Bhakti and Sufi Movement: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on Bhakti and Sufi Movement (Medieval History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2016Medieval History · Bhakti and Sufi Movement
Q1. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: 1. Siddhas (Sittars) of the Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 2. Lingayats of the Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste-hierarchy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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."
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2016
(c) Both 1 and 2
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Bhakti and Sufi Movement?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Bhakti and Sufi Movement (Medieval History), asked from 1996 to 2022. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Bhakti and Sufi Movement?
Questions on Bhakti and Sufi Movement (Medieval History) are available for 13 years, from 1996 to 2022. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
