people and challenged rigid social hierarchies. Religion increasingly centred on temples, maṭhas, pilgrimage, and bhakti devotion during this transformative period.