Question

Which of the following statements is true regarding the Bhakti Movement?
I. It condemned rituals, ceremonies and blind faith.
II. Rejection of idol worship by many saints.
Which of the statement(s) given is/are correct?
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II

Answer 1

Hint: It was in the 7th century in South India, the theistic trend of Bhakti Movement originated aiming to reform Hinduism. It extended over east India and north India from the 15th century onwards and reached its peak during the 15th and 17th century CE.

Complete answer: Devotion to God was the key idea of the Bhakti movement. The movement empowered those on the lowest strata of Indian society and paved way for the growth of vernacular literature. It gave equal importance to people irrespective of gender. The Bhakti movement condemned the aspects of orthodox religion and the social order and also baseless rituals and blind faith. They rejected idol worships, dominance giving to priests, the unjust and exploitative caste system etc.
The movement originated in the Tamil region and attained popularity through the poems of the Alvars and Nayanars, the Vaishnavites and Shaivites.
In the Kannada region, Basavanna initiated the movement and challenged the caste hierarchy, affirmed the individual's direct relation to God and the plausibility of salvation through good acts and simple living. Varkaris were the proponents of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.
In Northern India, Kabirdas, Guru Nanak and Ravidas propagated ideas through songs and poems.
The other major leaders of the Bhakti movement include Adi Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhvacharya, Surdas, Tulsidas, Mirabai, Ramananda, Gnanadeva and Tukaram.
Since both statements are true regarding Bhakti movement, the correct option is (C) and rest are incorrect.

Note: In reality, the Bhakti movement was a revivalist movement. It was an attempt for a transformation from the rigid caste system, the complicated ritualism and practices towards a more fulfilling method of worship and salvation.