Medieval History of India

211. The rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective rec

The rules for congregational worship (Sangat) involving collective recitation were organized by

[amp_mcq option1=”Guru Nanak” option2=”Guru Angad” option3=”Guru Arjan” option4=”Guru Govind Singh” correct=”option1″]

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Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, established the institutions of ‘Sangat’ (congregational worship) and ‘Pangat’ (community dining or Langar). He organized the disciples into congregations for collective worship, including the recitation of hymns (Gurbani) and singing of Kirtan, which formed the basis of Sikh devotional practice.
Sangat became the basic unit of Sikh religious and social life, providing a space for collective spiritual practice, learning, and decision-making, emphasizing equality among all participants regardless of caste, creed, or social status.
While subsequent Gurus further developed and consolidated the practices and institutions of Sikhism, the foundational organization of congregational worship and the concept of Sangat itself originated with Guru Nanak as part of the early establishment of the Sikh community.

212. The town of Chisht, from which the Sufi Chishti Silsila derives its na

The town of Chisht, from which the Sufi Chishti Silsila derives its name, is located in

[amp_mcq option1=”Western Turkey” option2=”Central Afghanistan” option3=”Eastern Iran” option4=”Eastern Iraq” correct=”option2″]

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The Chishtiya Silsila, one of the most influential Sufi orders in the Indian subcontinent, originated in the town of Chisht. Chisht is a small town located about 120 kilometers east of Herat in present-day Afghanistan.
The order was founded by Abu Ishaq Shami (d. 941-42 CE) in Chisht. However, it was Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chishti who is credited with introducing the order to India in the 12th century CE.
The Chishti order emphasized love, peace, tolerance, and detachment from worldly affairs. Its followers in India were known for their inclusive approach and popularity among both Muslims and non-Muslims. Ajmer Sharif Dargah of Khwaja Mu’inuddin Chishti is a major pilgrimage site.

213. The biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, authored by Jahanara, is kn

The biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, authored by Jahanara, is known as

[amp_mcq option1=”Munis al Arwah” option2=”Fawaid ul Fuwad” option3=”Sirat ul Auliya” option4=”Muraqqa-e Dehli” correct=”option1″]

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The biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, authored by Jahanara, is known as Munis al Arwah.
– Jahanara Begum (1614-1681) was a Mughal princess, the eldest daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan and Empress Mumtaz Mahal.
– She was a devoted follower of Sufism and a disciple of Mian Mir, a famous Sufi saint of the Qadiri order.
– Jahanara authored two biographical works on Sufi saints: one on her own spiritual journey and that of her Pir Mian Mir, titled Risala-i Sahibiya, and another on the Chishti saints, titled Munis al Arwah.
Fawaid ul Fuwad is a collection of the conversations (malfuzat) of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, compiled by his disciple Amir Hasan Sijzi. Sirat ul Auliya is a biography of Sufi saints, including Nizamuddin Auliya, compiled by Muhammad Mubarak Kirmani, also known as Amir Khurd. Muraqqa-e Dehli is an album depicting Delhi life and monuments from the early 18th century, compiled by Fakhr-ud-Din Khan.

214. Which one among the following is a temple of the Vaishnavite tradition

Which one among the following is a temple of the Vaishnavite tradition ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Srirangam” option2=”Chidambaram” option3=”Gangaikonda Cholapuram” option4=”Thanjavur” correct=”option1″]

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Srirangam is a temple of the Vaishnavite tradition.
– The Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Vishnu.
– It is considered one of the most important shrines in the Sri Vaishnava tradition (a denomination of Vaishnavism) and is the first among the 108 Divya Desams (holy abodes of Vishnu).
– Chidambaram is famous for the Thillai Nataraja Temple, dedicated to Nataraja (Shiva in his dancing form).
– Gangaikonda Cholapuram and Thanjavur (Brihadisvara Temple) are renowned for their grand Shiva temples built by the Chola dynasty.
– Vaishnavism is one of the major traditions of Hinduism, focused on the worship of Vishnu and his ten primary avatars.

215. The painted illustration of the moving of the Ashoka Pillar at Topra i

The painted illustration of the moving of the Ashoka Pillar at Topra is found in

[amp_mcq option1=”Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi” option2=”Tarikh-i-Shahi” option3=”Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi” option4=”Akbar Nama” correct=”option3″]

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The painted illustration of the moving of the Ashoka Pillar at Topra is found in Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi.
– Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi is an anonymous contemporary account of the reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388).
– This text describes Firuz Shah’s various activities, including his passion for public works and his interest in historical monuments.
– It specifically mentions and illustrates the process by which Firuz Shah had two Ashoka pillars transported to Delhi – one from Topra (near Ambala) and the other from Meerut.
Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi is a historical work written by Ziauddin Barani and Shams-i-Siraj Afif, covering periods up to Firuz Shah’s reign. While it describes events of his reign, Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi is specifically known for details including the movement of the pillars and containing illustrations. Akbar Nama is the official chronicle of Emperor Akbar’s reign written by Abul Fazl. Tarikh-i-Shahi is likely a general term or refers to other specific histories, but Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi is the known source for this specific illustrated event.

216. Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind was written in which language?

Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind was written in which language?

[amp_mcq option1=”Arabic” option2=”Persian” option3=”Urdu” option4=”Turkish” correct=”option1″]

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Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind was written in Arabic.
Al-Biruni was a Central Asian scholar who travelled to India with Mahmud of Ghazni in the early 11th century. His monumental work, Kitab-ul-Hind (literally “Book on India”), is a comprehensive study of Indian society, culture, religion, philosophy, science, and geography. Al-Biruni wrote this work, like most of his scholarly output, in Arabic.
Al-Biruni learned Sanskrit to study Indian texts and interact with local scholars. His work stands out for its objective and scholarly approach to understanding a foreign culture, making it an invaluable source for the history of medieval India. Arabic was the prominent language of scholarship across the Islamic world during that period.

217. Ibn Batuta went to China as the envoy of which one of the following De

Ibn Batuta went to China as the envoy of which one of the following Delhi Sultans?

[amp_mcq option1=”Alauddin Khilji” option2=”Muhammad bin Tughluq” option3=”Iltutmish” option4=”Firoz Shah Tughluq” correct=”option2″]

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Ibn Batuta went to China as the envoy of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq.
The famous Moroccan traveller Ibn Batuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351). He spent several years in the Sultanate, serving as a qazi (judge) in Delhi. In 1341, Muhammad bin Tughluq appointed him as his ambassador to the Mongol court in China.
Ibn Batuta’s journey to China as the Sultan’s envoy was fraught with difficulties, including shipwrecks and other dangers. Although he faced numerous setbacks on the way, he eventually reached China. His detailed travelogue, the Rihla, provides invaluable information about the political, social, and economic conditions of the Delhi Sultanate and other regions he visited, including parts of Southeast Asia and China.

218. Who were Alvars ?

Who were Alvars ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Those who immersed in devotion to Vishnu” option2=”Devotees of Shiva” option3=”Those who worshipped abstract form of God” option4=”Devotees of Shakti” correct=”option1″]

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The Alvars were poet-saints of South India who were devout followers of Vishnu (Vaishnavism). Their devotional hymns, compiled as the Divya Prabandha, are central to Vaishnavite tradition. The Nayanars were their counterparts in Shaivism (devotees of Shiva).
Alvars were Vaishnavite Bhakti saints from South India.
There were traditionally 12 Alvars. Their movement flourished between the 6th and 9th centuries CE and played a significant role in the Bhakti movement.

219. Who is the author of the 16th century Sanskrit text, the Vraja Bhakti

Who is the author of the 16th century Sanskrit text, the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa which focuses on the Braj region in North India ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Todar Mal” option2=”Narayana Bhatta” option3=”Chaitanya” option4=”Rupa Goswami” correct=”option2″]

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Narayana Bhatta (c. 1535-1610 CE) was a prominent scholar and devotee associated with the Braj region in the 16th century. He is credited with compiling several important Sanskrit texts related to the sacred geography, deities, and devotional practices of Braj, including the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa. This work provides descriptions of the pilgrimage sites in the Braj area, which is central to the worship of Krishna.
The Braj region is significant in Vaishnavism, and scholars compiled texts detailing its geography and religious importance during the medieval period.
Todar Mal was associated with the Mughal court. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (late 15th-early 16th century) inspired the Gaudiya Vaishnava movement, and his followers, like the Goswamis of Vrindavan, further developed the theology and practices. Rupa Goswami was one of the Six Goswamis and a key theologian of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, author of works like Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu and Ujjvala-nilamani, but Vraja Bhakti Vilasa is attributed to Narayana Bhatta.

220. Who among the following Mughal emperors was a follower of the Naqshban

Who among the following Mughal emperors was a follower of the Naqshbandiyya leader, Khwaja Ubaydullah Ahrar ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Babur” option2=”Humayun” option3=”Akbar” option4=”Jahangir” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is Babur.
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, had strong connections to Sufism, particularly the Naqshbandiyya order, which was influential in his native region of Transoxiana. He held Khwaja Ubaydullah Ahrar in high regard and mentioned him respectfully in his memoirs, the ‘Baburnama’, indicating he was a follower or at least deeply influenced by the Khwaja.
While later Mughal emperors also had varying degrees of interest in Sufism, Babur’s personal reverence for Khwaja Ahrar is well-documented. Akbar’s reign saw a period of interest in various religious traditions but also moved towards Sulh-i-Kul. Jahangir had connections with various Sufi saints as well.
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