Textbook Solutions: Socio-religious Movements in India | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Tick (✓) the correct option.

1.
Ans: (c)

2.
Ans: (a)

3.
Ans: (a)

4.
Ans: (a)

5.
Ans: (c)

II. There are two statements given as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the given statements and choose the correct option.

1.
Ans: (a)

III. Answer the following questions in brief.

1.
Ans: The Alvars and Nayanars were Bhakti saints from South India. The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. They spread the Bhakti movement by preaching personal devotion to God as a path to salvation.

2.
Ans: Adi Shankaracharya was a key figure in the Bhakti movement who re-examined and reformed early Vedic philosophy. He propagated the doctrine of Advaita, which teaches the oneness of the individual soul with the Supreme God. He also established four mathas (monastic centers) to promote his philosophy and considered the world as maya (illusion).

3.
Ans: Srimanta Sankardeva was the founder of Mahapuruxiya Dharma in Assam. He opposed the caste system, stressed social synthesis, and his teachings were centered around devotion to Lord Krishna. His most renowned work is the Kirtana-ghosha, which reflects the concept of Bhakti in simple language.

4.
Ans: Besides rejecting renunciation, the Marathi poet-saints emphasized personal devotion to a God residing in the hearts of all people. They rejected ritualism, social differences based on birth, and promoted the idea of sharing each other’s pain while living with their families and earning their livelihood.

5.
Ans: The Sufis practiced collective prayers, zikr (chanting of a name), contemplation, sama (musical recitations), dancing, and discussions of parables. They lived a simple life of self-discipline and were guided by a master or pir. Sufis emphasized compassion, equality, and the rejection of outward religiosity.

IV. Answer the following questions in detail.

1.
Ans: The Bhakti movement emphasized the belief in one Supreme God, rejected the caste system, and sought to break the cycle of birth and rebirth through devotion and complete surrender to God. It discouraged elaborate rituals and promoted the use of local languages to spread religious ideas. Bhakti saints believed in equality, rejected the authority of mediators between humans and God, and questioned the authority of rulers and religious leaders.

2.
Ans: The Bhakti movement in North India was characterized by a focus on the nirguna (formless) worship of God. It was influenced by movements like Nathapanthis and emphasized syncretism, drawing from both Hindu and Islamic traditions. Saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak preached the oneness of God, the rejection of caste and idol worship, and the importance of living a moral and socially committed life.

3.
Ans: Basavanna, the founder of Vira Shaivism or the Lingayat sect, taught monotheism, recognizing only one God, Shiva. He rejected temple worship, rituals, caste, and gender discrimination. He promoted the equality of all humans, the dignity of labor, and encouraged people to perform their duties sincerely. He also established the Anubhava Mantapa for collective spiritual and worldly discussions.

4.
Ans: In the Sufi movement, the teacher-disciple relationship was central to spiritual growth and the spread of Sufism. The pir (teacher) guided the murid (disciple) in spiritual practices like zikr, sama, and contemplation. The pir lived with his disciples in khankahs, and upon the pir's death, his dargah (tomb) became a place of pilgrimage. This close relationship ensured the continuity of Sufi teachings and the establishment of silsilahs (orders), each with its own practices and rituals.

5.
Ans: Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that emphasizes the personal experience of God through love, devotion, and self-discipline. Sufis believe in compassion, equality, and reject outward religiosity, prescribed codes of behavior, and rituals. They practice zikr (chanting), sama (musical recitations), and meditation to attain unity with God. Sufism also stresses living a simple life, engaging in collective prayers, and following the guidance of a pir or master.