Bhakti-Sufi Traditions Test - 2

The Alvars and Nayanars were both groups of saints who lived in South India during the early medieval period and played crucial roles in the Bhakti movement.

The Chola dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Tamil Nadu during medieval times, played a significant role in the patronage and promotion of Tamil literature, including Shaiva hymns. The Chola kings actively supported the Bhakti movement and encouraged the incorporation of Tamil devotional hymns, known as Thevaram and Thiruvasagam, into temple rituals and worship.

Kabir's verses do not mention the name of his teacher, Ramanand. Kabir is often depicted as a self-taught mystic poet who had a direct realization of divine truth rather than being formally trained by a specific guru. While Kabir may have been influenced by various spiritual teachers and traditions, his poetry emphasizes direct experience and inner realization rather than external authorities.

Kirtana-ghosha is a form of devotional music that originated in the Indian state of Assam. It is a significant part of the Vaishnavite religious tradition and is performed as a means of expressing devotion and worship towards Lord Krishna. The composer of Kirtana-ghosha is the revered saint and poet, Shankaradeva.

The Puranas were written in simple sanskrit verse and were meant to be heared by everybody, including women and shudras, who were not allowed to study Vedas. They were probably recited in temples by priests and people came to listen to them.

In Sufi tradition, a Jama'at Khana refers to a congregation or assembly hall where Sufis gather for communal prayers, religious discussions, and spiritual activities. It serves as a central meeting place for the Sufi community to come together for worship and fellowship.

The Bhakti Saint responsible for founding many punyakshetras along the length and breadth of India, by taming avatars of Parvati and imprisoning her essence in Sri Chakras, is Adi Shankaracharya.

Karaikal Ammaiyar, also known as Punitavati, lived during the 6th century CE and is considered one of the 63 Nayanars, the Shaivite saints of Tamil Nadu. She was known for her unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva and her extraordinary spiritual experiences. Her life and poetry reflect her deep love and dedication to Shiva, whom she worshipped ardently.

'Padmavat' is a famous epic poem written in the Awadhi language by Malik Muhammad Jayasi, a Sufi poet from the Indian subcontinent. It was composed in the 16th century, around 1540 CE. The poem narrates the story of the beautiful queen Padmavati and the Rajput king Ratan Sen (also known as Ratansen) of Chittor, along with the Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji's siege of Chittor.

The Bhakti movement started in the 7th Century-8th Century in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (North India). Later it spread to Karnataka, Maharashtra, and it reached North India in the 15th Century.