Final answer:
Bhakti yoga didn't catch on until later in Hinduism's evolution but has become the most popular form as it offers an inclusive path to moksha. It emphasizes a direct personal relationship with the divine, bypassing the earlier necessity for priestly intermediaries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bhakti yoga way, also known as the way of devotion, is a spiritual path within Hinduism that emphasizes loving devotion towards a personal deity. It became particularly prominent in the context of a more devotional form of Hinduism that evolved after the Vedic period, notably around the time of the Bhagavad Gita's composition, circa 300 CE. Bhakti yoga advocates for a personal relationship with the divine, which is in contrast to the earlier priest-led sacrificial practices.
While not initially the dominant practice, bhakti eventually gained widespread appeal and can be considered the most popular form within Hinduism, as it offered a more inclusive and direct path to moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Unlike the priestly rituals that were accessible only to the Brahmins, bhakti was open to all, allowing individual followers direct communication and connection with the divine.
Answering the student's question, the growth of bhakti yoga's popularity and its role in achieving moksha aligns with option c, 'All of the above,' as it didn't catch on until later periods in Hindu history and has become the most popular form of Hinduism over time.