Bhakti and Sufi Movement: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)

Explanation

Sri Ramanujacharya was born in 1017 AD in Tamil Nadu. He is the most respected Acharya in the philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism. Ramanuja was deeply influenced by the Alvars. Shri Ramanujacharya firmly believed that intense devotion to Vishnu was the best means to attain salvation. He is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vednta. Vishishtadvaita is a non-dualistic school of Vedanta philosophy in which Brahman alone exists, but is characterized by multiplicity. He was also referred to as Ilaya Perumal, which means the radiant one. His works such as Vedartha-Sangraha, the Sribhasya and the Bhagavad Gita-bhashya aimed at providing a philosophical foundation for devotional worship.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Saint Nimbarka (1130-1200) is thought to have lived in the 11th and 12th centuries CE. His theology revolves around Krishna and Radha, with a focus on bhakti. The Mughal emperor Akbar lived from 1542 -1605. Nimbarkacharya also known as Nimbarka, Nimbaditya or Niyamananda, was a Hindu philosopher, theologian and the chief proponent of the theology of Dvaitadvaita (dvaita-advaita) or dualistic-non-dualistic. He wrote Dashashlokee.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Saint Kabir (1440-1518) was a famous mystic poet and saint considered to have been influenced by Sant Tukaram, Vishnu-based bhakti traditions, and Sufism, but Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624), a later figure, was not a contemporary of Kabir. In fact, Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was a reformist figure in the Naqshbandi Sufi order and his thoughts were centered around orthodox Islam.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, a monotheistic movement, mystical in nature, developed within Shaivism in the Tamil region. This was known as the Sittars or Siddhas. The term siddha literally means one who has attained perfection as distinct from a bhakta who is attempting to perceive god.

Statement 2 is correct: The Lingayats of kannada region challenged the idea of caste-heirarchy and the "pollution" attributed to certain groups by Brahmanas. They also questioned the theory of rebirth. The Lingayats are devotees of Basaveshwara, a poet and social reformer who lived in the 12th century. The term "Linga" refers to universal consciousness as defined by the universal energy, not to Lingas seen in temples (Shakti). Lingayats are Shaivites and have been categorized as a Hindu subcaste known as "Veerashaiva Lingayats."

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Bijak is the collection of ideas and teachings of Kabir. Kabir was an Indian mystic poet and saint who lived in the 15th century. His verses may be found in the Sikhism’s holy book Guru Granth Sahib and his writings had an impact on the Bhakti movement in Hinduism. It is widely believed that Kabir was associated with Ramananda.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Vallabhacharya’s philosophy came to be known as Pushti Marga. He was one of the first to promote Krishna Bhakti on the basis of Maha Bhagavata Purana. He founded the philosophy of Shuddhadvaita which believed in the absolute union. He prescribed Pushtimarg as the means for salvation (extreme devotion to God).

Explanation

The Bhakti movement began to spread across eastern and northern India from the 15th century. The movement’s central idea was love, devotion, and the pursuit of equality. Prominent Bhakti saints such as Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Jaidev, Kabir, and Ramanand emphasized the unity of God. Guru Nanak was born in India during the period 1469-1539. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the First battle of Panipat in 1526. Therefore, when Babur was strengthening the Mughal dynasty in India Guru Nanak was preaching Sikhism in India. Tyagaraja, a Carnatic music composer was born in 1767 and Daddu Dayal was a poet-saint of Gujrat born in 1544. These events do not match with the timeline of Battle of Panipat when the Lodi dynasty fell.

Explanation

Sufism is a mystic branch of Islam that puts emphasis on the search for God on a spiritual level and rejects materialism.

Statement 1 and 2 are correct: Sufism focuses on love and devotion to God. Devotees used music and dance for expression of their devotion. They also practiced breath-control techniques and meditation. They also used to perform severe ascetic exercises in solitude.

Statement 3 is correct: The practice of Sama is a musical performance that aims to elicit a mystical feeling of ecstasy. Murid, or disciple, must pass through countless phases while engaging in spiritual activities in a lonely setting.

Explanation

Nagarjuna (2nd century A.D.), a key figure in Mahayana Buddhism, founded the Madhyamaka school, emphasizing philosophical concepts like emptiness (shunyata). He was not associated with the Bhakti cult, which focused on devotional worship of a personal deity. In contrast, Tukaram (a Marathi saint), Tyagaraja (a Carnatic music composer), and Vallabhacharya (proponent of Pushtimarg) were central figures in the Bhakti movement, emphasizing love and devotion to God.

Explanation

Tukaram, a renowned Bhakti saint from Maharashtra, lived in the early 17th century, making him a contemporary of Jahangir (reign:1605-1627 AD). He is remembered for his devotional poetry (Abhangas) dedicated to Lord Vitthal, promoting equality, devotion, and moral values. His life and works contributed significantly to the Warkari tradition, which emphasized collective worship and a simple, ethical life.

Explanation

Shankaracharya (8th century AD) established Advaita Vedanta, emphasizing the non-duality of Brahman. He also established 4 mathas at Jyotirmath, Dwarka, Puri and Sringeri. Ramanuja (11th-12th century AD) later founded Vishishtadvaita Vedanta (qualified non dualism), advocating devotion to a personal god. He played a pivotal role in the Bhakti movement, promoting inclusive spirituality and reforming temple rituals. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th-16th century AD) was a key figure in the Bhakti movement in Bengal, popularizing devotional worship of Lord Krishna. Their sequence reflects the historical progression of these philosophical and devotional traditions.

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi, known as Mujaddid Alf Sani, lived during the Mughal period and was a contemporary of Akbar and Jahangir long after Ibrahim Lodi (who ruled from 1517 to 1526).

Statement 2 is Correct: Sheikh Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Dehlavi was a prominent disciple of Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya, carrying forward the Chishti Sufi order in Delhi.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Sheikh Salim Chisti, a revered Sufi saint of the Chishti order, was associated with Akbar’s reign and was not contemporary to Aurangzeb. He is known for his spiritual influence at Emperor Akbar’s court and for blessing him with the birth of his son, Salim (later Emperor Jahangir).

Statement 4 is Correct: The Qadiri Sufi order was one of the oldest in India and was introduced by saints like Sheikh Niamutullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani in the Deccant. These saints and orders significantly influenced Indian society by promoting spiritualism, tolerance, and equality.