Bhakti MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Bhakti - Download Free PDF

Key Points

• Ramananda was a 14th-century poet-saint and a prominent figure in the Bhakti movement in northern India.
• Also known as Ramanandacharya, he was born into a Brahmin family and spent most of his life in Varanasi, a sacred city for Hindus.
• Exact birth and death dates remain uncertain, but he is believed to have lived during the 14th to 15th centuries, when the Bhakti movement flourished in North India under Islamic rule.
• Philosophical Influences:
  • Ramanuja, a South Indian Vedanta scholar, influenced his devotional themes and philosophy.
  • He was also influenced by Nathpanthi ascetics and the Yoga school of Hindu philosophy.
  • Devotion to Rama: Ramananda was a prominent Rama worshipper and is credited with spreading the Bhakti movement in northern India.
• Social Reformer:
  • Opened the Bhakti movement to all people, regardless of birth, caste, creed, or gender.
  • Made religious teachings more accessible to the public by writing and speaking in Hindi.
• Disciples:
  • Kabir (a Muslim weaver)
  • Ravidas (a cobbler)
  • Sena (a barber)
  • Dhanna (a Jat peasant)
  • Sadhana (a butcher)
  • Narahari (a goldsmith)
  • Pipa (a Rajput prince)
• Legacy:
  • Revered as the bridge between the southern and northern Bhakti movements.
  • Credited with founding the Sant-parampara (tradition of Bhakti saints) in northern India.

The correct answer is - Tulsidas

Key Points

• Tulsidas
  • Tulsidas is one of the most celebrated Hindi and Awadhi poets in Indian literature.
  • He is known for writing works with a strong spiritual and devotional tone, often dedicated to Lord Rama.
  • Tulsidas composed the following famous works:
    • Gitawali: A collection of devotional songs centered on Lord Rama.
    • Kavitawali: A series of poems highlighting the virtues and life of Lord Rama.
    • Vinaya Patrika: A collection of hymns and prayers expressing humility and devotion.
  • His other renowned work is the Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem that narrates the story of Lord Rama.

Additional Information

• Other notable poets
  • Surdas: A devotional poet known for his compositions dedicated to Lord Krishna, especially in his work Sursagar.
  • Chaitanya: A saint and poet who played a key role in the Bengal Vaishnavism movement, focusing on the devotion to Lord Krishna.
  • Namadeva: A prominent saint and poet of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra, known for his devotional hymns.
• About the Bhakti Movement
  • The Bhakti movement emerged as a spiritual reform movement in medieval India, emphasizing devotion to a personal deity.
  • It produced a number of saint-poets who composed devotional literature in regional languages.
  • Notable figures include Meera Bai, Kabir, Surdas, and Tulsidas.
• Significance of Tulsidas’ works
  • Tulsidas’ writings are considered a cornerstone of Hindu devotional literature.
  • They have contributed significantly to the spread of the Rama Bhakti tradition across India.
  • His works remain widely read and recited in temples and homes across the country.

The correct answer is - Alvar

Key Points

• Periyalvar and Nammalvar were two prominent poets and saints associated with the Alvar tradition.
• The Alvars were Tamil poet-saints of the Vaishnavism tradition, devoted to Lord Vishnu.
• Periyalvar is known for his hymns in praise of Lord Vishnu, focusing on the concept of bhakti (devotion).
  • He composed the famous Pallandu, which means "long live," invoking blessings for Lord Vishnu.
• Nammalvar is considered the greatest among the Alvars.
  • He authored the Tiruvaymoli, a collection of hymns that forms the essence of the Dravida Veda.
• The teachings and hymns of the Alvars deeply influenced the Bhakti Movement in South India.

Additional Information

• Alvar Tradition
  • The word Alvar means "one who is immersed" (in devotion to God).
  • There are traditionally 12 Alvars, including Periyalvar and Nammalvar.
  • The hymns composed by them are collectively called the Divya Prabandham, which is revered as a sacred text in Tamil literature.
• Vaishnavism
  • Vaishnavism is one of the major traditions within Hinduism, centered around the worship of Vishnu and his avatars like Rama and Krishna.
  • The Alvar saints played a significant role in popularizing Vaishnavism in Tamil Nadu.
• Bhakti Movement
  • The Bhakti Movement was a devotional movement that emphasized love and devotion to a personal deity.
  • The Alvars were early precursors of this movement, which later spread across India.
  • Their teachings inspired the synthesis of Tamil and Sanskrit traditions in devotional literature.

Key Points

• Kabir's teachings were primarily expressed in the form of couplets (Dohe) written in the vernacular language, which was a mix of Hindi, Awadhi, and Bhojpuri, and not in Urdu.
• He strongly opposed idol worship and rituals, emphasizing personal devotion and meditation.
• Kabir condemned the caste system and believed in the equality of all human beings, advocating a spiritual unity beyond caste and religion.
• His followers were known as Kabir Panthis, a group that follows his teachings and philosophy.

Additional Information

• Kabir:
  • Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings had a significant impact on the Bhakti movement in India.
  • He is revered by Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs alike for his universal teachings that transcended religious boundaries.
  • Kabir's verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
• Urdu Language:
  • Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language that developed in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal era, heavily influenced by Persian and Arabic.
  • It became prominent much after Kabir's time, and thus, his teachings were not in Urdu.
• Kabir Panthis:
  • Kabir Panthis are followers of Kabir's teachings who reject caste distinctions, idol worship, and religious orthodoxy.
  • They adhere to the principles of simplicity, equality, and devotion to one God, as taught by Kabir.

The correct answer is - Kedarnath

Key Points

• Shankaracharya founded four major mathas (monasteries) to promote the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta.
• These four mathas are located in the four corners of India:
  • Jagannatha Puri in the East.
  • Dwarka in the West.
  • Badrinath in the North.
  • Shringeri in the South.
• Kedarnath is a famous religious site but is not among the mathas founded by Shankaracharya.
• Shankaracharya is believed to have visited Kedarnath, but he did not establish a matha there.

Additional Information

• Advaita Vedanta Philosophy
  • It is a non-dualistic school of philosophy founded by Adi Shankaracharya.
  • Advaita Vedanta teaches that the ultimate reality is Brahman, and the individual soul (Atman) is identical to Brahman.
• Four Mathas and their Significance
  • Each matha is associated with a specific Veda:
    • Jagannatha Puri - Rigveda.
    • Dwarka - Samaveda.
    • Badrinath - Atharvaveda.
    • Shringeri - Yajurveda.
  • These mathas played a crucial role in preserving and disseminating Vedic knowledge.
• Kedarnath Temple
  • It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.
  • It is located in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarakhand.
  • Shankaracharya is said to have meditated near the Kedarnath temple, but he did not establish a matha there.

The correct answer is option 1, i.e Nayanar.

• Nayanar is called Shaivism in the Bhakti Movement.

• The seventh to ninth centuries saw the emergence of new religious movements, led by the Nayanars (saints devoted to Shiva) and Alvars (saints devoted to Vishnu).

• They came from all castes including those considered “untouchable” like the Pulaiyar and the Panars.

• They were sharply critical of the Buddhists and Jains and preached ardent love of Shiva or Vishnu as the path to salvation.
• They drew upon the ideals of love and heroism as found in the Sangam literature (the earliest example of Tamil literature, composed during the early centuries of the Common Era), and blended them with the values of bhakti.
• There were 63 Nayanars, best known among them were Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkavasagar.
• There were 12 Alvars, who came from equally divergent backgrounds, the best known being Periyalvar, his daughter Andal, Tondaradippodi Alvar and Nammalvar.
• Their songs were compiled in the Divya Prabandham.

Trick to remember - If you reverse "A" of Alvar, you get V or Vishnu. Hence Alvars are devotees of Vishnu. The other term would be for Shiva Devotees.

​Bodhisattva:

• An individual who is on the path of getting enlightenment to become a buddha is referred to as Bodhisattva.

Wali:

• The terms Sufi, Wali, Darvesh, and Faqir are used for Muslim saints.
• Wali was a Sufi who claimed proximity to Allah.
• They are the saints who attempted to achieve the development of their intuitive faculties through ascetic exercises, contemplation, renunciation, and self-denial. 

The correct answer is Ramanujacharya.

• The first Bhakti Movement was organised by Ramanujacharya.

Key Points

• Bhakti movement 
  • The Bhakti Movement originated in the seventh century in Tamil, South India (now parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala), and spread northwards.
  • It swept over east and north India from the 15th century onwards reached its peak between the 15th and 17th centuries CE.
  • The first Bhakti Movement was organised by Ramanujacharya.​
    • ​He was an exponent of the Vishitadvaita philosophy.
• Founders of the Bhakti Movement in different parts of the country:

Additional Information

• Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh faith in India.
  • He named the formless God as Akal Purush.
  • His teachings are compiled in Adi‑Granth.
• Meerabai was a contributor to the Bhakti movement by her music.
• Ramdas was an exponent of Bhakti Yoga in the Bhakti movement.

The correct answer is Mirabai

Key Points

• Meerabai is called "Radha of Rajasthan" and her guru's name was Raidas.
• Meerabai was born in 1498 in Kurki village in Pali, Rajasthan.
• Meerabai is known for her devotion to Krishna. "Meera Padaavali" is her major work.
• Mirabai established the "Dasi Sampradaya".
• The father's name of Meerabai was Ratan Singh Rathore.
• Mahatma Gandhi called Mirabai "the first Satyagrahi woman".
• Gavari Bai was born in the princely state of Jodhpur in 1920 and is known as "Meera of Bangar".
• Samanbai was a resident of Mahund village in Alwar and was the daughter of devotee Ramnath.
• She composed the free verse of Radha and Krishna.
• "Karmathi Bai" was the daughter of Katharia Purushottam of Purohitpur in the Bangad region.
• She was a contemporary of Akbar and spent most of her time in Vrindavan.

The correct answer is Shiva.

Key Points

• Nayanars were devotees of Shiva.
• Alvars were devotees of Vishnu
• The Vaishanvite movement was a strong movement that reigned in South India till the end of the thirteenth century.
• Prabhandas were the collection of songs that Alvars sang.
• Aryikas were the female monks under Digambara School of Jainism.

The correct answer is Alvars.

• Saguna Bhakti refers to devotion and prayer to god having some form and with attributes whereas Nirguna Bhakti refers to devotion and prayer to formlessness god without any attributes.
• The Nayanars and Alvars were the Tamil poet-saints who played a key role in propagating the Bhakti Movement in Southern India.
  • Nayanars were the group of saints devoted to Lord Shiva while Alvars were the group of saints who devoted to Lord Vishnu, Vaishnav Bhakti.

Additional Information

• The Nayanars and Alvars went from place to place composing exquisite 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 such as potters, “untouchable” workers, peasants, hunters, soldiers, Brahmanas, and chiefs.
• The best known among them were Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkavasagar. There are two sets of compilations of their songs – Tevaram and Tiruvacakam.
• There were 12 Alvars, who came from equally divergent backgrounds, the best known being Periyalvar, his daughter Andal, Tondaradippodi Alvar and Nammalvar. Their songs were compiled in the Divya Prabandham.

The correct answer is Jahangir.

​​Key Points

• ​​Tukaram was born in 1608 and died in 1649, while Jahangir ruled from 1605 to 1627.
• This means that Tukaram was alive and active during the reign of Jahangir.
• Tukaram was a Marathi Bhakti poet and devotee of Lord Krishna.
• He is considered one of the most important figures in the Bhakti movement, which was a Hindu religious reform movement that emphasized the importance of personal devotion to God.
• Tukaram's teachings and poetry were very popular, and they helped to spread the message of the Bhakti movement throughout Maharashtra.
• Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor.
• He was known for his interest in art, literature, and music.
• He was also a tolerant ruler, and he allowed Hindus to practice their religion freely.
• This made him a popular figure among the Hindus of Maharashtra, and it is likely that he was aware of Tukaram's teachings.
• It is possible that Tukaram and Jahangir may have met at some point.
• However, there is no historical record of this meeting.

• Nevertheless, the fact that Tukaram was a contemporary of Jahangir is significant, as it shows that the Bhakti movement was flourishing during the Mughal period.

​So the correct answer is Jahangir.

The correct answer is Lingayats.

• The followers of Basavanna who led a movement in Karnataka were called Lingayats.

Key Points

• Basavanna is the founder of Lingayatism and is strongly against the rigid practices of the caste system.
• Lingayats believed that there is no rebirth and on death, the devotee reunites with Shiva never coming back to the World. 
• Hence Lingayats of the Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy. 
• The person who led a new religious movement in Karnataka was Basavanna.
  • His followers were known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga).

The correct answer is Alvars.

Key Points

• Alvars have been credited as the founder of the Bhakti movement in the fifth century. 
• Alvars and Nayanars from Tamil Nadu were the first to start Bhakti movement by travelling different places and sing hymns of their respective gods. 
• They believe bhakt can be of any caste, can be of any social background.

Note - 

Short Trick to remember God. 

• Nayanars - Shivji has the third eye. Nayan is the synonym of `the eye "so nayanars - shiva and alvars - Vishnu

The correct answer is Tukaram.

Key Points

• Tukaram was a 17th-century Hindu poet and saint of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.
• He is popularly known as Tuka, Tukobaraya, Tukoba in Maharashtra.
• He was a contemporary of Shivaji.
• He was a follower of the Varkari devotionalism tradition, which was egalitarian and personalised.
• He is most renowned for his Abhyanga (devotional poetry) and kirtans (community-oriented worship with spiritual singing).
• According to Eleanor Zelliot, the Bhakti movement poets such as Tukaram influenced Shivaji's ascent to power.
• He Died in 1649 at the age of 41.

Additional Information

• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a 15th-century Indian saint.
  • He was a chief proponent of the Vedantic philosophy of Achintya Bheda Abheda Tattva.
• Namdev was a Marathi Hindu poet and saint from Narsi, Maharashtra.
  • He lived as a devotee of Pandharpur's Lord Vitthal (Krishna).
• Shankaracharya was the most renowned exponent of the Advaita Vedanta school of philosophy, from whose doctrines the main currents of modern Indian thought are derived.

The correct answer is Vallabhacharya.

Key Points

• Pushtimarg is a form of Krishna worship for adoration.
  • It was founded by Shri Vallabhacharya (1479–1531 AD), a Telugu Vaidiki Brahmana.
  • He was also the propounder of Shuddha-Advaita or pure nondualism.
  • Vallabhacharya was a contemporary of Sri Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagara empire and attended his court to participate in a prolonged debate on the merits and demerits of Dvaita and Advaita philosophies.
  • According to the legends he was victorious in the end and was honored by the King.

Additional Information

• Pushtimarg is the path of devotion, which is mentioned in the Bhagavadgita as the direct and the simplest approach to achieve liberation.
  • It centres around pushti bhakti. Pushti means nourishing and bhakti means devotion.
  • Pushti bhakti means nourishing the soul with divine love and happiness through devotion and selfless service to Lord Krishna, the supreme deity.
  • Vallabhacharya said to have proposed it during his pilgrimage to Brindavan.
  • When he was stationed there, he had a vision of Krishna as Shrinathji who transmitted to him a sacred mantra about the way to build a divine relationship with Brahman, the supreme godhead, which became the basis for Pushtimarg.
• The path recognizes Brahman as the one, ultimate and absolute reality, without a second (ekmevadwitiyam Brahma).
  • All that exists here is Brahman only (sarvam khalu idam brahma). He is the same as the supreme lord of the Bhagavadgita and Bhagavatam.
  • The path that leads to him is through intense devotion to Lord Krishna, who is Sachchidanand Purushottam Parambrahm (ever blissful, the best person and Supreme Brahman).
  • Devotion to Lord Krishna, especially to his child forms, should be practiced with intense love through service (Seva).
  • The primary purpose of Pushtimarg is not liberation, but to experience the love and bliss of Lord Krishna and realize Krishna's nature within oneself, without any duality.