Question

Summarise the impact of Bhakti movement with regard to:

Promoting regional languages and devotional literature.

Answer 1

The Bhakti saints preached in the language of the people. Languages such as Hindi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Oriya became popular. Among important literary works of this period was Ramcharit Manas by Tulsidas, Gurmukhi literature of the Sikh Gurus, and the Vaishnava literature in Bengal. The teachings of Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas helped reform Indian society. They tried to evolve a new social order by following the principle of equality and by denouncing caste distinctions. By exposing the futility of empty rituals, they did away with the domination of priests. Thus, the Bhakti movement brought in social changes.