NCERT Solutions Class 7, Social Science, History, Chapter- 6, Devotional Paths To The Divine.
1. Match the following:
| The Buddha |
namghar |
| Shankaradeva |
worship of Vishnu |
| Nizamuddin Auliya |
questioned social differences |
| Nayanars |
Sufi saint |
| Alvars |
worship of Shiva |
Solution:
| The Buddha |
questioned social differences |
| Shankaradeva |
namghar |
| Nizamuddin Auliya |
Sufi saint |
| Nayanars |
worship of Shiva |
| Alvars |
worship of Vishnu |
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Shankara was an advocate of _____________ .
(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the ______________ .
(c) _____________ , ______________ and _____________ were advocates of Virashaivism.
(d) ________________ was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
Solution:
(a) Shankara was an advocate of advaita.
(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the Alvars.
(c) Basavanna, Allama Prabhu and Akkamahadevi were advocates of Virashaivism.
(d) Pandharpur was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
3. Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.
Solution:
Beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis:
(i) They believed in logical arguments.
(ii) They criticised the rituals and other aspects of conventional religion and the social order.
(iii) They believed that the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless Ultimate Reality and the realisation of oneness with it.
(iv) They advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.
4. What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?
Solution:
The major ideas expressed by Kabir:
(i) His teachings were 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 the only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion.
He expressed these by the language of his poetry. It was was a form of spoken Hindi widely understood by ordinary people. There was also a vast collection of verses called sakhis and pads by him.
5. What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Solution:
Sufis were the Muslim mystics:
- Rejected the outward religiosity and believed in devotion to God.
- They rejected the elaborate rituals and the codes of behavior and believed that union with God should be as a lover seeks his beloved.
- They composed poems to express their feelings and developed methods to train the heart.
- Zikr, contemplation, sama (singing), raqs (dancing) were some of the methods.
- They were against idol worship and believed in collective prayers.
6. Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Solution:
Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because such beliefs advocated social differences and practicing them was difficult and cumbersome.
7. What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?
Solution:
Major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak:
(i) He emphasized the importance of the worship of one God.
(ii) He insisted that caste, creed or gender was irrelevant for attaining liberation.
(iii) The idea of liberation was not that of a state of inert bliss but rather the pursuit of active life with a 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.
8. For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Solution:
The saints of Maharashtra focused on the Vitthala form of Vishnu and on a personal god residing inside the hearts of all people:
Their songs in simple Marathi language inspired people.
They rejected all forms of ritualism, outward display of piety, and social differences based on birth and treatment to women.
They even rejected the idea of renunciation and preferred to live with their families and earning a livelihood.
They believed in serving fellow beings and sharing the pain of others.
9. Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Solution:
Mirabai was a Rajput princess married into the royal family of Mewar. But she had no interest in the worldly affair. She was an ardent devotee of Krishna and wanted to devote her time to the worship of her lord. She had no belief in princely status and other norms of high class society. Her devotion to her deity was supreme. Hence, she left the royal palace and began to lend. Simple life with ordinary people.
