1. Which region was the center of the Bhakti movement in the Deccan?
A) Tamil Nadu
B) Karnataka
C) Maharashtra
D) Andhra Pradesh
2. Which deity was primarily worshipped by the Bhakti saints of Maharashtra?
A) Shiva
B) Vishnu
C) Vitthala (a form of Vishnu)
D) Durga
3. Who among the following was a major saint-poet of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra?
A) Mirabai
B) Dnyaneshwar (Gyaneshwar)
C) Tulsidas
D) Chaitanya
4. What was the central idea of Bhakti saints in the Deccan?
A) Strict Vedic rituals
B) Idol worship only
C) A personal god residing in the hearts of all people
D) Military expansion of Hindu rulers
5. Which Bhakti saint from Maharashtra rejected caste discrimination and supported social equality?
A) Namdev
B) Kabir
C) Ravidas
D) Surdas
6. Which temple was an important center of Bhakti devotion in Maharashtra?
A) Jagannath Temple
B) Vitthala Temple in Pandharpur
C) Kashi Vishwanath Temple
D) Tirupati Balaji Temple
7. The followers of Vitthala’s devotion in Maharashtra were known as:
A) Shaivas
B) Lingayats
C) Varkaris
D) Nayanars
8. Which of the following was NOT emphasized by Bhakti saints in the Deccan?
A) The rejection of ritualism
B) Social differences based on birth
C) The concept of a personal god
D) Living a simple and humble life
9. What language did the Bhakti saints of Maharashtra use for their devotional songs?
A) Sanskrit
B) Tamil
C) Marathi
D) Hindi
10. Which female saint-poet from Maharashtra was known for her devotion and Bhakti poetry?
A) Akkamahadevi
B) Andal
C) Sakhubai
D) Lalleshwari
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Answers and Explanations
1. C) Maharashtra
The Bhakti movement in the Deccan was particularly strong in Maharashtra from the 13th to 17th centuries.
2. C) Vitthala (a form of Vishnu)
Vitthala, a form of Vishnu, was the central deity worshipped by the Bhakti saints of Maharashtra.
3. B) Dnyaneshwar (Gyaneshwar)
Dnyaneshwar was one of the most important Bhakti saints in Maharashtra, who wrote the Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.
4. C) A personal god residing in the hearts of all people
The Bhakti saints of the Deccan emphasized personal devotion to God over rituals and caste-based distinctions.
5. A) Namdev
Namdev was a Bhakti saint known for rejecting caste-based discrimination and promoting devotion to a personal god.
6. B) Vitthala Temple in Pandharpur
The temple of Vitthala at Pandharpur was an important pilgrimage site for Bhakti followers in Maharashtra.
7. C) Varkaris
The followers of Vitthala’s devotion in Maharashtra were known as Varkaris, meaning pilgrims who undertook an annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
8. B) Social differences based on birth
The Bhakti movement in the Deccan rejected caste-based discrimination and emphasized equality.
9. C) Marathi
The Bhakti saints of Maharashtra composed their hymns and devotional songs in Marathi, making them accessible to the common people.
10. C) Sakhubai
Sakhubai was a well-known female Bhakti saint from Maharashtra, who dedicated her life to devotion despite facing social oppression.
