Question 1:
Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.
Answer:
Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis. were the religious groups which emerged during the medieval period. They criticised the rituals and other aspects of traditional religions and social order. They promoted the idea of renunciation of the world. According to them, we can achieve salvation with meditation of the formless ultimate reality and the realisation of oneness with it. They also advocated many practices of mind and body through meditation, yogasanas and breathing exercises.
Question 2:
What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?
Answer:
Kabir had completely rejected the rituals and traditions of all the religions. He openly criticised all types of external worship of Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam. He also strongly condemned the caste system and dominance of priestly classes. He was of the view that there is only one Supreme God which did not have any form. He said that salvation can be achieved only through the Bhakti or devotion. He expressed his ideas through a vast collection of verses called sakhis and pads which have been composed by him and sung by many wandering bhajan singers.
Question 3:
What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Answer:
Sufis were Muslim mystics who rejected the idea of outward religiousness. They stressed on love and devotion to God, and sympathy and compassion towards all human beings. Sufis rejected those ideas of rituals and ways of behaviour which were echoed by traditions Muslims cholars. They were of the view that a person should unite with God in such a way that a lover wants to meet his beloved, irrespective of the rejection of love by the world. Sufis, like yogis, also believed that the heart of a person can be trained to view the world in a different way. They composed poems, prose, anecdotes and fables to express their views.
Question 4:
Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer:
Almost all the saints of medieval age rejected the traditional religious beliefs and practices because all the prevalent religions stressed on worshipping different Gods. But, the saints of medieval age were of the view that there is one Supreme God which should be worshipped by chanting his name in one way or the other. Different religions were giving emphasis on different rituals, beliefs and idol worship. But, the saints of medieval age were totally against it. They believed in training our mind so that we can devote ourselves completely in the devotion of God. Bhakti or worship is the one and only way to achieve salvation.
Question 5:
What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak Dev?
Answer:
The major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak Dev are given below:
(i) Baba Guru Nanak Dev insisted that his followers should live in their houses and try to
attain salvation by doing their duties in a proper way. There is no need to go to forests to
attain salvation.
(ii) He asked his followers to adopt productive and useful occupations, and contribute to
the general funds for community welfare.
(iii) He emphasised on the worship of One God and said that the differences of caste, creed
or gender are of no use to attain salvation.
(iv) His idea of getting salvation was not to go to forests, but he wanted people to lead
the active lives with a strong feeling towards social commitment.
(v) He used the terms nam, dan and insan for the essence of his teachings which means right
to worship, welfare of others and purity of conduct.
Question 6:
For either the Virashaivas or the sants of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer:
Most of the movements of medieval age, either the Virashaivas or the sants of Maharashtra, believed in the rejection of the caste system. They both denounced the caste system. Virashaivas favoured strongly for the equality among all the human beings. They were totally against the ideas given by Brahmans about lower castes and the treatment of people towards women. They were also against rituals and idol worship. In the same way, the saints of Maharashtra were also against all types of ritualism and social differences based on birth. The Virashaivas and saints of Maharashtra favoured the idea of equality among all the human beings and they disfavoured or rejected the idea of caste system. They said that all the persons should earn their livelihood like other human beings. They favoured the humanist idea of sharing the pain of others.
Question 7:
Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer:
Mirabai is known among ordinary people as a great devotee of Lord Krishna. She was a Rajput princess who was married in the royal family, of Mewar in the 16th century. She became the disciple of Ravidas who was a saint from untouchable caste. She was devoted to Lord Krishna and even composed many bhajans to show her great devotion to the lord. In her songs, she openly challenged the rulers of upper castes and became popular with the masses in Rajasthan and Gujarat. From this, it is clear that she was very famous among the masses because she had denounced the norms laid by the caste system and strongly favoured the devotion to God by all the castes equally. Since she sang bhajans to show her devotion to Lord Krishna, she was very popular among the masses. In this way, ordinary people preserved her memory.
Question 8:
Answer:
The devotee said that he had been salvaged with the touch of the blessings of the God.
Question 9:
Answer:
Basavanna is offering his body as a temple to God.
Question 10:
Answer:
(i) God lives in the hearts of all, high or low, rich or poor.
(ii) He treats the weak as his sons and daughters.
(iii) These pious people are divine themselves.
Question 11:
Answer:
Mirabai left the Rana’s palace because she did not want to remain confined in the four walls of the palace.
Question 12:
Answer:
(i) The ideas in this poem are similar as it emphasises on equality, and raises voice against
the caste system and Brahmanical system.
(ii) Differences lie in the ways that there is no need for keeping fast or Ramzan. God or
Allah lives in the heart, not outside.