Bhakti and Sufi Movement

23

Q150. Which of the following forms of Hindustani music is especially associated with Sufi devotional music?
[RRB NTPC (UG), 14 June 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Qawwali
2. (B) Tarana
3. (C) Dhrupad
4. (D) Tappa

Answer: (A) Qawwali

Explanation: Qawwali is a devotional musical tradition associated particularly with Chishti Sufism. Its performances use poetry, melody and rhythmic repetition to express divine love and create spiritual emotion.

Q149. Basavanna, the pioneer of Vachana literature, made significant contributions to which language?
[RRB NTPC (UG), 9 May 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Hindi
2. (B) Marathi
3. (C) Kannada
4. (D) Odia

Answer: (C) Kannada

Explanation: Basavanna was a twelfth-century religious reformer associated with the Virashaiva movement in Karnataka. His Kannada Vachanas promoted devotion to Shiva, social equality and opposition to caste discrimination.

Q148. What contributed significantly to the popularity of Tamil Bhakti hymns during the Chola period?
[RRB NTPC (UG), 9 May 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Opposition to all Vedic practices
2. (B) Exclusive worship of tribal deities
3. (C) Rejection of temple traditions
4. (D) Support from Vellala peasants and rulers

Answer: (D) Support from Vellala peasants and rulers

Explanation: Royal and landed support helped Tamil devotional traditions flourish. Chola rulers patronised temples and incorporated Alvar and Nayanar compositions into religious institutions and public worship.

Q147. What can be inferred about the role of Bhakti saints in medieval Indian society?
[DSSSB MTS, 8 May 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) They encouraged foreign invasions
2. (B) They acted as social reformers
3. (C) They opposed all systems of taxation
4. (D) They sought political power

Answer: (B) They acted as social reformers

Explanation: Several Bhakti saints criticised caste discrimination, empty rituals and religious exclusiveness. Their teachings stressed devotion, compassion and moral conduct, contributing to significant changes in social and religious thought.

Q146. How did Bhakti saints make religious teachings more accessible to ordinary people?
[DSSSB MTS, 8 May 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Through Sanskrit texts exclusively
2. (B) Through the printing press
3. (C) By limiting teaching to temples
4. (D) By using local languages

Answer: (D) By using local languages

Explanation: Bhakti poets communicated through Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Hindi and other regional languages. Their accessible compositions enabled ordinary people to understand devotional teachings without extensive knowledge of Sanskrit.

Q145. Early Bhagavata Vaishnavism was particularly characterised by which religious orientation?
[UP PGT History, 9 May 2026]

1. (A) Exclusive emphasis on Vedic sacrifices
2. (B) Devotion to Vasudeva-Krishna as supreme
3. (C) Rejection of personal devotion
4. (D) Denial of divine incarnation

Answer: (B) Devotion to Vasudeva-Krishna as supreme

Explanation: The early Bhagavata tradition centred on Vasudeva-Krishna worship. It helped develop devotional Vaishnavism, laying important historical foundations for later Krishna-centred Bhakti traditions.

Q144. Arrange the following Sufi saints chronologically: Muinuddin Chishti, Baba Farid, Nizamuddin Auliya and Salim Chishti.
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (History), 19 April 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Nizamuddin – Muinuddin – Farid – Salim
2. (B) Farid – Muinuddin – Nizamuddin – Salim
3. (C) Muinuddin – Farid – Nizamuddin – Salim
4. (D) Muinuddin – Nizamuddin – Farid – Salim

Answer: (C) Muinuddin – Farid – Nizamuddin – Salim

Explanation: Muinuddin established the Chishti tradition at Ajmer. Baba Farid and Nizamuddin belonged to its subsequent spiritual generations, while Salim Chishti flourished much later during the sixteenth century.

Q143. What was an important social function of Sufi khanqahs during the Delhi Sultanate?
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (History), 19 April 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Replacing all village temples
2. (B) Training imperial military officers
3. (C) Providing spiritual guidance, charity and social mediation
4. (D) Recruiting soldiers for the Sultanate

Answer: (C) Providing spiritual guidance, charity and social mediation

Explanation: Khanqahs functioned as Sufi residential and devotional centres. They offered hospitality, instruction and charitable support, connecting religious teachers with diverse social groups and sometimes political authorities.

Q142. Which institutional practice contributed significantly to the popularity of the Chishti Sufi order in medieval India?
[UPHESC Assistant Professor (History), 19 April 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Hereditary appointments controlled by sultans
2. (B) Compulsory service in imperial administration
3. (C) Exclusive Persian theological instruction
4. (D) Providing food and shelter to visitors irrespective of social position

Answer: (D) Providing food and shelter to visitors irrespective of social position

Explanation: Chishti hospices welcomed visitors from diverse backgrounds and distributed food through charitable kitchens. This hospitality strengthened their social influence and reputation for generosity and spiritual service.

Q141. In which language did Sant Tukaram compose his famous Abhang devotional verses?
[RRB NTPC Graduate, 24 March 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Marathi
2. (B) Hindi
3. (C) Gujarati
4. (D) Kannada

Answer: (A) Marathi

Explanation: Tukaram was an influential seventeenth-century Marathi Bhakti poet associated with the Varkari tradition. His Abhangas expressed devotion to Vitthal and addressed ethical, spiritual and social concerns.

Q140. Which language did Amir Khusrau describe as being known primarily to Brahmanas rather than ordinary people?
[RRB NTPC Graduate, 18 March 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Sanskrit
2. (B) Urdu
3. (C) Pali
4. (D) Hindavi

Answer: (A) Sanskrit

Explanation: Amir Khusrau discussed India’s linguistic diversity in his writings. He distinguished scholarly Sanskrit from widely spoken regional languages, providing valuable evidence of medieval linguistic and cultural conditions.

Q139. Which saint is associated with carrying the Sri Vaishnava Bhakti tradition into northern India?
[RRB NTPC Graduate, 16 March 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Namdev
2. (B) Madhvacharya
3. (C) Ramanuja
4. (D) Ramananda

Answer: (D) Ramananda

Explanation: Ramananda is traditionally associated with the spread of Rama-centred devotion in northern India. His teachings attracted followers from diverse social backgrounds and influenced later devotional communities.

Q138. Which devotional philosophy was promoted by Srimanta Sankardeva in Assam?
[SSC MTS, 18 February 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Dvaita Vedanta
2. (B) Advaita Vedanta
3. (C) Achintya Bhedabheda
4. (D) Eka Sarana Nama Dharma

Answer: (D) Eka Sarana Nama Dharma

Explanation: Sankardeva popularised devotion to Krishna through congregational worship, religious literature and cultural performances. Eka Sarana Nama Dharma emphasised exclusive refuge in one supreme deity.

Q137. Which Mughal emperor began the major architectural development of Fatehpur Sikri, a city associated with the Sufi saint Salim Chishti?
[SSC MTS, 9 February 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Babur
2. (B) Akbar
3. (C) Jahangir
4. (D) Shah Jahan

Answer: (B) Akbar

Explanation: Akbar developed Fatehpur Sikri into an imperial centre during the sixteenth century. The city was closely connected with Shaikh Salim Chishti, whom Akbar revered.

Q136. Which philosopher associated with Vishishtadvaita was born in Tamil Nadu during the eleventh century?
[SSC MTS, 4 February 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Chaitanya
2. (B) Ramanuja
3. (C) Shankara
4. (D) Namdev

Answer: (B) Ramanuja

Explanation: Ramanuja was born at Sriperumbudur in present-day Tamil Nadu. He developed Vishishtadvaita philosophy and emphasised devotion to Vishnu as an important path towards liberation.

Q135. Which Sufi order was comparatively more accepting of royal patronage and material resources?
[Delhi Police Head Constable (AWO/TPO), 20 January 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Chishti
2. (B) Suhrawardi
3. (C) Qalandari
4. (D) Madari

Answer: (B) Suhrawardi

Explanation: The Suhrawardi order maintained closer relationships with political authorities than many early Chishti teachers. Bahauddin Zakariya of Multan was an important Indian representative of this tradition.

Q134. Ramanuja is particularly associated with which philosophical doctrine?
[Delhi Police Head Constable (AWO/TPO), 20 January 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Shunyavada
2. (B) Charvaka
3. (C) Kevaladvaita
4. (D) Vishishtadvaita

Answer: (D) Vishishtadvaita

Explanation: Vishishtadvaita means qualified non-dualism. Ramanuja maintained that individual souls and the universe are real and dependent upon Brahman, while devotion and divine grace are spiritually significant.

Q133. Which of the following statements correctly describe Basavanna’s Virashaiva movement?
1. It challenged caste hierarchy and ritual authority.
2. It promoted personal devotion to Shiva through the Ishtalinga.
3. It valued honest labour and social responsibility.
[MP Police SI, 21 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) 1 and 2 only
2. (B) 1, 2 and 3
3. (C) 1 and 3 only
4. (D) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (B) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Basavanna emphasised personal devotion, equality and dignity of labour. Virashaiva teachings challenged hereditary privilege and stressed ethical work, expressed through concepts such as Kayaka and Dasoha.

Q132. The compositions of the twelve Alvars were compiled into which anthology?
[MP Police SI, 21 January 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Bhagavata Purana
2. (B) Nalayira Divyaprabandham
3. (C) Tevaram
4. (D) Silappadikaram

Answer: (B) Nalayira Divyaprabandham

Explanation: Nalayira Divyaprabandham contains approximately four thousand Tamil devotional hymns of the Alvars. The anthology was organised by Nathamuni and became central to Sri Vaishnava worship.

Q131. Which two early Chishti teachers are listed with the same death year in the standard NCERT chronology?
[MP Police SI, 19 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Muinuddin Chishti and Baba Farid
2. (B) Nizamuddin Auliya and Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Dehli
3. (C) Muinuddin Chishti and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
4. (D) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and Baba Farid

Answer: (C) Muinuddin Chishti and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

Explanation: The NCERT chronology lists both Muinuddin Chishti and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki with the year 1235. Other historical accounts differ slightly in their dating.

Q130. What is the literal meaning of Nalayira Divyaprabandham?
[MP Police SI, 18 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Four Thousand Sacred Compositions
2. (B) Divine Tamil Hymns
3. (C) Thousand Verses of Devotion
4. (D) Three Thousand Holy Poems

Answer: (A) Four Thousand Sacred Compositions

Explanation: Nalayira means four thousand, while Divyaprabandham refers to sacred compositions. The title identifies a major collection of Tamil Vaishnava devotional poetry associated with twelve Alvar saints.

Q129. Who wrote Kashf-ul-Mahjub, an important early work explaining Sufi mysticism?
[MP Police SI, 17 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Amir Khusrau
2. (B) Nizamuddin Auliya
3. (C) Ali ibn Uthman al-Hujwiri
4. (D) Amir Hasan Sijzi

Answer: (C) Ali ibn Uthman al-Hujwiri

Explanation: Hujwiri, popularly associated with the title Data Ganj Bakhsh, wrote Kashf-ul-Mahjub in Persian. It explains Sufi spiritual doctrines, ethical conduct and mystical practices.

Q128. In which century did the English term “Sufism” become established in Western scholarship?
[MP Police SI, 16 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Eighteenth century
2. (B) Seventeenth century
3. (C) Twentieth century
4. (D) Nineteenth century

Answer: (D) Nineteenth century

Explanation: The English terminology of Sufism became established in nineteenth-century Orientalist scholarship, although the Islamic mystical tradition itself developed many centuries earlier.

Q127. Which Rajput woman saint became renowned for her intense devotion to Krishna?
[Delhi Police Head Constable (AWO/TPO), 16 January 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Andal
2. (B) Mirabai
3. (C) Lal Ded
4. (D) Akka Mahadevi

Answer: (B) Mirabai

Explanation: Mirabai was a sixteenth-century devotional poet associated with Rajasthan and Mewar. Her songs express unwavering love for Krishna and resistance to social restrictions on personal devotion.

Q126. Arrange the following groups of Bhakti and Sufi figures in chronological order.
1. Appar and Sundaramurti;
2. Jnanadeva and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki;
3. Lal Ded and Chokhamela;
4. Guru Nanak and Vallabhacharya;
5. Mirabai and Tulsidas
[UGC NET History, 5 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5
2. (B) 1 – 3 – 2 – 4 – 5
3. (C) 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 1
4. (D) 5 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 1

Answer: (A) 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5

Explanation: Tamil Shaiva saints preceded the thirteenth-century devotional and Sufi teachers. Fourteenth-century saints came next, followed by Nanak, Vallabha, Mirabai and Tulsidas in later centuries.

Q125. The novel The Queen of Jasmine Country is a fictional reimagining of which Tamil Bhakti poet’s life?
[Delhi Police Head Constable (Ministerial), 8 January 2026, Shift 3]

1. (A) Andal
2. (B) Karaikkal Ammaiyar
3. (C) Akka Mahadevi
4. (D) Lal Ded

Answer: (A) Andal

Explanation: Sharanya Manivannan’s novel reimagines the life of Andal, the celebrated female Alvar poet. Andal’s devotional compositions include Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumoli.

Q124. Which saint founded the Khalsa in 1699, giving a distinct institutional form to the Sikh community?
[Delhi Police Head Constable (AWO/TPO), 20 January 2026, Shift 2]

1. (A) Guru Nanak
2. (B) Guru Arjan
3. (C) Guru Tegh Bahadur
4. (D) Guru Gobind Singh

Answer: (D) Guru Gobind Singh

Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on Baisakhi in 1699. It strengthened Sikh communal identity, discipline and resistance against injustice.

Q123. Which institution established in Bombay in 1867 drew inspiration partly from Maharashtra’s earlier Bhakti tradition?
[DSSSB MTS, 22 April 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Arya Samaj
2. (B) Brahmo Samaj
3. (C) Prarthana Samaj
4. (D) Ramakrishna Mission

Answer: (C) Prarthana Samaj

Explanation: Atmaram Pandurang founded Prarthana Samaj in Bombay in 1867. Its reformist religious outlook drew inspiration from earlier Marathi devotional saints, including Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram.

Q122. Which Assamese classical dance tradition is closely connected with the Vaishnava Bhakti movement led by Sankardeva?
[MP Police SI, 21 January 2026, Shift 1]

1. (A) Kathakali
2. (B) Sattriya
3. (C) Mohiniyattam
4. (D) Kuchipudi

Answer: (B) Sattriya

Explanation: Sattriya developed within the Vaishnava devotional institutions of Assam. Sankardeva’s religious and theatrical innovations helped establish its connection with Krishna worship and monastic cultural traditions.

Q121. The Mughal-era painting Kabir and Raidas has been attributed to which artist?
[UP PGT Arts, 10 May 2026]

1. (A) Ustad Faquirullah Khan
2. (B) Dana
3. (C) Miskin
4. (D) Haji Madni

Answer: (A) Ustad Faquirullah Khan

Explanation: The painting depicts two celebrated figures of the Nirguna Bhakti tradition, Kabir and Ravidas. Its subject reflects the importance of devotional saints in medieval Indian cultural representation.

Q120. Jnaneshwar, born in the thirteenth century, occupies an important place in Marathi literature primarily as what?
[RRB NTPC (UG), 13 August 2025, Shift 2]

1. (A) An early major Bhakti poet
2. (B) A Mughal court historian
3. (C) A Persian playwright
4. (D) A royal chronicler

Answer: (A) An early major Bhakti poet

Explanation: Jnaneshwar was an influential Marathi saint and philosopher. His Jnaneshwari made the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings accessible through Marathi and strongly influenced the Varkari devotional tradition.

Q119. In which language did Malik Muhammad Jayasi compose Padmavat in 1540?
[OSSSC CRE Preliminary Examination, 19 October 2025, Shift 2]

1. (A) Tamil
2. (B) Telugu
3. (C) Awadhi
4. (D) Sindhi

Answer: (C) Awadhi

Explanation: Jayasi composed Padmavat in Awadhi, using a Sufi romance to explore spiritual love. The poem became an influential work of medieval North Indian literature.

Q118. Which of the following terms is associated with the practice of Sufism?
[UPSC NDA, 13 April 2025]

1. (A) Jizya
2. (B) Ijma
3. (C) Muqaddam
4. (D) Murid

Answer: (D) Murid

Explanation: Murid refers to a spiritual disciple receiving guidance from a Sufi teacher or murshid. The master-disciple relationship formed a fundamental part of organised Sufi communities.

Q117. Which statements about Bhakti devotionalism are correct?
1. Vallabhacharya promoted Krishna devotion.
2. Ramdas popularised the worship of Rama.
3. Shaivism was influential in Tamil Nadu between the seventh and ninth centuries.
[UGC NET History, 28 June 2025, Shift 1]

1. (A) 1 and 2 only
2. (B) 2 and 3 only
3. (C) 1, 2 and 3
4. (D) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (C) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Vallabhacharya developed Krishna-centred Pushtimarg, Ramdas emphasised Rama devotion, and Tamil Shaiva traditions flourished through the Nayanars. These illustrate the regional diversity of devotional movements.

Q116. Which of the following works was NOT written by Tulsidas?
[71st BPSC Preliminary Examination, 2025]

1. (A) Vinaya Patrika
2. (B) Gitavali
3. (C) Sahitya Lahari
4. (D) Kavitavali

Answer: (C) Sahitya Lahari

Explanation: Sahitya Lahari is associated with Surdas. Tulsidas composed devotional works such as Ramcharitmanas, Gitavali, Kavitavali and Vinaya Patrika, primarily expressing devotion to Rama.

Q115. Who was the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru?
[Punjab Police Constable, 28 May 2025, Shift 2]

1. (A) Guru Nanak
2. (B) Guru Angad
3. (C) Guru Tegh Bahadur
4. (D) Guru Gobind Singh

Answer: (A) Guru Nanak

Explanation: Guru Nanak preached devotion to one formless God, equality, honest work and service. His teachings inspired the Sikh religious tradition and challenged religious exclusivism.

Q114. Which of the following author–work pairs is correctly matched?
[UGC NET History, 10 January 2025, Shift 1]

1. (A) Malik Muhammad Jayasi – Chandayan
2. (B) Amir Khusrau – Nuh Sipihr
3. (C) Kalhana – Padmavat
4. (D) Mulla Daud – Rajatarangini

Answer: (B) Amir Khusrau – Nuh Sipihr

Explanation: Amir Khusrau wrote Nuh Sipihr in Persian. Jayasi wrote Padmavat, Mulla Daud composed Chandayan, and Kalhana authored Rajatarangini, the historical chronicle of Kashmir.

Q113. Which of the following Tamil devotional collections is associated with the Nayanar saints?

1. (A) Gita Govinda
2. (B) Tevaram
3. (C) Bijak
4. (D) Guru Granth Sahib

Answer: (B) Tevaram

Explanation: Tevaram contains devotional hymns by prominent Tamil Shaiva saints, including Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. These compositions became central to Shiva worship in Tamil temples.

Q112. The term “Saguna Bhakti” refers to devotion towards which concept of God?

1. (A) A God without qualities or attributes
2. (B) A God with identifiable form and attributes
3. (C) A completely materialistic universe
4. (D) A system rejecting the divine

Answer: (B) A God with identifiable form and attributes

Explanation: Saguna devotion focuses on a personal deity possessing qualities and forms. Rama-centred and Krishna-centred traditions associated with Tulsidas and Surdas are prominent examples.

Q111. Which Sufi principle emphasises remembrance of God through repeated invocation of divine names?

1. (A) Zikr
2. (B) Jizya
3. (C) Iqta
4. (D) Khutba

Answer: (A) Zikr

Explanation: Zikr means remembrance of God through repeated recitation, meditation or invocation. Different Sufi orders developed distinctive practices of vocal and silent remembrance.

Q110. Andal was one of the most famous female saints of which devotional tradition?[SSC MTS, 29 October 2024, Shift 1]

1. (A) Sufi
2. (B) Alvar
3. (C) Nayanar
4. (D) Tantric

Answer: (B) Alvar

Explanation: Andal was the celebrated female poet among the twelve Alvars of Tamil Vaishnavism. Her compositions expressed intense devotion to Vishnu and contributed to South Indian Bhakti literature.

Q109. Which of the following is correctly associated with the teachings of Kabir?

1. (A) Strict caste hierarchy
2. (B) Exclusively temple-based worship
3. (C) Devotion to a formless God
4. (D) Dependence on elaborate sacrifices

Answer: (C) Devotion to a formless God

Explanation: Kabir was an influential Nirguna Bhakti poet who criticised empty ritualism and social discrimination. He stressed sincere devotion, spiritual awareness and the unity of humanity.

Q108. Which Sufi saint is popularly known as Gharib Nawaz?

1. (A) Nizamuddin Auliya
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Bahauddin Zakariya
4. (D) Ahmad Sirhindi

Answer: (B) Muinuddin Chishti

Explanation: Muinuddin Chishti, whose shrine is located at Ajmer, received the title Gharib Nawaz, meaning benefactor of the poor. His teachings emphasised generosity and spiritual service.

Q107. Which of the following saints is particularly associated with the Varkari movement of Maharashtra?

1. (A) Tukaram
2. (B) Chaitanya
3. (C) Ramananda
4. (D) Basavanna

Answer: (A) Tukaram

Explanation: Tukaram was a prominent Varkari poet devoted to Vitthal of Pandharpur. His Marathi Abhangas highlighted humility, moral conduct and devotion over superficial religiosity.

Q106. In Sufi terminology, what does the word “Silsila” signify?

1. (A) A taxation system
2. (B) A chain of spiritual teachers and disciples
3. (C) A military institution
4. (D) A royal decree

Answer: (B) A chain of spiritual teachers and disciples

Explanation: Silsila literally means a chain, signifying spiritual succession from teacher to disciple. Such lineages connected individual Sufi masters with their predecessors and religious traditions.

Q105. Who among the following propounded the philosophical doctrine of Dvaita Vedanta?

1. (A) Shankaracharya
2. (B) Ramanuja
3. (C) Madhvacharya
4. (D) Vallabhacharya

Answer: (C) Madhvacharya

Explanation: Madhvacharya developed Dvaita, or dualism, stressing the enduring distinction between God and individual souls. His Vaishnava philosophy emphasised devotion to Vishnu.

Q104. Which devotional work was composed by Jayadeva in Sanskrit?

1. (A) Gitagovinda
2. (B) Bijak
3. (C) Jnaneshwari
4. (D) Ramcharitmanas

Answer: (A) Gitagovinda

Explanation: Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda celebrates the love of Krishna and Radha through lyrical Sanskrit poetry. It strongly influenced Vaishnava devotion, temple performances and Indian classical arts.

Q103. The term “Be-shari’a” was applied to Sufi mystics who generally did what?

1. (A) Strictly followed every formal legal requirement
2. (B) Deliberately disregarded certain formal religious laws
3. (C) Served as imperial tax collectors
4. (D) Rejected mystical experience

Answer: (B) Deliberately disregarded certain formal religious laws

Explanation: Be-shari’a Sufis often adopted unconventional ascetic practices outside established legal norms. Qalandars and some other wandering mystics were associated with this category.

Q102. Which religious centre is closely associated with the worship of Vitthal and the Varkari pilgrimage tradition?

1. (A) Ajmer
2. (B) Pandharpur
3. (C) Srirangam
4. (D) Somnath

Answer: (B) Pandharpur

Explanation: Pandharpur in Maharashtra is the principal pilgrimage centre of Vitthal devotion. Varkari pilgrims undertake devotional journeys, particularly during Ashadhi Ekadashi, accompanied by singing and collective worship.

Q101. Which Bhakti saint is particularly associated with the Bengali tradition of collective Krishna chanting?

1. (A) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
2. (B) Ravidas
3. (C) Kabir
4. (D) Dadu Dayal

Answer: (A) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Explanation: Chaitanya popularised Krishna devotion through congregational singing and ecstatic religious practices. His Gaudiya Vaishnava movement became influential throughout Bengal, Odisha and other regions.

Q100. Name the South Indian Bhakti saint who had initially been a Jain and served as a minister during the twelfth century.[SSC CGL Tier I, 27 July 2023, Shift 3]

1. (A) Karaikkal Ammaiyar
2. (B) Basavanna
3. (C) Eknath
4. (D) Annamacharya

Answer: (B) Basavanna

Explanation: Basavanna served in the court of Kalachuri ruler Bijjala and became an influential Virashaiva reformer. His teachings challenged caste distinctions and promoted personal devotion to Shiva.

Q99. Which of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT correct? [UPSC NDA, 3 September 2023]

1. (A) It avoided traditions promoting diversity.
2. (B) Northern Bhakti included devotion to Rama and Krishna.
3. (C) It included both Saguna and Nirguna devotion.
4. (D) Tulsidas represented Saguna and Kabir represented Nirguna devotion.

Answer: (A) It avoided traditions promoting diversity.

Explanation: Bhakti traditions expressed considerable diversity in languages, deities and religious approaches. Different movements emphasised personal devotion, sometimes questioning inherited social distinctions and priestly authority.

Q98. The poet-saint Kabir is traditionally associated with birth in which city?[SSC CHSL Tier I, 16 March 2023, Shift 1]

1. (A) Kashi
2. (B) Amritsar
3. (C) Somnath
4. (D) Agra

Answer: (A) Kashi

Explanation: Kabir is traditionally associated with Kashi, or Varanasi. He belonged to the North Indian Sant tradition and criticised caste prejudice, religious formalism and empty rituals.

Q97. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in which region of India? [Chhattisgarh Vyapam Teacher Examination, 10 June 2023]

1. (A) Kashmir
2. (B) Bengal
3. (C) Punjab
4. (D) Maharashtra

Answer: (B) Bengal

Explanation: Chaitanya was born at Nabadwip in Bengal in 1486. He popularised congregational Krishna worship through singing, dancing and emotionally expressive religious devotion.

Q96. How did Kabir challenge the formal religious practices of his time? [CTET Paper II, 18 January 2023]

1. (A) By criticising priestly dominance
2. (B) By exclusively using elite court language
3. (C) By rejecting the idea of a formless God
4. (D) By insisting on salvation through rituals

Answer: (A) By criticising priestly dominance

Explanation: Kabir criticised religious hypocrisy, unnecessary rituals and hereditary priestly privilege. His verses emphasised devotion to a formless divine reality and rejected superficial religious differences.

Q95. The verses and ideas of which saint have been preserved in collections such as Panchvani and Bijak? [CTET Paper II, 30 January 2023]

1. (A) Mirabai
2. (B) Kabir
3. (C) Guru Nanak
4. (D) Ravidas

Answer: (B) Kabir

Explanation: Kabir’s teachings survive through oral traditions and compilations including Bijak, Panchvani and the Guru Granth Sahib. Different communities preserved and interpreted his devotional poetry.

Q94. Which of the following terms are associated with Sufism?
1. Khanqah;
2. Raqs;
3. Zikr
[CTET Paper II, 29 January 2023]

1. (A) 2 and 3 only
2. (B) 1, 2 and 3
3. (C) 1 and 3 only
4. (D) 1 and 2 only

Answer: (B) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Khanqah means a Sufi hospice, Raqs refers to devotional movement or dance, and Zikr denotes remembrance of God. All three occur in Sufi traditions.

Q93. Which of the following Tamil devotional poets was a woman?
[KVS PGT History, 18 February 2023, Shift 1]

1. (A) Appar
2. (B) Sambandar
3. (C) Andal
4. (D) Sundarar

Answer: (C) Andal

Explanation: Andal was the female poet among the twelve Alvars. Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were prominent male Nayanar saints whose hymns praised Shiva.

Q92. Which of the following literary works is NOT attributed to Tulsidas?
[Bihar Senior Secondary Teacher History Examination, 26 August 2023, Shift 2]

1. (A) Sahitya Lahari
2. (B) Vinaya Patrika
3. (C) Gitavali
4. (D) Ramcharitmanas

Answer: (A) Sahitya Lahari

Explanation: Sahitya Lahari is attributed to Surdas, an important Krishna devotee. Tulsidas’s major compositions include Ramcharitmanas and several other works centred on Rama devotion.

Q91. Which Sufi order became particularly influential at Ajmer under Muinuddin Chishti?

1. (A) Qadiri
2. (B) Chishti
3. (C) Naqshbandi
4. (D) Shattari

Answer: (B) Chishti

Explanation: Muinuddin Chishti established a prominent Chishti centre at Ajmer. His shrine subsequently became an important pilgrimage destination attracting devotees from different religious backgrounds.

Q90. Which woman saint of Karnataka composed devotional Vachanas addressing Chennamallikarjuna?

1. (A) Mirabai
2. (B) Akka Mahadevi
3. (C) Andal
4. (D) Janabai

Answer: (B) Akka Mahadevi

Explanation: Akka Mahadevi was a twelfth-century Kannada devotional poet associated with Virashaiva traditions. Her Vachanas express profound dedication to Shiva, whom she addressed as Chennamallikarjuna.

Q89. Which Sufi order is closely associated with the teachings of Ahmad Sirhindi?

1. (A) Chishti
2. (B) Suhrawardi
3. (C) Naqshbandi
4. (D) Qadiri

Answer: (C) Naqshbandi

Explanation: Ahmad Sirhindi was an influential Naqshbandi thinker during the Mughal period. He emphasised Islamic religious law and is associated with the reformist Mujaddidi branch.

Q88. Who composed the Bengali Vaishnava biographical work Chaitanya Charitamrita?

1. (A) Krishnadasa Kaviraja
2. (B) Tulsidas
3. (C) Jayadeva
4. (D) Vidyapati

Answer: (A) Krishnadasa Kaviraja

Explanation: Krishnadasa Kaviraja composed Chaitanya Charitamrita, an important account of Chaitanya’s life and teachings. It became a foundational text of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Q87. The practice of Sama in Sufism is most closely related to what?

1. (A) Revenue administration
2. (B) Spiritual listening to devotional music
3. (C) Military training
4. (D) Temple construction

Answer: (B) Spiritual listening to devotional music

Explanation: Sama involves listening to sacred poetry or music to deepen spiritual awareness. Musical assemblies became particularly important among Indian Chishti Sufis, although practices varied.

Q86. Which text is associated with the Kashmiri mystic poet Lal Ded?

1. (A) Lal Vakh
2. (B) Gitagovinda
3. (C) Padmavat
4. (D) Ramcharitmanas

Answer: (A) Lal Vakh

Explanation: Lal Ded, also called Lalleshwari, expressed spiritual ideas through Kashmiri poetic sayings known as Vakhs. Her compositions emphasised inner realisation and criticised superficial ritualism.

Q85. Which saint is associated with the sixteenth-century Assamese Vaishnava movement and the composition of Kirtana Ghosa?

1. (A) Namdev
2. (B) Sankardeva
3. (C) Tukaram
4. (D) Nimbarka

Answer: (B) Sankardeva

Explanation: Sankardeva composed Kirtana Ghosa and promoted Assamese Krishna devotion. His movement established Namghars and Sattras that became important centres of community worship and culture.

Q84. Which Sufi master was associated with the establishment of the Suhrawardi order in Multan?

1. (A) Bahauddin Zakariya
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Baba Farid
4. (D) Nizamuddin Auliya

Answer: (A) Bahauddin Zakariya

Explanation: Bahauddin Zakariya established a major Suhrawardi centre in Multan. Unlike some Chishti masters, he maintained comparatively closer relationships with political authorities and accepted material resources.

Q83. Which of the following was a central characteristic of Nirguna Bhakti?

1. (A) Worship of God only through images
2. (B) Devotion to an attributeless divine reality
3. (C) Exclusive dependence on Sanskrit rituals
4. (D) Rejection of moral conduct

Answer: (B) Devotion to an attributeless divine reality

Explanation: Nirguna means without qualities or attributes. Saints such as Kabir and Guru Nanak emphasised the formless divine and often criticised external religious formalities.

Q82. The religious poetry of Narsi Mehta is particularly associated with which region?

1. (A) Bengal
2. (B) Gujarat
3. (C) Odisha
4. (D) Kashmir

Answer: (B) Gujarat

Explanation: Narsi Mehta was a prominent Gujarati Vaishnava poet devoted to Krishna. His devotional compositions stressed compassion, humility and the ethical responsibilities of religious life.

Q81. Which Bhakti saint is traditionally associated with the idealised city of Begampura, free from suffering and discrimination?

1. (A) Ravidas
2. (B) Tulsidas
3. (C) Vallabhacharya
4. (D) Madhvacharya

Answer: (A) Ravidas

Explanation: Ravidas envisioned Begampura as a society without fear, inequality or oppression. His poetry expressed a powerful social vision rooted in spiritual equality and dignity.

Q80. Which statement correctly represents the teaching of Ramanuja? [UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2022]

1. (A) The best means of salvation was devotion.
2. (B) Logical argument alone led to liberation.
3. (C) Salvation required exclusive meditation.
4. (D) Ritual sacrifices were the only path to liberation.

Answer: (A) The best means of salvation was devotion.

Explanation: Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita philosophy placed great importance on devotion and divine grace. He understood the individual soul as dependent upon Brahman rather than completely identical with it.

Q79. Which Bhakti poet is associated with the devotional collection Sursagar? [RRB NTPC CBT II, 14 June 2022, Shift 2]

1. (A) Surdas
2. (B) Vidyapati
3. (C) Chaitanya
4. (D) Tulsidas

Answer: (A) Surdas

Explanation: Surdas was a celebrated Krishna devotee whose verses are associated with Sursagar. His Braj Bhasha poetry describes Krishna’s childhood, divine love and devotional relationships.

Q78. Manikkavachakar, a famous Tamil devotional poet, was primarily a devotee of which deity? [SSC Selection Post Matric Level, 2 February 2022, Shift 2]

1. (A) Vishnu
2. (B) Brahma
3. (C) Saraswati
4. (D) Shiva

Answer: (D) Shiva

Explanation: Manikkavachakar was a Tamil Shaiva saint associated with Tiruvacakam. His poems express intense devotion to Shiva and remain influential in South Indian religious literature.

Q77. Which religious leader is associated with the philosophy of Shuddhadvaita?

1. (A) Ramanuja
2. (B) Shankaracharya
3. (C) Vallabhacharya
4. (D) Madhvacharya

Answer: (C) Vallabhacharya

Explanation: Vallabhacharya developed Shuddhadvaita, or pure non-dualism. His Krishna-centred Pushtimarg tradition emphasised divine grace, loving service and devotional surrender.

Q76. The Persian term “Malfuzat” denotes which type of Sufi literature?

1. (A) Collections of saints’ conversations
2. (B) Military chronicles
3. (C) Revenue registers
4. (D) Royal building inscriptions

Answer: (A) Collections of saints’ conversations

Explanation: Malfuzat preserved conversations and teachings of Sufi masters, often recorded by disciples. These collections provide valuable evidence about spiritual instructions and medieval social life.

Q75. Who compiled the conversations of Nizamuddin Auliya in Fawa’id-al-Fu’ad?

1. (A) Ziauddin Barani
2. (B) Amir Hasan Sijzi
3. (C) Minhaj-us-Siraj
4. (D) Abul Fazl

Answer: (B) Amir Hasan Sijzi

Explanation: Amir Hasan Sijzi Dehlavi compiled Fawa’id-al-Fu’ad, recording Nizamuddin Auliya’s conversations. The text is an important source for understanding medieval Chishti spiritual and social practices.

Q74. Which devotional institution in Assam is associated with collective prayer and Krishna worship?

1. (A) Namghar
2. (B) Iqta
3. (C) Madrasa
4. (D) Diwan-i-Arz

Answer: (A) Namghar

Explanation: Namghars are community prayer halls associated with Assamese Neo-Vaishnavism. They support congregational chanting, religious discussions and cultural activities inspired by Sankardeva’s teachings.

Q73. Who among the following was a prominent female devotee of Shiva in the Tamil Nayanar tradition?

1. (A) Andal
2. (B) Karaikkal Ammaiyar
3. (C) Mirabai
4. (D) Janabai

Answer: (B) Karaikkal Ammaiyar

Explanation: Karaikkal Ammaiyar was an early female Shaiva devotional poet. Her Tamil hymns contributed to the development of Nayanar religious literature and Shiva-centred worship.

Q72. The concept of “Wahdat-ul-Wujud” is particularly associated with which Sufi thinker?

1. (A) Ibn al-Arabi
2. (B) Al-Biruni
3. (C) Firdausi
4. (D) Amir Khusrau

Answer: (A) Ibn al-Arabi

Explanation: Ibn al-Arabi is strongly associated with the metaphysical ideas later described as Wahdat-ul-Wujud, or unity of being. His thought influenced numerous Sufi traditions.

Q71. Which tradition emphasised personal devotion to Shiva through the wearing of an Ishtalinga?

1. (A) Gaudiya Vaishnavism
2. (B) Virashaiva or Lingayat tradition
3. (C) Chishti Sufism
4. (D) Pushtimarg

Answer: (B) Virashaiva or Lingayat tradition

Explanation: Lingayats wear a personal Ishtalinga symbolising devotion to Shiva. The tradition developed strongly in Karnataka and is associated with Basavanna’s social and spiritual teachings.

Q70. Which of the following figures was associated with the spread of Krishna devotion through the Ashtachhap group of poets?

1. (A) Vallabhacharya’s Pushtimarg tradition
2. (B) Guru Nanak’s Sikh tradition
3. (C) Baba Farid’s Chishti lineage
4. (D) Basavanna’s Virashaiva movement

Answer: (A) Vallabhacharya’s Pushtimarg tradition

Explanation: Ashtachhap was a group of eight Krishna-devotional poets associated with the Pushtimarg tradition, particularly through Vitthalnath. Surdas is among its most celebrated members.

Q69. What does the Sufi term “Urs” signify?

1. (A) A royal coronation
2. (B) A saint’s death anniversary
3. (C) A military procession
4. (D) A harvest celebration

Answer: (B) A saint’s death anniversary

Explanation: Urs marks the death anniversary of a Sufi saint, understood spiritually as union with God. Devotees gather at shrines for prayer, remembrance and devotional activities.

Q68. Which important work by Tulsidas narrates the life of Rama in Awadhi?

1. (A) Ramcharitmanas
2. (B) Jnaneshwari
3. (C) Padmavat
4. (D) Chaitanya Charitamrita

Answer: (A) Ramcharitmanas

Explanation: Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi during the sixteenth century. The work retells Rama’s story while emphasising devotion, righteousness and moral responsibility.

Q67. Which Sufi saint is popularly known as Chiragh-i-Dehli?

1. (A) Nasiruddin Mahmud
2. (B) Baba Farid
3. (C) Muinuddin Chishti
4. (D) Bahauddin Zakariya

Answer: (A) Nasiruddin Mahmud

Explanation: Nasiruddin Mahmud was a prominent successor of Nizamuddin Auliya in the Chishti tradition. He acquired the title Chiragh-i-Dehli, meaning Lamp of Delhi.

Q66. Which Indian regional language was particularly enriched by the devotional writings of Jnaneshwar and Tukaram?

1. (A) Tamil
2. (B) Marathi
3. (C) Assamese
4. (D) Kashmiri

Answer: (B) Marathi

Explanation: Jnaneshwar and Tukaram helped shape Marathi devotional literature. Their compositions expressed religious ideas in an accessible language and strengthened the Varkari tradition of Maharashtra.

Q65. Ajmer is associated with which famous Sufi saint? [RRB NTPC, 3 February 2021, Shift 2]

1. (A) Nizamuddin Auliya
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Baba Farid
4. (D) Gesu Daraz

Answer: (B) Muinuddin Chishti

Explanation: Muinuddin Chishti established Ajmer as an important Sufi centre. His shrine attracts pilgrims of different communities and represents the influential Indian Chishti tradition.

Q64. Saint Kabir is traditionally believed to have been born in which city? [RRB NTPC, 11 March 2021, Shift 2]

1. (A) Prayagraj
2. (B) Kushinagar
3. (C) Varanasi
4. (D) Maghar

Answer: (C) Varanasi

Explanation: Kabir’s life is traditionally associated with Varanasi and a family of weavers. His devotional poetry opposed caste distinctions and excessive religious formalism.

Q63. The Sufi saint Mian Mir, active during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, was associated with which region? [RRB NTPC, 3 April 2021, Shift 1]

1. (A) Uttar Pradesh
2. (B) Haryana
3. (C) Punjab
4. (D) Karnataka

Answer: (C) Punjab

Explanation: Mian Mir was a Qadiri Sufi saint associated with Lahore in the Punjab region. Sikh historical traditions also remember his spiritual relationship with Guru Arjan.

Q62. Which Bhakti saint was a contemporary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj? [UPSSSC PET, 24 August 2021, Shift 1]

1. (A) Tukaram
2. (B) Chaitanya
3. (C) Namdev
4. (D) Shankaracharya

Answer: (A) Tukaram

Explanation: Tukaram lived during the seventeenth century and was a contemporary of Shivaji. His Marathi devotional poetry promoted Vitthal worship, ethical behaviour and spiritual humility.

Q61. Who wrote the medieval Sufi romantic poem Padmavat? [SSC Stenographer, 12 November 2021, Shift 2]

1. (A) Mulla Daud
2. (B) Amir Khusrau
3. (C) Abul Fazl
4. (D) Malik Muhammad Jayasi

Answer: (D) Malik Muhammad Jayasi

Explanation: Jayasi completed Padmavat in 1540. The Awadhi poem belongs to the Sufi romance tradition and uses symbolic love narratives to explore spiritual themes.

Q60. Surdas composed devotional poetry in praise of Krishna primarily in which language? [Himachal Pradesh TGT Arts TET, 2021]

1. (A) Braj Bhasha
2. (B) Awadhi
3. (C) Sanskrit
4. (D) Urdu

Answer: (A) Braj Bhasha

Explanation: Surdas was a leading Krishna-devotional poet whose verses were composed mainly in Braj Bhasha. His poetry became highly influential in North Indian Vaishnava traditions.

Q59. The female Bhakti saint Andal belonged to which part of India? [SSC CGL, 23 August 2021, Shift 2]

1. (A) Northeastern India
2. (B) Southern India
3. (C) Northern India
4. (D) Western India

Answer: (B) Southern India

Explanation: Andal was a Tamil Vaishnava poet associated with the Alvar tradition. Her devotional hymns remain central to Sri Vaishnava religious literature and temple worship.

Q58. From which city was the first printed edition of Ramcharitmanas published in 1810? [SSC MTS, 2 November 2021, Shift 1]

1. (A) Delhi
2. (B) Calcutta
3. (C) Madras
4. (D) Bombay

Answer: (B) Calcutta

Explanation: The early printed edition of Ramcharitmanas appeared in Calcutta in 1810. Printing helped expand the circulation of Tulsidas’s celebrated Awadhi devotional work.

Q57. Which Sufi saint is associated with the title “Mahbub-i-Ilahi”?

1. (A) Nizamuddin Auliya
2. (B) Bahauddin Zakariya
3. (C) Ahmad Sirhindi
4. (D) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

Answer: (A) Nizamuddin Auliya

Explanation: Nizamuddin Auliya was a revered Chishti saint of Delhi. The title Mahbub-i-Ilahi means Beloved of God and reflects his followers’ spiritual reverence.

Q56. Which religious practice is especially associated with the Varkari tradition?

1. (A) Pilgrimage to Pandharpur
2. (B) Pilgrimage to Ajmer only
3. (C) Worship of fire without devotion
4. (D) Rejection of all devotional singing

Answer: (A) Pilgrimage to Pandharpur

Explanation: Varkari devotees undertake pilgrimages to Pandharpur, the sacred centre of Vitthal worship. The tradition combines communal singing, devotional poetry and ethical religious conduct.

Q55. The term “Murshid” in Sufism refers to whom?

1. (A) A spiritual guide
2. (B) A royal accountant
3. (C) A military commander
4. (D) A provincial governor

Answer: (A) A spiritual guide

Explanation: A Murshid or Pir guides disciples along the Sufi spiritual path. Instruction traditionally involves discipline, remembrance of God, ethical conduct and personal spiritual development.

Q54. Which of the following poets is associated with the composition of Chandayan?

1. (A) Malik Muhammad Jayasi
2. (B) Mulla Daud
3. (C) Jayadeva
4. (D) Amir Hasan Sijzi

Answer: (B) Mulla Daud

Explanation: Mulla Daud composed Chandayan, an important early Hindavi Sufi romance. Such poems used familiar regional storytelling traditions to express mystical themes.

Q53. Which movement was particularly associated with devotion to Rama in northern India through the teachings of Ramananda?

1. (A) Ramanandi tradition
2. (B) Lingayat movement
3. (C) Naqshbandi order
4. (D) Shattari order

Answer: (A) Ramanandi tradition

Explanation: The Ramanandi tradition emphasised devotion to Rama and became influential across northern India. Ramananda’s legacy is associated with devotional inclusiveness and the wider Sant tradition.

Q52. Which North Indian Bhakti saint is associated with the Dadu Panth?

1. (A) Ravidas
2. (B) Dadu Dayal
3. (C) Surdas
4. (D) Vallabhacharya

Answer: (B) Dadu Dayal

Explanation: Dadu Dayal was a sixteenth-century Nirguna devotional teacher associated with Rajasthan. His followers developed the Dadu Panth, emphasising spiritual unity and opposition to religious formalism.

Q51. Who succeeded Guru Nanak as the second Sikh Guru?

1. (A) Guru Amar Das
2. (B) Guru Angad
3. (C) Guru Ram Das
4. (D) Guru Arjan

Answer: (B) Guru Angad

Explanation: Guru Angad succeeded Guru Nanak and strengthened the emerging Sikh community. He is especially associated with the development and standardisation of the Gurmukhi script.

Q50. Which of the following best describes the central teaching of the medieval Bhakti movement?

1. (A) Salvation through military conquest
2. (B) Personal devotion to God
3. (C) Exclusive reliance on royal authority
4. (D) Rejection of all regional languages

Answer: (B) Personal devotion to God

Explanation: Bhakti traditions emphasised loving devotion as a means of approaching the divine. Different saints promoted distinct philosophies while making religious ideas accessible through regional languages and devotional literature.

Q49. Which medieval Sufi saint was the spiritual master of Amir Khusrau?

1. (A) Baba Farid
2. (B) Nizamuddin Auliya
3. (C) Salim Chishti
4. (D) Ahmad Sirhindi

Answer: (B) Nizamuddin Auliya

Explanation: Amir Khusrau was a devoted disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, the celebrated Chishti saint of Delhi. His literary and musical contributions reflected Indo-Persian cultural interactions.

Q48. Which of the following is associated with Guru Nanak’s teachings?

1. (A) Worship of numerous competing supreme gods
2. (B) Equality and devotion to one formless God
3. (C) Dependence upon caste-based priesthood
4. (D) Salvation exclusively through sacrifices

Answer: (B) Equality and devotion to one formless God

Explanation: Guru Nanak emphasised the oneness of God, honest livelihood, remembrance of the divine and service. He challenged caste distinctions and superficial religious practices.

Q47. Which important Marathi devotional work is associated with Sant Eknath?

1. (A) Eknathi Bhagavata
2. (B) Bijak
3. (C) Tiruppavai
4. (D) Padmavat

Answer: (A) Eknathi Bhagavata

Explanation: Eknath was an influential sixteenth-century Marathi saint. His devotional writings, including Eknathi Bhagavata, helped communicate religious teachings and philosophical ideas through accessible Marathi literature.

Q46. Which Sufi order generally placed considerable importance on strict adherence to Islamic religious law?

1. (A) Naqshbandi
2. (B) Qalandari
3. (C) Madari
4. (D) Malang

Answer: (A) Naqshbandi

Explanation: The Naqshbandi tradition placed strong emphasis on religious discipline and conformity with Islamic law. Ahmad Sirhindi became an important representative of this approach in Mughal India.

Q45. 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? [UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2019]

1. (A) 1 only
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) Both 1 and 2
4. (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation: Nimbarka is generally placed centuries before Akbar. Ahmad Sirhindi lived after Kabir, making direct influence chronologically impossible. Both statements are therefore incorrect.

Q44. Consider the following statements about Hatha Yoga:
1. Hatha Yoga was practised by Nathpanthis.
2. Hatha Yoga techniques were also adopted by some Sufis.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
[UPPCS Preliminary Examination, 2019]

1. (A) 1 only
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) Both 1 and 2
4. (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Nathpanthi traditions developed yogic disciplines involving bodily control and meditation. Some Sufi mystics also adopted breathing and meditative techniques, demonstrating religious interactions in medieval India.

Q43. What is Sant Bhasha?
[UPSC CAPF, 2019]

1. (A) Language of the Nirguna mystics
2. (B) Language of royal historians
3. (C) Language of Sanskrit grammarians
4. (D) Language exclusively used by Saguna poets

Answer: (A) Language of the Nirguna mystics

Explanation: Sant Bhasha refers to the mixed vernacular language associated with North Indian devotional saints. It communicated mystical and social ideas beyond boundaries of formal literary languages.

Q42. Who was a leading figure of the Bhakti movement centred on Lord Rama?
[SSC CGL, 7 June 2019, Shift 1]

1. (A) Jayadeva
2. (B) Vivekananda
3. (C) Ramananda
4. (D) Namdev

Answer: (C) Ramananda

Explanation: Ramananda promoted devotion to Rama in northern India. His religious legacy became connected with the Ramanandi tradition and the broader development of popular devotional movements.

Q41. Who composed the Ramcharitmanas?
[Karnataka Civil Police Constable, 27 January 2019]

1. (A) Ramdev
2. (B) Tulsidas
3. (C) Kabir
4. (D) Valmiki

Answer: (B) Tulsidas

Explanation: Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi, presenting Rama’s story through an accessible devotional narrative. The work became central to popular religious culture in northern India.

Q40. Which of the following was an important centre of Baba Farid’s spiritual activities?

1. (A) Ajodhan
2. (B) Madurai
3. (C) Puri
4. (D) Kanchipuram

Answer: (A) Ajodhan

Explanation: Baba Farid, an important Chishti saint, was associated with Ajodhan, now Pakpattan in Pakistan. His spiritual teachings strongly influenced the regional devotional tradition.

Q39. Which Sufi saint established an influential religious centre at Gulbarga in the Deccan?

1. (A) Gesu Daraz
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Ahmad Sirhindi
4. (D) Bahauddin Zakariya

Answer: (A) Gesu Daraz

Explanation: Muhammad al-Husayni, popularly called Gesu Daraz or Banda Nawaz, was a Chishti saint who settled at Gulbarga and strengthened Sufi influence in the Deccan.

Q38. Who is associated with the famous devotional poem Vaishnava Jana To?

1. (A) Narsi Mehta
2. (B) Surdas
3. (C) Tulsidas
4. (D) Dadu Dayal

Answer: (A) Narsi Mehta

Explanation: Narsi Mehta was a Gujarati Krishna-devotional poet. Vaishnava Jana To describes an ideal devotee through empathy, humility and compassionate concern for others.

Q37. Which of the following is correctly matched?

1. (A) Kabir – Saguna worship exclusively
2. (B) Mirabai – Krishna devotion
3. (C) Tukaram – Tamil Shaivism
4. (D) Nizamuddin Auliya – Naqshbandi order

Answer: (B) Mirabai – Krishna devotion

Explanation: Mirabai was renowned for her personal devotion to Krishna. Kabir followed Nirguna teachings, Tukaram belonged to Marathi Vaishnavism, and Nizamuddin represented Chishti Sufism.

Q36. Which Sufi text consists of letters written by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi?

1. (A) Maktubat-i-Imam Rabbani
2. (B) Gitagovinda
3. (C) Tiruvacakam
4. (D) Jnaneshwari

Answer: (A) Maktubat-i-Imam Rabbani

Explanation: Maktubat-i-Imam Rabbani contains letters associated with Ahmad Sirhindi. These writings explain his spiritual teachings, religious concerns and approach to Islamic orthodoxy.

2018 Examination Questions (7)

Q35. Consider the following statements:
1. Most Tyagaraja Kritis praise Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja were contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya composed devotional songs praising Venkateshwara.
Which statements are correct?[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2018]

1. (A) 1 and 2 only
2. (B) 2 and 4 only
3. (C) 1, 3 and 4 only
4. (D) 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer: (B) 2 and 4 only

Explanation: Tyagaraja’s compositions chiefly praise Rama, and he contributed to Carnatic musical innovation. Annamacharya lived centuries earlier and composed numerous devotional songs dedicated to Venkateshwara.

Q34. The concept of Farr-i-Izadi associated with Mughal kingship was developed through the philosophical tradition of which figure?[UPSC CDS, 2018]

1. (A) Shihabuddin Suhrawardi
2. (B) Nizamuddin Auliya
3. (C) Ibn al-Arabi
4. (D) Bayazid Bistami

Answer: (A) Shihabuddin Suhrawardi

Explanation: Farr-i-Izadi referred to divine illumination or radiance legitimising sovereignty. The concept drew upon Persian illuminationist philosophy associated with Shihabuddin Suhrawardi.

Q33. Which of the following saint–philosophy pairs is correctly matched? [UPSC NDA, 2018, Paper II]

1. (A) Shankaracharya – Avadhuta
2. (B) Ramananda – Kevaladvaita
3. (C) Ramanuja – Vishishtadvaita
4. (D) Chaitanya – Advaita

Answer: (C) Ramanuja – Vishishtadvaita

Explanation: Ramanuja developed qualified non-dualism, emphasising the relationship between Brahman and individual souls. Shankaracharya is associated with Advaita, while Chaitanya taught a different Vaishnava philosophy.

Q32. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a contemporary of which Bengal Sultan?
[SSC CHSL, 16 March 2018, Shift 1]

1. (A) Alauddin Husain Shah
2. (B) Azam Shah
3. (C) Sikandar Shah
4. (D) Muhammad Shah

Answer: (A) Alauddin Husain Shah

Explanation: Chaitanya lived from 1486 to 1533 or 1534 and was contemporary with Alauddin Husain Shah of Bengal. His Krishna-devotional movement developed during this period.

Q31. Who composed the celebrated Sanskrit work Sri Bhashya?

1. (A) Ramanuja
2. (B) Kabir
3. (C) Tukaram
4. (D) Jayasi

Answer: (A) Ramanuja

Explanation: Sri Bhashya is Ramanuja’s commentary on the Brahma Sutras. It presents the philosophical foundations of Vishishtadvaita Vedanta and the significance of Brahman as supreme reality.

Q30. Which of the following is associated with the religious philosophy Achintya Bhedabheda?

1. (A) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
2. (B) Shankaracharya
3. (C) Basavanna
4. (D) Dadu Dayal

Answer: (A) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Explanation: Achintya Bhedabheda explains an inconceivable relationship of difference and non-difference between God and living beings. It became central to Gaudiya Vaishnava theology.

Q29. Which saint is particularly associated with the devotional expression “Ek Onkar”?

1. (A) Guru Nanak
2. (B) Surdas
3. (C) Vallabhacharya
4. (D) Nimbarka

Answer: (A) Guru Nanak

Explanation: Ek Onkar expresses the oneness of the divine and appears at the beginning of Sikh scripture. The concept is fundamental to Guru Nanak’s teachings.

Q28. Which medieval poet-saint is associated with the devotional tradition of Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur?

1. (A) Namdev
2. (B) Chaitanya
3. (C) Ramananda
4. (D) Jayadeva

Answer: (A) Namdev

Explanation: Namdev was a major devotional poet associated with Maharashtra and the worship of Vitthal. His compositions circulated across regions and influenced broader devotional communities.

Q27. The term “Dargah” refers to which institution in Sufi tradition?

1. (A) A Sufi saint’s shrine or tomb
2. (B) A military fort
3. (C) A revenue office
4. (D) A royal assembly hall

Answer: (A) A Sufi saint’s shrine or tomb

Explanation: Dargahs are shrines associated with departed Sufi saints. They frequently serve as pilgrimage centres where devotees seek blessings and participate in commemorative gatherings.

Q26. Who among the following was an important disciple and successor of Muinuddin Chishti?

1. (A) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
2. (B) Ahmad Sirhindi
3. (C) Bahauddin Zakariya
4. (D) Shah Waliullah

Answer: (A) Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

Explanation: Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki belonged to the early Chishti spiritual lineage and became an influential Sufi teacher in Delhi. Baba Farid subsequently continued this tradition.

Q25. Which of the following was a major objective of many Bhakti reformers?

1. (A) Encouraging caste exclusion
2. (B) Promoting accessible personal devotion
3. (C) Making Persian the sole religious language
4. (D) Replacing religion with military organisation

Answer: (B) Promoting accessible personal devotion

Explanation: Numerous Bhakti teachers promoted direct devotion and used languages familiar to ordinary people. Some also criticised social inequalities and restrictions surrounding religious participation.

Q24. Consider the following statements:
1. The Siddhas of the Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
2. The Lingayats of Karnataka questioned rebirth and rejected caste hierarchy.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2016]

1. (A) 1 only
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) Both 1 and 2
4. (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Tamil Siddhas criticised conventional image worship, while Lingayat teachings challenged caste distinctions and inherited religious authority. Both traditions expressed distinctive critiques of established practices.

Q23. Consider the following statements about Sufism in India:
1. Ziyarat means pilgrimage to the tombs of Sufi saints.
2. The Chishtis were among the most influential Sufi groups in India.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
[UPSC NDA, 2016, Paper I]

1. (A) 1 only
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) Both 1 and 2
4. (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Ziyarat became an important devotional practice at Sufi shrines. Chishti teachers established influential religious centres, particularly at Ajmer and Delhi.

Q22. Which of the following is generally regarded as the most orthodox among the major Sufi orders listed?
[Jharkhand PSC, 2016]

1. (A) Chishti
2. (B) Suhrawardi
3. (C) Naqshbandi
4. (D) Qadiri

Answer: (C) Naqshbandi

Explanation: The Naqshbandi order emphasised conformity to Islamic law and religious discipline. Its Indian representatives included Ahmad Sirhindi, whose teachings influenced seventeenth-century Mughal religious debates.

Q21. Who founded the Chishti order’s prominent Indian centre at Ajmer?

1. (A) Muinuddin Chishti
2. (B) Baba Farid
3. (C) Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Dehli
4. (D) Ahmad Sirhindi

Answer: (A) Muinuddin Chishti

Explanation: Muinuddin Chishti settled at Ajmer and established an enduring spiritual centre. His teachings and later devotional traditions made Ajmer an influential pilgrimage destination.

Q20. Which of the following is an important characteristic of Sufi Khanqahs?

1. (A) They functioned as residential spiritual centres.
2. (B) They served exclusively as royal treasuries.
3. (C) They were military cantonments.
4. (D) They were provincial tax offices.

Answer: (A) They functioned as residential spiritual centres.

Explanation: Khanqahs housed Sufi teachers, disciples and sometimes visitors. They supported religious instruction, hospitality, communal activities and transmission of spiritual teachings.

Q19. Which regional devotional tradition is associated with the Tamil poet-saint Nammalvar?

1. (A) Vaishnavism
2. (B) Shaiva Siddhanta exclusively
3. (C) Naqshbandi Sufism
4. (D) Qadiri Sufism

Answer: (A) Vaishnavism

Explanation: Nammalvar was one of the most celebrated Alvar saints. His Tamil devotional poetry praises Vishnu and occupies a central place in Sri Vaishnava religious literature.

Q18. The Varkari movement of Maharashtra is particularly associated with devotion to which deity?

1. (A) Vitthal
2. (B) Surya
3. (C) Indra
4. (D) Brahma

Answer: (A) Vitthal

Explanation: The Varkari tradition focuses on Vitthal, worshipped at Pandharpur. Saints including Namdev, Jnaneshwar and Tukaram developed its influential Marathi devotional literature.

Q17. Which poet-saint is associated with the collection of devotional verses known as the Bijak?

1. (A) Kabir
2. (B) Mirabai
3. (C) Jayadeva
4. (D) Tulsidas

Answer: (A) Kabir

Explanation: Bijak preserves important teachings attributed to Kabir and became particularly significant among Kabir Panth followers. Its verses emphasise spiritual truth and criticism of religious formalism.

Q16. Consider the following statements:
1. Bijak is a compilation of the teachings of Dadu Dayal.
2. The philosophy of Pushtimarg was propounded by Madhvacharya.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2014]

1. (A) 1 only
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) Both 1 and 2
4. (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation: Bijak contains teachings attributed to Kabir, not Dadu Dayal. Pushtimarg was developed by Vallabhacharya, whereas Madhvacharya is associated with Dvaita Vedanta.

Q15. Which medieval devotional poet is associated with the celebrated composition Tiruppavai?

1. (A) Andal
2. (B) Karaikkal Ammaiyar
3. (C) Akka Mahadevi
4. (D) Mirabai

Answer: (A) Andal

Explanation: Tiruppavai consists of thirty Tamil devotional hymns attributed to Andal. The work expresses love for Vishnu and remains integral to Sri Vaishnava devotional observances.

Q14. Which Sufi saint of Delhi is associated with the text Fawa’id-al-Fu’ad?

1. (A) Nizamuddin Auliya
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Bahauddin Zakariya
4. (D) Ahmad Sirhindi

Answer: (A) Nizamuddin Auliya

Explanation: Fawa’id-al-Fu’ad records conversations of Nizamuddin Auliya, compiled by Amir Hasan Sijzi. It provides important evidence about Chishti teachings, spiritual conduct and social relationships.

Q13. Consider the following Bhakti saints:
1. Dadu Dayal;
2. Guru Nanak;
3. Tyagaraja.
Who among them was preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur established Mughal rule?
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2013]

1. (A) 1 and 3
2. (B) 2 only
3. (C) 2 and 3
4. (D) 1 and 2

Answer: (B) 2 only

Explanation: Guru Nanak lived between 1469 and 1539 and witnessed the establishment of Mughal rule in 1526. Dadu Dayal and Tyagaraja belonged to later periods.

Q12. Who founded the Virashaiva movement associated with major social and religious reforms in twelfth-century Karnataka?

1. (A) Basavanna
2. (B) Ramanuja
3. (C) Shankaracharya
4. (D) Kabir

Answer: (A) Basavanna

Explanation: Basavanna became the leading figure of the twelfth-century Virashaiva reform movement. His teachings promoted devotion to Shiva, social equality and respect for labour.

Q11. Which of the following was a central feature of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s devotional movement?

1. (A) Congregational chanting of Krishna’s names
2. (B) Exclusive reliance on Vedic sacrifices
3. (C) Rejection of all devotional music
4. (D) Strict dependence on royal offices

Answer: (A) Congregational chanting of Krishna’s names

Explanation: Chaitanya promoted Sankirtana, or collective singing of divine names. This form of Krishna devotion developed into a distinctive feature of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Q10. With reference to medieval Indian religious history, Sufi mystics pursued which of the following practices? 1. Meditation and breath control. 2. Severe ascetic exercises in solitude. 3. Recitation of devotional songs to arouse spiritual ecstasy.
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2012]

1. (A) 1 and 2 only
2. (B) 2 and 3 only
3. (C) 3 only
4. (D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: Medieval Sufi traditions used varied spiritual disciplines, including meditation, ascetic exercises and devotional recitation. Their practices developed through interaction with wider religious and cultural environments.

Q9. Which early Indian Sufi teacher is associated with the famous shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh at Lahore?

1. (A) Ali ibn Uthman al-Hujwiri
2. (B) Muinuddin Chishti
3. (C) Baba Farid
4. (D) Ahmad Sirhindi

Answer: (A) Ali ibn Uthman al-Hujwiri

Explanation: Hujwiri was an influential early Sufi scholar associated with Lahore. His Persian work Kashf-ul-Mahjub became an important treatise on Islamic mysticism.

Q8. The chief centre of the Chishti order in South India was associated with which place?
[REET Level II Social Studies, 2011]

1. (A) Gulbarga
2. (B) Golconda
3. (C) Bijapur
4. (D) Bidar

Answer: (A) Gulbarga

Explanation: Gulbarga became an important centre of Deccan Chishti Sufism, particularly through the influence of Banda Nawaz Gesu Daraz, whose shrine remains a major devotional site.

Q7. Who was identified as an important early Hindi literary scholar of the Mughal period?
[Rajasthan PTET, 2011, Memory-Based]

1. (A) Malik Muhammad Jayasi
2. (B) Abdur Rahim
3. (C) Mulla Wajhi
4. (D) Chand Bardai

Answer: (A) Malik Muhammad Jayasi

Explanation: Malik Muhammad Jayasi was a major sixteenth-century Sufi poet who composed in Awadhi. His Padmavat became one of the most influential works of medieval Hindi literature.

Q6. Which Bhakti saint taught that God values human virtues rather than caste distinctions?
[State PCS, 2010]

1. (A) Ramananda
2. (B) Dadu Dayal
3. (C) Guru Nanak
4. (D) Ramanuja

Answer: (C) Guru Nanak

Explanation: Guru Nanak emphasised equality and moral conduct over inherited social status. His teachings challenged caste prejudice and stressed sincere devotion, honest work and service.

Q5. Which of the following schools of Vedanta was developed by Shankaracharya?

1. (A) Advaita
2. (B) Vishishtadvaita
3. (C) Dvaita
4. (D) Shuddhadvaita

Answer: (A) Advaita

Explanation: Shankaracharya developed Advaita Vedanta, emphasising ultimate non-duality of Atman and Brahman. His philosophy influenced later devotional discussions, although it differs from several Bhakti schools.

Q4. Which of the following themes was emphasised by many medieval Bhakti saints who challenged established priestly authority?

1. (A) Complete dependence upon hereditary priests
2. (B) Personal devotion and direct spiritual experience
3. (C) Exclusive use of Persian in religious teachings
4. (D) Religious authority based upon military rank

Answer: (B) Personal devotion and direct spiritual experience

Explanation: Many Bhakti saints questioned ritual dependence and hereditary religious authority. Their teachings promoted devotion through accessible language, although attitudes towards established institutions varied considerably.

Q3. Who among the following was regarded as the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for propagating his religious message?
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2002]

1. (A) Dadu Dayal
2. (B) Kabir
3. (C) Ramananda
4. (D) Tulsidas

Answer: (C) Ramananda

Explanation: Ramananda is traditionally credited with popularising Rama devotion through accessible North Indian vernacular speech. His teachings helped establish important foundations for later Hindi devotional traditions.

Q2. Match the following Bhakti saints with their traditional professions.
1. Namdev;
2. Kabir;
3. Ravidas;
4. Sena.

Professions:
A. Barber,
B. Weaver,
C. Tailor,
D. Cobbler
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 2001]

1. (A) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-D
2. (B) 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-A
3. (C) 1-C, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D
4. (D) 1-B, 2-C, 3-D, 4-A

Answer: (B) 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-A

Explanation: Namdev is traditionally associated with tailoring, Kabir with weaving, Ravidas with leatherwork and Sena with barbering. These associations highlight the occupational diversity of devotional communities.

Q1. Who composed Prem Vatika, a celebrated collection of poems associated with devotion to Krishna?
[UPSC CSE Preliminary Examination, 1996]

1. (A) Bihari
2. (B) Surdas
3. (C) Raskhan
4. (D) Kabir

Answer: (C) Raskhan

Explanation: Raskhan was a Muslim-born Hindi devotional poet celebrated for his love of Krishna. His compositions reflect the interaction of cultural and devotional traditions in medieval India.