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U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1993

Bhakti Movement History

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The Bhakti culture reborn in India during-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept While the roots of Bhakti are ancient, its second great wave or 'rebirth' occurred in Northern India during the late medieval period, shifting from the South to the North.

Explanation According to historical analysis in NCERT, the 15th and 16th centuries witnessed a radical spiritual shift led by saints who bypassed traditional Sanskrit and preached in vernacular languages. This era saw the rise of both Nirguna (formless) and Saguna (with form) traditions.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option D is correct because this period coincides with the lives of Kabir, Nanak, Mirabai, and Chaitanya, who made Bhakti a mass movement.
Logic 2: While it originated in South India (Tamil Nadu) between the 6th-9th centuries (Option B), its pan-Indian revival and peak social impact occurred in the 15th-16th centuries.

Active Recall

Question

What triggered the revival of Bhakti in Northern India?

Answer

The social rigidity of the time and the influence of Sufism created a fertile ground for a more egalitarian and personal form of worship.

Core Insight

The 15th-century revival was unique because it synthesized local folk traditions with high-order Vedantic philosophy, making spirituality accessible to the marginalized.

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