What significant changes occurred in India's religious landscape between the eighth and eighteenth centuries?

Fill in the blanks: Brahmanical ideas became accessible to traditionally excluded segments of society, such as ___ and ___, through the use of simple Sanskrit verse in Puranic texts.

Women and Shudras

True or False: Conflicts between different religious groups in India during this period were primarily due to the lack of interaction among the various traditions.

False. Conflicts arose from the emphasis on the supremacy of deities like Vishnu or Shiva and interactions with other traditions like Buddhism and Jainism.

Which local deity in Puri became recognized as a form of Vishnu by the twelfth century?

Jagannatha

How did Tantric practices associated with goddess worship differ from traditional religious practices in India?

Tantric practices were notable for being inclusive and transcending traditional caste and class boundaries.

B) It often involved intense emotional engagement

The Bhakti movements were significant for challenging traditional social structures, particularly the ___ system.

Caste

What was the role of the Alvars and Nayanars in the Bhakti movements?

They were poet-saints who traveled and sang hymns in Tamil, promoting devotion to Vishnu and Shiva and advocating for social inclusivity.

True or False: The compositions of the Alvars were considered less important than the Vedas by their followers.

False. The compositions of the Alvars were regarded as equally vital, with the Nalayira Divyaprabandham often referred to as the Tamil Veda.

Women such as ___ and ___ were notable figures in the Bhakti tradition, challenging patriarchal norms through their compositions.

Andal and Karaikkal Ammaiyar

Saguna bhakti emphasizes devotion to ___, while nirguna bhakti focuses on ___ forms of the divine.

Anthropomorphic deities; formless

How did the Tamil Bhakti traditions interact with the state during the reign of the Chola rulers?

The Chola rulers supported Brahmanical and Bhakti traditions by constructing temples, making land grants, and incorporating bhakti hymns into temple rituals.

Fill in the blank: The Alvars and Nayanars' hymns often expressed opposition to ___ and ___ as part of their religious compositions.

Buddhism and Jainism

Who founded the Virashaiva movement in Karnataka during the 12th century?

Basavanna, a Brahmana minister under a Kalachuri ruler.

Lingayats worship Shiva as the ___ and they are also known as ___ .

Linga; Virashaivas.

True or False: Lingayats perform cremation rituals for their dead.

False. Lingayats ceremonially bury their dead instead of performing cremation.

What is the significance of vachanas in the Virashaiva tradition?

Vachanas are profound sayings composed in Kannada that offer insights into the beliefs and teachings of the Virashaiva movement.

Fill in the blank: The Virashaiva movement challenged Brahmanical norms such as caste distinctions, ritual pollution, and the concept of ___ .

Rebirth.

What practices did the Lingayats support that contradicted the Dharmashastras?

Post-puberty marriage and widow remarriage.

True or False: The Lingayats do not wear any religious symbols.

False. Lingayats wear a small linga in a silver case.

What is the role of jangama in the Lingayat community?

Jangama are wandering monks who are revered by the Lingayat community.

What significant cultural changes occurred in North India due to the arrival of the Turks and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate?

The arrival of the Turks and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate weakened the Rajput states and Brahmanical influence, leading to significant cultural and religious transformations, including the rise of Sufism.

Fill in the blank: During religious ferment in North India, influential positions were held by ___ in both secular and ritual roles.

Brahmanas

True or False: The Alvars and Nayanars had movements in North India before the 14th century.

False. There is no evidence of such movements in North India until the 14th century.

Who were the alternative religious leaders that gained prominence in North India during this period?

Naths, Jogis, and Siddhas.