Question

Write short notes:

Bhakti Movement

Answer 1

1. The Bhakti movement emerged with the need to bring religious reform to Hinduism during the medieval period.
2. It rejected the caste system. It criticized excessive ritualism and advocated simplicity in worship. It professed that all human beings were equal in the eyes of God.
3. The focus was on devotional singing and repetition of his name (namasmaran).
4. Some important exponents of this are Kabir, Rahim, and Guru Nanak.
5. This movement began in the 13^th century CE with Dnyaneshwar. The centre of this movement is located at the temple of Vithoba at Pandarpur. Namdev was his contemporary who criticized fasts, pilgrimages, and all other external forms of religious practice.