Chapter 6

Bhakti-Sufi Traditions prepared by

Very Short Questions Deepshikha Pathak
1. Point out one similarity and dissimilarity between Lingayats and Nayanars.
2. Point out any two similarities between the philosophy of Kabir and Guru Nanak Dev.
3. Point out one difference and one similarity between Be-Shari’a and Ba-Shari’a Sufi traditions.
4. Mention any two sources to know about Bhakti and Sufi traditions from 8th century to 18th
century.
5. The Message of Guru Nanak Devji was based on divinity’. Mention any two aspects of it.
6. Kabir Bijak and Kabir Granthavali are the two distinct but overlapping traditions. How are
they preserved?
7. By the 11th century Sufism evolved into a well developed movement. Give two examples.
8. Why do thousands of devotees visit dargahs of Muslim saint?
9. Name the principal deity followed at Puri, Orissa.
10. Name a women devotee of Alvars and Nayanars.
11. Who were Ulamas?
12. Which branch of Ismailis developed new modes of communication, dissemination ideas
derived from the Quran?
13. What is Ziyarat?
14. Who composed Padmavat?
15. Who preserved Kabir Bijak?
16. Who were Jogis?
17. What is the position of Bhakti in Indian Tradition?
18. Who brought up Kabir Saint and what are his followers known as?
19. Name two Sufi Shaikhs during the period of Delhi Sultanate.
20. Why did the Nayanar saints express their opposition towards Buddhism and Jainism?
21. What do you mean bt Zimmi?
22. Explain two religious beliefs and behaviours of Lingayats.
23. Who were Mlechchhas?
24. Write two rituals of ‘Silsila’?
25. Name two compositions of Kabir which convey sense of Kabir’s mystical experiences.
26. Give the name of any four well known reformers of Bhakti movement?
27. What is the importance of Murshid in Sufi ideology?
Short Questions
28. How did Karaikkal Ammaiyar become the greatest figure of Nayanar tradition? Explain.
29. Name the major anthology compiled by the Alvars which is also described as the Tamil Veda.
How did various chiefdoms in the Tamil region help them in the early first millennium CE?
30. The Lingayats disapproved certain practices of the Dharmashashtras. Give two examples.
31. Mention the two ideas of Brahmanical system challenged by the Lingayats.
32. Explain the meaning of Sufi Silsila.
33. Who were Alvars and Nayanars?
34. Explain the features of Islamic religion which contributed to its spread through the sub-
continent.
35. “The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the ‘pollution’ attributed to certain groups
by Brahmanas,” Critically examine the statement.
36. Mention any three universal architectural features of Mosques.
37. Why and which changes came in the status of Brahmanas in North India in the 13 th century?
 38. Where is the dargah of Shaikh Nizam-ud-din-Aulia situated? What was the featue of its open
kitchen(langar) ?
39. Name four practices adopted by Shaikh Nizam ud din Aulia which represents that he tried to
assimilate love traditions.
40. What are Kabir’s Ulatbansi compositions?
41. Describe practices associated with Chastity Silsila of the Sufis.
Or
In the late 12th century, the Chishtis adapted to the local environment and adopted features
of Indian devotional tradition. Explain
42. Why do thousands of devotees visit dargahs of Muslim saints?
43. Why is the tradition of Ziyarat called urs?
44. What was the social structure of Alvar and Nayanar saints?
45. What was the difference between the Saint movement and Vaishnav Bhakti movement?
46. Why there was sometimes a situation of conflict among Vedic traditions and Tantric
practices?
47. Describe the causes of the rise of Bhakti movement?
48. Describe the main Principal of Bhakti movement?
Long Questions
49. Identify the relationship between the Sufis and the state from the eighth to the eighteenth
century.
50. Identify the relationship of the Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu with the state from the
eighth to the eighteenth century.
51. Explain the teachings of Kabir. How did he describe the ultimate reality through his poem?
52. Explain the significance of Kabir’s poems and the traditions he drew to describe the ultimate
reality.
53. Explain how the biography of the saint poetess Mirabai has been primarily constructed. How
did she defy the norms of society?
54. Give examples of differences and conflicts between religious beliefs and practices during the
8th century and 18th century.
Or
Explain the textual traditions regarding religious beliefs.
55. What was the reaction of Tamil Bhakti hymns towards Buddhism and Jainism? What was the
reaction of this competition?
56. Explain the development of the Bhakti Movement.
Or
57. Explain the basic principles or main ideas of the Bhakti community.
Or
58. Discuss the development of the Bhakti Movement. Also, discuss the basic principles or views
of the Bhakti communities.
59. Give main features of poetry of Saint
60. Explain the significance of Kabir’s poems and the traditions he drew to describe the ultimate
reality.
Or
61. How did Kabir describe the ultimate reality through his poems?
62. Explain giving examples of the connection between the State and the Bhakti tradition and
the State and the Sufi tradition.
Or
 63. Identify the relationship between Sufis and the State Jainism, the eighth to the eighteenth
century
64. Discuss the activities of Chishti Silsila in the sub-continent on the basis of Khanqah of Shaikh
Nizam-ud-din Auliya.
65. Give a brief description of the development of the Sufi idea and the organization of
Khanqahs and Silsilas.
Or
66. “Sufism evolved as a reaction to the growing materialism of the caliphate as a religious and
political institution.” Elucidate
67. How did India become a part of the Islamic world? How rulers who had faith in Islam,
maintained a balance with their subjects?
68. How was the religious ferment in North India? How dominance of Brahmanas was reduced
over there?
Source based questions
69. The One Lord:
Here is a composition attributed to Kabir Tell me, brother, how can there be No one lord of
the world but two?
Who led you so astray?
God is called by many names.
Names like Allah, Ram, Karim, Keshav, Hari and Hazrat. Gold may be shaped into rings and
bangles. Isn’t it gold all the same? Distinctions are only in words that we invent.
Kabir says they are both mistaken. Neither can find the only Ram. One kills the goat, the other cows.
They waste their lives in disputation.

a. Name any two scriptures, in which verses, ascribed to Kabir, have been complied.
b. How did Kabir describe the ‘Ultimate Reality’?
c. Explain the arguments give by Kabir against the lords of the world of different communities.
d. Do you agree with Kabir? Give your own views as well.
25 A Church in Khambat:
This is an excerpt from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598. Whereas it reached
………………………………………………but should allow them to build a Church so that they may engage
themselves in their own worship. It is necessary that the order of the Emperor should be obeyed in
every way.

a. What did the padris want to do?

b. How did Akbar ensure that their desire was fulfilled?
c. Who guided the Muslim rulers?
d. How was the situation complicated in the sub-continent and how did the rulers adopt to this
situation?