Q31. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of the spiritual lineage of the Ramanandi sect in Rajasthan?
Religious Life: Saints, Sects and Folk Deities: RAS Prelims MCQs
112 RAS Prelims MCQs on religious life in Rajasthan cover sects, saints, seats and philosophies. The Pushti Marg and Nathdwara, the Ramanandi seat at Galtaji, the Dadupanth, the Nath sampraday and the Nirguna tradition of Kabir are all part of the set, so learn each sect with its founder, its seat and its philosophy.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 31–40 of 112 questions
Q32. Sant Dadu Dayal, often called the ‘Kabir of Rajasthan’, spent the major part of his life and established his principal seat at which place?
Explanation
Dadu Dayal, the Kabir of Rajasthan, made Naraina (Narayana) his principal seat, and the Dadupanth has its main centre there.
Q33. The followers of the Dadupanth do not burn or bury their dead. Instead, they traditionally:
Explanation
The Dadupanthis neither burn nor bury their dead. They traditionally leave the body in the forest to be eaten by animals.
Q34. The sacred texts containing the teachings and verses of Sant Dadu Dayal are primarily written in which dialect?
Explanation
The teachings of Dadu Dayal are written mainly in Dhundhari, also called Sadhukkadi.
Q35. Which of the following is NOT one of the five major sub-sects (Shakhas) of the Dadupanth?
Explanation
The Dadupanth has five main branches, including Khalsa, Virakt and Naga. Bairag is not one of them, so it is the exception.
Q36. Consider the following statements regarding Sant Dadu Dayal and his teachings:
I. He strongly advocated for Nirguna Bhakti and opposed idol worship.
II. He met Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri.
III. His teachings encouraged strict asceticism and explicitly forbade his followers from adopting any profession.
Which of the above statements is/are the incorrect combination?
I. He strongly advocated for Nirguna Bhakti and opposed idol worship.
II. He met Mughal Emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri.
III. His teachings encouraged strict asceticism and explicitly forbade his followers from adopting any profession.
Which of the above statements is/are the incorrect combination?
Explanation
Sant Dadu Dayal was a proponent of Nirguna Bhakti and met Emperor Akbar, but his teachings did not forbid followers from adopting professions. In fact, many Dadupanthi followers remained householders and continued their worldly trades while practicing devotion. He emphasized spiritual purity and internal worship over external rituals, but he did not mandate the extreme asceticism that excludes all professional or social engagement.
Q37. The Naga sub-sect of the Dadupanth, known for maintaining a martial tradition and bearing arms, was founded by which prominent disciple of Dadu Dayal?
Explanation
The Naga sub-sect of the Dadupanth was founded by Sundar Das, a prominent disciple of Dadu Dayal. Unlike the more quietist branches, the Nagas maintained a martial tradition, bore arms, and often served as soldiers for various Rajput states, particularly Jaipur. They combined their spiritual discipline with physical training, becoming a distinct and influential warrior-ascetic order within the broader religious landscape of Rajasthan.
Q38. Which famous disciple of Dadu Dayal is known to have spent his entire life dressed as a bridegroom after being enlightened by his Guru on his wedding day?
Explanation
Rajabji is a famous disciple of Dadu Dayal who was about to be married when he met his Guru. Upon hearing a single verse from Dadu Dayal about the fleeting nature of worldly life, he was instantly enlightened. He decided to remain an ascetic but continued to wear his bridegroom’s attire for the rest of his life as a reminder of the moment of his spiritual transformation.
Q39. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Dadupanth Sub-sect | Key Feature / Founder |
|---|---|
| A. Khalsa | i. Wandering ascetics who do not stay in one place |
| B. Virakt | ii. Founded by disciples who migrated to Haryana/Punjab |
| C. Naga | iii. Martial ascetic order founded by Sundar Das |
| D. Uttarade | iv. Followers of Garib Das, centered at Naraina |
Explanation
The Khalsa branch consists of the direct followers of Dadu’s son Garib Das at Naraina. The Virakt are wandering ascetics who renounce permanent dwellings. The Naga is a martial order established by Sundar Das. The Uttarade branch refers to those disciples who migrated northward to regions like Haryana and Punjab, spreading the teachings of the Dadupanth beyond the borders of Rajasthan.
Q40. The deep influence of Kabir’s Nirguna philosophy in Rajasthan is most prominently reflected in the teachings of which of the following groups of saints?
Explanation
The influence of Kabir’s Nirguna philosophy is most evident in the teachings of Dadu Dayal, Ramcharan (Ramsnehi sect), and Laldas. These saints rejected idol worship and external rituals, focusing instead on the internal remembrance of the divine name. Like Kabir, they emphasized social equality and preached in the vernacular, creating a powerful spiritual movement that resonated deeply with the common people.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 31 | (a) Ramananda - Anantananda - Krishnadas Payahari - Agradas |
| 32 | (b) Naraina (Narayana) |
| 33 | (a) Leave the body in the forest for animal consumption. |
| 34 | (c) Dhundhari (Sadhukkadi) |
| 35 | (d) Bairag |
| 36 | (b) III only |
| 37 | (b) Sundar Das |
| 38 | (d) Rajabji |
| 39 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii |
| 40 | (c) Dadu Dayal, Ramcharan, Laldas |
Key facts from Religious Life: Saints, Sects and Folk Deities
- The Pushti Marg was founded by Vallabhacharya; its philosophy is Shuddhadvaita.
- The Shrinathji idol was brought to Mewar to escape Aurangzeb’s iconoclasm, and Maharana Raj Singh gave refuge.
- The Ashta Chhap are the eight poets of the Pushti Marg.
- Galtaji is the main seat of the Ramanandi sect in Rajasthan; Krishnadas Payahari established its Peeth.
- Dadu Dayal, called the Kabir of Rajasthan, had his main seat at Naraina.
- The Maha Mandir in Jodhpur, with 84 carved pillars, is a seat of the Nath sampraday.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Religious Life: Saints, Sects and Folk Deities?
This page has 112 practice MCQs on Religious Life: Saints, Sects and Folk Deities (Rajasthan History, Art and Culture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who founded the Pushti Marg?
Vallabhacharya founded the Pushti Marg, whose philosophy is Shuddhadvaita. Pushti means the grace of God, and the sect holds that devotion and divine grace, not rigid ritual, lead to salvation. Its principal deity in Rajasthan is Shrinathji at Nathdwara.
Where is Dadu Dayal’s principal seat?
At Naraina (Narayana) in Rajasthan, where the Dadupanth has its main centre. Dadu Dayal is often called the Kabir of Rajasthan because he preached formless, nirguna devotion in the spirit of Kabir.
What are the Ashta Chhap?
The Ashta Chhap are the group of eight saint-poets associated with the Pushti Marg who composed devotional hymns for Shrinathji. Their songs became part of the daily worship of the sect and shaped the Braj devotional tradition.