📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Bhakti in the South & Acharyas
- Bhakti began in South India (6th–9th c.) — Alvars (devotees of Vishnu, 12) and Nayanars (devotees of Shiva, 63).
- Alvar hymns collected in Nalayira Divya Prabandham; Nayanar hymns in Tirumurai. Andal was the only woman Alvar.
| Acharya | Philosophy |
|---|---|
| Shankaracharya | Advaita; four mathas — Sringeri, Puri, Dwarka, Jyotirmath |
| Ramanujacharya | Vishishtadvaita |
| Madhvacharya | Dvaita |
| Nimbarka | Dvaitadvaita |
| Vallabhacharya | Shuddhadvaita; Pushti Marg |
- Basavanna (12th c., Karnataka) — Virashaiva/Lingayat movement; "vachana" literature; Anubhava Mantapa.
📌 2. Saints of North India
| Saint | Stream | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| Ramananda | Bridge between Saguna and Nirguna | Brought Bhakti to the north; disciples Kabir, Raidas, Dhanna, Pipa |
| Kabir | Nirguna | Bijak; dohas/sakhis; opposed idol worship and ritual |
| Guru Nanak | Nirguna | Founder of Sikhism; born Talwandi (Nankana Sahib); langar |
| Raidas (Ravidas) | Nirguna | Leatherworker saint; verses in Guru Granth Sahib |
| Tulsidas | Saguna (Rama) | Ramcharitmanas (Awadhi), Vinay Patrika |
| Surdas | Saguna (Krishna) | Sursagar (Braj); disciple of Vallabhacharya |
| Mirabai | Saguna (Krishna) | Rajput princess of Mewar; Raidas regarded as guru |
| Chaitanya | Saguna (Krishna) | Bengal; Gaudiya Vaishnavism; sankirtan |
| Sankaradeva | Saguna (Krishna) | Assam; Ekasarana Dharma; sattras and namghars |
- Maharashtra saints (Warkari, Vitthal/Pandharpur): Jnaneshwar (Jnaneshwari), Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram (abhangas).
- Sikh Gurus: Angad (Gurmukhi), Amar Das (manji system), Ram Das (Amritsar), Arjan Dev (Adi Granth 1604, Harmandir Sahib; executed under Jahangir), Tegh Bahadur (executed by Aurangzeb, 1675), Gobind Singh (Khalsa 1699).
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- Ramcharitmanas is in Awadhi, not Braj; Sursagar is in Braj.
📌 3. Sufi Movement
| Silsila | Founder / key saints in India |
|---|---|
| Chishti | Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer); Bakhtiyar Kaki; Baba Farid; Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi); Salim Chishti (Fatehpur Sikri) |
| Suhrawardi | Bahauddin Zakariya (Multan); accepted state patronage |
| Naqshbandi | Khwaja Baqi Billah; Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi — orthodox |
| Qadiri | Shaikh Niyamatullah; Dara Shikoh was a follower |
- Terms: khanqah (hospice), pir/shaikh (master), murid (disciple), sama (devotional music), dargah (shrine).
- Baba Farid's verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib.
📌 4. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The Alvar saints were devotees of: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Alvars worshipped Vishnu; Nayanars worshipped Shiva.
Alvars worshipped Vishnu; Nayanars worshipped Shiva.
Q2. Who propounded Vishishtadvaita? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Ramanujacharya propounded Vishishtadvaita.
Ramanujacharya propounded Vishishtadvaita.
Q3. Kabir's compositions are compiled in: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Kabir's sayings are compiled in the Bijak.
Kabir's sayings are compiled in the Bijak.
Q4. In which language was 'Ramcharitmanas' written? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Tulsidas wrote it in Awadhi.
Tulsidas wrote it in Awadhi.
Q5. Who founded the Khalsa (1699)? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib in 1699.
Q6. Which Guru compiled the Adi Granth? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth in 1604.
Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Adi Granth in 1604.
Q7. Where is the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The founder of the Chishti order lies at Ajmer.
The founder of the Chishti order lies at Ajmer.
Q8. In Sufi terminology, 'khanqah' means: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
A khanqah is where the pir and disciples lived.
A khanqah is where the pir and disciples lived.
Q9. Who founded Ekasarana Dharma in Assam? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Sankaradeva founded Ekasarana Dharma and the sattra-namghar tradition.
Sankaradeva founded Ekasarana Dharma and the sattra-namghar tradition.
Q10. Who led the Lingayat (Virashaiva) movement? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Basavanna of 12th-century Karnataka led it.
Basavanna of 12th-century Karnataka led it.
Q11. The 'abhangas' are famous compositions of: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Tukaram of Maharashtra is famous for his abhangas.
Tukaram of Maharashtra is famous for his abhangas.
Q12. Nizamuddin Auliya belonged to which Sufi order? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
He was the famous Chishti saint of Delhi.
He was the famous Chishti saint of Delhi.
Q13. Dara Shikoh was a follower of which Sufi order? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Shah Jahan's son Dara Shikoh was linked with the Qadiri order.
Shah Jahan's son Dara Shikoh was linked with the Qadiri order.
Q14. Gaudiya Vaishnavism and sankirtan are linked with: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Chaitanya of Bengal popularised sankirtan in Krishna bhakti.
Chaitanya of Bengal popularised sankirtan in Krishna bhakti.
Q15. The hymns of the Nayanars are compiled in: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Nayanar (Shaiva) hymns are in the Tirumurai.
The Nayanar (Shaiva) hymns are in the Tirumurai.
Q16. Who propounded the Dvaita philosophy? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Madhvacharya's Dvaita holds the soul and God to be distinct.
Madhvacharya's Dvaita holds the soul and God to be distinct.
Q17. Surdas was a disciple of: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Surdas was a disciple of Vallabhacharya of the Pushti Marg.
Surdas was a disciple of Vallabhacharya of the Pushti Marg.
Q18. Which Mughal ruler executed Guru Tegh Bahadur? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
He was executed in Delhi in 1675 on Aurangzeb's orders.
He was executed in Delhi in 1675 on Aurangzeb's orders.
Q19. In Sufism, 'sama' means: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Sama is a musical gathering for remembrance of God.
Sama is a musical gathering for remembrance of God.
Q20. Who popularised Bhakti in North India and was Kabir's guru? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Ramananda spread Bhakti in the north; Kabir was his disciple.
Ramananda spread Bhakti in the north; Kabir was his disciple.