Q51. The famous ‘Pipaji ki Gufa’ (Cave of Sant Pipa), where he is believed to have performed deep penance, is located in:
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 51–60 of 112 questions
Q52. Consider the following statements regarding Sant Pipa:
I. His childhood name was Pratap Singh Khichi.
II. He abdicated his throne in favor of his nephew to pursue a spiritual life.
III. He fought a battle against Firoz Shah Tughlaq to protect his kingdom before becoming a saint.
IV. His teachings are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
V. He strictly advocated for idol worship and animal sacrifice.
Which of the above statements is/are the incorrect combination?
I. His childhood name was Pratap Singh Khichi.
II. He abdicated his throne in favor of his nephew to pursue a spiritual life.
III. He fought a battle against Firoz Shah Tughlaq to protect his kingdom before becoming a saint.
IV. His teachings are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
V. He strictly advocated for idol worship and animal sacrifice.
Which of the above statements is/are the incorrect combination?
Explanation
Sant Pipa, born as Pratap Singh Khichi, abdicated his throne and was a contemporary who fought against Firoz Shah Tughlaq. His spiritual verses are even included in the Guru Granth Sahib. However, he did not advocate for idol worship or animal sacrifice; as a Nirguna saint, he strongly opposed such rituals, preaching instead that God is formless and resides within every individual.
Q53. Sant Pipa is revered as the principal patron saint by which of the following communities in Rajasthan?
Explanation
Sant Pipa is revered as the principal patron saint by the Darji or tailor community of Rajasthan. This association stems from the tradition that after renouncing his kingdom, he earned his living through manual labor, specifically by tailoring clothes. His life serves as a powerful example of the dignity of labor and the belief that spiritual realization is compatible with humble professional work.
Q54. Which of the following is NOT true regarding the spiritual philosophy of Sant Pipa?
Explanation
Sant Pipa’s spiritual philosophy was centered on internal devotion and the rejection of external rituals. He famously taught that the human body is the true temple of God and that spiritual liberation is achieved through love and the guidance of a Guru. He strongly opposed complex Vedic rituals and animal sacrifices, advocating instead for social equality and the removal of caste barriers in the search for truth.
Q55. Arrange the following events related to the life of Sant Pipa in a logical biographical sequence:
I. Renunciation of the throne of Gagron
II. Taking initiation from Swami Ramananda in Kashi
III. Rule as the Khichi Chauhan king of Gagron
IV. Traveling across society preaching Nirguna devotion and earning a living by tailoring
I. Renunciation of the throne of Gagron
II. Taking initiation from Swami Ramananda in Kashi
III. Rule as the Khichi Chauhan king of Gagron
IV. Traveling across society preaching Nirguna devotion and earning a living by tailoring
Explanation
The biographical sequence of Sant Pipa begins with his rule as the king of Gagron. He then decided to renounce his throne to seek spiritual truth. Following this, he traveled to Kashi to receive initiation from Swami Ramananda. Finally, he spent his remaining years traveling across the country, preaching Nirguna devotion while earning a humble living through tailoring, embodying the ideals of the Bhakti movement.
Q56. Meera Bai, the most celebrated woman saint-poet of Rajasthan, was born in the village of Kurki. This village was situated in the historical pargana of:
Explanation
Meera Bai was born in the village of Kurki, which was part of the historical Merta pargana in the Nagaur region. She was the daughter of Ratan Singh Rathore and the granddaughter of Rao Dudaji, the ruler of Merta. Her upbringing in this devout family deeply influenced her spiritual inclination toward Lord Krishna, which eventually defined her entire life and celebrated poetic legacy.
Q57. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer.
Assertion (A): Meera Bai faced severe persecution and attempts on her life from the royal family of Mewar.
Reason (R): Her public dancing and singing among ascetics of different castes defied the strict patriarchal purdah norms and Rajput royal protocol of the time.
Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer.
Assertion (A): Meera Bai faced severe persecution and attempts on her life from the royal family of Mewar.
Reason (R): Her public dancing and singing among ascetics of different castes defied the strict patriarchal purdah norms and Rajput royal protocol of the time.
Explanation
Meera Bai faced severe opposition from the royal family of Mewar, especially after her husband’s death. Her behavior, which included singing and dancing in public with common ascetics and devotees, was seen as a direct violation of the strict Rajput protocols and patriarchal norms of the time. This defiance led to multiple attempts on her life, as her devotion transcended the boundaries of her social status.
Q58. According to widespread traditional belief and her own verses, who was accepted by Meera Bai as her spiritual Guru?
Explanation
According to widespread tradition and her own devotional verses, Meera Bai accepted Sant Ravidas, also known as Raidas, as her spiritual Guru. Ravidas was a prominent Nirguna saint from a marginalized community. By accepting him as her teacher, Meera Bai symbolically broke the barriers of caste and social hierarchy, emphasizing that spiritual wisdom and devotion are not the exclusive domain of any particular social group.
Q59. Which of the following literary works is traditionally attributed to Meera Bai?
Explanation
‘Narsi Ji Ro Mahero’ is a significant literary work traditionally attributed to Meera Bai, often said to have been composed in collaboration with the poet Ratna Khati. It tells the story of the devotee Narsi Mehta and the divine assistance he received. Her other famous compositions include her ‘Padavali’, a collection of countless heart-touching songs and verses expressing her intense and personal devotion to Lord Krishna.
Q60. Consider the following statements regarding the devotion of Meera Bai:
I. Her devotion is characterized by ‘Madhurya Bhava’, where she considered Lord Krishna as her husband and lover.
II. She completely rejected the Saguna form of worship and exclusively composed Nirguna verses.
III. Her verses seamlessly blend Marwari, Braj, and Gujarati linguistic elements.
Which of the above statements is/are the correct combination?
I. Her devotion is characterized by ‘Madhurya Bhava’, where she considered Lord Krishna as her husband and lover.
II. She completely rejected the Saguna form of worship and exclusively composed Nirguna verses.
III. Her verses seamlessly blend Marwari, Braj, and Gujarati linguistic elements.
Which of the above statements is/are the correct combination?
Explanation
Meera Bai’s devotion is defined by ‘Madhurya Bhava’, where she visualized Krishna as her husband. Her language is a unique blend of Marwari, Braj, and Gujarati. However, she did not reject Saguna worship; she was a staunch devotee of the physical form of Krishna as ‘Girdhar Gopal’. Her spiritual path was one of intense personal love for a specific deity, rather than formless Nirguna meditation.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (d) Toda Rai Singh, Tonk |
| 52 | (b) V only |
| 53 | (b) Darji (Tailors) |
| 54 | (d) He believed in the efficacy of complex Vedic rituals for attaining moksha. |
| 55 | (b) III, I, II, IV |
| 56 | (c) Merta |
| 57 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 58 | (d) Ravidas (Raidas) |
| 59 | (b) Narsi Ji Ro Mahero |
| 60 | (c) I and III only |
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.