Which of the following ideas was preached by the Kherwar or Sapha Har movement of the 1870s ?

The Kherwar or Sapha Har movement of the 1870s was a significant tribal reform movement among the Santhals, led by Bhagirath Manjhi. The term 'Sapha Har' refers to 'pure worshippers,' reflecting the movement's core objective of internal social and religious purification. It preached monotheism, urging followers to worship only one God (Thakur) and abandon the worship of minor spirits or bongas. The movement emphasized social reform by advocating for the abandonment of meat-eating, liquor consumption, and animal sacrifices, while promoting ethical living and the 'lost purity' of their original religion [1]. Unlike movements that integrated into the Hindu pantheon or focused on complex philosophies like Yoga or Mimansa, the Sapha Har movement was a revivalist effort aimed at restoring tribal identity through monotheistic devotion and moral discipline.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > 19.1 Emergence of Reform Movements > p. 299