Question No. 1
With reference to the teachings of Madhavacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta, consider the following statements:
1.His philosophy, known as Dvaita (Dualism), asserts an eternal and fundamental distinction between the individual soul (Jivatma) and the Supreme Being (Paramatma).
2.His major literary contributions include Anuvyakhyana, a philosophical supplement to his commentary on the Brahma Sutras, and the Gita Bhashya.
3.The Dvaita school holds that only Pratyaksha (perception) and Anumana (inference) are valid means of knowledge (Pramanas), strictly rejecting Sabda (scriptural testimony).
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Question No. 2
With reference to Nimbarkacharya and the Nimbarka Sampradaya, consider the following statements:
1.His philosophical system, Dvaitadvaita (Dualistic Monism), posits that the individual soul and the material world are different from, yet entirely dependent upon, the Supreme Brahman.
2.The sect’s central deity of worship is the unified form of Radha-Krishna, a practice that distinguishes it from the Sri Sampradaya of Ramanuja.
3.Nimbarkacharya primarily preached in the Deccan region, although the sect later flourished in eastern India during the 13th and 14th centuries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question No. 3
With reference to the Bhakti saint Vallabhacharya, consider the following statements:
1.His philosophy of Shuddhadvaita (Pure Non-dualism) rejects the concept of Maya as the cause of the world, maintaining that the entire universe is a real and un-modified manifestation of Brahman.
2.He founded the Pushti Marg (Path of Grace), where the devotee’s ultimate goal is not to attain Mukti (liberation) but to engage in the eternal service of Krishna.
3.The main devotional focus of the Pushti Marg centers on the worship of Lord Krishna in his Bala Krishna (child) form, in the Vatsalya Bhava (parental affection).
How many of the statements given above are correctly described?
Question No. 4
With reference to Srimanta Sankardev and his religious movement in Assam, consider the following statements:
1.His Ekasarana Dharma (Neo-Vaishnavism) emphasizes absolute devotion to one God, Krishna (identified as Narayana), and strictly excludes the worship of Radha.
2.He is credited with introducing a unique art form called Ankia Naat (one-act plays), a new musical tradition called Borgeet, and the classical dance form Sattriya.
3.The movement’s religious and social life is organized around communal prayer houses (Naamghars) and monastic centers (Sattras), which fostered an egalitarian social structure.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Question No. 5
With reference to the medieval poet-saint Vidyapati, consider the following statements:
1.Though famous for his Padavali poems on the Shringara Rasa (erotic sentiment) between Radha and Krishna, he was primarily a devotee of Lord Shiva, composing many popular hymns (Nacharis) dedicated to Him.
2.He earned the title ‘Maithil Kavi Kokil’ for his compositions in the regional language of Maithili, and he also composed in Sanskrit and Apabhraṃśa.
3.His major works, Kirtilata and Purushapariksha, are purely devotional texts providing a philosophical basis for the Bhakti movement in Mithila.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question No. 6
With reference to the Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra, consider the following statements:
1.The primary focus of the Varkari tradition is the personalized worship of Lord Vitthala (Vithoba), whose main shrine is located at Pandharpur.
2.The Varkari movement is classified as a Nirguna (formless God) school of Bhakti, as its saints strictly rejected all forms of idol worship and ritualism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Question No. 7
With reference to the contributions of the saints of the Maharashtra Bhakti Movement, consider the following pairs: Literary Work/ConceptAssociated Saint
1. DnyaneshwariJnaneswara
2. PasayadanNamdeva
3. Eknathi BhagavataSant Eknath
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Question No. 8
With reference to Sant Namdeva, a 13th-century poet-saint of the Varkari tradition, consider the following pairs:
SaintAssociated Historical/Cultural Fact
1. NamdevaHis Abhangas (devotional songs) are included in the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.
2. NamdevaHe was the first saint to travel to North India and spread the Bhakti message in the Marathi language.
3. NamdevaHe was a weaver by caste, similar to the North Indian saint Kabir.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Question No. 9
With reference to Sant Eknath, who is often considered a spiritual successor to Jnaneswara, consider the following pairs:
Work/ContributionDescription
1. Bhavartha RamayanaAn extended version of the epic which gave an additional Marathi perspective to the story.
2. BharoodA new dramatic form of spiritual poetry with a moral lesson, introduced by him.
3. AmrutanubhavHis most famous philosophical text, elaborating on the Shuddhadvaita philosophy.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Question No. 10
With reference to Sant Tukaram, the most revered poet-saint of the Varkari movement, consider the following statements:
1.He was a contemporary of the Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji, who was a great admirer of his devotional sermons (kirtans).
2.His devotional poetry is primarily composed in the Abhanga verse form, which contains his intense emotional appeal and social reform message.
3.His movement rejected the traditional Varkari deity Vitthala, replacing it with the Nirguna form of God, which was accessible to all castes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
