In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.

Assertion: Some historians suggest that Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas.
Reasoning: Bhaktas hailed from diverse social backgrounds ranging from Brahmanas to artisans and cultivators and even from castes considered "untouchable".

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

The best answer is: Option 1: Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Here's why:

• Assertion: This statement is true. The Alvars and Nayanars were saint-poets from South India who, during the 6th to 9th centuries CE, challenged the rigidities of the caste system and the dominance of Brahmins (the highest caste) in religious matters. They emphasized devotion (bhakti) as a path to salvation, accessible to people from all castes.

• Reason: This statement further strengthens the assertion. The fact that Bhaktas (devotees) came from diverse social backgrounds, including Brahmins, lower castes, and even "untouchables", highlights the movement's core principle of inclusivity and its opposition to caste-based discrimination in religious practice.

Therefore, both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the diversity of the Bhakti movement explains why it challenged the caste system.

"Some historians suggest that the Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas or at least attempted to reform the system. To some extent this is corroborated by the fact that Bhaktas hailed from diverse social backgrounds ranging from Brahmanas to artisans and cultivators and even from castes considered untouchable."