47th B.P.S.C. Prelims 2005

Sociology of the Bhakti Movement

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

A common feature to all Bhakti Saints was that they-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept The democratization of religion during the Bhakti movement was largely achieved through linguistic accessibility.

Explanation From the Alvars (Tamil) to Kabir (Hindi/Braj) and Shankaradeva (Assamese), all Bhakti saints bypassed Sanskrit—the language of the elite—and composed hymns in regional vernaculars to connect with the common man.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Option A is the most universal feature. This linguistic shift transformed spiritual knowledge from a monopoly to a shared public heritage.

Logic 2: While many saints rejected priestly authority (B), others like Chaitanya remained within traditional bounds. Similarly, Kabir was against idols (D), while Tulsidas was a strong proponent of them. Using local language was the only truly universal strategy.

Active Recall

Question

Why was the choice of language critical for Bhakti saints?

Answer

It allowed them to deliver spiritual messages directly to women and lower castes who were often denied access to Sanskrit education.

Core Insight

The Bhakti movement acted as a catalyst for the development of modern regional Indian languages through its rich literary output.

A common feature to all Bhakti Saints was that they-

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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