History & Culture chapter practice
Practise 80+ Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh Traditions MCQs for UPSC Prelims in History & Culture, including 15+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.
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With reference to Indian history, which of the following were known as 'Kulah-Daran'?
Explanation
Correct. Kulah-Daran referred to Sayyids — those claiming descent from the Prophet Muhammad — who were identified in part through their distinctive headgear (kulah) and high social status in medieval Indian Muslim society.
The world's second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
Explanation
Correct. Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) philosophy emphasised bhakti (devotion) and prapatti (surrender) to Vishnu as the surest path to liberation (moksha).
With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: 1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry. 2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. The Tamil Siddhas were indeed monotheistic and opposed idolatry, drawing from tantric and yogic traditions. The Lingayats, founded by Basavanna in the 12th century, rejected both caste hierarchy and the doctrine of rebirth.
Consider the following statements: 1. 'Bijak' is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. 2. The philosophy of Pushtimarg was propounded by Madhvacharya. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Bijak is associated with Kabir (not Dadu Dayal), and Pushtimarg was propounded by Vallabhacharya (not Madhvacharya). Neither statement is correct.
Consider the following Bhakti saints: 1. Dadu Dayal 2. Guru Nanak 3. Tyagaraja Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?
Explanation
Correct. Guru Nanak (1469–1539) was actively preaching during the transition from the Lodi dynasty to Babur's Mughal rule in 1526. He even composed verses reflecting on Babur's invasion.
Among the following, who was not a proponent of the Bhakti cult?
Explanation
Correct. Nagarjuna was a Buddhist philosopher (c. 2nd century CE) who founded the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. He was not associated with the Bhakti movement.
Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal Emperor?
Explanation
Correct. Tukaram (c. 1608–1649) was a Marathi Bhakti poet-saint who lived during the reign of Jahangir (1605–1627) and into Shah Jahan's reign.
Consider the following statements about Sikh Gurus: 1. Banda Bahadur was appointed as the military leader of the Sikhs by Guru Tegh Bahadur. 2. Guru Arjan Dev became the Sikh Guru after Guru Ram Das. 3. Guru Arjan Dev gave to Sikhs their own script Gurmukhi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Guru and succeeded his father Guru Ram Das (the fourth Guru). Guru Arjan Dev is also credited with standardising the Gurmukhi script for the Sikh scriptures.
With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements: 1. Shaikh Ahmad Sarhindi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi. 2. Shaikh Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Dehlavi was a disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya. 3. Aurangzeb was a contemporary of Shaikh Salim Chisti. 4. The Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani. Which of these statements are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Dehlavi was indeed a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya and the last great Chishti saint of Delhi. The Qadiri order was introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani during the 15th century.
Who among the following was the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi for the propagation of his message?
Explanation
Correct. Ramananda (c. 14th–15th century) is regarded as the first Bhakti saint to use Hindi (rather than Sanskrit) for spreading his devotional message, opening the Bhakti movement to the masses.
Match List I (Bhakti Saint) with List II (Profession) and select the correct answer: List I — List II I. Namdev — A. Barber II. Kabir — B. Weaver III. Ravidas — C. Tailor IV. Sena — D. Cobbler
Explanation
Correct. Namdev was a tailor (C), Kabir was a weaver (B), Ravidas was a cobbler (D), and Sena was a barber (A). These Bhakti saints came from artisan and lower-caste backgrounds.
Assertion (A): The sponsor and the most prominent figure of the Chishti order of Sufis in India is Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Reason (R): The Chishti order takes its name from a village Chishti in Ajmer.
Explanation
Correct. A is true — Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was indeed the founder and most prominent figure of the Chishti order in India, settling in Ajmer. R is false — the Chishti order derives its name from the town of Chisht in Afghanistan, not from Ajmer.
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