The correct answer is C. Both I & II.
The Bhakti movement was a Hindu devotional movement that emphasized the importance of personal devotion to God over ritual and caste. The movement began in the 6th century CE and spread throughout India over the next few centuries.
One of the key features of the Bhakti movement was its emphasis on the unity of the god-head. Bhakti saints taught that all religions were paths to the same God, and that all people were equal in the eyes of God. This message of equality was particularly appealing to lower-caste Hindus, who had been traditionally excluded from religious and social life.
Another key feature of the Bhakti movement was its emphasis on devotion to God. Bhakti saints taught that the only way to achieve salvation was through love and devotion to God. They encouraged their followers to sing songs, dance, and chant the names of God in order to express their love for him.
The Bhakti movement had a profound impact on Indian society. It helped to spread the message of equality and tolerance, and it played a role in the decline of the caste system. The movement also produced some of the most important literature in the Hindu tradition, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- Option I: Its proponents preached the ‘unity of the god-head’ and emphasized that ‘devotion to God’ and faith in him led to salvation.
This is a correct statement. Bhakti saints taught that all religions were paths to the same God, and that all people were equal in the eyes of God. They encouraged their followers to sing songs, dance, and chant the names of God in order to express their love for him.
- Option II: It laid stress on equality of all human beings and universal brotherhood.
This is also a correct statement. The Bhakti movement helped to spread the message of equality and tolerance, and it played a role in the decline of the caste system. The movement also produced some of the most important literature in the Hindu tradition, including the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana.
- Option III: Neither I nor II
This is an incorrect statement. Both options I and II are correct statements about the features of the Bhakti movement.