With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? 1. Meditation and control of breath 2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place 3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a st

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Q: 94 (IAS/2012)
With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices?
1. Meditation and control of breath
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

question_subject: 

History

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,118,130,21,26,83,118

keywords: 

{'sufi mystics': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'meditation': [1, 0, 0, 3], 'medieval india': [0, 0, 1, 3], 'holy songs': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'religious history': [0, 0, 0, 4], 'practices': [1, 0, 1, 7], 'severe ascetic exercises': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'recitation': [1, 0, 0, 1]}

The Sufi Mystics in medieval India were known for following various practices to seek a divine connection. Here`s an explanation of each option:

1. Meditation and control of breath: This represents the inner practices adopted by Sufis which involve meditation and breath control to help focus the mind and establish a deeper spiritual connection.

2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place: Some Sufis were known for their ascetic practices. They would often retreat to solitary places focusing on rigorous physical and spiritual exercises to reach a higher state of spiritual realization.

3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience: Sufis have a tradition of using music and poetry to share their spiritual insights and experiences. They would recite holy songs, often inducing a trance-like or ecstatic state in their audience.

Choosing option 4 (1, 2, and 3) means that all these practices were adopted by Sufis, and hence it is the correct answer.

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