Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?

1. It opposed idolatry.

2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting religious texts.

3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

Brahmo Samaj

• It was started at Calcutta on 20 August in 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
• It was a monotheistic sect of Hinduism.
• Brahmo samaj had no faith in any scripture as an authority.
• It rejects incarnation.
• It was against caste restrictions and propounded a mix of west-east religious qualities.
• It denounced polytheism and idol worship opposed idolatry. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting religious texts. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Brahmo Samaj spread the religious treasure and teachings of Vedas but never claimed that Vedas are infallible. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Important Points

•  Debendranath Tagore, the father of Rabindranath Tagore, was a key member of the Brahmo Sabha.
• In 1843 he was involved in the creation of the Brahmo Samaj. Keshub Chunder Sen, a disciple of Tagore, joined the Samaj in 1857 but broke away in a formal schism in 1866.
  • This schism was called the Brahmo Samaj of India.