DEVOTIONAL PATHS TO DIVINE
SHORT QUESTIONS- ANSWERS
1. What did the Puranic stories consist of? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Puranic stories consisted of local myths and legends
2. Who were the Pulaiyar and the Panars?
Answer: They were considered untouchables
3. How many Alvars were there?
Answer: There were 12 Alvars.
4. What did Ramanuja propound?
Answer: He propounded the doctrine of Vishishtadvaita or qualified oneness in that the soul even
when united with the Supreme God remained distinct.
5. What is abhang?
Answer: It is a Marathi devotional hymn.
6. Name any two saints of Maharashtra.
Answer: Namdev and Tukaram
7. Who were Sufis?
Answer: Sufis were Muslim mystics.
LONG QUESTION-ANSWERS
Q1. Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis.
Answer:
Beliefs and Practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
1. Criticism of ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and social order.
2. Advocated renunciation of the world.
3. Path of salvation lies in meditation.
4. Ultimate reality and realisation of oneness.
5. Intense training of mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises, and
meditation.
Q2. What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?
Answer:
Major ideas expressed by Kabir and his way of expressing them:
1. Rejection of orthodox religion and religious traditions.
2. Religion was is accessible to all.
3. Criticism of all external worship of Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam
4. No caste system.
5. Belief in formless God.
6. Bhakti and devotion is the only path of salvation.
7. He expressed his ideas through couplets.
Q3. Discuss the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis.
Answer:
Sufis were Muslim mystics. They rejected outward religiosity and emphasised love and
devotion to God and compassion towards all fellow human beings.
The Sufis often rejected the elaborate rituals and codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim
religious scholars.
They rejected idol worship and simplified the rituals of worship into collective prayers.
They believed that the heart can be trained to look at the world in a different way.
They developed elaborate methods of training using zikr (chanting of a name or sacred
formula), contemplation, sama (singing), raqs, (dancing), discussion of parables, breath
control etc. under the guidance of a master called pir.
Q4. Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer:
Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because they had numerous
shortcomings like they promoted division in society. They believed in the power of personal devotion
and felt attracted by the idea of a Supreme God, and believed that the only path to salvation was
through bhakti or devotion.
Q5. List the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak.
Answer:
Major Teachings of Baba Guru Nanak:
1. Worship of one God.
2. Irrelevance of caste, creed, and gender for attaining liberation.
3. The pursuit of active life with a strong sense of social commitment.
4. Nam, the dam, is the major essence of his teachings.
5. His teachings are now remembered as Nam-japna, kirt-karna, and vandh Chakhna which are
the basis of right belief, and worship, honest living and helping others.
6. The idea of equality.
Q6. For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer: Attitude of the Virashaivas towards caste :
They believed in the equality of all human beings. They were against Brahmanical ideas about caste
and the treatment of women. They were also against all forms of ritual and idol worship. They
wished for a society where people of all backgrounds could live in harmony without any feelings of
high and low, rich and poor.
Q7. Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer: Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the royal family of Mewar. But she had no
interest in the worldly affair. She was an ardent devotee of Krishna and wanted to devote her time
to the worship of her lord. She had no belief in princely status and other norms of high-class society.
Her devotion to her deity was supreme. Hence, she left the royal palace and began to lend. Simple
life with ordinary people.
