The Bhakti movement has no single founder it was a pan-India, decentralized devotional reform spanning approximately 800 years.
- Origins: South India with the Alvars (Vaishnava poet-saints) and Nayanars (Shaiva poet-saints) from the 6th century CE, who composed devotional hymns in Tamil
- Spread to North India through:
- Ramananda (14th–15th century) brought Bhakti to North India; disciples included Kabir, Ravidas, Mirabai
- Kabir Das (15th century) preached a formless God transcending Hindu-Muslim division
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th–16th century) led Vaishnavite Bhakti in Bengal
- Mirabai, Tukaram, Namdev, Eknath regional saints across Maharashtra, Rajasthan
The Bhakti movement originated with the Alvars and Nayanars of South India (6th century CE) and spread northward through a succession of saint-poets.