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NCERT Solutions for class 7 History chapter 8 – Devotional Paths to the Divine

Back Exercise

IMAGINE
You are attending a meeting where a saint is discussing the caste system. Relate the conversation.
Answer.
The main points of the conversation are:

• Origin of the caste system started from vama system.
• Division in the society.
• Caste conflicts.
• Major ill effects of the caste system.
• How to remove the caste evils.

LET’S RECALL

Question 1.
Match the following:
The Buddha                                            namghar
Shankaradeva                                    worship of Vishnu
Nizamuddin Auliya                       questioned social differences
Nayanars                                                  Sufi saint
Alvars                                                   worship of Shiva
Answer.
The Buddha                                questioned social differences
Shankaradeva                                               namghar
Nizamuddin Auliya                                       Sufi saint
Nayanars                                                 worship of Shiva
Alvars                                                      worship of Vishnu

Question 2.
Fill in the blanks:

1. Shankara was an advocate of ……………
2. Ramanuja was influenced by the ……………..
3. ………….., ……….. and .………… were advocates of Virashaivism.
4. ……………. was an important centre of the Bhakti. tradition in Maharashtra.

Answer.

1. Advaita.
2. Alvars.
3. Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akkamahadevi.
4. Pandharpur.

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

• They advocated renunciation of the world.
• They believed that the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless God and the realisation of oneness with it.
• To achieve this they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like Yog asanas, breathing exercises and meditation.
• They did not believe in the ritual and oilier aspects of conventional religion and the social order.

Question 4.
What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these? (Very Imp.)
Answer.
The major ideas expressed by Kabir include:

• Rejection of major religious traditions.
• Criticism of all forms of external worship of both Brahmanical Hinduism and Islam.
• Criticism of priestly classes and caste system.
• Belief in a formless Supreme God.
• Emphasis on Bhakti or devotion to achieve salvation.

Kabir expressed his ideas in a vast collection of verses known as sakhis and pads. These are said to have been composed by him and sung by wandering bhajan singers.

LET’S UNDERSTAND

Question 5.
What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Answer.
Sufis were the Muslim mystics:

1. Rejected the outward religiosity and believed in devotion to God.
2. They rejected the elaborate rituals and the codes of behavior and believed that union with God should be as a lover seeks his beloved.
3. They composed poems to express their feelings and developed methods to train heart.
4. Zikr, contemplation, sama (singing), raqs (dancing) were some of the methods.
5. They were against idol worship and believed in collective prayers.

Question 6.
Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer.
Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because these were based on social differences, excess ritualism and outward display piety.

Question 7.
What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer.

• Baba Guru Nanak emphasised the importance of the worship of one God.
• He insisted that caste, creed or gender was irrelevant for attaining liberation. His idea of liberation was based on the pursuit of active life with a strong sense of social commitment.
• He used the terms nam, dan and isnan for the essence of his teaching, which actually meant right worship, the welfare of others and purity of conduct.
• He gave importance to right-belief and worship, honest living and helping others.
• Guru Nanak, thus, promoted the idea of equality.

LET’S DISCUSS

Question 8.
For either the Virashaivas or the sants of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer.
The saints of Maharashtra focused on the Vitthala form of Vishnu and on a personal god residing inside the hearts of all people:

1. Their songs in simple Marathi language inspired people.
2. They rejected all forms of ritualism, outward display of piety and social differences based on birth and treatment to women.
3. They even rejected the idea of renunciation and preferred to live with their families and earning a livelihood.
4. They believed in serving fellow beings and sharing the pain of others.

Question 9.
Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer.
Ordinary people preserved the memories of Mirabai because of the following reasons:

1. She was devoted to Krishna.
2. Composition of innumerable bhajans expressing her intense devotion.
3. Challenged norms of upper castes.

LET’S DO

Question 10.
Find out whether there are any dargahs, gurudwaras or temples associated with saints of the bhakti tradition in your neighbourhood. Visit any one of these and describe what you see and hear.
Answer.
Do this exercise yourself.

Question 11.
For any of the saint-poets whose compositions have been included in this chapter, find out more about their works, noting down other poems. Find out whether these are sung, how they are sung, and what the poets wrote about.
Answer.
Mainly Guru Nanak. Read the chapter and write down.

Question 12.
There are several saint-poets whose names have been mentioned but their works have not been included in the chapter. Find out more about the language in which they composed, whether their compositions were sung, and what their compositions were about.
Answer.
Do this exercise yourself.

In-text Questions

Question 1.
You can observe this process of local myths and legends receiving wider acceptance even today. Can you find some examples around you? (NCERT Page 105)
Answer.
Yes, the stories of Maina Sundari and Anjana Kumari in Jainism are well known that they attained salvation due to their Bhakti in the supreme God.
Other Examples:

• Alha Udal in Bundelkhand
• Raginis in Haryana and Western U.P.

Question 2.
How does the poet describe his relationship with the deity? (NCERT Page 106)
Answer.
The devotee said that he had been salvaged with the touch of the blessings of the God.

Question 3.
Try and find out more about the ideas of Shankara or Ramanuja. (NCERT Page 107)
Answer.
Please do it yourself with the help of your history teacher.

Question 4.
What is the temple that Basavanna is offering to God? (NCERT Page 108)
Answer.
Basavanna’s body.

Question 5.
Discuss the ideas about the social order expressed in the compositions of Saint Tukaram. (NCERT Page 109)
Answer.

1. God lives in the hearts of all, high or low, Dalits or the high ups.
2. He treats the weak as his son and daughter.
3. These pious people are God themselves.
4. If any one ill-treats them he should be ashamed of.

Question 6.
Why do you think Mirabai left Rana’s palace? (NCERT Page 115)
Answer.
Because she did not like to remain confined in the four walls of the palace.

Question 7.
In what ways are the ideas of this poem similar to or different from those of Basavanna and Jalaluddin Rumi? (NCERT Page 116)
Answer.

1. The ideas in this poem are similar in this way that this poem emphasises equality and against the caste and Brahmanical system.
2. Differences are in the ways that there is no need for keeping fast or Ramzan. God or Allah lives in the heart not outside.