NCERT Solutions for Class 7 History Chapter 6 Devotional Paths To The Divine contains answers to the exercise questions given in the “Our Pasts-II”. All the answers provided here are accurate and simple that will help you understand the concepts easily and continue your studies without a doubt. These solutions will also help you to score higher marks with the help of well-illustrated answers.
Class 7 History Devotional Paths To The Divine Questions and Answers
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:
(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.
Answer:
(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) Vitthala temple was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
Question 3: Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhasand Yogis.
Answer: The Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis believed in the renunciation of the world. For them, the path of salvation lay in meditating on the formless ultimate reality. They stressed on intense training of the mind and body through yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.
Question 4: What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?
Answer: Kabir is well known for his utter and comprehensive rejection of the major religious traditions of his times. He ridiculed all forms of external worship professed by Hinduism and Islam, the preeminence of the priestly class and the distinctions of caste. He believed in and professed the concept of a formless ‘Supreme God’. According to him, the only path to salvation was through devotion or ‘bhakti’.
Kabir expressed his ideas in a vast collection of verses known as sakhis and pads. Some of these were later collected and preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib, Panch Vani and Bijak.
Question 5: What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Answer: The Sufis believed in union with God as a lover seeking his beloved. They also believed that the heart could be trained to look at the world in a different way. They rejected the elaborate rituals and codes of behavior demanded by Muslim religious scholars. The Sufis developed various methods of raining using Zikr (chanting of a name or sacred formula), contemplation, singing and dancing.
Question 6: Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer: Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because all such beliefs advocated social differences. They believed in the power of personal devotion and supported the idea of a Supreme God. They believed that the only path to salvation was through bhakti or devotion.
Question 7: What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer: Baba Guru Nanak insisted on the importance of the worship of one true God. He believed that caste, creed or gender is irrelevant in the context of a true liberation from worldly matters. According to him, liberation is not a state of inert bliss but the pursuit of an active life with an acute sense of social commitment. He prescribed the motto of ‘nam, dan, insane’, which meant right worship, social welfare and complete purity of conduct.
Let’s Discuss
Question 8: For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer: Both the Virshaivas as well as the saints of Maharashtra rejected social inequality and caste differences. They strongly opposed the Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women. They were also against all forms of ritual and idol worship.
Question 9: Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer: Mirabai became a disciple of Ravidas, a saint from a caste considered “untouchable”. She was devoted to Krishna and composed innumerable bhajans expressing her intense devotion. Ordinary people have preserved the memory of Mirabai because her songs openly challenged the norms of the upper castes.