Bhakti & Sufi — Set 2
Indian History · भक्ति और सूफी · Questions 11–20 of 50
Who was the only female saint among the 12 Alvars?
Correct Answer: B. Andal
• **Andal** = only female saint among the **12 Alvars**; devoted to Lord Vishnu (Vaishnava Bhakti). • Famous works: **'Thiruppavai'** (30 verses) and **'Nachiyar Thirumozhi'** — sung at weddings and temples even today. • Called **'Meera of the South'** for her intense devotion; legend says she merged with Lord Vishnu at Srirangam temple. • 💡 Karaikal Ammaiyar = Nayanar (Shaiva), not Alvar; Mirabai = North Indian Bhakti (not Alvar); Akka Mahadevi = Karnataka Lingayat saint — only female Alvar = Andal.
Who is associated with the 'Virashaiva' or 'Lingayat' movement in Karnataka?
Correct Answer: D. Basavanna
• **Basavanna** = 12th-century Karnataka saint; led the **Virashaiva/Lingayat** movement challenging caste hierarchy. • Emphasized worship of Shiva as **Ishtalinga** (personal icon worn on body); rejected temple rituals and Brahminical supremacy. • His teachings preserved in **'Vachanas'** (prose-poems); also founded the **Anubhava Mantapa** (assembly of saints). • 💡 Ramanuja = Vishishtadvaita (Tamil, Vaishnava); Shankara = Advaita Vedanta; Madhvacharya = Dvaita philosophy — Lingayat movement founder = Basavanna.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a famous Bhakti saint from which region?
Correct Answer: D. Bengal
• **Chaitanya Mahaprabhu** (1486–1534 CE) = prominent Vaishnava Bhakti saint from **Bengal** (Navadwip, West Bengal). • Popularized **Sankirtana** (congregational chanting of Krishna's names); treated Krishna-Bhakti as highest form of devotion. • Founded **Gaudiya Vaishnavism** — later spread globally through ISKCON (Hare Krishna movement). • 💡 Punjab = Guru Nanak (Sikhism); Maharashtra = Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram; Gujarat = Narsi Mehta — Chaitanya = Bengal Vaishnava saint.
Amir Khusrau was a devoted disciple of which Sufi saint?
Correct Answer: C. Nizamuddin Auliya
• **Amir Khusrau** = favorite disciple (mureed) of **Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya** (Chishti saint of Delhi). • Called **'Tuti-e-Hind'** (Parrot of India); wrote in Persian and Hindi; invented Qawwali music and Sitar instrument. • Buried **adjacent to Nizamuddin Auliya's dargah** in Delhi — their graves still draw millions of visitors. • 💡 Moinuddin Chishti = founder of Chishti order (Ajmer); Bakhtiyar Kaki = earlier Chishti Delhi saint; Baba Farid = Punjab Chishti — Khusrau's Sufi master = Nizamuddin Auliya.
What is the name of the philosophy propounded by Ramanujacharya?
Correct Answer: B. Vishishtadvaita
• **Ramanujacharya** propounded **Vishishtadvaita** (Qualified Non-dualism) — soul is real but always dependent on Brahman. • Unlike Shankara (soul = Brahman), Ramanuja said **soul and Brahman are distinct but inseparable** — like body and soul. • Emphasized **Bhakti to Vishnu** as the path to salvation; founded the Srivaishnava tradition in South India. • 💡 Advaita = Shankaracharya (soul = Brahman, no difference); Dvaita = Madhvacharya (soul ≠ Brahman, fully separate); Dvaitadvaita = Nimbarka — Vishishtadvaita = Ramanujacharya.
The collection of teachings known as 'Bijak' is associated with which saint?
Correct Answer: C. Kabir
• **Bijak** = primary scripture of **Kabir's** teachings; compiled by his disciples after his death. • Contains **Dohas** (couplets), **Shabdas** (hymns), and **Ramainis** — criticizing idol worship, caste, and religious hypocrisy. • Sacred text of the **Kabir Panth** sect; Kabir's verses also appear in the **Guru Granth Sahib** (Sikh scripture). • 💡 Raidas = Raidas Granth (cobbler-saint's hymns); Nanak = Japji Sahib; Dadu Dayal = Dadu Panthi tradition — Bijak = exclusively Kabir's compilation.
Who wrote 'Sursagar', a poetic work dedicated to Lord Krishna?
Correct Answer: B. Surdas
• **Surdas** (blind poet-saint) wrote **'Sursagar'** — 100,000+ verses on Krishna; most celebrated Hindi Bhakti poet. • Disciple of **Vallabhacharya**; his Sursagar describes **Krishna's childhood (Bal Lila)** and Radha-Krishna love in Braj. • Also wrote **Sur Saravali** and **Sahitya Lahari**; part of the **Ashtachhap** group of 8 devotional poets. • 💡 Nabhadas = wrote Bhaktamala (biographies of saints); Raskhan = Muslim devotee of Krishna; Tulsidas = Ramcharitmanas — Sursagar = Surdas's work.
The word 'Sufi' is derived from the Arabic word 'Suf', which means:
Correct Answer: C. Wool
• **'Sufi'** derived from Arabic **'Suf'** = **wool**; refers to coarse woolen robes worn by early Muslim ascetics. • Wearing wool = symbol of **renunciation and poverty** — rejecting the material wealth of the Islamic court. • Sufism = mystical/inner dimension of Islam; emphasizes **love of God, self-purification, and direct spiritual experience**. • 💡 Devotion = 'Ibaadat' in Arabic; Purity = 'Tahara'; Wisdom = 'Hikma' — 'Suf' (wool) is the root of 'Sufi'.
The Varkari sect in Maharashtra is devoted to which deity?
Correct Answer: D. Vithoba (Vitthal)
• **Varkari sect** = Maharashtra Bhakti tradition devoted to **Vithoba (Vitthal)** of **Pandharpur** temple. • Vithoba = a form of **Lord Krishna (Vishnu)**; Varkaris undertake biannual pilgrimage (**Wari**) to Pandharpur. • Prominent Varkari saints: **Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram** — all wrote in Marathi for the masses. • 💡 Ganesha = different tradition; Hanuman = separate devotion; Rama = Ramdasi tradition (Samarth Ramdas) — Varkari sect = Vithoba (Vitthal) only.
Who founded the 'Khalsa Panth' in 1699?
Correct Answer: C. Guru Gobind Singh
• **Guru Gobind Singh** (10th Sikh Guru) founded the **Khalsa Panth** on **Baisakhi 1699** at Anandpur Sahib. • **Panj Pyare** (Five Beloved Ones) = first members initiated; the Khalsa militarized Sikhs against Mughal oppression. • Gave Sikhs the **Five Ks** (Panj Kakars): Kesh, Kara, Kanga, Kachera, Kirpan — symbols of Khalsa identity. • 💡 Guru Nanak = Sikhism founder (1st Guru); Guru Arjan Dev = compiled Adi Granth (5th Guru); Guru Tegh Bahadur = martyred (9th Guru) — Khalsa founded = Guru Gobind Singh.