Bhakti and Sufi Movement

21. Which of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is/are cor

Which of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is/are correct?

  • 1. The Bhakti movement evolved as a homogeneous movement.
  • 2. The Bhakti movement helped to bridge the gulf between Hinduism and Islam.
  • 3. The Bhakti movement rescued Hinduism from the challenges of its own complexities.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 and 3
2 only
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2011
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 2 and 3 about the Bhakti movement are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect.
1. The Bhakti movement was not a homogeneous movement. It spanned several centuries, regions, and diverse social groups, involving various saints with differing philosophies, practices, and focuses (Saguna/Nirguna, Vaishnava/Shaiva, etc.). Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
2. Many Bhakti saints preached messages of equality, universalism, and devotion to a single God, which helped foster mutual understanding and bridge gaps between Hindus and Muslims, even leading to syncretic traditions. Thus, statement 2 is correct.
3. The Bhakti movement simplified religion, emphasizing personal devotion and challenging caste hierarchies and elaborate rituals. This made Hinduism more accessible to the masses and helped it respond to internal complexities and external challenges. Thus, statement 3 is correct.
Key figures in the Bhakti movement included Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Shankaradeva, Ramananda, Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsidas, Tukaram, and many others, reflecting its diverse nature and widespread influence across India.

22. Which one among the following vaishnava saints was the author of Kirta

Which one among the following vaishnava saints was the author of Kirtana-Ghosha ?

Madhav Kandali
Srimanta Sankardeva
Madhabdeva
Damodardeva
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
Download PDFAttempt Online
Kirtana-Ghosha is a major compilation of devotional songs and narratives composed by Srimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568), the founder of the Ekasarana Dharma (Mahapurushiya Dharma) movement in Assam. It is considered a cornerstone of Assamese literature and Vaishnava philosophy in the region.
– Srimanta Sankardeva was a prominent 15th-16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright, dancer, musician, actor, and social-religious reformer.
– He propagated devotional Vaishnavism centred around the worship of Krishna.
– His literary works, including Kirtana-Ghosha, contributed significantly to Assamese language and culture.
Madhabdeva (1489-1596) was a principal disciple and successor of Srimanta Sankardeva. While a great poet and saint in his own right, authoring works like Nama Ghosha, Kirtana-Ghosha is primarily attributed to Sankardeva. Madhav Kandali translated the Ramayana into Assamese in the 14th century, preceding Sankardeva. Damodardeva was another Assamese Vaishnava saint and a contemporary of Sankardeva and Madhabdeva.

23. Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

  • 1. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints gradually brought about a better understanding of the fundamental tenets of Hinduism and Islam, underlining the fact that they had a great deal of similarity.
  • 2. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints also brought about important changes in the approach to religion, laying greater emphasis on formal observances and rituals.
  • 3. They also contributed to the growth of regional languages and literature.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

1 and 2
2 only
2 and 3
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
Download PDFAttempt Online
The question asks for the *not correct* statement(s). Statement 1 is correct; Bhakti and Sufi saints fostered syncretism, emphasizing universal love and devotion, thus promoting better understanding and highlighting similarities between Hinduism and Islam. Statement 3 is correct; these saints used and promoted regional languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, etc., to spread their message among the masses, significantly contributing to the development of regional literature. Statement 2 is incorrect; both Bhakti and Sufi movements generally emphasized personal devotion, emotional connection with the divine, and often criticized formal rituals, caste distinctions, and elaborate ceremonies, prioritizing inner spiritual experience over outward observances.
– Bhakti and Sufi movements promoted religious harmony and mutual understanding.
– They emphasized personal devotion and criticized empty rituals and social hierarchies.
– They played a crucial role in the growth and popularization of regional languages.
Key figures of the Bhakti movement include Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Surdas, Mirabai, Tukaram, etc. Prominent Sufi saints include Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, etc. Their teachings had a profound impact on the social and cultural landscape of medieval India.

24. Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT

Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT correct ?

The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity
In northern India, the Bhakti movement revolved around the worship of Rama and Krishna
The Bhakti movement relied on the devotion of God, both with and without attributes
While Tulsidas represented the tradition of devotion with attributes, Sant Kabir followed the path of devotion without attributes
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement A is NOT correct. The Bhakti movement was characterized by its inclusive nature and often incorporated or celebrated diverse regional traditions, languages, and social backgrounds. It challenged rigid caste hierarchies and ritualistic practices, opening paths to devotion for people from all walks of life, thus promoting, rather than avoiding, a degree of social and cultural diversity in religious expression.
The Bhakti movement was a significant socio-religious reform movement in medieval India that emphasized personal devotion to God, challenging established orthodoxies and promoting egalitarianism and diverse expressions of faith.
Statements B, C, and D are correct descriptions of aspects of the Bhakti movement. Many prominent North Indian saints (e.g., Surdas, Mirabai, Tulsidas) were devotees of Rama or Krishna. The movement included both Saguna (God with attributes/form, like Rama, Krishna) and Nirguna (formless, attributeless God, like advocated by Kabir and Nanak) streams of devotion. Tulsidas was a Saguna devotee (Rama), and Kabir was a prominent Nirguna saint.

25. Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition

Consider the following statements related to the Virashaiva tradition in Karnataka :

  • The Virashaiva movement was led by a Brahmana named Basavanna, a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler in the twelfth century.
  • The Virashaivas encouraged practices, approved by the Dharmashastras, like post-puberty marriages and remarriage of widows.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2019
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement 1 is correct. The Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement in Karnataka in the 12th century was indeed led by Basavanna, who was a minister in the court of the Kalachuri ruler Bijjala II. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Virashaivas were reformers who challenged many orthodox Brahminical practices and the authority of the Dharmashastras. They strongly advocated against caste distinctions, rejected Brahminical rituals, and promoted practices like delayed marriages (post-puberty) and widow remarriage, which were generally *not* approved by the orthodox Dharmashastras for upper castes.
The Virashaiva tradition was a reformist movement that emerged in Karnataka during the 12th century, advocating for social equality and challenging traditional Hindu hierarchies and rituals under the leadership of figures like Basavanna.
Virashaivas worshipped Shiva in the form of a लिंग (linga), which they wear on their body. They buried their dead instead of cremating them, another departure from orthodox Hindu practice. The movement’s teachings were recorded in vachanas, a form of rhythmic prose.

26. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? Bhakti Sain

Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Bhakti Saint Philosophy
(a) Shankara : Advadhuta
(b) Ramananda : Kevaladvaita
(c) Ramanuja : Vishishtadvaita
(d) Chaitanya : Advaita
Shankara : Advadhuta
Ramananda : Kevaladvaita
Ramanuja : Vishishtadvaita
Chaitanya : Advaita
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2018
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correctly matched pair is C) Ramanuja : Vishishtadvaita.
Bhakti saints were associated with various philosophical schools (Darshanas) within the broader Hindu tradition. Ramanuja is the foremost proponent of the Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy.
– Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya) is the principal exponent of Advaita Vedanta (absolute non-dualism).
– Ramananda was a Vaishnava saint from Northern India, a follower in the Ramanuja tradition, who popularized the worship of Rama. He is not specifically associated with ‘Kevaladvaita’, which is linked to Advaita.
– Chaitanya Mahaprabhu founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism and propagated the philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda (inconceivable difference and non-difference), distinct from Advaita.

27. Which one of the following was not a Chishti Sufi saint ?

Which one of the following was not a Chishti Sufi saint ?

Khwaja Moinuddin
Baba Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar
Nizamuddin Auliya
Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya.
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, Baba Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar, and Nizamuddin Auliya were all prominent saints of the Chishti order of Sufism in India. Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya, however, was the founder and leading saint of the Suhrawardi order in India.
The Chishti order was established in India by Khwaja Moinuddin in Ajmer. Baba Farid and Nizamuddin Auliya were key figures in its development and spread. The Suhrawardi order, established by Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan, was another major Sufi order in India, often differing from the Chishtis in their approach, particularly regarding association with the state.

28. Who among the following was considered to be the preceptor of Mirabai

Who among the following was considered to be the preceptor of Mirabai ?

Dadu
Raidas
Ramanand
Surdas
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is Raidas.
Tradition holds that Mirabai, the famous Rajput princess and devotee of Krishna, was a disciple of Saint Raidas (also known as Ravidas). Raidas was a revered saint of the Bhakti movement from the 15th to 16th century, contemporary to Kabir and Guru Nanak.
Ramanand was an earlier saint (14th-15th century) considered the guru of Kabir and other prominent Bhakti figures. Dadu Dayal (16th-17th century) founded the Dadupanthis tradition. Surdas (15th-16th century) was a blind poet known for his devotion to Krishna and his compositions in Braj Bhasha. While these were all significant figures in the Bhakti movement, Raidas is widely accepted as Mirabai’s preceptor.

29. Which one of the following is the correct meaning of ziyarat ?

Which one of the following is the correct meaning of ziyarat ?

Pilgrimage to the tombs of sufi saints
The practice of revenue farming
The death anniversary of a sufi shaikh
A form of Islamic divorce
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is A) Pilgrimage to the tombs of sufi saints.
Ziyarat is an Arabic term meaning “visit” or “pilgrimage”. In the context of Sufism, *ziyarat* specifically refers to the act of visiting the tomb (dargah) of a Sufi saint, which is considered a pious act by many followers. Devotees undertake these pilgrimages to pay homage, seek blessings, and pray for intercession.
Option B, revenue farming (Ijarah or Jagirdari in different contexts), is an economic/administrative practice. Option C, the death anniversary of a Sufi shaikh, is known as *Urs*. Option D refers to Islamic concepts of divorce (Talaq, Khula, etc.). Ziyarat distinctly means the act of visiting a holy place, most commonly a saint’s tomb in the Sufi context.

30. Which of the following statements about *Saguna* bhakti traditions is/

Which of the following statements about *Saguna* bhakti traditions is/are correct?

  • 1. *Saguna* bhakti traditions focus on the worship of specific deities such as Vishnu or his avatars.
  • 2. In *Saguna* bhakti traditions, Gods and Goddesses are conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is C) Both 1 and 2.
*Saguna* bhakti traditions involve the worship of a personal God with specific form, attributes, and qualities. This includes deities like Vishnu (and his avatars such as Rama and Krishna), Shiva, Durga, etc. These deities are often depicted in anthropomorphic (human-like) or zoomorphic forms, allowing devotees to relate to them in a tangible way through idols, images, and narratives.
Statement 1 is correct because *Saguna* bhakti is explicitly centred on the devotion to specific deities conceived with form and attributes. Statement 2 is correct because *Saguna* worship often involves the conceptualization and representation of these deities in human-like (anthropomorphic) forms, which are then worshipped through rituals and devotion. This contrasts with *Nirguna* bhakti, which focuses on the worship of the formless, attributeless absolute (Brahman).
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5
Exit mobile version