Sure Shot Questions: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions | History Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Introduction

The chapter "Bhakti-Sufi Traditions" from Class 12 History explores the development of devotional movements in India from c. 8th to 18th centuries, focusing on Bhakti and Sufi traditions. Bhakti emphasized personal devotion to deities like Vishnu and Shiva, challenging caste and patriarchal norms through inclusive practices, as seen in the Alvars, Nayanars, and Lingayats. By analyzing previous year question papers, we’ve identified recurring question types and patterns that align with CBSE’s exam framework. Based on these trends and the syllabus’s emphasis, we’ve compiled a list of high-probability questions likely to appear in the upcoming exam. These predictions are rooted in the frequency and style of past questions, ensuring focused preparation.

Sure Shot Questions

Q1: Who were the Alvars and Nayanars, and how did they influence Tamil devotional practices?
Ans: Alvars were devotees of Vishnu, and Nayanars were devotees of Shiva, active in Tamil Nadu (c. 6th–9th centuries). They composed hymns in Tamil, incorporated into temple rituals, establishing major shrines as pilgrimage centers. Their compositions, like the Nalayira Divyaprabandham (Alvars) and Tevaram (Nayanars), shaped Tamil devotional practices by emphasizing personal devotion over Vedic rituals.

Q2: How did the Alvars and Nayanars challenge the caste system?
Ans: The Alvars and Nayanars included people from diverse backgrounds, including artisans and untouchables, promoting devotion open to all. Their hymns, considered equal to the Vedas, challenged Brahmanical authority and caste hierarchies, fostering inclusivity in religious practices.

Q3: What was the significance of women like Andal and Karaikkal Ammaiyar in the Bhakti movement?
Ans: Andal (Alvar) expressed devotion to Vishnu through hymns like the Tiruppavai, while Karaikkal Ammaiyar (Nayanar) adopted extreme asceticism for Shiva. Their participation challenged patriarchal norms, showing women could lead spiritual lives, inspiring inclusivity in Bhakti traditions.

Q4: Who led the Virashaiva movement, and what were its key principles?
Ans: Basavanna, a 12th-century Brahmana, led the Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement in Karnataka. Key principles included rejecting caste and pollution concepts, questioning rebirth, opposing Vedic rituals, and supporting post-puberty marriage and widow remarriage. Lingayats buried their dead instead of cremation.

Q5: What were the main principles of Sufism, and how did they contribute to its spread in India?
Ans: Sufism emphasized: 
(i) Worship of God through love and devotion. 
(ii) Renunciation of worldly pleasures. 
(iii) Non-violence and love for humanity. 
(iv) Guidance by a spiritual master (Murshid). 
(v) Mystical practices like qawwali and zikr. Sufis like the Chishtis used local languages and integrated with regional traditions, making Sufism accessible and attracting diverse followers.

Q6: Why were Sufi shrines like Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti’s dargah in Ajmer popular?
Ans: The dargah was popular due to the saint’s austerity, the influence of his spiritual successors, and royal patronage. Located on a trade route, it attracted diverse pilgrims seeking spiritual and material blessings through ziyarat (pilgrimage), enhancing its prominence.

Q7: How did Kabir’s teachings promote unity across religious lines?
Ans: Kabir rejected idol worship, ritual sacrifices, and the authority of Vedas and Quran, advocating devotion to a formless God. By using terms from both Hindu (Brahman, Atman) and Islamic (Allah, Khuda) traditions, he emphasized the unity of God, fostering harmony between Hindus and Muslims.

Q8: What was the role of Chola rulers in supporting Bhakti traditions?
Ans: Chola rulers supported Alvars and Nayanars by granting land and resources for temples like Chidambaram and Thanjavur. They patronized the construction of Shiva temples and bronze sculptures, integrating Bhakti hymns into temple rituals, strengthening devotional practices.

Q9: What is meant by ziyarat, and what was its purpose in Sufi practices?
Ans: Ziyarat refers to pilgrimage to Sufi saints’ tombs (dargahs), like Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti’s in Ajmer, to seek spiritual grace (barakat). Often performed on the saint’s death anniversary (Urs), it symbolized the union of the saint’s soul with God, fostering devotion.

Q10: How did the integration of local cults shape Puranic Hinduism?
Ans: Local deities, like Jagannatha at Puri, were identified as forms of Vishnu or Shiva’s consorts in Puranic traditions. This integration absorbed regional beliefs into mainstream Hinduism, creating an inclusive framework that broadened worship practices, especially for goddesses via Tantric rituals.

Q11: Passage-based: Read the following excerpt and answer the questions below:
Excerpt: “This is an excerpt from a poem by Karaikkal Ammaiyar in which she describes herself: The female Pey (demoness) with … bulging veins, protruding eyes…”
(i) How does Karaikkal Ammaiyar’s self-description differ from traditional notions of beauty?
Ans: She describes herself as a demoness with bulging veins, protruding eyes, and a shrunken stomach, contrasting with traditional ideals of delicate, feminine beauty. 
(ii) How does her depiction challenge patriarchal norms?
Ans: By portraying herself as a demoness and adopting extreme asceticism, she defies expectations of women as delicate homemakers, asserting spiritual autonomy. 
(iii) Identify two aspects of her renunciation of social obligations.
Ans: (i) Wandering in forests instead of domestic life. (ii) Emulating Shiva’s dance, rejecting societal roles. 

Q12: Passage-based: Read the following excerpt and answer the questions below:
Excerpt: “Here is a vachana composed by Basavanna: When they see a serpent carved in stone they pour milk on it…”
(i) Who was Basavanna?
Ans: Basavanna was a 12th-century Brahmana, initially a Jaina, who led the Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement in Karnataka. 
(ii) Which religious movement was he associated with?
Ans: He was associated with the Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement, devoted to Shiva. 
(iii) How did Basavanna view the role of rituals?
Ans: He criticized empty rituals, like offering food to idols that cannot eat, while neglecting real devotees, advocating for sincere devotion over ritualistic practices. 

Q13: What were the similarities and differences between be-shari’a and ba-shari’a Sufi traditions?
Ans: Similarities: Both criticized dogmatic interpretations of the Quran, emphasized devotion to God, and sought salvation through personal experience. Differences: Ba-shari’a Sufis followed Shari’a (Islamic law), living in khanqahs, while be-shari’a Sufis, like Qalandars, rejected Shari’a, practiced mendicancy, celibacy, and extreme asceticism.

Q14: What were the main causes of the rise of the Bhakti movement?
Ans: 
(i) Influence of Vaishnavism and Shaivism. 
(ii) Reaction against Hindu ritualism and caste rigidity. 
(iii) Fear of Islamic dominance. 
(iv) Influence of Sufi sects. 
(v) Emergence of reformers like Ramananda, Kabir, and Nanak.

Q15: What was the significance of the relationship between Sufis and political rulers?
Ans: Sultans sought Sufi blessings to legitimize their rule, believing saints’ spiritual authority could ensure prosperity. Sufis maintained distance from political power by rejecting direct involvement but accepted royal donations, balancing spiritual independence with patronage, influencing state affairs indirectly.

Important Topics

• Alvars and Nayanars: Tamil poet-saints, their hymns (Nalayira Divyaprabandham, Tevaram), and role in temple rituals and pilgrimage.
• Virashaiva (Lingayat) Movement: Basavanna’s leadership, rejection of caste, rituals, and rebirth; burial practices.
• Sufism: Principles (devotion, non-violence, Murshid’s role), Chishti order, khanqahs, ziyarat, and integration with local traditions.
• Women in Bhakti: Contributions of Andal, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, and their challenge to patriarchal norms.
• Kabir’s Teachings: Rejection of rituals, caste, and religious divisions; emphasis on a formless God.
• Integration of Local Cults: Absorption of deities like Jagannatha and goddesses into Puranic Hinduism via Tantric practices.
• Sufi-Political Relations: Royal patronage and spiritual legitimacy; Sufi independence from worldly power.

Preparation Tips

• Memorize Key Figures: Study Alvars, Nayanars, Basavanna, Kabir, and Chishti saints (e.g., Muinuddin Chishti); know their contributions and philosophies.
• Understand Hymns and Texts: Focus on Nalayira Divyaprabandham, Tevaram, and vachanas; note their role in shaping devotion.
• Practice Passage-Based Questions: Analyze excerpts from Karaikkal Ammaiyar and Basavanna for their social and religious implications.
• Learn Key Terms: Understand concepts like ziyarat, silsila, Murshid, kanyadana, and Tantric practices.
• Use Visual Aids: Create timelines (8th–18th centuries) for Bhakti-Sufi developments and charts for Alvars/Nayanars, Sufi orders, and caste challenges.
• Compare Traditions: Be ready to contrast Bhakti and Sufi principles, and be-shari’a vs. ba-shari’a Sufism.