Go through the historical dates for Chapter 6, Devotional Paths to the Divine. Students should go through this properly, which might be important while writing exams. The chapter covers religious movements in India from the 8th to the 17th centuries. The chapter focuses on Bhakti and Sufi traditions and their role in shaping Indian spirituality and society. The chapter also discusses the philosophies of –
- Shankara and Ramanuja
- Virashaiva movement led by Basavanna
- Sikh tradition founded by Guru Nanak
Below are the important highlights –
- 8th century: Shankara, an influential philosopher of Advaita, was born in Kerala
- 11th century: Ramanuja, a proponent of Vishishtadvaita, was born in Tamil Nadu
- 12th century: Basavanna initiated the Virashaiva movement in Karnataka
- 13th century: Jalaluddin Rumi, a Sufi poet, was active in Iran
- 15th-16th centuries: The Rishi order of Sufism flourished in Kashmir under Sheikh Nuruddin Wali
- 15th-16th centuries: Kabir, a prominent saint-poet, was active
- 1469-1539: Baba Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, was active
- 1604: Compilation of the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan
- 1699: Establishment of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh
Let’s now check the top 33 MCQ questions for chapter 6, Devotional Paths to the Divine, from the NCERT book.
MCQ Questions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 Devotional Paths to the Divine
Question 1. Shankara was an advocate of:
a) Vishishtadvaita
b) Advaita
c) Dvaita
d) Shuddhadvaita
Answer:
b) Advaita
Question 2. Ramanuja was influenced by the:
a) Alvars
b) Nayanars
c) Sufis
d) Nathpanthis
Answer:
a) Alvars
Question 3. Kabir’s teachings openly ridiculed:
a) External worship
b) Bhakti
c) Advaita philosophy
d) Yoga practices
Answer:
a) External worship
Question 4. The term ‘namghar’ is associated with:
a) Alvars
b) Nayanars
c) Shankaradeva
d) Nizamuddin Auliya
Answer:
c) Shankaradeva
Question 5. The tomb of a Sufi saint is known as:
a) Gurdwara
b) Namghar
c) Dargah
d) Monastery
Answer:
c) Dargah
Question 6. Baba Guru Nanak’s place of worship was called:
a) Temple
b) Mosque
c) Namghar
d) Dharmsal
Answer:
d) Dharmsal
Question 7. The language of Kabir’s poetry was a form of:
a) Sanskrit
b) Persian
c) Spoken Hindi
d) Tamil
Answer:
c) Spoken Hindi
Question 8. The Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by:
a) Guru Nanak
b) Guru Angad
c) Guru Arjan
d) Guru Gobind Singh
Answer:
c) Guru Arjan
Question 9. Mirabai was a disciple of:
a) Ravidas
b) Kabir
c) Guru Nanak
d) Shankaradeva
Answer:
a) Ravidas
Question 10. The Bhakti saint who composed the Gita Govinda was:
a) Kabir
b) Jayadeva
c) Tulsidas
d) Surdas
Answer:
b) Jayadeva
Question 11. The Sufi practice of singing is known as:
a) Zikr
b) Sama
c) Raqs
d) Tasawwuf
Answer:
b) Sama
Question 12. The Sufi master known for composing poems and fables was:
a) Rumi
b) Shankaradeva
c) Guru Angad
d) Mirabai
Answer:
a) Rumi
Question 13. The Bhakti saint who was a Rajput princess was:
a) Mirabai
b) Andal
c) Dadu Dayal
d) Kabir
Answer:
a) Mirabai
Question 14. The Bhakti movement in Maharashtra was influenced by:
a) Kabir
b) Shankaradeva
c) Basavanna
d) Dnyaneshwar
Answer:
d) Dnyaneshwar
Question 15. The Bhakti saint known for the composition “Ramcharitmanas” was:
a) Tulsidas
b) Kabir
c) Mirabai
d) Ravidas
Answer:
a) Tulsidas
Question 16. The term ‘Khalsa’ refers to:
a) A Bhakti sect
b) A Sufi order
c) The Sikh community of the pure
d) A Hindu caste
Answer:
c) The Sikh community of the pure
Question 17. The Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis criticized:
a) Bhakti traditions
b) Sufi practices
c) Rituals and social order
d) Advaita philosophy
Answer:
c) Rituals and social order
Question 18. The Bhakti saint who emphasized selfless devotion to Krishna was:
a) Kabir
b) Chaitanyadeva
c) Shankaradeva
d) Guru Nanak
Answer:
b) Chaitanyadeva
Question 19. The Sufi practice of seeking union with God through love is called:
a) Zikr
b) Sama
c) Ishq
d) Tasawwuf
Answer:
c) Ishq
Question 20. The Bhakti saint known for composing in Awadhi was:
a) Tulsidas
b) Kabir
c) Mirabai
d) Ravidas
Answer:
a) Tulsidas
Question 21. The early manuscript of the Guru Granth Sahib was authenticated by:
a) Guru Nanak
b) Guru Angad
c) Guru Arjan
d) Guru Gobind Singh
Answer:
d) Guru Gobind Singh
Question 22. The poet-saint who questioned social differences and caste was:
a) Nizamuddin Auliya
b) Kabir
c) Shankaradeva
d) Guru Nanak
Answer:
b) Kabir
Question 23. The term ‘Dharmsal’ later came to be known as:
a) Mosque
b) Temple
c) Gurdwara
d) Namghar
Answer:
c) Gurdwara
Question 24. The Bhakti saint who emphasized devotion through kirtans and bhajans was:
a) Mirabai
b) Jayadeva
c) Kabir
d) Shankaradeva
Answer:
d) Shankaradeva
Question 25. The term ‘Silsila’ refers to:
a) Bhakti traditions
b) Sufi orders
c) Sikh communities
d) Hindu rituals
Answer:
b) Sufi orders
Question 26. The followers of Guru Nanak were required to adopt:
a) Ascetic practices
b) Productive occupations
c) Ritualistic worship
d) Monastic life
Answer:
b) Productive occupations
Question 27. The main language of Sufi literature in the thirteenth century was:
a) Hindi
b) Persian
c) Sanskrit
d) Tamil
Answer:
b) Persian
Question 28. The Bhakti saint who belonged to the royal family of Mewar was:
a) Andal
b) Chokhamela
c) Mirabai
d) Dnyaneshwar
Answer:
c) Mirabai
Question 29. The sacred space created by Guru Nanak for his followers was known as:
a) Namghar
b) Dharmsal
c) Dargah
d) Temple
Answer:
b) Dharmsal
Question 30. The practice of renunciation of the world was advocated by:
a) Alvars
b) Nayanars
c) Nathpanthis
d) Bhakti saints
Answer:
c) Nathpanthis
Question 31. The bhajan singers who transmitted Kabir’s compositions were known as:
a) Sufis
b) Alvars
c) Wandering bhajan singers
d) Siddhas
Answer:
c) Wandering bhajan singers
Question 32. The Guru Granth Sahib includes the writings of:
a) Only Sikh Gurus
b) Various saints and poets
c) Only Hindu saints
d) Only Sufi saints
Answer:
b) Various saints and poets
Question 33. The Bhakti saint who composed the “Kirtana-ghosha” was:
a) Kabir
b) Chaitanyadeva
c) Shankaradeva
d) Guru Nanak
Answer:
c) Shankaradeva
Match the columns for Class 7 History Chapter 6
Question 1
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Shankara’s philosophy | A. Vishishtadvaita |
| 2. Ramanuja’s philosophy | B. Advaita |
| 3. Basavanna’s movement | C. Gurmukhi |
| 4. Guru Angad’s script | D. Virashaiva |
| 5. Sufis’ mystical practice | E. Sama |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Shankara’s philosophy | B. Advaita |
| 2. Ramanuja’s philosophy | A. Vishishtadvaita |
| 3. Basavanna’s movement | D. Virashaiva |
| 4. Guru Angad’s script | C. Gurmukhi |
| 5. Sufis’ mystical practice | E. Sama |
Fill in the Blanks Questions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 Devotional Paths to the Divine
1. Shankara was an advocate of _____________.
Answer:
Advaita
2. Ramanuja was influenced by the _____________.
Answer:
Alvars
3. _____________, _____________ and _____________ were advocates of Virashaivism.
Answer:
Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akkamahadevi
4. _____________ was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
Answer:
Pandharpur
5. The teachings of Shankaradeva were based on the _____________ and _____________.
Answer:
Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavata Purana
6. Guru Angad compiled the compositions of _____________ in the _____________ script.
Answer:
Baba Guru Nanak, Gurmukhi
7. The compilation of Guru Arjan in 1604 included the writings of _____________, _____________, _____________, and _____________.
Answer:
Shaikh Farid, Sant Kabir, Bhagat Namdev, Guru Tegh Bahadur
8. The Rishi order of Sufism in Kashmir was established by _____________.
Answer:
Sheikh Nuruddin Wali (Nund Rishi)
9. _____________ and _____________ are compilations of songs by the Nayanars.
Answer:
Tevaram, Tiruvacakam
10. The Divya Prabandham is a compilation of songs by the _____________.
Answer:
Alvars
11. Mirabai became a disciple of _____________, a saint from a caste considered “untouchable”.
Answer:
Ravidas
12. The Chishti silsila was among the most influential Sufi orders with teachers like _____________ of Ajmer and _____________ of Delhi.
Answer:
Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya
13. Tulsidas’s composition, the _____________, was written in _____________.
Answer:
Ramcharitmanas, Awadhi
14. The Bhakti saint who composed the Gita Govinda in Sanskrit was _____________.
Answer:
Jayadeva
