Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh Movements PYQs – Medieval History, SSC & Railway

Topic: Jnanadeva (Jnaneshwar) - Medieval Bhakti Saint
Bhavarthadipika (Jnaneshwari)- Written in 1290 CE
It is a Marathi commentary on theBhagavad Gita
Written by Sant Jnaneshwar at age 16 in Marathi language
One of the earliest and most important works of Marathi literature
Answer: Option 2 → Bhagavad Gita

Correct Answer: Bijak — Option (a)
The Bijak is the most important and famous collection where the verses of Saint Kabir are mainly found. About Bijak: Compiler: Kabir's disciple, Dharmadas; Contents: The Bijak is the primary scripture of the Kabir Panth (followers of Kabir); It contains Kabir's verses in three sections: Ramani: Long mystical poems in epic style; Shabda: Short mystical poems (Pads/songs); Sakhi: Short couplets ( dohas ) with practical wisdom; Themes: Monotheism, devotion to one God, criticism of caste discrimination, criticism of empty rituals, synthesis of Hindu and Muslim spiritual practices; About Saint Kabir (1440-1518 CE): One of the greatest mystic poets and saints of India; Born in Varanasi (Kashi); Disciple of: Ramananda; Kabir was raised by a Muslim weaver family ( Julahas ) but his spiritual teachings transcended religion; His poetry is in a mixture of Hindi/Braj Bhasha/Awadhi/Punjabi — the language of common people; His teachings influenced: Sikhism (many of Kabir's verses are included in the Guru Granth Sahib); The Bhakti Movement; About other options: Padavali : A collection of verses — used by several saint-poets (Chandidas, Jayadeva, etc.) — NOT specifically Kabir's; Gitagovinda : A Sanskrit lyrical poem by Jayadeva (12th century) about Lord Krishna and Radha — NOT Kabir's; Prabandha Chintamani: A Sanskrit work of poetics — NOT Kabir's.
Option (b) Padavali — Incorrect: Padavali is NOT the specific collection associated with Kabir's verses; the term ' Padavali ' refers to collections of devotional songs — for example, Chandidas's Padavali is famous, and Tagore compiled a collection called 'Vaishnava Padabali'; Kabir's primary collection is the Bijak.
Option (c) Gitagovinda — Incorrect: The Gitagovinda is NOT a collection of Kabir's verses; it is a Sanskrit lyrical poem composed by the 12th-century poet Jayadeva; it describes the love of Lord Krishna and Radha; it has nothing to do with Kabir's dohas or mystical poetry; Kabir's primary collection is the Bijak.
Option (d) Prabandha Chintamani — Incorrect: Prabandha Chintamani is NOT a collection of Kabir's verses; it is a Sanskrit work on poetics and rhetoric; it has no connection with Kabir's devotional and mystical poetry; the candidate incorrectly selected this; Kabir's primary collection is the Bijak.

Correct Answer: Ravi — Option (b)
Kartarpur is situated on the banks of the Ravi river . About Kartarpur: Location: Kartarpur Sahib is located in Narowal district, Punjab province, Pakistan; It is situated on the right bank of the Ravi river (Ravee River); Significance: Kartarpur is where Guru Nanak Dev Ji (the founder of Sikhism) settled and spent the last 18 years of his life (1521-1539); He established a community here called 'Kartarpur Sahib' (meaning 'City of God' or 'God's city'); Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed away at Kartarpur in 1539; Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur: The main Sikh shrine at Kartarpur; Located in Pakistan, about 4 km from the India-Pakistan border; About Kartarpur Corridor: The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing inaugurated in November 2019; It connects Dera Baba Nanak shrine (in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India) to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (in Pakistan); Allows Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib without a visa; Distance: Approximately 4.7 km long corridor; About the Ravi River: One of the five rivers of Punjab (Panj-ab = five waters); Originates in the Himalayas ( Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, India); Flows through Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab (India) before entering Pakistan; Total length: ~720 km; A tributary of the Chenab River (which flows into the Indus).
Option (a) Ganga — Incorrect: Kartarpur is NOT near the Ganga river — the Ganga flows through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, far from Kartarpur in Pakistan's Punjab; Kartarpur is situated on the banks of the Ravi river .
Option (c) Yamuna — Incorrect: The Yamuna river flows through Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh — it does not flow near Kartarpur in Pakistan's Punjab province; Kartarpur is on the Ravi river .
Option (d) Sutlej — Incorrect: While the Sutlej is one of the five rivers of Punjab (like the Ravi), Kartarpur is specifically situated on the banks of the RAVI river — not the Sutlej; the candidate selected this incorrect option.

Correct Answer: 1699 — Option (d)
Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth on Vaisakhi (April 13-14), 1699 at Anandpur Sahib. About the Khalsa Panth and Guru Gobind Singh: Founder: Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) — the 10th and last human Sikh Guru; Date: Vaisakhi, 1699 (April 13-14, 1699); Place: Anandpur Sahib (in present-day Punjab, India); How the Khalsa was established: Guru Gobind Singh called a special gathering of Sikhs at Vaisakhi 1699; He asked who was willing to die for their faith; Five volunteers stepped forward — they are called the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones); Their names: Daya Ram (from Lahore), Dharam Das (from Delhi), Himmat Rai (from Jagannath Puri), Mohkam Chand (from Dwarka), Sahib Chand (from Bidar); Guru Gobind Singh gave these five Amrit (nectar/sweetened water stirred with a double-edged sword) in the Amrit Sanchar ceremony; The five were renamed: Daya Singh, Dharam Singh, Himmat Singh, Mohkam Singh, Sahib Singh — all with the surname 'Singh' (Lion); The Guru also received Amrit from the Panj Pyare, taking the name 'Gobind Singh'; The Five Ks (Panj Kakars ): Every Khalsa Sikh must carry: Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (steel bracelet), Kachha /Kachera (cotton undergarment), Kirpan (steel sword); Significance: The Khalsa represents a community of committed Sikhs united by faith; All Sikh men took the surname 'Singh' (Lion); All Sikh women took the surname 'Kaur' (Princess); About 1606: The year Guru Arjan Dev Ji (5th Sikh Guru) was martyred — NOT the year of Khalsa formation.
Option (a) 1606 — Incorrect: 1606 is the year of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (the 5th Sikh Guru) under Mughal Emperor Jahangir — this is NOT when the Khalsa Panth was established; the Khalsa was founded by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The candidate selected this incorrect option.
Option (b) 1648 — Incorrect: 1648 has no direct significance in the context of the Khalsa Panth; the Khalsa Panth was NOT established in 1648; Guru Gobind Singh himself was born in 1666 and founded the Khalsa in 1699.
Option (c) 1676 — Incorrect: 1676 is approximately when Guru Gobind Singh succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (who was martyred in 1675 under Aurangzeb) as the 10th Guru — but the Khalsa Panth was NOT established in 1676; it was established in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib.

Correct Answer: Guru Gobind Singh Ji founded the Khalsa Panth — Option (c)
On the day of Vaisakhi, April 13, 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji — the tenth and last human Sikh Guru — founded the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. He called for volunteers willing to sacrifice their lives for their faith; five men (the Panj Pyare — Five Beloved Ones) came forward. Guru Gobind Singh baptised them with Amrit (holy nectar) in the ceremony called Amrit Sanchar ( Pahul ). He then took Amrit from the Panj Pyare himself, establishing the principle of the Guru being equal to the disciple. The creation of the Khalsa transformed the Sikh community into a casteless, disciplined, and martial order committed to righteousness.
Option (a) Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born — Incorrect: Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on Kartik Pooranmashi (November) in 1469 CE, not on Vaisakhi 1699. The 1699 Vaisakhi event was the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh.
Option (b) The first Sikh temple was built — Incorrect: The first major Sikh shrine (Harmandir Sahib/Golden Temple) was built in Amritsar in the late 16th century by Guru Arjan Dev Ji; it was not on Vaisakhi 1699.
Option (d) The Quran was revealed — Incorrect: The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years beginning in 610 CE; this has no connection to Vaisakhi 1699.

Correct Answer: Alvar — Option (b)
In Tamil Bhakti literature, the Vaishnavite saint-poets were called Alvars (also spelled Azhvars , meaning 'those immersed in God'). There were 12 Alvars who composed devotional hymns in Tamil praising Lord Vishnu between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. Their compositions are collectively called the Nalayira Divya Prabandham (4,000 Divine Compositions). The Alvars' devotional poetry contributed to the development of the Bhakti movement in South India. Their works, especially those of Nammalvar and Andal (the only female Alvar), remain important texts in Sri Vaishnavism. Key Alvars include Nammalvar , Tirumangai Alvar, Periyalvar , and Andal.
Option (a) Yogi — Incorrect: 'Yogi' is a general term for a practitioner of yoga in Hindu/Buddhist traditions; it is not specifically applied to the Tamil Vaishnavite saint-poets.
Option (c) Nayanar — Incorrect: Nayanars (or Nayanmars ) were the Tamil Shaivite saint-poets (devotees of Lord Shiva), not Vaishnavite saints. There were 63 Nayanars, including Thirugnana Sambandar and Sundarar .
Option (d) Tirthankara — Incorrect: Tirthankaras are the 24 enlightened beings/spiritual teachers in Jainism; they have no connection to Tamil Bhakti Vaishnavite poetry.

Sant Gyaneshwar (Jnaneshwar)- 13th century Marathi saint and poet
Jnaneshwari (Bhavarth Deepika)- Commentary on Bhagavad Gita written in 1290 CE
He translated and explained the Bhagavad Gita inMarathilanguage
This made spiritual knowledge accessible to common people of Maharashtra
Answer: Option 4 → Marathi

Basavanna (12th Century)
Pioneer ofVachana Movementin Karnataka.
Vachanas are devotional prose-poetry written inKannada.
FoundedLingayat sectand promoted social reforms.
Answer: Option 1 → Kannada

Topic: Tamil Bhakti Movement during Chola Period
Key Facts:
1. Tamil Bhakti hymns (Nayanars & Alvars) gained royal patronage under Cholas (9th-13th century).
2.Vellala peasants(dominant agricultural community) and Chola rulers actively supported Bhakti saints.
3. Chola kings built grand temples and promoted devotional literature, making Bhakti mainstream.
4. This support helped spread Tamil Bhakti hymns across South India.
Options 1, 3, 4 are incorrect — Bhakti movement embraced temple worship and Vedic traditions.
Answer: Option 2 → Their support from Vellala peasants and rulers

Correct Answer: Vishnu — Option (b)
The Alvars were Tamil poet-saints (6th–9th centuries CE) who were devoted to Lord Vishnu (Narayana). There were 12 Alvars in total, including Periyalvar, Andal (the only woman among them), Nammalvar, and Thirumangai Alvar. Their devotional hymns are collectively known as the 'Nalayira Divya Prabandham' (4000 Divine Verses), which form the scriptural canon of Sri Vaishnavism. The Alvars' devotional movement was a precursor to the Bhakti movement in North India and significantly influenced the spread of Vaishnavism across South India.
Option (a) Durga — Incorrect: Durga is worshipped by the Shakti tradition; the Alvars were specifically Vaishnava saints devoted to Vishnu.
Option (c) Agni — Incorrect: Agni (fire deity) is worshipped in Vedic rituals; the Alvars were devotees of Vishnu, not Agni.
Option (d) Indra — Incorrect: Indra is the Vedic king of gods; the Alvars' devotion was entirely directed towards Vishnu/Narayana.

Correct Answer: Both I and II — Option (c)
Srimanta Shankardev (1449–1568), the great Assamese saint-scholar and reformer, based his teachings primarily on both the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana. He founded the Ekasarana Dharma (one-refuge religion), a neo-Vaishnavism movement centred on devotion to Lord Krishna (Vishnu). The Bhagavata Purana provided the philosophical and devotional framework for his teachings, while the Bhagavad Gita provided the philosophical basis for Karma and Jnana Yoga. His works like the Kirtan Ghosha were based on these texts.
Option (a) Only I — Incorrect: While the Bhagavad Gita is one of the texts Shankardev drew from, the Bhagavata Purana is equally (arguably more) central to his teachings.
Option (b) Only II — Incorrect: The Bhagavata Purana is indeed the primary text of Shankardev's Vaishnavism, but the Bhagavad Gita is also a foundational text for his philosophy.
Option (d) Neither I nor II — Incorrect: Both the Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana are foundational to Shankardev's teachings; this option is completely incorrect.

Topic: Sant Tukaram and Abhang Literature
Sant Tukaram (1608-1650)was a prominent Marathi saint and poet from Maharashtra.
He composed devotional verses calledAbhangsin praise of Lord Vitthal ( Vithoba ).
Abhangis a form of devotional poetry inMarathi language, part of the Bhakti movement.
His works are compiled inAbhanga Gatha, a major contribution to Marathi literature.
Answer: Option 2 → Marathi

Ramanuja (1017–1137 CE): Founded the Sri Vaishnava tradition ( Vishishtadvaita philosophy).
He was based in Tamil Nadu ( Srirangam ).
Ramananda (14th–15th century CE):
• A prominent disciple in the Ramanuja Vaishnava tradition.
• He is credited with spreading Bhakti teachings from South to North India.
• He founded his own sub-sect open to all castes and women.
• His disciples included Kabir, Ravidas, Mirabai (indirectly).
Key Difference:
• Madhvacharya → Dvaita philosophy (different tradition).
• Namdev → Maharashtra Bhakti movement (not Ramanuja's lineage).
Answer: Option 1 → Ramananda

Correct Answer: Shankara (Option 4)
Adi Shankaracharya (8th century CE) was the founder and principal advocate of Advaita Vedanta. Advaita (meaning 'non-dual') is the philosophical school that holds that the individual self (Atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman) are one and the same.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th–16th century) advocated Achintya Bhedabheda (inconceivable difference and non-difference) and devotion to Lord Krishna.
Option 2 – Ramanuja (11th–12th century) advocated Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), which differs from Shankara's Advaita.
Option 3 – Namdev was a Bhakti saint from Maharashtra, not associated with Advaita philosophy.

The original name of Guru Angad Dev, the second Sikh Guru, was Lehna. He was renamed 'Angad' (meaning 'my own limb') by Guru Nanak Dev, who chose him as his successor. Amar, Ramnik, and Ram are not his original name.

The correct answer is option 3.
Ramanuja (11th–12th century CE), the great Vaishnava philosopher-theologian who propounded Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), was deeply influenced by the Alvars — the Tamil Vaishnava saint-poets who composed devotional hymns ( Nalayira Divya Prabandham) in praise of Lord Vishnu. Their Bhakti tradition directly shaped Ramanuja's spiritual thought.
Option 1 is incorrect: Digambara is a sect of Jainism and has no connection to Ramanuja's Vaishnava tradition.
Option 2 is incorrect: Mahayana is a school of Buddhism; Ramanuja was a Hindu Vaishnava philosopher.
Option 4 is incorrect: Nayanars were Tamil Shaiva saints devoted to Lord Shiva and influenced Shaiva tradition, not Ramanuja's Vaishnava philosophy.

The correct answer is option 4.
Shankardeva (1449–1568) was a great Vaishnava saint-reformer from Assam. He founded the devotional philosophy called Eka Sarana Nama Dharma (also known as Neo-Vaishnavism or Mahapuruxiya Dharma). This philosophy emphasises devotion to one God (Vishnu/Krishna), singing of God's name (Naam), and equality among devotees irrespective of caste or social status.
Option 1 is incorrect: Dvaita Vedanta (dualism) was propounded by Madhvacharya , not Shankardeva .
Option 2 is incorrect: Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism) was propounded by Adi Shankaracharya.
Option 3 is incorrect: Achintya Bheda Abheda was the philosophy of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Bengal.

Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, compiled the Adi Granth (now the Guru Granth Sahib) in 1604. It included compositions of Guru Nanak, Guru Angad, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, and Guru Arjan himself. Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Nanak, and Guru Gobind Singh did not compile this collection.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, placed the highest emphasis on the worship of one God (Ik Onkar — 'One God'). He preached monotheism, devotion to a single formless God, equality of all human beings, and rejection of caste distinctions, rituals, and idol worship.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Worship of multiple gods: Guru Nanak strongly opposed polytheism and preached strict monotheism.
- Attainment of material wealth: Guru Nanak taught renunciation of ego and material attachment (maya), not its pursuit.
- Worship of idols: Guru Nanak rejected idol worship as a path to God.

Correct Answer: Option 2 – Talwandi
Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus, was born on 15 April 1469 in Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, which is now known as Nankana Sahib and is located in present-day Pakistan (Punjab province). The town was renamed Nankana Sahib in his honour.
Why other options are wrong:
Option 1 (Kashi): Kashi (Varanasi) is a sacred Hindu city but is not the birthplace of Guru Nanak.
Option 3 (Ayodhya): Ayodhya is associated with Lord Ram, not Guru Nanak.
Option 4 (Pandharpur): Pandharpur is a famous pilgrimage site in Maharashtra associated with Vithoba worship.

Correct Answer: Ramanuja
Ramanuja (1017-1137 AD) was born in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in the 11th century. He was the proponent of the Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism) school of Hindu philosophy.
Why other options are wrong:
Chaitanya - Born in Bengal (15th-16th century).
Shankara (Adi Shankaracharya) - Born in Kerala (8th century).
Namdev - Born in Maharashtra (13th-14th century).

The militarization of the Sikh Panth was primarily a defensive response to Mughal persecution. Aurangzeb executed Guru Arjan Dev (1606) and Guru Tegh Bahadur (1675) and oppressed the Sikh community. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699 to protect the community.
(1) Theological differences were not the primary driver of militarization.
(2) Territorial expansion was not the primary goal.
(4) The Sikhs had no significant alliance specifically against the Marathas.

The correct answer is (c) Guru Tegh Bahadur.
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675) was the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus. He was executed on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb on November 24, 1675 in Delhi (at Chandni Chowk) for refusing to convert to Islam and for defending the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits. Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib marks the site of his martyrdom.
(a) Guru Hargobind: The 6th Sikh Guru; was imprisoned by Emperor Jahangir but not executed.
(b) Guru Har Rai: The 7th Sikh Guru; died peacefully in 1661.
(d) Guru Gobind Singh: The 10th Sikh Guru and son of Guru Tegh Bahadur; was not executed by Aurangzeb.

The correct answer is (c) Kabir.
Kabir (1440-1518 CE) was a mystic poet and saint who preached Nirguna bhakti — devotion to a formless, attributeless God (Nirguna = without qualities), rejecting idol worship and ritualism. His verses, known as ' dohas ' and 'pads', were compiled in the Bijak, the holy scripture of the Kabir Panth sect.
(a) Surdas: Preached Saguna bhakti (God with form/qualities), specifically devotion to Lord Krishna; author of Sur Sagar.
(b) Tulsidas: Preached Saguna bhakti to Lord Rama; wrote Ramcharitmanas; not associated with Nirguna tradition.
(d) Ramananda: Kabir's guru who bridged the gap between Vaishnava Saguna tradition and Nirguna saints; however, the Bijak is specifically Kabir's compilation.

The correct answer is (d) Ajmer.
The Dargah (shrine/tomb) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1141-1230 CE), the founder of the Chishti order of Sufism in India, is located in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The Ajmer Dargah is one of the most important Sufi shrines in the world and is visited by millions of devotees of all faiths.
(a) Delhi: Delhi has the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya and Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki; not Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
(b) Agra: Agra is known for the Taj Mahal; not the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
(c) Fatehpur Sikri: The Dargah of Sheikh Salim Chishti (of the same Chishti order) is in Fatehpur Sikri; but Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah is in Ajmer.

The correct answer is tenth (Option 2).
Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and final human Sikh Guru. He compiled the Guru Granth Sahib in its final form (adding the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru) and founded the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi in 1699.
Option 1 - ninth: The ninth Sikh Guru was Guru Tegh Bahadur, whose writings Guru Gobind Singh incorporated into the Guru Granth Sahib.
Option 3 - eleventh: There is no eleventh human Sikh Guru; after Guru Gobind Singh, the Guru Granth Sahib itself became the eternal Guru.
Option 4 - twelfth: There is no twelfth Sikh Guru; the lineage of human Gurus ended with the tenth, Guru Gobind Singh.

Surdas (1478-1583 CE), the celebrated blind saint-poet known for his devotional songs (padas) about Krishna's childhood ( Sursagar ), was a disciple of Vallabhacharya (Vallabha) — the founder of the Pushti Marga (Path of Grace) sect of Vaishnavism. Vallabhacharya initiated Surdas into the devotional tradition at Gaughat on the Yamuna. Option 3 is correct.
Option 1 is wrong: Ramanujacharya (11th-12th century) was the founder of the Vishishtadvaita school of Vedanta and lived centuries before Surdas; Surdas was not his disciple.
Option 2 is wrong: Ramananda was the guru of Kabir and other Bhakti saints, but Surdas belonged to the Vallabha tradition of Vrindavan, not Ramananda's school.
Option 4 is wrong: Gyaneshwar (Jnanadeva, 13th century) was a Marathi saint-poet and follower of the Warkari tradition of Vithoba worship; Surdas was not his disciple and belonged to a different era and tradition.

Lal Ded (also known as Lalleshwari or Lal Arifa, 14th century CE) was a Kashmiri Shaivite mystic and poet.
She is renowned for her vakhs — short, pithy spiritual verses composed in the Kashmiri language — that express the core of Shaiva Advaita (non-dualistic) philosophy.
Her vakhs are among the earliest and most celebrated examples of Kashmiri literary poetry.
She emphasised direct personal experience of God (Shiva) over external rituals and caste distinctions.
Option A: She was a Shaivite, not associated with the Krishna Bhakti tradition.
Option C: She composed vakhs in Kashmiri, not Sanskrit hymns.
Option D: She was a mystic-poet and spiritual teacher, not known as a stage dancer or shringar composer.

Correct Answer: Tulsidas
Tulsidas (1532–1623) was the greatest Bhakti saint who propagated Ram bhakti through the Awadhi dialect. His magnum opus Ramcharitmanas is written entirely in Awadhi and is one of the most widely read texts in North India.
Option 1 (Kabir): Incorrect. Kabir wrote in Sadhukkadi / Khariboli dialect and emphasized a formless God (Nirguna bhakti).
Option 3 (Surdas): Incorrect. Surdas wrote in Braj Bhasha about Krishna's childhood (Saguna bhakti).
Option 4 (Namdev): Incorrect. Namdev was a Maharashtrian saint who wrote in Marathi and Hindi, focused on Vithoba worship.

The Nayanars (also called Nayanmars ) were a group of 63 Tamil poet-saints who were devoted to Lord Shiva. They were part of the Bhakti movement in South India and composed devotional hymns in Tamil called Tevaram. Their compositions are compiled in the Tirumurai .
Durga, Agni, and Indra are other deities not associated with the Nayanar tradition.

The Alvars were Vaishnava poet-saints of South India who composed devotional hymns in Tamil. There were 12 Alvar saints in total. Their compositions are compiled in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham (4000 Divine Verses). They lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE.
29, 44, and 63 are incorrect counts.

The songs of the Alvar saints are compiled in the Divya Prabandham (also known as Nalayira Divya Prabandham — 4000 Tamil devotional hymns). These are 12 Vaishnava poet-saints whose compositions are an important part of the Bhakti tradition in South India.
Ettutogai is an anthology of Sangam literature; Tipitaka is the canonical text of Buddhism; Adi-Puran is a Jain text. Hence, Divya Prabandham is correct.

Correct Answer: Shankara (Option 3)
Adi Shankaracharya (Shankara) was born in Kalady , Kerala, in the eighth century CE (approximately 788 CE). He was a renowned philosopher and theologian who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualism) and revived Hinduism across India. He established four mathas (monasteries) at the four corners of India.
Why others are wrong:
Option 1 - Chaitanya: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born in 1486 CE in Nabadwip , Bengal — not in Kerala and not in the eighth century.
Option 2 - Ramanuja: Ramanuja was born in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, in the 11th-12th century CE — not in Kerala in the eighth century.
Option 4 - Namdev: Namdev was a 13th-14th century saint-poet from Maharashtra, not from Kerala.

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, died on October 7, 1708, at Nanded (in present-day Maharashtra) following an assassination attempt by an Afghan. He founded the Khalsa in 1699, compiled the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru, and passed away at age 41. The years 1711, 1718, and 1722 are incorrect.

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th and last human Sikh Guru, established the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi (April 13, 1699) at Anandpur Sahib. He baptized the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones) into the Khalsa. Guru Nanak was the 1st Guru (founder of Sikhism); Guru Ramdas was the 4th Guru (founded Amritsar); Guru Tegh Bahadur was the 9th Guru (martyred in 1675).

The Bhakti movement is classically divided into two broad streams:
Saguna bhakti — devotion to a deity with form and attributes (e.g., Rama, Krishna), as practised by Tulsidas, Surdas, etc.
Nirguna bhakti — devotion to a formless, attribute-less Divine, as practised by Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas, etc.
Vedic/Non-Vedic, Orthodox/Reformist and Shaiva/Vaishnava classifications belong to other contexts.

Answer: Option 1 — Vaishnava
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was a Vaishnava Bhakti saint of Bengal, devoted to Krishna (Vishnu).
He founded the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.
Revision note — Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Bengal Vaishnavism
• Born 1486 at Nabadwip (Navadvipa), Bengal; died 1534 at Puri, Odisha.
• Popularised sankirtan — group singing and dancing in praise of Krishna and Radha.
• Taught devotion (bhakti) open to all, rejecting caste barriers and ritualism.
• His disciples, the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, gave the movement its texts.
• ISKCON (Hare Krishna movement), founded in 1966 by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, follows his tradition.
• Other Vaishnava saints: Alvars (Tamil), Ramanuja, Ramananda, Vallabhacharya, Surdas, Mirabai, Shankaradeva (Assam).
Do not mix these up
• Vaishnava vs Shaiva — Vaishnavas worship Vishnu (Alvars); Shaivas worship Shiva (Nayanars, Kapalikas, Virashaivas).
Also asked from this topic: the name for the Vaishnavite saints of Tamil Bhakti (Alvars); the language of Sant Tukaram's abhangs (Marathi); the scripture on which Jnaneshwari is a commentary (Bhagavad Gita).