Question 1

Who were the Nayanars and Alvars? Write about them in brief.

Accepted Answer

The Nayanars and Alvars led religious movements in south India during the seventh to ninth centuries. The Nayanars were devotees of Shiva while the Alvars were the devotees of Vishnu. They came from all castes including those considered 'untouchable like the Pulaiyar and the Panars. They preached the love of Shiva or Vishnu as the path to salvation. They went from place to place composing beautiful poems in praise of the deities enshrined in the villages they visited and set them to music. There were 63 Nayanars who belonged to different caste backgrounds. There were 12 Alvars who came from equally divergent backgrounds.

Question 2

Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.

Accepted Answer

They advocated renunciation of the world.They believed that the path to salvation lay in meditation and devotion to the formless God and the realisation of oneness with it.To achieve this they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasansas, breathing exercises and meditation.They did not believe in the ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and the social order.

Question 3

Match the following:The Buddha-namgharShankaradeva-worship of VishnuNizamuddin Auliya-questioned social differencesNayanars-Sufi saintAlvars-worship of Shiva

Accepted Answer

The Buddha-questioned social differencesShankaradeva-namgharNizamuddin Auliya    -Sufi saintNayanars-worship of ShivaAlvars-worship of Vishnu

Question 4

Write in brief about the ideas of Shankara and Ramanuja.

Accepted Answer

Shankara, born in Kerala in the eighth century, was a very influential thinker of India. He was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the human soul and the Supreme Soul which is formless and is the Ultimate Reality.Ramanuja was born in Tamil Nadu in the eleventh century, and he was highly influenced by the philosophy of the Alvars. He thought that the path to salvation was through intense devotion to Lord Vishnu because the grace of the Lord helps devotees attain permanent bliss (freedom and happiness).

Question 5

__________ was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.

Accepted Answer

Pandharpur was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.

Question 6

Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?

Accepted 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 lead a simple life with ordinary people.

Question 7

What do you mean by Khanqahs? What purpose did it serve?

Accepted Answer

Khanqahs were houses of rest for travelers especially kept by a religious order. Sufi masters usually held their assemblies here. Devotees of all descriptions including members of the royalty and nobility, and ordinary people flocked to these Khanqahs. Here, they discussed spiritual matters, sought the blessings of the saints in solving their worldly problems or simply attended the music and dance sessions.

Question 8

Name the two sets of compilations of Nayanar's songs.

Accepted Answer

Tevaram and Tiruvachakam

Question 9

Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?

Accepted Answer

Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because these were based on social differences, excess ritualism and outward display piety.

Question 10

Name any two saints of Maharashtra.

Accepted Answer

Namdev and Tukaram