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Indian HistoryMediumAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2023, GAT

Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti movement is NOT correct?

  1. A.The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity
  2. B.In northern India, the Bhakti movement revolved around the worship of Rama and Krishna
  3. C.The Bhakti movement relied on the devotion of God, both with and without attributes
  4. D.While Tulsidas represented the tradition of devotion with attributes, Sant Kabir followed the path of devotion without attributes

Correct answer

A. The Bhakti movement avoided traditions that promoted diversity

Explanation

The correct answer is A. The Bhakti movement did not avoid diversity; it embraced many regional languages, sects and social groups, so this statement is the incorrect one.

Bhakti began with the Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu and spread across India over several centuries. Its saints wrote in the people's own languages, such as Tamil, Marathi, Hindi, Bengali and Punjabi, and came from many castes and both sexes, among them Kabir the weaver, Ravidas the leather-worker and Mirabai, a Rajput princess. It had two streams: saguna bhakti, devotion to God with form and attributes, and nirguna bhakti, devotion to a formless God.

B is correct because saints such as Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai and Chaitanya centred their devotion on Rama and Krishna.

C is correct because both saguna and nirguna devotion were part of the movement.

D is correct because Tulsidas sang of Rama with attributes, while Kabir worshipped a formless God.

Exam tip: saguna bhakti, God with form (Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai); nirguna bhakti, formless God (Kabir, Nanak).

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Practice Questions

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements : 1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order. 2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there. 3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2 and 3 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
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Correct answer: C. 1 and 3 only

Francis Xavier co-founded the Jesuits and his feast is celebrated in Goa every year, but he did not die in Goa.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following statements : 1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. 2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus. 3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.1 and 2
  3. C.3 only
  4. D.2 and 3
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Correct answer: A. 1 only

Chengiz Khan came to the Indus under Iltutmish, but Taimur and Vasco da Gama arrived long after the rulers named.

Q3.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following pairs : (Historical place) (Well-known for) 1. Burzahom : Rock-cut shrines 2. Chandraketugarh : Terracotta art 3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.1 and 2
  3. C.3 only
  4. D.2 and 3
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Correct answer: D. 2 and 3

Chandraketugarh is famous for terracotta and Ganeshwar for copper objects, but Burzahom has no rock-cut shrines. Burzahom, near Srinagar in Kashmir, is a Neolithic site known for pit dwellings dug into the ground, bone tools and the custom of burying domestic dogs with their masters.

Q4.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2021, GATHard

Which one of the following statements about Tattvabodhini Patrika is correct ?

  1. A.It promoted a systematic study of India's past in the Bengali language.
  2. B.It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Sanskrit sources.
  3. C.It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Persian sources.
  4. D.It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Western sources.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. It promoted a systematic study of India's past in the Bengali language.

The Tattvabodhini Patrika promoted a systematic study of India's past in the Bengali language. The journal was started in 1843 by Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, as the organ of the Tattvabodhini Sabha, which he had founded in 1839.