15 questionswith explanationsfor RAS, Patwari, VDO and other Rajasthan exams
Consider the following statements about the early Bhakti saints of Tamil Nadu: 1. The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu. 2. The Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. 3. Andal was a woman Nayanar saint. Which of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (1) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Alvars worshipped Vishnu and Nayanars Shiva; Andal was a woman Alvar, while Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a woman Nayanar.
The 'Nalayira Divyaprabandham' is a compilation of the hymns of:
Answer: (3) Alvars
Explanation
Nalayira Divyaprabandham collects the hymns of the twelve Alvars; the Nayanars' hymns are collected in the Tevaram.
The 'Advaita' (non-dualism) philosophy was propounded by:
Answer: (3) Shankaracharya
Explanation
Shankaracharya, born at Kaladi in Kerala, propounded Advaita, holding the individual soul and Brahman to be one.
Match the Vaishnava acharyas with their philosophies: A. Ramanuja B. Madhvacharya C. Nimbarka D. Vallabhacharya 1. Shuddhadvaita 2. Dvaita 3. Dvaitadvaita 4. Vishishtadvaita
Answer: (4) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
Explanation
Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita, Madhva Dvaita, Nimbarka Dvaitadvaita and Vallabha Shuddhadvaita.
The collection of Kabir's verses compiled by his followers is known as:
Answer: (4) Bijak
Explanation
Kabir's sayings are compiled in the Bijak; many of his verses also appear in the Guru Granth Sahib.
The dargah of the Chishti saint Shaikh Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar (Baba Farid) is located at:
Answer: (2) Pakpattan
Explanation
Baba Farid's dargah is at Pakpattan in Punjab (now Pakistan); his verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Adi Granth, containing the compositions of Guru Nanak and other saints, was first compiled in 1604 by:
Answer: (3) Guru Arjan Dev
Explanation
Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth in 1604, including verses of Guru Nanak, Kabir, Namdev and others.
Which Bhakti saint popularised 'sankirtan' (collective singing in praise of Krishna) in Bengal?
Answer: (1) Chaitanya
Explanation
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Nabadwip spread Krishna bhakti in Bengal through sankirtan and spent his later years at Puri.
Tulsidas composed the 'Ramcharitmanas' in which language?
Answer: (2) Awadhi
Explanation
Ramcharitmanas was written in Awadhi; Surdas, by contrast, wrote in Braj Bhasha.
Match the Bhakti saints with their works: A. Surdas B. Jnaneshwar C. Malik Muhammad Jayasi D. Tulsidas 1. Jnaneshwari 2. Sursagar 3. Padmavat 4. Vinay Patrika
Answer: (4) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
Explanation
Surdas wrote Sursagar, Jnaneshwar the Jnaneshwari (on the Gita), Malik Muhammad Jayasi the Padmavat and Tulsidas the Vinay Patrika.
Namdev and Tukaram belonged to which Bhakti tradition of Maharashtra, centred on the worship of Vithoba of Pandharpur?
Answer: (1) Varkari
Explanation
The Varkari sant tradition, including Jnaneshwar, Namdev and Tukaram, worships Vithoba (Vitthal) of Pandharpur.
Mirabai, the Bhakti saint devoted to Krishna, is traditionally regarded as a disciple of:
Answer: (4) Raidas
Explanation
According to tradition, Mirabai's guru was Raidas (Ravidas), a saint from a caste considered 'untouchable'.
The poet Amir Khusrau was a disciple of which Sufi saint?
Answer: (3) Nizamuddin Auliya
Explanation
Amir Khusrau was a devoted disciple of the Chishti saint Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi.
Match the Sufi silsilas with the saints associated with them: A. Suhrawardi B. Naqshbandi C. Qadiri D. Chishti 1. Shaikh Salim Chishti 2. Mian Mir 3. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi 4. Bahauddin Zakariya
Answer: (2) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Explanation
Bahauddin Zakariya (Multan) was Suhrawardi, Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi Naqshbandi, Mian Mir (Lahore) Qadiri and Salim Chishti (Fatehpur Sikri) Chishti.
Consider the following statements about Sufi silsilas in India: 1. The Chishti saints generally kept away from the court and state service. 2. The Suhrawardi saints accepted state patronage and official posts. 3. The Naqshbandi saint Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi supported Akbar's liberal religious policies. Which of the above statements are correct?
Answer: (1) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
Chishtis avoided the state while Suhrawardis accepted grants and posts; Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was an orthodox critic of Akbar's policies.