Bhakti and Sufi Movement Archives

11. Consider the following statements : 1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of

Consider the following statements :

1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2014

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Let’s examine each statement:
1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. – Bijak is the most important and popular compilation of the works of Saint Kabir, a prominent poet and saint of the Bhakti movement. Dadu Dayal was another saint whose compositions are found in collections like the Dadu Anubhav Vani. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya. – Pushti Marg (The Path of Grace) was founded by Vallabhacharya, a prominent philosopher and saint of the Vaishnavite tradition. Madhvacharya was the founder of the Dvaita (dualism) school of Vedanta philosophy. Thus, this statement is incorrect.
Since both statements are incorrect, the correct option is D.

– Bijak includes dohās, sabads, and ramainīs attributed to Kabir.
– Pushti Marg emphasizes salvation through the grace of God (Krishna), rather than through strict adherence to rituals or knowledge.
– Madhvacharya’s Dvaita Vedanta posits a clear distinction between God, the soul, and the material world.

Kabir, Dadu Dayal, Vallabhacharya, and Madhvacharya were all significant figures in the diverse philosophical and devotional landscape of medieval India, contributing to various schools of thought and Bhakti traditions.

12. Consider the following Bhakti Saints : Dadu Dayal Guru Nanak Tya

Consider the following Bhakti Saints :

Dadu Dayal
Guru Nanak
Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

1 and 3

2 only

2 and 3

1 and 2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2013

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Guru Nanak (1469-1539) lived during the period when the Lodi dynasty ruled Delhi and was succeeded by Babur in 1526. Dadu Dayal (1544-1603) and Tyagaraja (1767-1847) lived much later. Therefore, only Guru Nanak was preaching during the transition from the Lodi dynasty to Babur’s rule.

This question tests knowledge of the timeline of prominent Bhakti saints and their contemporaries among ruling dynasties. Identifying the lifespans of the saints is crucial to determine who was active during the specified historical period (fall of Lodi dynasty and rise of Babur, i.e., around 1526).

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, travelled widely during his lifetime and preached a message of equality, devotion to one God, and rejection of ritualism. The Lodi dynasty ruled from 1451 to 1526. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, marking the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.

13. What is Nalayira Divyaprabandham ?

What is *Nalayira Divyaprabandham* ?

Compositions by the Alvars com- piled in the form of an anthology

Hymns composed by Nayanars

Eulogies composed for Chola kings

An exposition of the hymns of *Rig Veda* in Malayalam

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2024

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*Nalayira Divyaprabandham* is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses (hymns) composed by the 12 Alvars, who were Vaishnava poet-saints of South India between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. This anthology is considered a significant work of Tamil literature and a devotional text of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

*Nalayira Divyaprabandham* is the canonical collection of hymns by the Alvars, representing the devotional fervor of the Bhakti movement in Vaishnavism in South India.

Option B is incorrect; hymns by the Nayanars, who were Shaiva saints contemporary to the Alvars, are compiled in the *Tevaram*. Option C is incorrect as the work is religious and devotional, not eulogistic poetry for kings. Option D is incorrect; it is a Tamil collection of hymns, not an exposition of the Rig Veda in Malayalam.

14. The celebrated group of poets in medieval Mathura and Vrindavana calle

The celebrated group of poets in medieval Mathura and Vrindavana called the Ashta-Chhapa were the successors of which one of the following medieval Bhakti Saints ?

Kabir of Benaras

Chaitanya of Bengal

Guru Nanak of Punjab

Surdas of Braj region

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2023

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The Ashta-Chhapa (Eight Seals) were a group of eight prominent devotional poets of the Pushtimarg sect founded by Vallabhacharya. These poets were famous for their compositions dedicated to Lord Krishna, particularly focusing on his childhood and youth in the Braj region. Four of the poets were disciples of Vallabhacharya, and the other four were disciples of his son Vitthalnath, who succeeded him. Surdas was one of the most celebrated poets among the Ashta-Chhapa and a direct disciple of Vallabhacharya, known for his Sursagar. While the group was formed by the disciples of Vallabhacharya and Vitthalnath, Surdas is the most famous figure from this group and is strongly associated with the Braj region Bhakti. Given the options, linking the Ashta-Chhapa to Surdas within the context of the Braj region Bhakti tradition is the most plausible intended connection.

The Ashta-Chhapa poets were central to the Pushtimarg tradition and Krishna devotion in the Braj region. Although they were disciples of Vallabhacharya and Vitthalnath, Surdas is the most widely known among them and is synonymous with the poetic expression of Braj Bhakti.

Kabir, Chaitanya, and Guru Nanak represent distinct Bhakti traditions outside the Pushtimarg/Braj school. The Ashta-Chhapa group solidified the poetic and devotional practices of the Vallabha tradition.

15. Who among the following Bhakti saints did not belong to Nirguna Scho

Who among the following Bhakti saints did not belong to Nirguna School of Bhakti?

Kabir

Nanak

Dadu

Chaitanya

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2021

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The correct answer is D) Chaitanya.

– Bhakti saints are broadly classified into two schools: Nirguna (worshipping a formless God) and Saguna (worshipping God with form).
– Kabir, Guru Nanak (founder of Sikhism), and Dadu Dayal belonged to the Nirguna school, emphasizing a formless, omnipresent God and often criticizing idolatry and caste distinctions.
– Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1534) was a prominent saint of the Saguna school, specifically a devotee of Lord Krishna. He is credited with popularizing the Hare Krishna mantra and the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition.

– Saguna Bhakti focuses on the worship of specific deities (like Vishnu, Krishna, Rama, Shiva, or the Goddess) through idols, rituals, and devotional practices.
– Nirguna Bhakti emphasizes meditation on the formless aspect of the divine and often downplays external rituals.

16. Consider the following statements about the Lingayats : 1. They bury t

Consider the following statements about the Lingayats :
1. They bury their dead
2. They are great believers in the caste system, especially in the theory of purity and pollution
3. They are against child marriage and favour widow remarriage

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2

1 only

2 and 3

1 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Statement 1 is correct. Lingayats, unlike most other Hindu communities in India, typically bury their dead instead of cremating them. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Lingayat movement, founded by Basava in the 12th century, explicitly challenged the caste system, rejected the authority of the Vedas, and opposed Brahminical rituals and the concept of purity and pollution associated with caste. They preached equality among all adherents. Statement 3 is correct. The Lingayat movement advocated for social reforms, including opposition to child marriage and promotion of widow remarriage, which were radical stances at the time.

The Lingayat movement (also known as Virashaivism) originated in Karnataka in the 12th century under the leadership of Basava and his followers (Sharana movement). It is a distinctive tradition within Shaivism, emphasizing devotion to Shiva in the form of Ishalinga worn on the body.

Lingayats are a significant community in Karnataka. While the movement started as a reformist one rejecting caste, over time, internal social stratification did emerge within the community, although the foundational philosophy remained anti-caste and socially reformist.

17. Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in Sou

Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in South India is NOT correct?

The Nalayira Divyaprabandham was also known as the Tamil Veda

Andal was an Alvar

Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu

Metal images of the saints Appar and Sundarar were made and then consecrated in a Shiva temple

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2020

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Statement C is incorrect. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu, but she was a devotee of Shiva. She is considered one of the earliest and most revered of the 63 Nayanars, the Saivite saints.

The Bhakti movement in South India saw the rise of two major groups of poet-saints: the Alvars, who were devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars, who were devotees of Shiva. The hymns of the Alvars were collected in the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, while the hymns of the Nayanars were compiled later into works like the Tevaram and Tiruvachakam. Both movements emphasized personal devotion and challenged some aspects of the prevailing social and religious norms.

Andal was a famous female Alvar, known for her passionate devotion to Vishnu (specifically Ranganatha). The Nalayira Divyaprabandham is highly regarded and is sometimes referred to as the Tamil Veda due to its religious significance. The practice of making and consecrating metal images of saints in temples was common, particularly within the Shaiva tradition in South India, honoring the contributions of figures like the Nayanars.

18. The Sufi work Kashf-ul-Mahjub was written by

The Sufi work Kashf-ul-Mahjub was written by

Abu'l Hasan al Hujwiri

Moinuddin Chishti

Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya

Amir Khusrau

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UPSC CAPF – 2019

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The correct answer is A) Abu’l Hasan al Hujwiri.

The Sufi work ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ (meaning ‘Revelation of the Veiled’ or ‘Unveiling of the Hidden’) is a celebrated classic of Sufi literature. It was written by Abu’l Hasan al Hujwiri, also known as Ali Hujwiri or Data Ganj Bakhsh. He was a 10th/11th-century Persian Sufi scholar and theologian from Ghazni who traveled widely before settling in Lahore, where his shrine is located. ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ is considered one of the earliest and most comprehensive formal treatises on Sufism in Persian.

The other options are prominent Sufi figures, but they are not the author of ‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’:
– Moinuddin Chishti is the founder of the Chishti order in India.
– Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya was a prominent saint of the Chishti order in Delhi.
– Amir Khusrau was a renowned poet, musician, and scholar, and a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya.

‘Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ discusses various aspects of Sufism, including its principles, practices, different schools of thought, and biographies of earlier Sufi saints. It has been an influential text in the development of Sufism, particularly in the Indian subcontinent after Hujwiri settled in Lahore.

19. What is Sant bhasha ?

What is Sant bhasha ?

Language of the nirguna mystics

Language of the ulatbansi mystics

Language of the nirakar mystics

Language of the saguna mystics

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2019

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The correct answer is A) Language of the nirguna mystics.

“Sant bhasha” (संत भाषा), also known as “Sadhukkadi” (सधुक्कड़ी) or “Panchmel Khichdi”, refers to the mixed language used by the Sant poets of the Bhakti movement in North India, particularly those belonging to the Nirguna tradition.

* The Nirguna mystics, such as Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas, Dadu Dayal, etc., worshipped a formless (nirguna) God. They travelled widely and composed their devotional poetry (pad, doha, sakhi) in a language that incorporated vocabulary and grammatical structures from various North Indian dialects and languages (like Khari Boli, Braj Bhasha, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Purabi, etc.).
* This mixed language served as a means of communication for the wandering saints and was accessible to people from different regions.
* Option B) Language of the ulatbansi mystics: Ulatbansi refers to paradoxical or enigmatic verses often used by Nirguna sants to convey complex spiritual truths. It is a style of poetry, not a type of language itself.
* Option C) Language of the nirakar mystics: “Nirakar” means formless, which is synonymous with “Nirguna”. So, this option is essentially the same as A. However, the term “Sant bhasha” is the conventional term used to describe the language of the Sant tradition, which is predominantly associated with the Nirguna path.
* Option D) Language of the saguna mystics: Saguna mystics (like Tulsidas, Surdas, Meera Bai) worshipped God with form (saguna) and often used specific regional literary dialects (e.g., Braj Bhasha for Krishna devotees, Awadhi for Rama devotees) with more regional purity compared to the mixed language of the Nirguna sants.

While “Nirakar mystics” language (C) is semantically close, “Sant bhasha” is the established term describing the language of the Nirguna tradition (A).

The Sant tradition emphasized the equality of all humans, rejected caste distinctions and rituals, and focused on direct devotion to God through love and knowledge. Their use of common, mixed languages helped spread their message among the masses.

20. Which of the following statements about Sufism is/are correct? 1. Sufi

Which of the following statements about Sufism is/are correct?
1. Sufism was the mystical interpretation that developed within Islam.
2. Sufi philosophy highlighted the atmosphere of religious tolerance by speaking about the universal love in quest of the Almighty.
3. The Sufis developed a very complex philosophy and initiated very complicated practices unintelligible to the masses.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 2

2 only

3 only

1 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2011

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Statement 1 is correct. Sufism is widely recognized as the mystical and ascetic dimension of Islam, focusing on the inner spiritual path to attain closeness with God.
Statement 2 is correct. Sufi philosophy emphasizes universal love, compassion, and tolerance, often transcending sectarian boundaries. Sufis sought a personal, devotional relationship with the Divine, which fostered an atmosphere of religious tolerance and appealed to people of different faiths.
Statement 3 is incorrect. While Sufism does involve complex philosophical ideas and meditative practices, many aspects of Sufism, such as devotional music (Qawwali), stories of saints, and participation in Urs (death anniversary) festivals, were accessible and popular among the masses. The core message of love and devotion was simple and widely understood. Sufis often used local languages and cultural elements to connect with common people.

Sufism is the mystical dimension of Islam that emphasizes inner purity, devotion, and achieving spiritual union with God through love and personal experience. It played a significant role in bridging religious divides and spreading Islam through peaceful means and cultural synthesis in various parts of the world, including India.

Important Sufi orders (Silsilas) in India include the Chishtis, Suhrawardis, Qadiris, and Naqshbandis. Sufi shrines (Dargahs) became centres of pilgrimage and cultural interaction.