Q. Consider the following statement regarding the history of the Temple Entry Movement in India: “The Aruvippuram consecration by Sree Narayana Guru in 1888 was a revolutionary act that challenged the Brahminical monopoly over religious rituals by declaring that God belongs to all, regardless of caste”.
Which of the following describes this statement most accurately?

[A] It was the first instance of a non-Brahmin claiming the right to install a deity in a temple.

[B] It led directly to the Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936.

[C] It was a symbolic act that rejected the idea that only certain castes could interact with the divine.

[D] It was condemned by the Justice Party as a religious distraction from political goals.

Answer: C
Notes:

Explanation:

  • Statement (c) is the most comprehensive. Sree Narayana Guru famously replied to critics that he installed an “Ezhava Siva,” not a “Brahmin Siva,” thereby democratizing the access to divinity. While (a) is technically correct in context, (c) captures the philosophical essence of the overall movement.
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