UPSC CSE Prelims 2002

Bhakti Literature and Languages

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following was the first Bhakti Saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept A key feature of the Bhakti movement was the shift from Sanskrit to regional vernacular languages to make spirituality accessible to the masses.

Explanation Ramananda (14th-15th century) is credited with bringing the Bhakti movement from South India to the North and choosing Hindi over Sanskrit to reach the common people.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option C is correct. Ramananda was the pioneer in using the local language (Hindi/Braj) for religious discourse, which significantly boosted the movement's popularity.
Logic 2: While Kabir (B) and Tulsidas (D) are more famous for their Hindi works, they were either Ramananda's disciples or followed the precedent set by him.

Active Recall

Question

How did Ramananda's choice of language change Indian society?

Answer

By preaching in Hindi, he broke the Brahminical monopoly on spiritual knowledge and allowed people from all castes to participate in the Bhakti tradition.

Core Insight

Ramananda acted as the linguistic and cultural bridge between the Sanskrit-heavy South and the vernacular-driven North Indian Bhakti movement.