Textbook Solutions: Religious Beliefs and Popular Movements | Footprints Class 7: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

I. Based on your understanding, choose the correct option. 

II. Answer the following in one sentence. 

Q11.
Ans: 'Advaita' is a philosophy propagated by Adi Shankaracharya, where Ultimate Reality is considered the joining of the individual soul and the Supreme God.

Q12.
Ans: Nund Rishi was a Sufi mystic from Kashmir.

Q13.
Ans: Meerabai's songs are contained in a book called 'Meerabai's Padavali.'

Q14.
Ans: The various silsilah or orders of the Sufis include Chishti, Suhrawardi, and Naqshbandi.

Q15.
Ans: Some famous female Bhakti-saints of the medieval period include Mirabai, Andal, and Akka Mahadevi.

III. Answer the following questions in brief

Q16.
Ans: The Alvars and Nayanars were Bhakti saints from South India. The Alvars were devotees of Lord Vishnu (Vaishnavites), while the Nayanars were devotees of Lord Shiva (Shaivites). They emphasized personal devotion to their respective gods as a path to salvation.

Q17.
Ans: The Marathi poet-saints rejected the idea of renunciation and also rejected all forms of ritualism and social differences based on birth. They emphasized the concept of a personal God residing in the hearts of all people and the importance of sharing each other's pain.

Q18.
Ans: Srimanta Sankardeva was the founder of Mahapuruxiya Dharma. His major tenets included opposition to the caste system and stress on social synthesis. His verses about the glory of Lord Krishna continue to be popular today, and he composed his teachings in extremely simple language.

Q19.
Ans: Sufis practiced various methods to attain unity with God, including chanting (zikr), contemplation, singing (sama), dancing, discussion of parables, and breath control under the guidance of a master (pir). They formed close teacher-disciple relationships and lived together in khankahs (monastic establishments). When the head of a khankah passed away, his grave became a pilgrim center.

Q20.
Ans: Sufism is a mystical movement in Islam that emphasizes the possibility of uniting with God through prayers, meditation, and a simple, disciplined life. Sufis believed that the heart could be trained to perceive the world differently. The major tenets of Sufism include devotion, meditation, and living a life of self-discipline, focusing on the internal rather than external aspects of religion.

IV. Answer the following questions in detail. 

Q21.
Ans: The Bhakti movement was characterized by several important beliefs, including:

• Belief in the idea of a Supreme God.
• Rejection of the caste system.
• Emphasis on breaking the cycle of birth and rebirth.
• Stress on love, devotion, and complete surrender to God.
• Rejection of elaborate rituals.
• Use of poetry, hymns, music, and dance as a means to connect with the divine.
• Use of local languages to spread their ideas.
• Worship of God with or without a form.
• Rejection of inequality and the participation of all people.
• Questioning of authority, even kings and rulers.
• Rejection of mediators between a human being and God in the form of priests.

Q22.
Ans: The Bhakti movement in North India had the following features:

• It was more influenced by monotheism and stressed devotion to a single God.
• Prominent Bhakti saints like Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Ravidas rejected rituals, idol worship, and caste distinctions.
• They emphasized the importance of personal devotion and the equality of all individuals.

Q23.
Ans: Kabir's major teachings included belief in one God under various names, rejection of idol worship and rituals, opposition to discrimination and untouchability, the importance of guidance from a guru, and the promotion of humanity, reverence, peace, and love to achieve unity with God.

Q24.
Ans: The teacher-disciple relationship was crucial for the spread of the Sufi movement in India. Sufis followed a hierarchical system where a master (pir) guided his disciples (murids) in spiritual matters. This close relationship allowed for the transmission of Sufi teachings, practices, and spiritual experiences. The disciples learned through methods such as zikr, contemplation, and music, and they lived together in khankahs, fostering a sense of community.

Q25.
Ans: Sufism is a mystical movement within Islam that emphasizes the inner, spiritual dimension of the religion. Its major tenets include:

• Belief in the possibility of uniting with God through prayers and meditation.
• Rejection of elaborate rituals, codes of behavior, and idol worship.
• Training the heart to perceive the world differently.
• Using various practices such as chanting, contemplation, singing, dancing, and breath control to attain unity with God.
• The teacher-disciple relationship was vital in Sufism, and various Sufi orders (silsilahs) followed different methods of instruction and ritual practice.