Sankaradeva Preached 'kevala bhakti'

Sankaradeva preached kevala bhakti-pure, exclusive devotion (Bhusana, pp. 213; 866)-discarding other forms of bhakti. It seemed to indicate a departure from those forms of bhakti which were largely based on the ceremonial worship (puja) [of idols (murtti) of the deity]. It was a source of great consternation among the ritualists (dharmi). 

At this point, a discussion of the major forms of worship might help to clarify matters. Comparison may be made, for instance, between the traditional forms of 'Vaisnava' worship through pujas, etc.which seemed to exist in some form even prior to Sankaradeva, and the bhaktic redefinition of the nature of the relationship between man and God , touching upon the immanent aspect, which formed the cornerstone of Sankaradeva's philosophy of Eka-Sarana.