class 7 chapter 8 history

Class 7 (October Month)

Chapter 8(History)

Devotional paths to the Divine

Worksheet

Q1. Fill in the blanks:

1.       Ramanuja was influenced by the ____.  (Alvars)

2.       ______, _______ and ______ were advocate of Virashaivism. (Basavanna, Akkamahadevi and Allama Prabhu)

3.       Bhakti and Sufi movements came into existence in the ______ century. (8^TH)

4.       Mirabai was devoted to ____. (Krishna)

5.       ____ was an important center of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra. (Pandharpur)

Q2. Match the column ‘A’ with the column ‘B’:

Column A                             Column B

1.       The Buddha                        Mangham                                           [2]

2.       Shankaradeva                   Worship of Vishnu                           [5]

3.       Nizamuddin Auliya           Questioned social differences    [1]

4.       Nayanars                             Sufi saint                                              [3]

5.       Alvars                                    Worship of Shiva                              [4]

Q3. Answer the following questions briefly:

1.       What was the name of holy law developed by Muslim scholars?

Ans: The name of the holy law developed by the Muslim Scholars was ‘Shariat’.  According to this Islam propagated strict monotheism or submission to one God. It also rejected idol worship and considerably simplified rituals of worship into collective prayers. They sought union with God much as a lover seeks his beloved with a disregard for the world.

2.       What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?

Ans: The major ideas expressed by Kabir are:

                                I.            His teaching was based on a complete, indeed vehement, rejection of the major religious traditions.

                               II.            He openly ridiculed all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical, Hinduism and Islam.

                             III.            He believed in a formless Supreme God.

                            IV.            He preached that only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion.

                              V.            He expressed these by the language of his poetry. It was a form of spoken Hindi widely understood by ordinary people. There was also a vast collection of the verses called sakhis and pads by him.

3.       What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?

Ans: Major beliefs and practices of the Sufis are:

                                I.            They rejected outward religiosity and emphasized love and devotion to God.

                              II.            They also emphasized compassion towards all fellow human being.

                            III.            They rejected idol worship and simplified rituals of worship into collective prayers.

                            IV.            They believed in monotheism or submission to one God.

                              V.            They rejected the elaborated rituals and codes of behavior demanded by Muslim religious scholars.

4.       Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?

Ans: Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because:

                                I.            These beliefs created differences in the society.

                              II.            Those teachings favoured the upper caste people and thus the lower caste people suffered a lot.

                            III.            The idea that all human beings are not equal, was prevailing in the society, which must be abolished.

                            IV.            They believed in equality of God and wanted to break the evils of the society.

                              V.            They even believed the intense devotion to God could break the evil bondages.

5.       What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?

Ans: Major teachings of Baba Nanak are:

                                 I.            He emphasized the importance of the worship of one God.

                               II.            He insisted that caste, creed and gender were irrelevant for attaining liberation.

                             III.            The idea of liberation was not that of a state of the bliss but rather the pursuit of active life with strong sense of social commitment.

                            IV.            He used the terms nam, dan and isnan for the essence of his teaching. Which actually meant right worship, welfare of others and purity of conduct.

                              V.            He underlined the importance of right belief and worship, honest living and helping others.

6.       Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?

Ans: Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the royal family of Mewar in sixteenth century. She became a disciple of Ravidas, a saint from caste considered “untouchable”. She was devoted to Krishna and composed innumerable bhajans expressing her intense devotion. Her songs also challenged the norms of the “upper” caste and so became popular with the masses in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

These songs were composed in regional language and could be sung. They were immensely popular and were handed down orally from generation to generation.

7.       Write a short note on Shankar and his teachings.

Ans: Shankara was one of the most influential philosopher of India. He was an advocate of Adavita or the doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and Supreme God which is the Ultimate Reality. He taught that Brahaman, the only or Ultimately Reality, was formless and without and attributes.

He considered the world around us to be an illusion or maya, and preached renunciation of the world and adoption of the path of knowledge to understand the true nature of Brahman and attain salvation.  

Q4. Answer the following in detail:

1.       What were the teaching of the Bhakti saint Kabir?

Ans:

                                            I.            His teaching was based on a complete, indeed vehement, rejection of the major religious traditions.

                                           II.            He openly ridiculed all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical, Hinduism and Islam.

                                         III.            He believed in a formless Supreme God.

                                        IV.            He preached that only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion.

                                          V.            He expressed these by the language of his poetry. It was a form of spoken Hindi widely understood by ordinary people. There was also a vast collection of the verses called sakhis and pads by him.

2.       For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.

Ans: The Virashaivas argued strongly for the equality of all human beings and against Brahmanical ideas about caste and treatment of women. They were also against all forms of rituals and idol worship.

The saints of Maharashtra rejected all forms of ritualism, outward display of piety and social differences based on birth.

3.       Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.

Ans: The beliefs and practices of Nathpanthis, Sidhhas and Yogis are as follow:

                                             I.            They belief in logical arguments.

                                           II.            They criticized the rituals and other aspects of conventional religion and social order.

                                         III.            They believed that the path of salvation lay in meditation on the formless Ultimate Reality and realization of the oneness with it.

                                        IV.            They advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.

4.       What was the greatest social impact of the Bhakti Movement on Medieval Hindu society?

Ans: The social impact of the Bhakti Movement on Medieval Hindu society is as follow:

                                             I.            It gives the idea of Supreme God.

                                           II.            It removed the caste system.

                                         III.            It emphasized on the equality of all human being.

                                        IV.            It brought respect for the women.

                                          V.            The teachings of the great Bhakti saints reached every home because the saints composed their songs and poems in local languages.