Bhakti & Sufi — Set 3
Indian History · भक्ति और सूफी · Questions 21–30 of 50
Srimanta Shankaradeva was a Neo-Vaishnavite saint from which state?
Correct Answer: B. Assam
• **Srimanta Shankaradeva** (1449–1568 CE) = Neo-Vaishnavite saint from **Assam**; social and religious reformer. • Introduced **'Ekasarana Dharma'** (refuge in one God = Vishnu); rejected caste hierarchy and image worship. • Developed **Sattriya dance** (classical dance form); established **Sattras** (monasteries) as centers of Assamese culture. • 💡 Odisha = Panchasakha saints (Jagannath tradition); Bihar = Kabir/Ramanand tradition; Manipur = Meitei Vaishnavism — Shankaradeva's Neo-Vaishnavism = Assam.
What does the Sufi term 'Silsila' mean?
Correct Answer: A. Chain or Lineage
• **Silsila** = Arabic for **'chain'** or **'lineage'** — the spiritual chain connecting Sufi master to disciples across generations. • Each Sufi order (**Chishti, Suhrawardi, Qadiri, Naqshbandi**) traces its Silsila back through masters to the Prophet Muhammad. • The Silsila ensures **legitimacy and continuity** of Sufi teaching traditions — a disciple becomes a master in the same chain. • 💡 Charity = 'Sadqa/Zakat'; Prayer = 'Namaz/Salah'; Music = 'Sama' (Sufi musical practice) — Silsila = chain/lineage of masters.
Which Sufi saint was affectionately known as 'Mehboob-e-Ilahi'?
Correct Answer: C. Nizamuddin Auliya
• **Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya** = called **'Mehboob-e-Ilahi'** (Beloved of God); foremost Chishti saint of Delhi. • His Khanqah in Delhi fed thousands daily — refused royal grants, relied on **futuh** (unsolicited donations) only. • Famous for defying Sultans; said: **'Delhi is far from me'** — prioritized God's love over royal patronage. • 💡 Nasiruddin Chiragh = Nizamuddin's successor ('Chirag-e-Delhi'); Bakhtiyar Kaki = earlier Chishti Delhi saint; Baba Farid = Punjab Chishti saint — 'Mehboob-e-Ilahi' = Nizamuddin Auliya.
Vallabhacharya propounded the philosophy of:
Correct Answer: D. Shuddhadvaita
• **Vallabhacharya** propounded **Shuddhadvaita** (Pure Non-dualism) — the world is a real manifestation of Brahman (Krishna). • Founded **Pushtimarg** (Path of Grace/Divine Grace); emphasized that devotion happens through Krishna's own grace. • Worshipped Krishna as **Srinathji** at Nathdwara (Rajasthan); his disciple **Surdas** wrote Sursagar. • 💡 Vishishtadvaita = Ramanujacharya; Dvaita = Madhvacharya; Advaita = Shankaracharya — Shuddhadvaita + Pushtimarg = Vallabhacharya.
Saint Namdev, a major figure in the Bhakti movement, belonged to which profession?
Correct Answer: A. Tailor
• **Saint Namdev** = a **tailor** by profession; major 13th–14th century Bhakti saint from Maharashtra. • Wrote **Marathi Abhangs** (devotional poems) to Vithoba; revered in both **Varkari tradition** and **Sikhism**. • **61 of his hymns** are in the **Guru Granth Sahib** — rare cross-regional saint honored by Sikhs. • 💡 Weaver = Kabir's profession; Goldsmith = different saint; Cobbler = Ravidas — Namdev's profession = tailor.
Which Sufi order did Miyan Mir, who laid the foundation of the Golden Temple, belong to?
Correct Answer: A. Qadiri
• **Miyan Mir** = Lahore-based Sufi saint of the **Qadiri order**; highly respected by Sikh Gurus. • Invited by **Guru Arjan Dev** to lay the **foundation stone** of **Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple)** in 1588. • This act symbolized the **syncretic Hindu-Muslim-Sikh** culture of Mughal-era Punjab. • 💡 Chishti = order of Nizamuddin Auliya/Moinuddin Chishti; Suhrawardi = Punjab/Sindh order; Naqshbandi = order of Baqi Billah — Miyan Mir's order = Qadiri.
In which region did the Bhakti movement first originate?
Correct Answer: B. South India
• **Bhakti movement** first originated in **South India** around the **6th–7th century CE**. • Led by **Alvars** (Vaishnava poet-saints) and **Nayanars** (Shaiva poet-saints) of Tamil Nadu. • Spread northward through the **Karnataka → Maharashtra → North India** route over several centuries. • 💡 North India = Bhakti arrived later (Kabir, Tulsidas = 15th–16th century); East India = Bengal (Chaitanya = 16th century); West India = Gujarat (Narsi Mehta) — Bhakti origin = South India.
Who compiled the 'Adi Granth', the holy scripture of Sikhs?
Correct Answer: C. Guru Arjan Dev
• **Guru Arjan Dev** (5th Sikh Guru) compiled the **Adi Granth** in **1604** at Amritsar — the first Sikh scripture. • Contains hymns of **5 Sikh Gurus** + saints Kabir, Baba Farid, Namdev, Raidas (cross-religion inclusion). • **Guru Gobind Singh** (10th Guru) later expanded it into **Guru Granth Sahib** (1708) — declared eternal Guru. • 💡 Guru Angad = introduced Gurmukhi script (2nd Guru); Guru Nanak = founder/hymns (1st Guru); Guru Ram Das = founded Amritsar (4th Guru) — Adi Granth compiler = Guru Arjan Dev.
Karaikal Ammaiyar is associated with which Bhakti tradition?
Correct Answer: C. Nayanar
• **Karaikal Ammaiyar** = female **Nayanar** saint (Tamil Shaiva Bhakti); among 63 Nayanars, one of three women. • Famous for renouncing her beauty — chose a skeletal form (**Pey** = demoness) to worship Shiva without distraction. • Her Tamil hymns in the **Tirumurai** anthology; she is the **oldest among the Nayanars** chronologically. • 💡 Varkari = Maharashtra (Vithoba); Virashaiva = Karnataka (Basavanna's tradition); Alvar = Vaishnava (Vishnu devotion) — Karaikal Ammaiyar = Nayanar (Shaiva) tradition.
Saint Dadu Dayal was a preacher of the Nirguna school from which region?
Correct Answer: D. Rajasthan
• **Dadu Dayal** (1544–1603 CE) = poet-saint from **Rajasthan**; preached **Nirguna Bhakti** (formless, attribute-less God). • Founded the **Dadu Panth** sect — followers called Dadu Panthis; teachings compiled in **'Dadu Vani'**. • Like Kabir, opposed caste distinctions and idol worship; his followers include both Hindus and Muslims. • 💡 Maharashtra = Tukaram/Dnyaneshwar/Namdev (Varkari); Bengal = Chaitanya (Saguna/Krishna Bhakti); Tamil Nadu = Alvars/Nayanars — Dadu Dayal's Nirguna Bhakti = Rajasthan.