Selina Textbook Solutions: The Composite Culture Bhakti Movement, Sufism & Influence of Christianity | History Class 9 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


The Composite Culture: Bhakti Movement, Sufism 
and Influence of Christianity on Indian Society 
EXERCISES 
Question 1. 
What is meant by Composite Culture? 
Answer: 
It means that culture is made up of many elements drawn from several different 
traditions such as Classical Hindu tradition and the Islamic and Christian thoughts and 
beliefs. 
Question 2. 
Name any two factors responsible for the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
When the Hindus and Muslims began living together, something new, something that 
was neither Muslim nor Hindu but a mixture of the two, was born. It was impossible for 
them to remain isolated from each other and both were influence mutually by each 
other’s faith and ideas. The spirit of tolerance, the desire to assimilate each other’s 
ideas and customs and the wider outlook of the Hindu and Muslim saints gave impetus 
to two religious movements — Sufism among the Muslims and the Bhakti cult among 
the Hindus. 
Question 3. 
Mention any one impact of the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
Efforts at mutual understanding led to a process of accommodation in all fields of life, 
such as arts and architecture, music and literature, religious beliefs and even in the field 
of customs and rituals.The Hindu ideas of Yoga and Vedanta had a definite contribution 
to the development of Islamic philosophy in many ways. The Sufi Movement provided a 
common platform for both the Muslims and the Hindus. 
Music and painting also showed a blending of Persian and Indian ideas. Abul Fazl’s 
Akbarnamah contains a number  of painting depicting customs and rituals of those 
days. 
Question 4. 
Name any two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the growth 
of Composite Culture. 
Answer: 
Main two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the 
growth of composite culture are: 
Page 2


The Composite Culture: Bhakti Movement, Sufism 
and Influence of Christianity on Indian Society 
EXERCISES 
Question 1. 
What is meant by Composite Culture? 
Answer: 
It means that culture is made up of many elements drawn from several different 
traditions such as Classical Hindu tradition and the Islamic and Christian thoughts and 
beliefs. 
Question 2. 
Name any two factors responsible for the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
When the Hindus and Muslims began living together, something new, something that 
was neither Muslim nor Hindu but a mixture of the two, was born. It was impossible for 
them to remain isolated from each other and both were influence mutually by each 
other’s faith and ideas. The spirit of tolerance, the desire to assimilate each other’s 
ideas and customs and the wider outlook of the Hindu and Muslim saints gave impetus 
to two religious movements — Sufism among the Muslims and the Bhakti cult among 
the Hindus. 
Question 3. 
Mention any one impact of the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
Efforts at mutual understanding led to a process of accommodation in all fields of life, 
such as arts and architecture, music and literature, religious beliefs and even in the field 
of customs and rituals.The Hindu ideas of Yoga and Vedanta had a definite contribution 
to the development of Islamic philosophy in many ways. The Sufi Movement provided a 
common platform for both the Muslims and the Hindus. 
Music and painting also showed a blending of Persian and Indian ideas. Abul Fazl’s 
Akbarnamah contains a number  of painting depicting customs and rituals of those 
days. 
Question 4. 
Name any two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the growth 
of Composite Culture. 
Answer: 
Main two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the 
growth of composite culture are: 
1. Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. Kabir has drawn inspiration 
from various traditions—Islam, Vedas and yogic traditions to describe the Ultimate 
Reality. For example, he has used the terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar 
(formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic traditions. 
2. Guru Granth Sahib — Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture of its kind which 
contains the songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety of saints, sages and 
bards. This shows that Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the fundamental unity of 
all religions and the unitary character of all mystic experience. It is indeed, a 
magnificent compendium of religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry written or 
uttered between the 12th and the 17th century in different parts of India. It is, also, 
at the same time, a mirror of the sociological, economic and political conditions of 
those days. 
Question 5. 
What is Bijak ? 
Answer: 
Bijak: Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main sections 
called Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda. 
Question 6. 
Name any two Sikh Gurus whose sermons and hymns are included in the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Adi Granth is vast collection of Sermons and hymns of the five Sikh Gurus-Guru Nanak, 
Guru Angad, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjun Dev Ji. 
Question 7. 
Name any two saints other than the Sikh Gurus whose devotional hymns are included in 
the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Kabir, Namedo, Raidasa and Baba Farid. 
Question 8. 
Who among the Sikh Gurus announced the end of personal Guruship and named Guru 
Granth Sahib as the Guru of the Sikhs ? 
Answer: 
Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The 10th Sikh Guru announced the end of personal Guruship 
and named Adi Granth as ‘Guru Granth Sahib”. 
Question 9. 
Who founded the Chisti Order (Silsila) ? 
Answer: 
Hazrat Muin-ud-Din, founded (Silsila) the Chisti Order. 
Page 3


The Composite Culture: Bhakti Movement, Sufism 
and Influence of Christianity on Indian Society 
EXERCISES 
Question 1. 
What is meant by Composite Culture? 
Answer: 
It means that culture is made up of many elements drawn from several different 
traditions such as Classical Hindu tradition and the Islamic and Christian thoughts and 
beliefs. 
Question 2. 
Name any two factors responsible for the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
When the Hindus and Muslims began living together, something new, something that 
was neither Muslim nor Hindu but a mixture of the two, was born. It was impossible for 
them to remain isolated from each other and both were influence mutually by each 
other’s faith and ideas. The spirit of tolerance, the desire to assimilate each other’s 
ideas and customs and the wider outlook of the Hindu and Muslim saints gave impetus 
to two religious movements — Sufism among the Muslims and the Bhakti cult among 
the Hindus. 
Question 3. 
Mention any one impact of the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
Efforts at mutual understanding led to a process of accommodation in all fields of life, 
such as arts and architecture, music and literature, religious beliefs and even in the field 
of customs and rituals.The Hindu ideas of Yoga and Vedanta had a definite contribution 
to the development of Islamic philosophy in many ways. The Sufi Movement provided a 
common platform for both the Muslims and the Hindus. 
Music and painting also showed a blending of Persian and Indian ideas. Abul Fazl’s 
Akbarnamah contains a number  of painting depicting customs and rituals of those 
days. 
Question 4. 
Name any two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the growth 
of Composite Culture. 
Answer: 
Main two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the 
growth of composite culture are: 
1. Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. Kabir has drawn inspiration 
from various traditions—Islam, Vedas and yogic traditions to describe the Ultimate 
Reality. For example, he has used the terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar 
(formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic traditions. 
2. Guru Granth Sahib — Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture of its kind which 
contains the songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety of saints, sages and 
bards. This shows that Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the fundamental unity of 
all religions and the unitary character of all mystic experience. It is indeed, a 
magnificent compendium of religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry written or 
uttered between the 12th and the 17th century in different parts of India. It is, also, 
at the same time, a mirror of the sociological, economic and political conditions of 
those days. 
Question 5. 
What is Bijak ? 
Answer: 
Bijak: Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main sections 
called Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda. 
Question 6. 
Name any two Sikh Gurus whose sermons and hymns are included in the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Adi Granth is vast collection of Sermons and hymns of the five Sikh Gurus-Guru Nanak, 
Guru Angad, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjun Dev Ji. 
Question 7. 
Name any two saints other than the Sikh Gurus whose devotional hymns are included in 
the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Kabir, Namedo, Raidasa and Baba Farid. 
Question 8. 
Who among the Sikh Gurus announced the end of personal Guruship and named Guru 
Granth Sahib as the Guru of the Sikhs ? 
Answer: 
Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The 10th Sikh Guru announced the end of personal Guruship 
and named Adi Granth as ‘Guru Granth Sahib”. 
Question 9. 
Who founded the Chisti Order (Silsila) ? 
Answer: 
Hazrat Muin-ud-Din, founded (Silsila) the Chisti Order. 
Question 10. 
Name the two stages in the Spiritual Path leading one to the Union with God ? 
Answer: 
Nizam-ud-din believed that one could embrace God with in this life by Talab (Deep 
Desire for Union With God) and Fana (Destruction of Ego). 
Question 11. 
Who sought the Raja’s permission to build a fort at Kochi ? 
Answer: 
Alfonsa, de Albuquerque was appointed Governor of Portuguese affairs in India. He 
was allowed by the Raya (Raja) of Cochin to build a fort at Kochi. 
Question 12. 
Mention any one historic merit of the St. Francis Assisi Church at Kochi. 
Answer: 
The Clock on this Church was erected in the year 1923 in memory of Hal Harrison 
Jones, the then Managing Director of Aspin wall and Company. There is in its premises 
a Cenotaph, a monument or a War Memorial in memory of the residents of Cochin who 
fell during the First World War. 
Question 13. 
Mention the two main features (principles) of the Bhakti Cult. 
Answer: 
The two main features of the Bhakti Culture: 
1. There is none too high or low with God. All are alike to God. 
2. Denouncement of idol worship and condemnation of formal rituals in religion. 
Question 14. 
Mention the contribution made by Sant Jnaneswar to Marathi literature. 
Answer: 
Sant Dhyaneshwar wrote in Marathi a famous commentary, called the Dhyaneshwari, 
on the Bhagavad Gita. He translated many Sanskrit works into Marathi including 
Amritanubhava, Atmanubhava and Bhavartha Dipika. The religious poems written by 
him are called Abhangas. 
Question 15. 
Mention the two main teachings of Kabir. 
Answer: 
The two main teachings of Kabir are: 
1. He denounced idol-worship, meaningless rituals and pilgrimages to holy places. 
2. Devotion to God was regarded as an effective means of salvation. 
Page 4


The Composite Culture: Bhakti Movement, Sufism 
and Influence of Christianity on Indian Society 
EXERCISES 
Question 1. 
What is meant by Composite Culture? 
Answer: 
It means that culture is made up of many elements drawn from several different 
traditions such as Classical Hindu tradition and the Islamic and Christian thoughts and 
beliefs. 
Question 2. 
Name any two factors responsible for the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
When the Hindus and Muslims began living together, something new, something that 
was neither Muslim nor Hindu but a mixture of the two, was born. It was impossible for 
them to remain isolated from each other and both were influence mutually by each 
other’s faith and ideas. The spirit of tolerance, the desire to assimilate each other’s 
ideas and customs and the wider outlook of the Hindu and Muslim saints gave impetus 
to two religious movements — Sufism among the Muslims and the Bhakti cult among 
the Hindus. 
Question 3. 
Mention any one impact of the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
Efforts at mutual understanding led to a process of accommodation in all fields of life, 
such as arts and architecture, music and literature, religious beliefs and even in the field 
of customs and rituals.The Hindu ideas of Yoga and Vedanta had a definite contribution 
to the development of Islamic philosophy in many ways. The Sufi Movement provided a 
common platform for both the Muslims and the Hindus. 
Music and painting also showed a blending of Persian and Indian ideas. Abul Fazl’s 
Akbarnamah contains a number  of painting depicting customs and rituals of those 
days. 
Question 4. 
Name any two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the growth 
of Composite Culture. 
Answer: 
Main two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the 
growth of composite culture are: 
1. Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. Kabir has drawn inspiration 
from various traditions—Islam, Vedas and yogic traditions to describe the Ultimate 
Reality. For example, he has used the terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar 
(formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic traditions. 
2. Guru Granth Sahib — Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture of its kind which 
contains the songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety of saints, sages and 
bards. This shows that Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the fundamental unity of 
all religions and the unitary character of all mystic experience. It is indeed, a 
magnificent compendium of religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry written or 
uttered between the 12th and the 17th century in different parts of India. It is, also, 
at the same time, a mirror of the sociological, economic and political conditions of 
those days. 
Question 5. 
What is Bijak ? 
Answer: 
Bijak: Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main sections 
called Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda. 
Question 6. 
Name any two Sikh Gurus whose sermons and hymns are included in the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Adi Granth is vast collection of Sermons and hymns of the five Sikh Gurus-Guru Nanak, 
Guru Angad, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjun Dev Ji. 
Question 7. 
Name any two saints other than the Sikh Gurus whose devotional hymns are included in 
the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Kabir, Namedo, Raidasa and Baba Farid. 
Question 8. 
Who among the Sikh Gurus announced the end of personal Guruship and named Guru 
Granth Sahib as the Guru of the Sikhs ? 
Answer: 
Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The 10th Sikh Guru announced the end of personal Guruship 
and named Adi Granth as ‘Guru Granth Sahib”. 
Question 9. 
Who founded the Chisti Order (Silsila) ? 
Answer: 
Hazrat Muin-ud-Din, founded (Silsila) the Chisti Order. 
Question 10. 
Name the two stages in the Spiritual Path leading one to the Union with God ? 
Answer: 
Nizam-ud-din believed that one could embrace God with in this life by Talab (Deep 
Desire for Union With God) and Fana (Destruction of Ego). 
Question 11. 
Who sought the Raja’s permission to build a fort at Kochi ? 
Answer: 
Alfonsa, de Albuquerque was appointed Governor of Portuguese affairs in India. He 
was allowed by the Raya (Raja) of Cochin to build a fort at Kochi. 
Question 12. 
Mention any one historic merit of the St. Francis Assisi Church at Kochi. 
Answer: 
The Clock on this Church was erected in the year 1923 in memory of Hal Harrison 
Jones, the then Managing Director of Aspin wall and Company. There is in its premises 
a Cenotaph, a monument or a War Memorial in memory of the residents of Cochin who 
fell during the First World War. 
Question 13. 
Mention the two main features (principles) of the Bhakti Cult. 
Answer: 
The two main features of the Bhakti Culture: 
1. There is none too high or low with God. All are alike to God. 
2. Denouncement of idol worship and condemnation of formal rituals in religion. 
Question 14. 
Mention the contribution made by Sant Jnaneswar to Marathi literature. 
Answer: 
Sant Dhyaneshwar wrote in Marathi a famous commentary, called the Dhyaneshwari, 
on the Bhagavad Gita. He translated many Sanskrit works into Marathi including 
Amritanubhava, Atmanubhava and Bhavartha Dipika. The religious poems written by 
him are called Abhangas. 
Question 15. 
Mention the two main teachings of Kabir. 
Answer: 
The two main teachings of Kabir are: 
1. He denounced idol-worship, meaningless rituals and pilgrimages to holy places. 
2. Devotion to God was regarded as an effective means of salvation. 
Question 16. 
Mention the two important teachings of Guru Nanak 
Answer: 
Guru Nanak preached the gospel of Universal Brotherhood and religious tolerance. He 
exhorted the Hindus and the Muslims to forget their differences, because he believed in 
the equality of all religions. 
Question 17. 
Who was Mirabai ? What was her message to the people ? 
Answer: 
Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the ruling family of Mewar (Udaipur). A 
devotes of Lord Krishna since childhood, she continued to devote her whole time to the 
Lord’s worship even after her marriage. She, in her devotional songs says, “People say, 
Mira has gone mad. I have myself become the eternal maid-servant of my Narayana.” 
Her message was: “There is but one means to experience Lord’s Divine Presnce—that 
is Bhakti.” 
Question 18. 
Name the two famous Sufi Saints of India. 
Answer: 
Hazrat Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chisti and Nizam-ud-din Auliya. 
Question 19. 
Mention the two main principles of Sufism. 
Answer: 
The two main principles of Sufism are: 
1. One could reach God through love and devotion and not through blind observance 
of rituals. 
2. God is one and all people are the children of God. Love of God meant love for 
humanity. 
Question 20. 
When and by whom was Christianity believed to have been introduced in India ? 
Answer: 
St. Thomas came to South India in the first century AD. He believed to introduce 
Christianity in India. 
Question 21. 
Who was St. Francis Xavier ? 
Answer: 
He was one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. He toured many regions of Asia, 
especially those areas that were controlled by the Portuguese at that time. He had gone 
to Japan and the islands of Borneo and Moluccas (now in Indonesia). However, as a 
Page 5


The Composite Culture: Bhakti Movement, Sufism 
and Influence of Christianity on Indian Society 
EXERCISES 
Question 1. 
What is meant by Composite Culture? 
Answer: 
It means that culture is made up of many elements drawn from several different 
traditions such as Classical Hindu tradition and the Islamic and Christian thoughts and 
beliefs. 
Question 2. 
Name any two factors responsible for the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
When the Hindus and Muslims began living together, something new, something that 
was neither Muslim nor Hindu but a mixture of the two, was born. It was impossible for 
them to remain isolated from each other and both were influence mutually by each 
other’s faith and ideas. The spirit of tolerance, the desire to assimilate each other’s 
ideas and customs and the wider outlook of the Hindu and Muslim saints gave impetus 
to two religious movements — Sufism among the Muslims and the Bhakti cult among 
the Hindus. 
Question 3. 
Mention any one impact of the emergence of Composite Culture in India. 
Answer: 
Efforts at mutual understanding led to a process of accommodation in all fields of life, 
such as arts and architecture, music and literature, religious beliefs and even in the field 
of customs and rituals.The Hindu ideas of Yoga and Vedanta had a definite contribution 
to the development of Islamic philosophy in many ways. The Sufi Movement provided a 
common platform for both the Muslims and the Hindus. 
Music and painting also showed a blending of Persian and Indian ideas. Abul Fazl’s 
Akbarnamah contains a number  of painting depicting customs and rituals of those 
days. 
Question 4. 
Name any two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the growth 
of Composite Culture. 
Answer: 
Main two sources to reconstruct religious thoughts and ideas leading to the 
growth of composite culture are: 
1. Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. Kabir has drawn inspiration 
from various traditions—Islam, Vedas and yogic traditions to describe the Ultimate 
Reality. For example, he has used the terms like alakh (the unseen), nirakar 
(formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic traditions. 
2. Guru Granth Sahib — Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture of its kind which 
contains the songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety of saints, sages and 
bards. This shows that Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the fundamental unity of 
all religions and the unitary character of all mystic experience. It is indeed, a 
magnificent compendium of religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry written or 
uttered between the 12th and the 17th century in different parts of India. It is, also, 
at the same time, a mirror of the sociological, economic and political conditions of 
those days. 
Question 5. 
What is Bijak ? 
Answer: 
Bijak: Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main sections 
called Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda. 
Question 6. 
Name any two Sikh Gurus whose sermons and hymns are included in the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Adi Granth is vast collection of Sermons and hymns of the five Sikh Gurus-Guru Nanak, 
Guru Angad, Guru Amardas, Guru Ramdas and Guru Arjun Dev Ji. 
Question 7. 
Name any two saints other than the Sikh Gurus whose devotional hymns are included in 
the Adi Granth. 
Answer: 
Kabir, Namedo, Raidasa and Baba Farid. 
Question 8. 
Who among the Sikh Gurus announced the end of personal Guruship and named Guru 
Granth Sahib as the Guru of the Sikhs ? 
Answer: 
Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The 10th Sikh Guru announced the end of personal Guruship 
and named Adi Granth as ‘Guru Granth Sahib”. 
Question 9. 
Who founded the Chisti Order (Silsila) ? 
Answer: 
Hazrat Muin-ud-Din, founded (Silsila) the Chisti Order. 
Question 10. 
Name the two stages in the Spiritual Path leading one to the Union with God ? 
Answer: 
Nizam-ud-din believed that one could embrace God with in this life by Talab (Deep 
Desire for Union With God) and Fana (Destruction of Ego). 
Question 11. 
Who sought the Raja’s permission to build a fort at Kochi ? 
Answer: 
Alfonsa, de Albuquerque was appointed Governor of Portuguese affairs in India. He 
was allowed by the Raya (Raja) of Cochin to build a fort at Kochi. 
Question 12. 
Mention any one historic merit of the St. Francis Assisi Church at Kochi. 
Answer: 
The Clock on this Church was erected in the year 1923 in memory of Hal Harrison 
Jones, the then Managing Director of Aspin wall and Company. There is in its premises 
a Cenotaph, a monument or a War Memorial in memory of the residents of Cochin who 
fell during the First World War. 
Question 13. 
Mention the two main features (principles) of the Bhakti Cult. 
Answer: 
The two main features of the Bhakti Culture: 
1. There is none too high or low with God. All are alike to God. 
2. Denouncement of idol worship and condemnation of formal rituals in religion. 
Question 14. 
Mention the contribution made by Sant Jnaneswar to Marathi literature. 
Answer: 
Sant Dhyaneshwar wrote in Marathi a famous commentary, called the Dhyaneshwari, 
on the Bhagavad Gita. He translated many Sanskrit works into Marathi including 
Amritanubhava, Atmanubhava and Bhavartha Dipika. The religious poems written by 
him are called Abhangas. 
Question 15. 
Mention the two main teachings of Kabir. 
Answer: 
The two main teachings of Kabir are: 
1. He denounced idol-worship, meaningless rituals and pilgrimages to holy places. 
2. Devotion to God was regarded as an effective means of salvation. 
Question 16. 
Mention the two important teachings of Guru Nanak 
Answer: 
Guru Nanak preached the gospel of Universal Brotherhood and religious tolerance. He 
exhorted the Hindus and the Muslims to forget their differences, because he believed in 
the equality of all religions. 
Question 17. 
Who was Mirabai ? What was her message to the people ? 
Answer: 
Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the ruling family of Mewar (Udaipur). A 
devotes of Lord Krishna since childhood, she continued to devote her whole time to the 
Lord’s worship even after her marriage. She, in her devotional songs says, “People say, 
Mira has gone mad. I have myself become the eternal maid-servant of my Narayana.” 
Her message was: “There is but one means to experience Lord’s Divine Presnce—that 
is Bhakti.” 
Question 18. 
Name the two famous Sufi Saints of India. 
Answer: 
Hazrat Khwaja Muin-ud-Din Chisti and Nizam-ud-din Auliya. 
Question 19. 
Mention the two main principles of Sufism. 
Answer: 
The two main principles of Sufism are: 
1. One could reach God through love and devotion and not through blind observance 
of rituals. 
2. God is one and all people are the children of God. Love of God meant love for 
humanity. 
Question 20. 
When and by whom was Christianity believed to have been introduced in India ? 
Answer: 
St. Thomas came to South India in the first century AD. He believed to introduce 
Christianity in India. 
Question 21. 
Who was St. Francis Xavier ? 
Answer: 
He was one of the founders of the Society of Jesus. He toured many regions of Asia, 
especially those areas that were controlled by the Portuguese at that time. He had gone 
to Japan and the islands of Borneo and Moluccas (now in Indonesia). However, as a 
missionary his most notable successes were only in 
India.                                                                         ‘ 
Question 22. 
Which two principles did St. Francis Xavier include among the human values ? 
Answer: 
The principles included human values, such as Humility before God, Mercy, Purity of 
Heart and Love, for enemies as well as friends. 
STRUCTURED QUESTIONS 
Question 1. 
Explain the sources of reconstruct religion thoughts and ideas leading to the growth of 
Composite Culture with reference to: 
(a) Bijak’s contents 
(b) Guru Granth Sahib and Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings 
Answer: 
(a) Bijak — Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. It comprises three main 
sections called Sakhi, Ramaini and Shabda and a fourth section containing 
miscellaneous folk song forms. 
1. The sakhi is composed in the doha or couplet form. 
2. The Ramaini form is usually written in the meter called chaupai and is usually 
based upon a musical raga. 
3. The third form, the Shabda is meterically the loosest form. Since it is the popular 
song form it has been altered from region to region and from singer to singer. 
Kabir has drawn inspiration from various traditions — Islam, Vedas and yogic 
traditions to describe the Ultimate Reality. For example, he has used the terms 
like alakh (the unseen), nirakar (formless), Brahman and Atman, from Vedantic 
traditions. 
(b) Guru Granth Sahib — Guru Granth Sahib is the only scripture of its kind which 
contains the songs, hymns and utterances of a wide variety of saints, sages and bards. 
This shows that Guru Arjan Dev wanted to affirm the fundamental unity of all religions 
and the unitary character of all mystic experience. It is indeed, magnificent compendium 
of religions, mystic and metaphysical poetry written or uttered between the 12th and the 
17th century in different parts of India. It is,also, at the same time, a mirror of the 
sociological, economic and political conditions of those days. Guru Granth Sahib is 
regarded by the Sikhs as a ‘Living Guru’ and as a spiritual guide not only for them but 
for the entire humanity. They regard it as a ‘Living Guru’ that has all the answers 
regarding religion and morality.The philosophy embodied in Guru Granth Sahib is that of 
action, deed and consequence. It lay’s emphasis on shared communal experience and 
the extinction of the ego or self is the corner-stone of its philosophy. It regards God as 
omnipotent and omniscient. Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings : Guru Nanak preached the 
gospel of Universal Brotherhood and religious tolerance. He exhorted the Hindus and