Briefly describe the development of the Bhakti movement in Bengal.
A movement of Krishna Bhakti began in Bengal. Its earliest preachers were Vidyapati Thakur and Chandidas. But the most famous preacher of Krishna Bhakti was Chaitanya (1485-1533 C.E.). He was born in a Brahman family. People used to worship him by considering him as an incarnation of Krishna. He adopted Sanyasa and went over to Orissa from Bengal. There he spent two decades in the worship of Lord Jagannatha. A number of people of different religions came under his influence and became followers of Krishna. Many top officials of Bengal were also included in it.
