On this post, we provide AHSEC Class 12 History Chapter 7: Bhakti- Sufi Traditions Notes and important question and answers for the 2025 examination.
After going through this unit you will be able: To express about the emergence of new religious ideas in India during early medieval and Medieval Period. To discuss about the Bhakti Movement and its characteristics. To learn about the teachings of Guru Nanak, Kabir, Mirabai etc. To know about the Bhakti movement in Assam with the teachings of Srimanta Shankardeva. To explain the emergence of Sufi and its characteristics. To discuss about the Dargah, which were holy place for all religious people.
Part-II (Marks: 25)
Chapter – 7
THEME SIX: BHAKTI-SUFI TRADITIONS
Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (C. Eight to Eighteenth Century)
Ahsec Class 12 History Chapter 7 Model questions and Answer for 1 Mark : (very short type)
1. What do you mean by ‘Silsila’? 1mark (2018)
Ans: The word silsila literally means a chain, signifying a continuous link between master and disciple, stretching as an unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Where was Guru Nanak born? 1mark (2017)
Ans: Guru Nanak was born in a Hindu merchant family in a village called Nankana Sahib near the river Ravi in the predominantly Muslim Punjab.
3. Who was the leader of the religious movement in Karnataka? 1mark (2014)
Ans: Basavanna.
4. Name the followers of Kabir.1mark (2012)
Ans: The followers of Kabir is called Kabir Panthi.
5. Who was the principal deity in Jagannath? 1mark
Ans: Jagannatha (literally, the lord of the world), a form of Vishnu.
6. Who revered the Anvar and Nayanars? 1mark
Ans: Vellala peasants revered them.
7. Who were Ulema?
Ans: Ulama (plural of alim, or one who knows) are scholars of Islamic studies.
8. Who and when invade India by Muslims for the first time? 1mark
Ans: Muhammad Qasim invaded India in 711 CE.
9. What is Sharia?
Ans: It is a law, which govern the Muslim community.
10. Who were Zimmi? 1mark
Ans: The protected non-Muslim people, who paid jijiya tax to rulers.
11. What are the principal sect in Islam?
Ans: Sunni and Shi’a are the two important category in Isalm.
12. Who composed Padmavat?
Ans: Malik Muhammad Jayasi composed Padmavat.
13. By which name known the teachings of Kabir.
Ans: Kabir Bijj.
14. Who was known as “Gharib Nawaz”?
Ans: Mainuddin Chisti.
15. Kabir Granthavali is associated to whom?
Ans: It is associated to Dadupanth in Rajasthan.
16. Who were Julahas?
Ans: The community of weavers.
17. Who led the Bhakti Movement in Assam?(HS 2024)
Ans:- Sankardev
Ahsec Class 12 History Chapter 7 Model questions and Answer for 2 marks :
1. Name two Sufi saints of Medieval India. (HS 2024, 2019)
Ans: (i) Maínduddin Chisti, Ajmir
(ii) Ajan Pir, Sivasagar, Assam.
2. Who were the Alwar and the Nayanars? 2marks (2018, 2016, 2014)
Ans: (i) The earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century) were led by the Alvars (literally, those who are “immersed” in devotion to Vishnu)
(ii) Nayanars (literally, leaders who were devotees of Shiva).
They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods
3. What do you mean by Saguna and Nirguna categories of the Bhakti traditions? – 2marks (2017)
Ans: Saguna and Nirguna are
(i) The Saguna included traditions that focused on the worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations) and forms of the goddess or Devi, all often conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms.
(ii) Nirguna bhakti on the other hand was worship of an abstract form of god.
4. Write two reasons of the popularity of Khwaja Mainuddin’s Dargah. 2marks (2016, 2014).
Ans: The reasons of the popularity of Khwaja Mainuddin’s Dargahn are-
(i) Because of the austerity and piety of its Shaikh,
(ii) the greatness of his spiritual successors,
(iii) the patronage of royal visitors like Muhammad Tughluq, Akabr etc.
5. Who were the Panch (five) Pirs? Where are their Dargahs’? 2marks (2015)
Ans: Panch Pir an important development in the concept of Pirism in Bengal. With the spread of Islam to distant lands Muslims came in contact with people of other religions. As a result, Islam influenced other religions and likewise others also influenced Islam and the Muslims. The influence was mainly through the Pirs or saintly persons.
The adoration of Panch-Pir (five saints) was prevalent in some parts of Bengal, particularly in West Bengal in the districts of Burdwan and Midnapore.
6. Who was Azan Pir? Where is his Dargah situated? 2marks (2014, 2012)
Ans: Azan Fakir or Shah Milan was a Sufi poet, Muslim preacher and saint from 17th century who came from Baghdad, Iraq to settle in Sivsagar area Assam, where he unified the people and to reform, reinforce and stabilize Islam in the region of Assam.
His dargah is situated at Charaguri Chapori, Sivsagar district of Assam.
7. Give any two messages of Baba Guru Nanak. 2 (2012)
Ans: The two messages of Baba Guru Nanak are-
(i). He rejected the religious texts of both Hindus and Muslims.
(ii) He preached God is Nirakar viz. without any shape.
8. What do you mean by Tantric? 2marks
Ans: The worship which has been associated with goddess called Tantricism.
9. Who were the principal deities in Vedic time? 2
Ans: The principal deities of the Vedic time were Agni, Indra and Soma.
10. Give the name of any four well known reformers of Bhakti movement? 2marks
Ans: Ramanand swami, Kabir, Guru Nanak Dev, Mira Bai.
11. Who were the new group of people in Northern India? What they questioned? 2marks
Ans: They were included the Naths, Jogis and Siddhas. They questioned the authority of the Vedas, and expressed themselves in languages spoken by ordinary people, which developed over centuries into the ones used today.
12. Name the terms used for outsiders in India. 2marks
Ans: Turks and Afghans were referred to as Shakas and Yavans for the Greeks.
13. What do you mean by Sufism? 2marks
Ans: The Sufis were Muslim Saints Who left a great impact on the Indian Society Sufism originated in Persia.
14. What does Bhakti movement mean?
Ans: A series of Hindu saints& reformers started religious reform movements which adopted the method of devotion (Bhakti) to achievethe salvation their method of expression of devotion ranged from the routine worship of deities within temple & singing & chanting of devotional composition.
15. Who were Alavars?
Ans: In southern India the devotees of Vishnu were called Alvars.
16. What is the importance of Murshid in Sufi ideology? 2marks
Ans: According to Sufism, an individual must have a religious guide (Murshid) through whom he can communicate with god. The pir is a ladder which enables a man to reach the goal of life Devotion to the Murshid is the worship of god.
17. What do you mean by Chaturvedin? 2marks
Ans: It is a Brhamana verse of four Vedas and also about the out caste.
18. What were the symbols of the Khalsa Panth?2marks
Ans: Its five symbols:
(i) uncut hair,
(ii) a dagger,
(iii) a pair of shorts,
(iv) a comb and
(v) a steel bangle.
Ahsec Class 12 History Chapter 7 Model questions and Answer for 3/4 marks:
1. Who was Baba Guru Nanak? What were hi basic religious principles? 4marks (2019)
Ans: Baba Guru Nanak is the founder Sikh religion. His religious principles are-
(i) One God:
(a) Equality of God. There is only one eternal god.
(b) Humans are the children of one god only.
(c) All humans should be treated with love and dignity.
(d) The richest and the poorest people have same god.
(ii) Langar:
(a) Equality of all people.
(b) Love between humans.
(c) Langar helps to clean the heart. Giving food to people helps a person clean his sins and ego.
2. Give an account on Women devotees.
Ans: The most striking features of the Bhakti traditions was the presence of women. For instance, the compositions of Andal, a woman Alvar, were widely sung (and continue to be sung to date). Andal saw herself as the beloved of Vishnu; her. verses express her love for the deity. Another woman, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, a devotee of Shiva, adopted the path of extreme asceticism in order to attain her goal. These women renounced their social obligations, but did not join an alternative order or become nuns. Their very existence and their compositions posed a challenge to patriarchal norms.
3. Write short notes on the patronage of the Chola ruler to Bhakti Traditions. 4marks
Ans: (i) The powerful Chola rulers (ninth to thirteenth centuries) supported Brahmanical and bhakti traditions,
(ii) By making land grants and constructing temples for Vishnu. and Shiva.
(iii) In fact, some of the most magnificent Shiva temples, including those at Chidambaram, Thanjavur and Gangaikonda- cholapuram, were constructed under the patronage of Chola rulers.
(iv) This was also the period when some of the most spectacular representations of Shiva in bronze sculpture were produced. Clearly, the visions of the Nayanars inspired artists.
4. Who were Lingayats? 4marks
Ans: Lingayats were-
(i) Bashavan, a minister in the court of a Chalukya king, started a new movement in Karnatakat, and his followers were knon as Virashaivas or Lingayats.
(ii) It continues to be an important community in the region to date.
(iii) They worship Shiva in his manifestation as a linga, and men usually wear a small linga in a silver case on a loop strung over the left shoulder.
(iv) Those who are revered include the jangama or wandering monks.
(v) Lingayats believe that on death the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to this world. Therefore, they do not practice funerary rites such as cremation, prescribed in the Dharmashastras. Instead, they ceremonially bury their dead.
5. Describe the causes of the rise of Bhakti movement? 4marks
Ans: The causes for the rise of Bhakti movement are-
(i) Influence of Vaishnavism
(ii) Evil practices of the Hindues
(iii) Fear of sprit of Islam
(iv) Influence of sufi sects
(v) Emergence of great reformers.
6. How Lingayats challenged to the Brahamanas? 4marks
Ans: These were-
(i) The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the “pollution” attributed to certain groups by Brahmanas.
(ii) They also questioned the theory of rebirth.
(iii) These won them followers amongst those who were marginalised within the Brahmanical social order.
(iv) The Lingayats also encouraged certain practices disapproved in the Dharmashastras, such as post-puberty marriage and the remarriage of widows.
7. Describe the main Principal of Bhakti movement? 4
Ans: The main principle of Bhakti movement were-
(i) Faith in god
(ii) Good deeds
(iii) Universal Brotherhood
(iv) Emotional worship
(v) Condemned idol worship
(vi) Opposed to the rigidity of caste system
(vii) Guru Bhakti.
8. Mention the five pillars of Islam. 4marks
Ans: The five “pillars” of the faith are:
(i) there is one God, Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger (shahada)
(ii) offering prayers five times a day (namaz/salat)
(iii) giving alms (zakat)
(iv) fasting during the month of Ramzan (sawm)
(v) performing the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).
9. Give an account on the architectural features of Islamic tradition. 4marks
Ans: The architectural features of mosques are universal such as
(i) their orientation towards Mесса,
(ii) evident in the placement of the mihrab (prayer niche)
(iii) the minbar (pulpit).
However, there are several features that show variations – such as roofs and building materials
Ahsec Class 12 History Chapter 7 Model questions and Answer for 5 marks:
1. What is Khanqah? Describe in brief about the life in the Chisti Khanqah. 5marks (2016, 2014)
Ans: The sufis began to organise communities around the hospice or khanqah (Persian) controlled by a teaching master known as shaikh (in Arabic), pir or murshid. The khanqah was the centre of social life.
About Chisti Khaqah-
(i) The word “Silsila” literally means a chain,
(ii) It signifying a continuous link between master and disciple, stretching as an unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammad.
(iii) It was through this channel that spiritual power and blessings were transmitted to devotees.
(iv) Special rituals of initiation were developed in which initiates took an oath of allegiance, wore a patched garment, and shaved their hair.
2. Who were the Alwar and the Nayanars? What were their attitudes towards caste? 5marks (2015)
Ans: (i) The earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century) werc led by the Alvars (literally, those who are “immersed” in devotion to Vishnu)
(ii) Nayanars (literally, leaders who were devotees of Shiva).
According to some historians that the Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas or at least attempted to reform the system. To some extent this is corroborated by the fact that bhaktas hailed from diverse social backgrounds ranging from Brahmanas to artisans and cultivators and even from castes considered “untouchable”. The importance of the traditions of the Alvars and Nayanars was sometimes indicated by the claim that their compositions were as important as the Vedas.
3. Why are the teachings of Sankardeva known as Bhagawati Dharma? Why did he establish the Satras and the Namghars? 5marks (2012)
Ans: A popular religious sectarian movement in India, widespread between the 12th and 17th centuries. In Assam Sankardeva was the founder of this religion, his teachings and features of this religion based on Bagawat Gita, and Bhagavad Purana, therefore, it’s known as Bhagawati Dharma.
He emphasized the need for naam kirtan, recitation of the names of the lord in sat sangha or congregation of pious devotees. He also encouraged the establishment of Satra or monasteries for the transmission of spiritual knowledge and naam ghar or prayer halls. Currently these are become the centre of learning. His major compositions include the Kirtana-Ghosha.
10. Discuss the influences & importance of Bhakti movement? 5marks
Ans: RELIGIOUS EFFECTS:
(i) Saked Hinduism
(ii) Lowered the prestige of the Brahmins
(iii) Checked the propagation of Islam
(iv) Emergence of Sikhism
(v) Setback back to Buddhism.
SOCIAL & CULTURAL IMPACT:
(i) Improvement in the social relation between the Hindus & Muslims
(ii) Uplift of lower class
(iii) Promoted the spirit of social service
(iv) Development of composite art in the society
(v) Enrichment of Literature.
4. What were the main Principle of Sufism? 5marks
Ans: The main Principle of Sufism are-
(i) Worship of God
(ii) Renunciation of wordly pleasure
(iii) Non-violence & pacitism
(iv) Love of mankind
(v) Importance of Murshid
(vi) Principle of of Morality
(vii) Importance of singing & Dancing in worship of Allah.
5. What were the similarities and differences between the be-shari’a and ba-shari’a sufi traditions? 5marks
Ans: Shari’a is the Islamic law that is applied in a truly Islamic country. The Shari’a law owes its origin to the Holy book of Quran, Hadis (Law book of Islam) and teachings of Prophet Muhammad. In the medieval ages the Islamic world witnessed a big social and religious movement called Sufi movement. Sufi movement was the people-centric and not God-centric. It believed serving people was the real form of worship. Sufi movement has had many branches too. Onc group of Sufi preachers took very radical path. They were mystics who renounced material world took to the life of asceticism. Further they also rejected the supremacy of the Shari’a laws. Such sufis were called be-shari’a. On the other hand, there were sufi saints who criticised the extravagant lifestyle of monarchs and Khaliphates but did not reject Shari’a laws. For them Shari’a laws were sacrosanct. These Sufi saints have been called be-shari’a.
6. Describe the teaching of Kabir? How does he describe the ultimate reality through the poems? 5marks
Ans: The teachings of Kabir were-
(i) To achieve inward spiritual bliss
(ii) Condemnation of empty ritual
(iii) To faster harmony between Hinduism & Islam
(iv) He believed in one formless God
(v) Rejected both Vedas & Kuran & the supremacy of the Brahmins & Mulas
(vi) He opposed the caste system & image worship
(vii) He taught the unity of god & the path of love & devotion Kabir gave different names of ultimate reality. In Islam these include Allah Hazrat, Khuda and pir. He also used terms taken from Vaedantic traditions like alakh, nirankar, brahman and atman.
7. Discuss the ways in which the Alvars, Nayanars and Virashaivas expressed critiques of the caste system. 5
Ans: (i) The early Bhakti Movement was led by Alvars and Nayanars. They were those who claimed themselves the followers of Lord Shiva.
(ii) They travelled place to place and would sing devotional songs in Tamil in the name of Shiva or Vishnu as the case may be.
(iii) Many historians are of the view that Alvars and Nayanars gave a blow to the caste system and Brahminism.
(iv) Virashaivas was a movement of the 12th Century that took place in Karnataka. The movement was led by a Brahmin named Basavanna (1106-68), who was a minister in the court of Chalukya king.
(v) The followers of Basavanna are called Virashaivas and they worshipped Shiv. They were also called and perhaps more often Lingayats, which literary means wearer of Lingas.
8. Explain with examples what historians mean by the integration of cults. 5marks
Ans: During the period of the 10th Century to the 17th Century, an important trend noticed in the religious life in India is the worship of God in many forms.
(i) Many God and Goddesses appear in the sculptures and texts but they are various forms of the original deities only. These original deities are Vishnu, Shiva, and Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Parvati.
(ii) Historians have noticed the two marked trends in the socio- religious life of those days.
(iii) The first was dissemination of the Brahminical ideas.
(iv) The Brahminical texts were reproduced in simple Sanskrit.
They were now made available to women and shudras, who did not have access to Brahminical literature by and large.
(v) The Brahmins who were working on the beliefs and practices. It was a process of evolution; wherein traditional classical traditions were getting new shapes.
9. Describe the major teachings of either Kabir or Guru Nanak and the way they have been transmitted. (or) Explain the teachings of Guru Nanak. Did he want to establish a new religion? 5marks
Ans: Kabir is a great poet-cum-saint of Indian society. The major teachings of Kabir were as follows:
(i) Kabir described God as nirankar (having no shape). He used the terms drawn from Islamic tradition like Allah, Khuda. Hajrat and Peer but also used words of Vedic traditions like Alakh ((the unseen) and nirakar (the formless). Thus, he freely took to both traditions viz. Islamic and Vedantic.
(ii) He repudiated idol worship and polytheism.
(iii) He emphasised on the oneness of God though there can be many names of His.
(iv) He criticised religious rituals of hindus and muslims alike.
(v) He also preached against caste discrimination.
(vi) He combined the Sufi traditions of love of God with the Hindi tradition of remembrance of God.
(vii) He also emphasised the dignity of labour.
Guru Nanak and his teachings: Guru Nanak was born in a Hindu family in 1469 at Nankana Saheb on the bank of the river Ravi. His birth place is now in Pakistan. He learnt Persian, Arabic, Hindi and Mathematics. He spent time in the company of Sufi saints and Bhaktas of various socio-religious movements.
The major teachings of Guru Nanak are as follows:
(iii) He rejected the religious texts of both Hindus and Muslims.
(v) He criticised the religious practices like ceremonial bath, sacrifices, idol worship and emphasised simplicity.
(vi) He called upon his followers to connect to divine by remembering and repeating the divine name.
(vii) Guru Nanak expressed himself in Punjabi, the language of the local people in a lyrical form called Shabad. Shabad can be recited in various ragas.
10. To what extent do you think the architecture of mosques in the subcontinent reflects a combination of universal ideals and local traditions? 5marks
Ans: (i) The Arab-cum-Islamic architecture got impacted by the local traditions and rites too. Hence, we see a fusion of the two.
(ii) This can be further elaborated by the examples of architecture mainly the constructions of the mosques of those days.
(iii) Some features of the architecture of mosques are universal.
(iv) All mosques have orientation towards Mecca. This is manifested in the placement of Mehrab and Minar within a mosque.
(v) But at the same time we have influences that can be described only as local influences.
(vi) A 13th Century mosque in Kerala has a shikhar like roof unlike a normal mosque where it is dome.
11. Discuss the major beliefs and practices that characterized Sufism. 5marks
Ans: Their preaching’s included:
(i) Sufi saints did not subscribe to the theological and rigid interpretations of religious scriptures of Islam. They believed that the interpretation has to be based on individual experiences.
(ii) They rejected the high sounding rituals. They also emphasised on simplicity in religious traditions and rites.
(iii) Sufi saints prescribed devotion to Almighty as path to salvation. They even approved of singing and dancing as part of devotion. It is notable that classical Islam has forbidden singing, dancing and any music.
(iv) The most important theme of Sufi philosophy was that serving people is the true religion.
(v) Sufi saints also emphasised on the equality among people and oneness among all.
12. Examine how and why rulers tried to establish connections with the traditions of the Nayanars and the sufis. 5marks
Ans: Nayanars were the worshippers of Lord Shiva.
(i) A major part of South India was ruled by Chola Kings during the period 9th to 13th Century. They gave great patronage to the Bhakti movement saints including Nayanars.
(ii) The most beautiful temples of Shiva of South India, namely, at Chidambaram, Tanjavur and Gangaikondacholpuram were constructed under the patronage of Chola rulers.
(iii) Nayanars had considerable following among farmers.
(iv) Sufi Tradition and the rulers of Delhi Sultnate and Mughals: The rulers of Delhi Sultanate claimed themselves under Khalifate of Kabul and tried to legitimize their rule. The rulers realised for the very beginning that it was impractical. Under the Delhi Sultanate most of the people were not Muslim. Shari’a laws were not feasible also because lacked flexibity which a ruler needed to govern.
(v) The rulers of Delhi Sultanate wanted to take a practical path of governance without renouncing Islam. Sufi tradition gave them this opportunity.
13. Analyses, illustrations, why bhakti and sufi thinkers adopted a variety of languages in which to express their opinions. 5marks
Ans: This is manifested in the following examples:
(i) The traditional Bhakti saints composed the hymns in Sanskrit. Such hymns were sung on special occasions often within temples.
(ii) The Nayanars and the Alvars were wandering saints. These saints would sing the verses in praise of God all in the language of the local people only. The language was Tamil only. These travelling saints established temples where prayers took place in Tamil and the devotional songs were composed by the Bhakti Saints.
(iii) In North India the language was different. Here too the saints took to the language of the common people. Guru Nanak created Shabad all in Punjabi. Baba Farid and Swami Raidas (Ravidas) all composed in Punjabi and Hindustani.
(iv) Kabirdas who lived in Benaras, wrote in local language which was closer to Hindustani. He used words there part of local dialect.
(v) The Sufi tradition of singing on tombs carried on in the language of the local people only. The shrines were the place of Sama sung in Hindustani or Hindavi.
(vi) Some other saints wrote in Kannada, Tamil and other languages too.
14. Choose any two of the religious teachers/thinkers/saints mentioned in this chapter, and find out more about their lives and teachings. Prepare a report about the area and the times in which they lived, their major ideas, how do we know about them, and why you think they are important?
Ans: Following are the two saints of the Bhakti movement who are described as follows:
Guru Nanak: Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Gurus of the Sikhs, was born in the village of Talwandi on 15th April, 1469.
Bhakti-Sufi Traditions
His teachings included: (i) Equality of humans: Guru Nanak preached against discrimination and prejudices due to race, caste, status, etc. He said: “See the brotherhood of all mankind as the highest order of Yogis; conquer your own mind, and conquer the world.”
(ii) Universal message for all people: Normally preachers confined their preachings to the men of their own religion. But Nanak reached out. He spoke to hindus and muslims both and said to all “To take what rightfully belongs to another is like a muslim eating pork, or a hindu eating beef.”
(iii) Equality of women: Nanak promoted women’s rights and equality-a first for the 15th century! He asked: “From woman, man is born; within woman, man is conceived; to woman he is engaged and married. Woman becomes his friend; through woman, the future generations come. When his woman dies, he seeks another woman; to woman he is bound. So should why we call her bad?
Namdeo
Saint Namdeo was born in the year 1270 in the village of Narasi- Bamani, now located in the Hingoli District in Maharashtra. He is a great Saint Poet of Maharashtra. He was one of the earliest writers who wrote in the Marathi language. He is the foremost proponent of the Bhagwad-Dharma who reached beyond Maharashtra, right into Punjab.
15. Read any five of the sources included in this chapter and discuss the social and religious ideas that are expressed in them. 5marks
Ans: (i) The first is the architecture. The different types of stupas, temple, monasteries all symbolise different types of religious belief system and practices.
(ii) The next important source of history is the composition of the saints both Bhakti and Sufi. In terms of content they are religious but they are not the divine textbooks of religion that are sacrosanct. The compilation throws light on the life of common men and village lifestyle.
(iii) Another very important source of the history of those days is the biographies of the Saints. The biographies include the description of the society and prevalent beliefs and practices.
(iv) This was also the period of rise of religious leaders who were intermediaries between common men and God. Earlier it was only the Brahmins who got this role. Now many people from other background also joined in. To some extent it acted as the the force that idolised equality and fraternity.
(v) The other source is the folklore. They are described in our art forms. It may be dance, paintings, and sculpture and so on. They all talk about the universal brotherhood of mankind and love for one and all.
Precis Writing:
Carefully read the following excerpts and answer the following questions:
The Story of Data Ganj Balhah(2016)
In 1039 Abul Hasan al Hujwiri a native Hujwir near Ghazni in Afghanistan was forced to cross the Indus as a captive of the invading Turkish army. He settled in Lahore and wrote a book in Persian called the Kashf-ul-Mahjub to explain the meaning of the tasawwuf, and those who practiced it, that is, the sufi.
Hujwiri died in 1073 and was buried in Lahore. The grandson of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni constructed a tomb over his grave, and this tomb shrine became a site of pilgrimage for his devotees, especially on his death anniversary. Even today Hujwiri is revered as Data Ganj Bakhsh or “Giver who bestows treasures” and his mausoleum is called Data Darbar or “Court of the Giver”.
(i) Whom did the Turkish compel to cross the India? 1
Ans: Abul Hasan al Hujwiri.
(ii) Kash-ul-Majhab was written by whom and in what language? What was its purpose? 2marks
Ans: Abul Hasan al Hujwiri wrote in Persian language.
The purpose of this book to explain the meaning of the tasawwuf. and those who practiced it, that is, the sufi.
(iii) What does Data Ganj mean and who is thus revered as?
Ans: Data Ganj mean “Giver who bestows treasures”. Hujwiri is revered as Data Ganj Bakhsh or Giver who bestows treasures and his mausoleum is called Data Darbar or “Court of the Giver”.
A Church in Khambat
This is an excerpt from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598. Whereas it reached our eminent and holy notice that the padres (father) of the holy society. Of Jesus wish to build a house of prayer (church) in the city of Kambayat (Khambat in Gujrat) therefore an exalted mandate….. is being issued…. That the dignitaries of the city of Kambayat should in no case stand in their way but should allow them to build a church, so that they may engage themselves in their own worship it is necessary that the order of the emperor should be obeyed in every way.
(i) From where has this excerpt been taken? 2marks
Ans: This excerpt has been taken from a farman (imperial order) issued by Akbar in 1598.
(ii) What message did Akbar conveyed to the people of Gujrat through this order. 2marks
Ans: Through this farman Akbar ordered to the people of Gujrat to allow the construction of a Church by the padries (fathers) of the holy society of Jesus.
(iii) Which aspect of the religious nature of Akbar does this order indicate? 2marks
Ans: This order indicates Akbar’s policy of religious toleration.
We come to know that Akbar use to give equal respect to all the religions.
(iv) Who were the people from whom Akbar anticipated opposition to his order? 2marks
Ans: Akbar anticipated opposition to his order from non-Christians.
16. Discuss about the Bhakti Movements led by the Alvars and Nayanars. (HS 2024)
Ans:– (i) The early Bhakti Movement was led by Alvars and Nayanars. They were those who claimed themselves the followers of Lord Shiva.
(ii) They travelled place to place and would sing devotional songs in Tamil in the name of Shiva or Vishnu as the case may be.
(iii) Many historians are of the view that Alvars and Nayanars gave a blow to the caste system and Brahminism.
(iv) Virashaivas was a movement of the 12th Century that took place in Karnataka. The movement was led by a Brahmin named Basavanna (1106-68), who was a minister in the court of Chalukya king.
(v) The followers of Basavanna are called Virashaivas and they worshipped Shiv. They were also called and perhaps more often Lingayats, which literary means wearer of Lingas.
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