Bhakti Movement in Medieval India

1.Sufism

• Origin and Spread of Sufism in IndiaImportance 3/5UPSC 2002
  What was Sufism, and within which religion did it arise? Remember where it is said to have originated and when it reached India. Who is named as an early Sufi preacher in India, and from which city? Understand why the tombs of Sufi saints draw both Hindus and Muslims.
• Chishti OrderImportance 5/5UPSC 1996, 1997, 2002
  Remember the most famous Sufi saint of India and the town that became his centre. Which later saint belonged to the same order? You should be able to tell Chishti saints apart from Suhrawardi saints.
• Suhrawardi OrderImportance 4/5
  Which Indian Sufi saint spread this order, and which mystic influenced him? Understand how the order is linked to the Suhrawardi name and how his branch of followers carried it forward.
• Core Teachings of SufismImportance 4/5UPSC 2012
  Understand how Sufis saw love and devotion as the way to God, why love of God meant service to humanity, and why self-discipline mattered. Remember the role of the pir (guru) and the spirit of tolerance. Also know the other practices Sufism stressed, such as meditation, charity and fasting.
• Sufis and Orthodox Islam ComparedImportance 3/5
  On what two points did the Sufis differ from orthodox Muslims? Think about the main route to salvation and about what makes a person truly religious.
• Influence of Sufism on Bhakti, Akbar and Hindu-Muslim RelationsImportance 4/5
  Explain how Sufism influenced the Bhakti saints and Akbar's religious outlook. How did the Sufi and Bhakti movements, growing side by side, bring the two communities closer? Did this closeness last?

2.Bhakti Movement

• Tamil Bhakti and Medieval Bhakti Compared (Nayanmars, Alwars)Importance 3/5UPSC 2016
  Who were the Nayanmars and the Alwars, which gods did each group worship, and under which dynasties did they preach? In which centuries? Understand how the medieval Bhakti movement differed from this earlier Tamil phase.
• Influence of Islam and Sufism on Medieval BhaktiImportance 4/5
  Which Islamic ideas are said to have influenced the medieval Bhakti leaders? Know which reformers were shaped by Sufi preaching. Note that this is one explanation of the movement's rise, not the only one.
• Sankara and AdvaitaImportance 5/5UPSC 2004
  Where was Sankara born, and in which century is he placed? Note that historians date him differently. Understand Advaita (monism) and the idea of Nirgunabrahman. How does Nirgunabrahman differ from Sagunabrahman? Why did Advaita fail to appeal to common people?
• Ramanuja and VisishtadvaitaImportance 5/5UPSC 2004, 2022
  Remember where Ramanuja was born and his period. Be clear how his view of the world and of God differs from Sankara's: is the world real or an illusion, and how are God, soul and matter related? Also learn his path of self-surrender (prapatti) and his invitation to the downtrodden.
• Madhva (Madhvacharya) and DvaitaImportance 4/5
  From which region did Madhva come, and in which century did he preach? Understand what dualism means here, and how Dvaita differs from Advaita and Visishtadvaita on the nature of God, soul and matter.
• Nimbarka and VallabhacharyaImportance 4/5UPSC 2010, 2014, 2019
  Both were preachers of Vaishnavite Bhakti. From which language community did their families come, and where in north India did they actually preach? Which famous Krishna devotee was a disciple of Vallabhacharya?
• Surdas and MirabaiImportance 4/5
  Match Surdas and Mirabai with their deity, region and contribution. Which cult did Surdas spread, and where? For what kind of songs did Mirabai become popular, and in which region?
• Tulsidas and the RamcharitmanasImportance 4/5
  Which god did Tulsidas worship? Remember his best-known work, the epic it retells and the language in which it was written.
• Shared Teachings of Ramananda, Kabir and NanakImportance 4/5
  Remember the approximate period of each of these three saints. Understand how they differed from the early reformers in creed and ritual. Learn their shared beliefs about God, idol worship and the unity of religions. Did they worship God with or without attributes, and how does that set them apart from Surdas, Mirabai and Tulsidas?
• Ramananda's Contributions to the Bhakti MovementImportance 4/5UPSC 2002
  Where was Ramananda born, and whose follower was he at first? Remember his deity, the places where he preached and the language he used. What were his two important contributions, and how did he treat caste in choosing disciples?
• Disciples of RamanandaImportance 4/5UPSC 2001
  Remember some of his best-known disciples (Kabir, Raidas, Sena, Sadhna, Dhanna, Narahari and Pipa) and the community or occupation of each. What does this list show about his attitude to caste?
• Kabir's Birth and UpbringingImportance 3/5UPSC 2001
  Near which city was Kabir born, and by whom was he raised? How did he come to know both Hindu and Muslim ideas? Know his link with Ramananda, though historians debate the details of his early life.
• Kabir's Teachings and His FollowersImportance 5/5UPSC 2019
  What did Kabir want to achieve between Hindus and Muslims? Understand his views on idolatry, rituals and equality. Remember his phrase for Hindus and Muslims, and how he saw Rama and Allah. What kind of heart did he say devotion needs? Who are his followers called?
• Guru Nanak's Life and ReligionImportance 4/5UPSC 2013
  Where was Guru Nanak born? Remember the religion he founded and what his followers are called.
• Guru Nanak's TeachingsImportance 4/5
  Which social divisions and religious practices did Nanak condemn? Understand why his idea of religion is called practical and ethical, and what way of life he urged. Remember his well-known saying about staying pure in an impure world.
• Chaitanya in BengalImportance 4/5UPSC 2004
  Which cult did Chaitanya popularise? Understand his message of universal brotherhood and his stand on caste and religion. How did he see song and dance as a way to feel God's presence?
• Gnanadeva and the Bhakti Movement in MaharashtraImportance 4/5
  Who founded the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra, and in which century? Remember what the movement was called and the commentary on the Bhagavat Gita he wrote.
• Namadeva and EkanathaImportance 3/5UPSC 2001
  What did Namadeva preach and oppose? Remember Ekanatha's century, his attitude to caste and the lower castes, and the kinds of devotional songs for which he was famous.
• TukaramImportance 4/5UPSC 2006, 2010
  Whose contemporary was Tukaram? Understand how he helped create a background for Maratha nationalism, and what he opposed.

3.Importance of the Bhakti Movement

• Bhakti and the Growth of Regional LanguagesImportance 4/5
  Why did preaching in the people's own languages help those languages grow? Know which languages gained, and how this let the saints reach the masses directly.
• Bhakti and the Status of Lower Castes and WomenImportance 4/5UPSC 2016
  How did the Bhakti saints' condemnation of caste raise the position of the lower classes? Explain why women gained greater importance in society through this movement.
• Simple Religion, Charity and ServiceImportance 3/5
  What kind of religion did Bhakti offer ordinary people, and what did it ask of them instead of complicated rituals? Understand the new social ideal that developed alongside it.

1. 1.

   With reference to Sufism in medieval India, consider the following statements:
   1. Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti settled at Ajmer, which became the centre of his activities.
   2. Nizamuddin Auliya belonged to the Suhrawardi order.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
2. 2.

   Consider the following statements about Sufism:
   1. Sufis regarded love and devotion as the only means of attaining salvation, whereas orthodox believers stressed blind observance of rituals.
   2. Sufis laid stress on external conduct, whereas orthodox Muslims emphasised inner purity.
   3. Sufis held that spiritual development is impossible without the guidance of a pir or guru.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
3. 3.

   Consider the following statements:
   Statement-I: Sankara's doctrine of Advaita was too abstract to appeal to the common man.
   Statement-II: Ramanuja invited the downtrodden to Vaishnavism.
   Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

   1. ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
   2. BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   3. CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
   4. DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
4. 4.

   Consider the following statements about the early Bhakti philosophers:
   1. Ramanuja was born at Sriperumbudur near modern Chennai.
   2. Ramanuja held that the creative process and all objects in creation are illusory.
   3. Madhva's philosophy holds that the world is an illusion.
   4. Sankara's doctrine of Advaita is known as dualism.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. COnly three
   4. DAll four
5. 5.

   Consider the following pairs:

   Disciple of Ramananda	Background
   1. Kabir	Muslim weaver
   2. Sena	Goldsmith
   3. Pipa	Rajput prince

   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
6. 6.

   Match List I with List II:

   List I (Saint)	List II (Place linked with birth)
   A. Sankara	1. Allahabad
   B. Ramanuja	2. Kaladi
   C. Nanak	3. Sriperumbudur
   D. Ramananda	4. Talwandi

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. AA-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
   2. BA-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
   3. CA-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
   4. DA-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
7. 7.

   Which one of the following Bhakti saints was a disciple of Vallabhacharya and popularised the Krishna cult in north India?

   1. ASurdas
   2. BMirabai
   3. CTulsidas
   4. DChaitanya
8. 8.

   With reference to the teachings of Kabir, consider the following statements:
   1. He described Hindus and Muslims as 'pots of the same clay'.
   2. He regarded Rama and Allah as distinct deities, and temple and mosque as different places of worship.
   3. He held that devotion requires a pure heart free from cruelty, dishonesty, hypocrisy and insincerity.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C1 and 3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
9. 9.

   Consider the following statements about Guru Nanak:
   1. He denounced caste distinctions and rituals like bathing in holy rivers.
   2. His conception of religion was highly ritualistic and ceremonial.
   3. He exhorted people to lead a life of truth, honesty and kindness.
   How many of the above statements are correct?

   1. AOnly one
   2. BOnly two
   3. CAll three
   4. DNone
10. 10.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. Chaitanya, a Bhakti saint of Bengal, popularised the Krishna cult.
    2. Gnanadeva wrote the Gnaneswari, a commentary on the Upanishads.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
11. 11.

    Consider the following statements about the importance of the Bhakti movement:
    1. It provided an impetus to the development of regional languages such as Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Kannada.
    2. The condemnation of the caste system by Bhakti saints raised the lower classes to a position of great importance.
    3. It increased the importance of women in society by giving them equal importance.
    4. It required people to perform complicated rituals as the mark of sincere devotion.
    How many of the above statements are correct?

    1. AOnly one
    2. BOnly two
    3. COnly three
    4. DAll four
12. 12.

    Consider the following statements:
    1. The medieval Bhakti movement was of the same kind as the Bhakti cult of the Nayanmars and Alwars in Tamil Nadu.
    2. The closeness that the Sufi and Bhakti movements brought between Hindus and Muslims lasted for a long time.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2
13. 13.

    Consider the following pairs:

    Bhakti saint	Description
    1. Mirabai	Popular in Bengal for her bhajans
    2. Tulsidas	Worshipper of Rama who composed the Ramcharitmanas
    3. Tukaram	Contemporary of Sivaji

    Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

    1. A1 and 2 only
    2. B2 and 3 only
    3. C1 and 3 only
    4. D1, 2 and 3
14. 14.

    With reference to the Bhakti saints Ramananda, Kabir and Nanak, which one of the following statements is correct?

    1. ALike the early reformers, they remained linked with a particular religious creed
    2. BThey treated Bhakti as one of several equally valid paths to salvation, alongside rituals
    3. CThey condemned polytheism, denounced all idolatry and stressed the unity of religions
    4. DThey denounced idolatry but accepted the worship of many gods and goddesses
15. 15.

    Which one of the following Sufi saints came under the influence of the mystic Shihabuddin Suhrawardi?

    1. AKhwaja Muinuddin Chishti
    2. BNizamuddin Auliya
    3. CKabir
    4. DBahauddin Zakariya

1. 1.

   UPSC 2022

   The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja ?

   1. AThe best means of salvation was devotion.
   2. BVedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
   3. CLogical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.
   4. DSalvation was to be obtained through meditation.
2. 2.

   UPSC 2019

   Consider the following statements :
   1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.
   2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
3. 3.

   UPSC 2016

   With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements :
   1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
   2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   1. A1 only
   2. B2 only
   3. CBoth 1 and 2
   4. DNeither 1 nor 2
4. 4.

   UPSC 2013

   Consider the following Bhakti Saints :
   1. Dadu Dayal
   2. Guru Nanak
   3. Tyagaraja
   Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

   1. A1 and 3
   2. B2 only
   3. C2 and 3
   4. D1 and 2
5. 5.

   UPSC 2012

   With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices?
   1. Meditation and control of breath
   2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place
   3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience
   Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

   1. A1 and 2 only
   2. B2 and 3 only
   3. C3 only
   4. D1, 2 and 3
6. 6.

   UPSC 2002

   With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements:
   1. Shaikh Ahmad Sarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi
   2. Shaikh Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Dehlavi was a disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
   3. Aurangzeb was contemporary of Shaikh Salim Chisti
   4. The Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani
   Which of these statements are correct?

   1. A1 and 2
   2. B1 and 3
   3. C2 and 3
   4. D2 and 4
7. 7.

   UPSC 2002

   Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?

   1. ADadu
   2. BKabir
   3. CRamananda
   4. DTulsidas
8. 8.

   UPSC 2001

   Match List I with
   List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
   List I (Bhakti Saint)
   I. Namdev
   II. Kabir
   III. Ravidas
   IV. Sena
   List II (Profession) A) Barber B) Weaver C) Tailor D) Cobbler

   1. AI-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D
   2. BI-C, II-B, III-D, IV-A
   3. CI-C, II-B, III-A, IV-D
   4. DI-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
9. 9.

   UPSC 1997

   Assertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chisti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Reason (R): The Chisti order takes its name from a village Chisti in Ajmer.
   In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

   1. ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
   2. BBoth A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
   3. CA is true, but R is false
   4. DA is false, but R is true
10. 10.

    UPSC 1996

    The sufi saint who maintained that devotional music was one way of coming close to God was

    1. AMuin-ud-din Chishti
    2. BBaba Farid
    3. CSaiyid Muhammad Gesudaraz
    4. DShah Alam Bukhari
11. 11.

    UPSC 2006

    Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal Emperor?

    1. ABabar
    2. BAkbar
    3. CJahangir
    4. DAurangzeb
12. 12.

    UPSC 2004

    Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order?

    1. AShankaracharya - Ramanuja - Chaitanya
    2. BRamanuja - Shankaracharya - Chaitanya
    3. CRamanuja - Chaitanya - Shankaracharya
    4. DShankaracharya - Chaitanya - Ramanuja
13. 13.

    UPSC 2010

    Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult ?

    1. ANagarjuna
    2. BTukaram
    3. CTyagaraja
    4. DVallabhacharya
14. 14.

    UPSC 2014

    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. A1 only
    2. B2 only
    3. CBoth 1 and 2
    4. DNeither 1 nor 2