BHAKTI SUFI TRADITIONS CHAPTER 6

BHAKTI-SUFI TRADITIONS
CHANGES IN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS & DEVOTIONAL TEXTS
(8-18^TH CENTURY)
Part II- Theme Six

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Consider the following statements:
I. New textual sources available from this period include compositions attributed to poet saints orally in regional languages of ordinary people
II. These compositions were compiled by disciples or devotees after the death of poet-saint
III. Hagiographies are literally very accurate
IV.  Most striking feature of this period is increasing visibility of a wide range of gods & goddesses in sculpture as well as in texts
Which of these statements is/are correct?
A. Only I
B. II & II
C. I,II,III,IV
D. I,II,IV

Ans: D

Hagiographies are not always accurate

2. Consider the statements:
I. There were two processes of integration of cults.
II. First was disseminating of Brahmanical ideas
III. Second was Brahmans accepting & reworking the beliefs & practices of other social categories
IV. Jagannatha, a form of Vishnu at Puri is an example of integration of cults
Options:
A. Only I
B. II & III only
C. IV only
D. I,II,III & IV

Ans: D

3. Who among the following coined the terms ‘Great & Little traditions’?
A. Robert Brenner
B. Robert Brucefield
C. Robert  Redfield
D. Robert Greenfield

Ans: C

*Coined these terms to describe the cultural practices of peasant societies

• Great Traditions: Rituals & customs observed by peasants that emanated from dominant social categories like priests & rulers
• Little Traditions: Local practices followed by peasants that did not correspond with great tradition

4. Identify the image-

Ans: Bronze sculpture of Manikkavachakar, Shiva devotee

5. Identify the practice from given information:
*Associated with goddess, widespread in several parts of subcontinent
*Open to women & men, and ignored differences of caste & class within ritual context
* Those engaged in these practices ignored the authority of Vedas

Ans: Tantric practices

6. Consider the following
Statement-1: Bhakti traditions accommodated & acknowledged women & lower castes
Statement-2: Bhakti traditions can be classified as Saguna & Nirguna
Alternatives:
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: C

• Saguna – with attributes , focused on worship of Shiva & Vishnu
• Nirguna – without  attributes , focused on worship of abstract form of God

7. Consider the following pairs:
I. Appar – Nayanar Saint
II. Tondaradippodi – Alvar
III. Chaturvedin – Buddhist monk
Which of the pairs is/are incorrect?
A. I only
B. II only
C. III & I only
D. III only

Ans:  D

Chaturvedin means Brahmana versed in four Vedas

* Nayanar & Alvars used to sing hymns in Tamil

8. Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reasoning (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.
Assertion (A): Alvars & Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system , Brahmana dominance & attempted to reform the system
Reason (R): Bhaktas hailed from diverse backgrounds from Brahmanas to artisans, cultivators & untouchables

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.

Ans: A

9. Which of the following is described as Tamil Veda?
A. Mrichhakatika
B. Nalayira Divyaprabandham
C. Tazkiras
D. Malfuzat

Ans: B

*Composed by 12  Alvars

10. Poems of Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar forms a collection known as __________
A. Apparam
B. Sampoornarar
C. Tevaram
D. Nalayaira Divyaprabandham  

Ans: C

11. Consider the following
Statement-1: Andal was a woman Alvar
Statement-2: Karaikkal Ammaiyar  was a devotee of Vishnu
Alternatives:
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: A

*Karaikkal Ammaiyar  was a devotee of Shiva (Nayanar) adopted path of extreme asceticism to attain her goal

12. Identify the given image

Ans: Karaikkal Ammaiyar 

*She describes herself as a female demoness

13. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Major themes in Tamil Bhakti hymns is poets opposition to Buddhism & Jainism
Statement -2: The main reason for hostility was due to competition for royal patronage
A. Statement 1 is true, Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: C

14. Temples at Chidambaram, Thanjavur & Gangaikondacholapuram were constructed under the patronage of which ruling dynasty?
A. Cheras
B. Pandyas
C. Pallavas
D. Cholas

Ans: D

* These are Shiva temples

15. Chola ruler ______ had consecrated metal images of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar in a Shiva temple
A. Raja Raja
B. Rajendra
C. Parantaka I
D. Parantaka II

Ans: C

16. Identify the god/goddess in the given image

Ans:  Shiva as Nataraja

17. The twelfth century witnessed the emergence of a new movement as Virashaiva tradition. This continues to be an important community in the region to date. Our understanding of this tradition is derived from vachanas composed by women and men who joined the movement. Which of the following statement is correct about this tradition?
A. It was led by a Basavanna
B. Their followers were known as Nayanars
C. They supported the idea of caste and theory of rebirth.
D. It emerged in Kerala

Ans: A

• Basavanna , minister in the court of a Kalachuri ruler, his followers were known as Virashaivas or Lingayats
• Linagayats challenged the idea of caste & theory of rebirth
• They did not practiced funerary rites , believed on death devotee will be united to Shiva and will not return to this world
• They also encouraged practices disapproved in Dharmashashtras

18. Which among the following is not a principal deity of the Vedic Pantheon?
A. Agni
B. Soma
C. Indra
D. Vishnu

Ans: D

19. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Natha , Jogis & Siddhas were religious leaders who function within the orthodox Brahmanical framework
Statement -2: Ulama are scholars of Islamic studies
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: B

*Natha , Jogis & Siddhas were religious leaders who did not function within the orthodox Brahmanical framework

20. Identify the incorrect statement:
A. Muslim rulers were to be guided by the ulama who ensured that they ruled according to the shari’a
B. Category of zimmi (Christians & Jews) paid a tax called jizya and gained the right to be protected by Muslims
C. Akbar & Aurangzeb gave land endowments & tax exemptions to non-Muslim subjects
D. Matrilocal residence is a practice where men after marriage remain in their natal home with their children and the wives may come to stay with them

Ans: D

Matrilocal residence is a practice where women after marriage remain in their natal home with their children and the husbands may come to stay with them

21. Consider the statements and identify the correct statement:
I. All those who adopted Islam accepted the five pillars of the faith
II. Arab Muslim traders who settled along Malabar coast adopted local customs such as matriliny
III. People were identified in terms of region from which they came like Turkish rulers were designated as Turushka
IV. Turks & Afghans were referred to as Shakas & Yavanas
Options-
A. I & II only
B. III & IV only
C. I, II ,III & IV
D. IV only

Ans: C

Five pillars –

• One God ‘Allah’ & Prophet Muhammad his messenger
• Offering prayers five times a day
• Giving alms (zakat)
• Fasting during the month of Ramzan (Sawm)
• Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)

22. All of the following statements regarding Sufism are correct except ─
A. Sufis turned to asceticism in protest against the growing materialism of the Caliphate
B. They sought an interpretation of Quran on the basis of theologians
C. They laid emphasis on seeking salvation through intense devotion and love for God
D. Special rituals of initiation were organized in Khanqah in which initiates took an oath of allegiance , wore a patched garment & shaved their hair

Ans: B

They sought an interpretation of Quran on the basis of their personal experience

23. Consider the following pairs:
I. Khanqah: hospice
II. Murids:  master
III. Khalifa: successor
IV. Murshid: disciple
Which of the pairs is/are incorrect?
A. I & II only
B. II & IV only
C. III only
D. IV only

Ans: B

*Teaching master- Shaikh , Pir , Murshid

* Disciples- Murids

24. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Silsila literally means a chain signifying continuous link between master & disciple
Statement -2: When shaikh became popular his tomb shrine encouraged practice of ziyarat (pilgrimage)
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: A

*When shaikh died, his tomb shrine encouraged practice of ziyarat

25. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Most sufi lineages were named after a founding figure
Statement -2: Some sufi lineages were named after their place of origin
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: C

• Qadiri order named after Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani
• Chishti order named after place of origin (Town of Chishti in  Afghanistan)

26. Consider the following pairs
I. Tasawwuf: Sufism
II. Wali: Sufi saint
III. Ba-sharia : Sufis who defied sharia
IV. Be-sharia : Sufis who complied with sharia
Which of the following pairs is/are correct?
A. I,II only
B. III & IV only
C. IV only
D. III only

Ans: A

27. Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reasoning (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.
Assertion (A):Amir Hasan Sijzi , Amir Khusro & Barani were visitors to Shaikh Nizamuddin
Reason (R): Shaikh Nizamuddin appointed several spiritual successors & deputed them to setup hospices in various parts of the subcontinent
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.

Ans: B

28. Match the following

Ans:  1-c , 2- d , 3- b  , 4-a , 5-e

* Khwaja Muinuddin was known as ‘Gharib Nawaz’ (comforter of poor)

29. The book ‘ Kashf-ul-Mahjub’ was written by-
A. Muinuddin Sijzi
B. Abul Hasan al Hujwiri
C. Nizamuddin Auliya
D. Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

Ans: B

* He is revered as Data Ganj Baksh (Giver who bestows treasures)

30. Consider the statements about dargah of Muinuddin
I. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was the first Sultan to visit the Shrine
II. Akbar went there fourteen times to seek blessings
III. Jahangir offered a huge cauldron(degh) to facilitate cooking for pilgrims  also constructed a mosque within Dargah
IV. Mughal princess Jahanara also visited there
Which of the following is/are correct?
A. Only I
B. I,II,III
C. I,II,IV
D. III & II only

Ans: C

*Akbar offered a cauldron

31. Which of these Mughal Princess wrote biography of Shaikh Muinuddin titled as ‘Munis al Arwah’?
A. Gulbadan Begum
B. Nur Jahan
C. Jahanara
D. Roshanara

Ans: C

*Munis al Arwah = The Confidant of Spirits

32. Read the following statements regarding Sufism in India: I. They turned to asceticism and mysticism in protest against the growing materialism
II. They sought an interpretation of Quran on the basis of their experience
III. Amir Khusro was the disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia
IV. Sheikh Muinuddin Sijzi was from Delhi.
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. I,II, and III
B. III,IV and I 
C. I,III and IV
D. II & IV

Ans: A

33. Whose verses were incorporated in Guru Granth Sahib?
A. Barani
B. Khusrau
C. Baba Farid
D. Meera Bai

Ans: C

34. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Padmavati , the prem-akhyan was composed by Amir Khusrau
Statement -2: The short poems in Dakhani were sung by women while performing household work
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: B

• Padmavati was composed by Malik Muhammad Jayasi
• Lurinama (lullabies) & shadinama (wedding songs) were other compositions

35. Consider the following statements :
I. Austerity was the major feature of  Chishti tradition
II. Sufis accepted unsolicited grants & donations
III. Chishtis accepted donations in cash & kind and accumulated the donations
IV. Disciples of Nizamuddin Auliya addressed him as ‘sultan-ul-mashaikh’ (sultan among shaikhs)
Which of the statement is incorrect?
A. I only
B. II & III
C. IV only
D. III only

Ans: D

36. Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reasoning (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.
Assertion (A): Sultans also required legitimation from Sufis
Reason (R): Sufis derived their authority directly from God and did not depend on jurists to interpret Sharia
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.

Ans: A

37. Two statements are given in the question below as Assertion (A) and Reasoning (R). Read the statements and choose the appropriate option.
Assertion (A): Kings often wanted their tomb to be in vicinity of sufi shrines & hospices
Reason (R): It was believed that Sufis could intercede with God to improve material & spiritual conditions of human beings
A. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false.
D. A is false but R is true.

Ans: B

38. Consider the following pairs:
I. Kabir Bijak – Kabirpanth
II. Kabir Granthavali – Dadupanth
III. Vachanas – Basavanna
Which of these pairs is/are correct?
A. I & II
B. III only
C. II only
D. I,II,III

Ans: D

• Kabirpanth – Varanasi
• Dadupanth – Rajasthan

39. Read the following statements regarding Kabir and select the appropriate option.
I. Kabir was a nirguna saint
II. He believed in formless supreme God and Ultimate reality
III He wanted to remove the differences based on caste and religion
IV. He condemned the superstitious cults, the ritualism, the doctrines of both Hinduism and Islam
Options:
A. I &II
B. I, II&III
C. I,II,III&IV
D. II,III&IV

Ans: C

40. Identify the poet saint from the given information:
*He used connotations as Shabda(sound) or Shunya(emptiness)
*  Many of his compositions are found in Adi Granth Sahib
* He believed God is one who just has different names
* It is believed he was initiated into Bhakti by Guru Ramananda

Ans: Kabir

41. Consider the following statements:
I. Both Kabir and Guru Nanak rejected idol worship
II. Both Kabir and Guru Nanak advocated Saguna Bhakti.
Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct ?
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. Both I and II
D. Neither I nor II

Ans: A

*Both Kabir and Guru Nanak advocated Nirguna Bhakti and rejected idol worship, sacrifices and ritual baths.

42. Consider the following statements:
I. Baba Guru Nanak born in a Hindu merchant family at Nankana Sahib
II. For Baba Guru Nanak the ‘rab’ had no gender or form
III. Expressed his ideas through hymns called ‘shabad’ in Punjabi
IV. Baba Guru Nanak did not wish to establish a new religion
Which of the statements is/are correct?
A. I & II
B. III & IV
C. I,II,III & IV
D. I,II & III

Ans: C

43. Consider the statements:
Statement -1: Angad was appointed as the preceptor by Guru Nanak
Statement -2: Guru Arjan compiled Baba Guru Nanak’s hymns along with Baba Farid , Ravidas & Kabir in the Adi Granth Sahib
A. Statement 1 is true , Statement 2 is false
B. Statement 2 is True , Statement 1 is false
C. Both are correct
D. Both are false

Ans: C

*Tenth preceptor Guru  Gobind Singh included compositions of the ninth Guru ,Guru  Teg Bahadur in Guru Granth Sahib

44. Who laid the foundation of Khalsa Panth?
A. Guru Arjan Dev
B. Guru Gobind Singh
C. Guru Tegh Bahadur
D. Guru Nanak

Ans: B

Five symbols-

• Uncut Hair
• A dagger
• A pair of shorts
• A comb
• A steel bangle

45. Read the following information given carefully & identify the devotee of Saguna Bhakti
 She was a Rajput princess from Merta in Marwar.
 She considered Lord Krishna as her lover.
 She was married to Sisodia Clan
Options:
A. Andal
B. Gargi
C. Meera Bai
D. Maitryi

Ans: C

• Her preceptor was Raidas
• She defied the norms of caste society

46. Consider the following statements and identify the incorrect statement:
A. Shankaradeva was one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Tamil Nadu
B. His teachings are known as Bhagavati Dharma
C. He also composed Kirtana Ghosha
D. He emphasized naam Kirtan

Ans:  A

*Shankaradeva was one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam

47. Consider the following pairs-
I. Malfuzat – conversations of Sufi saint
II. Maktubat – written collections of letters
III. Tazkiras – biographical accounts of saints
IV. Atiya Mosque – Bangladesh
Which of these pairs is/are incorrect?
A. I & II
B. III & IV only
C. I,II,III,IV
D. None

Ans: D

48. Identify the god –

Ans:  Jagannatha

49. Identify the image

Ans: Buddhist Goddess Marichi , example of integration of cults

50. “The given structure  is regarded  as the jewel in the crown”.Identify the structure

Ans: Shah Hamadan Mosque , Srinagar

51. Identify the image

Ans:  Dargah of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri

52. All of the following statements regarding the Lingayats are correct except ─
A. They were known as Jangama or wandering monks.
B. They believed in rebirth.
C. They challenged the idea of ‘pollution’ attributed to certain groups
D. Practices like post-puberty marriage and remarriage of widows disapproved by Dharmashastras were encouraged by the Lingayat

Ans: B

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