MCQ: New Religious Developments in North India


1. Which movement played a significant role in the new religious developments in North India after the 13th century?

A) Bhakti Movement

B) Renaissance Movement

C) Jain Reformation

D) Protestant Reformation

2. Which of the following religious traditions influenced each other in medieval North India?

A) Islam, Brahmanical Hinduism, Sufism, Bhakti, and Nathpanths

B) Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism

C) Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Taoism

D) Confucianism, Jainism, and Islam

3. Which Bhakti saint rejected all orthodox religions and emphasized a formless God?

A) Tulsidas

B) Surdas

C) Kabir

D) Chaitanya

4. Which text, composed by Tulsidas, made the story of Lord Rama accessible to the common people?

A) Bhagavad Gita

B) Ramcharitmanas

C) Mahabharata

D) Upanishads

5. Surdas was an ardent devotee of which Hindu deity?

A) Shiva

B) Krishna

C) Vishnu

D) Durga

6. Which Bhakti saint from Assam emphasized devotion to Vishnu and composed religious poems and plays?

A) Kabir

B) Shankaradeva

C) Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

D) Ravidas

7. Which of the following religious practices was promoted by Shankaradeva in Assam?

A) Idol worship and temple rituals

B) Namghars or houses of recitation and prayer

C) Fire sacrifices

D) Pilgrimages to the Ganges

8. Which female Bhakti saint from Rajasthan openly challenged the norms of caste and gender in her songs?

A) Mirabai

B) Andal

C) Akkamahadevi

D) Rani Padmini

9. Which Bhakti saint’s teachings led to the establishment of the Sikh faith?

A) Kabir

B) Guru Nanak

C) Surdas

D) Ravidas

10. What was the central message of the Bhakti saints in North India?

A) Strict adherence to Vedic rituals

B) Personal devotion to a loving God without caste barriers

C) Emphasis on military conquests for religious expansion

D) Complete isolation from society for spiritual growth

Answers and Explanations

1. A) Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement emerged as a significant force in North India, advocating personal devotion to God.

2. A) Islam, Brahmanical Hinduism, Sufism, Bhakti, and Nathpanths

These traditions influenced one another and shaped religious practices in medieval India.

3. C) Kabir

Kabir rejected both Hindu and Muslim orthodox practices, advocating devotion to a formless God.

4. B) Ramcharitmanas

Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi, making the Ramayana more accessible to the common people.

5. B) Krishna

Surdas was a devoted follower of Krishna and composed devotional songs expressing his love for him.

6. B) Shankaradeva

Shankaradeva of Assam emphasized devotion to Vishnu and composed religious texts in Assamese.

7. B) Namghars or houses of recitation and prayer

Shankaradeva introduced namghars, which continue to serve as centers of religious worship in Assam.

8. A) Mirabai

Mirabai, a Rajput princess, defied caste and gender norms to devote herself entirely to Krishna.

9. B) Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak’s teachings on equality, devotion, and service formed the foundation of Sikhism.

10. B) Personal devotion to a loving God without caste barriers

Bhakti saints emphasized devotion that transcended caste and religious boundaries.


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