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Q90 (IAS/2014) History & Culture › Culture, Literature, Religion & Philosophy › Bhakti, Sufi and Sikh movements Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. 'Bijak' is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. 2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D - Neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct.

Bijak is the best-known compilation of the teachings of Kabir and not of Dadu Dayal.[1] Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect. Kabir was a 15th-century saint and poet who played a significant role in the Bhakti movement, and the Bijak contains his verses and teachings.

Regarding statement 2, the philosophy of Pushti Marg (The path of Grace) was propounded by Vallabhacharya (1479-1531).[2] In contrast, Madhavacharya propounded Dvaita or dualism.[2] Therefore, statement 2 is also incorrect. Pushti Marg emphasizes devotion and divine grace as the path to salvation, while Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy focused on the dualistic distinction between the soul and God.

Since both statements are incorrect, the answer is D.

Sources
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Q. Consider the following statements : 1. 'Bijak' is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal. 2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg w…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 10/10

This is a classic 'Swap Trap' question where the examiner switches the attributes of two famous entities. It is 100% static history covered in NCERT Themes Part II and TN Board History. The strategy is simple: Memorize the 'Saint-Book-Philosophy' triad for all major Bhakti figures.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is "Bijak" a compilation of the teachings of the saint Dadu Dayal?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"'Bijak' is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal."
Why this source?
  • 'Bijak' is explicitly identified as a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal in this passage.
  • This passage directly affirms the statement without qualification.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Bijak is the best-known compilation of the teachings of Kabir and not of Dadu Dayal."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly contradicts the statement by identifying Bijak as the best-known compilation of Kabir's teachings, not Dadu Dayal's.
  • Provides a clear refutation that directly conflicts with the supporting passage.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 8.1 Weaving a divine fabric: Kabir > p. 161
Strength: 5/5
“Kabir (c. fourteenth-fifteenth centuries) is perhaps one of the most outstanding examples of a poet-saint who emerged within this context. Historians have painstakingly tried to reconstruct his life and times through a study of compositions attributed to him as well as later hagiographies. Such exercises have proved to be challenging on a number of counts. Verses ascribed to Kabir have been compiled in three distinct but overlapping traditions. The Kabir Bijak is preserved by the Kabirpanth (the path or sect of Kabir) in Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh; the Kabir Granthavali is associated with the Dadupanth in Rajasthan, and many of his compositions are found in the Adi Granth Sahib (see Section 8.2).”
Why relevant

Mentions the 'Kabir Bijak' as a named compilation preserved by a specific sect (Kabirpanth) and distinguishes it from other compilations (Kabir Granthavali associated with Dadupanth).

How to extend

A student could use this pattern (Bijak as a named compilation linked to a particular saint/sect) plus knowledge of which sect preserves texts to check whether a 'Bijak' is associated with Dadu Dayal or his sect (Dadupanth).

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Bhakti- Sufi Traditions Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional T tional Ttional Texts (c. eighth to eighteenth century) > p. 140
Strength: 4/5
“We saw in Chapter 4 that by the mid-first millennium CE the landscape of the subcontinent was dotted with a variety of religious structures – stupas, monasteries, temples. If these typified certain religious beliefs and practices, others have been reconstructed from textual traditions, including the Puranas, many of which received their present shape around the same time, and yet others remain only faintly visible in textual and visual records. New textual sources available from this period include compositions attributed to poet-saints, most of whom expressed themselves orally in regional languages used by ordinary people. These compositions, which were often set to music, were compiled by disciples or devotees, generally after the death of the poet-saint.”
Why relevant

States that compositions of poet-saints were often compiled by disciples or devotees, generally after the saint's death.

How to extend

Combine this rule with historical info on Dadu Dayal and his followers to see if his teachings were compiled posthumously into a work titled 'Bijak'.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 14: The Mughal Empire > Sikhism > p. 216
Strength: 3/5
“Sikhism originated as a popular monotheistic movement, and evolved into one of the recognized religions of the world. Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, contained the sayings of Muslim saint Shaikh Farid and of Bhakti poets such as Namdev, Kabir, Sain and Ravidas. Guru Nanak believed in one God who was formless and omnipresent. He condemned image worship and religious rituals. He stressed ethical conduct, kindness to all human beings and condemned caste system.”
Why relevant

Shows the precedent that the sayings of various bhakti poets and saints were collected into authoritative compilations (e.g., sayings of Namdev, Kabir in Guru Granth Sahib).

How to extend

Use this general precedent to justify checking whether Dadu Dayal's teachings were similarly collected into a named compendium like a 'Bijak'.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Shastras or devotion? > p. 144
Strength: 2/5
“This is a verse composed by Appar, a Nayanar saint: O rogues who quote the law books, Of what use are your gotra and kula? Just bow to Marperu's lord (Shiva who resides in Marperu, in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu) as your sole refuge. Ü Are there any similarities or differences in the attitudes of Tondaradippodi and Appar towards Brahmanas? During their travels the Alvars and Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities. Very often large temples were later built at these sacred places. These developed as centres of pilgrimage. Singing compositions of these poet-saints became part of temple rituals in these shrines, as did worship of the saints' images.”
Why relevant

Describes how poet-saints' compositions were compiled and integrated into ritual and textual traditions (e.g., sung, compiled, preserved at shrines).

How to extend

A student could investigate whether Dadu Dayal's verses were compiled into a text used by his followers in liturgy or preserved by his sect under the title 'Bijak'.

Statement 2
Was the philosophy of the Pushti Marg propounded by the philosopher Madhvacharya?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the philosophy of Pushti Marg (The path of Grace) was propounded by Vallabhacharya (1479-1531). Madhavacharya propounded Dvaita or dualism."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states who propounded Pushti Marg, naming Vallabhacharya rather than Madhvacharya.
  • Contrasts Vallabhacharya with Madhvacharya, saying Madhvacharya propounded Dvaita, thus refuting the statement.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Lucent GK page 71: Vallabhacharya (1479-1531)- he propounded the philosophy of Pushtimarg. Hence answer D neither 1 nor 2 are correct."
Why this source?
  • Cites a reference (Lucent GK) that Vallabhacharya propounded the philosophy of Pushtimarg.
  • Draws the conclusion that the related statement about Madhvacharya is incorrect ('neither 1 nor 2 are correct').

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Ramananda (1400-1470) > p. 195
Strength: 5/5
“While Chaitanya of Bengal belonged to the philosophical school of Madhavacharya (a chief advocate of Dvaita school of vedhanta), Ramananda was of Ramanuja's philosophical thought. Ramananda was born at Ramananda Pravag (Allahabad) and received his higher education in Hindu religious philosophy at Banaras and joined the school of Ramanuja as a preacher. He visited the holy places of North India and preached Vaishnavism. Ramananda introduced radical changes in Vaishnavism by founding his own sect based on the doctrine of love and devotion to Rama and Sita. He preached equality before God. He rejected caste system, particularly the supremacy of Brahmins as the sole custodians of Hindu religion.”
Why relevant

States that Chaitanya belonged to the philosophical school of Madhavacharya and explicitly identifies Madhavacharya as a chief advocate of the Dvaita (dualism) school.

How to extend

A student could use this to check whether Pushti Marg is described elsewhere as Dvaita or as a separate school (if Pushti Marg is not Dvaita, it likely was not propounded by Madhvacharya).

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > I. Choose the Correct Answer > p. 196
Strength: 4/5
“Madhavacharya belonged to the philosophical school of • (a) Dwaita (b) Advaita• (c) Visistadvaita (d) Pushti marga 7. was one of the disciples of the Bhakti saint-poet Ramananda. • (a) Chaitanya (b) Mirabai • (c) Guru Nanak (d) Kabir • 196 Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India”
Why relevant

Contains a multiple‑choice item listing Madhavacharya and 'Pushti marga' as distinct options for 'philosophical school of' — implying they are considered separate named schools in the same pedagogical context.

How to extend

A student could infer that Pushti Marga is treated as a distinct philosophical/sectarian label and therefore check whether that label maps to Madhvacharya or to a different founder.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > 13.2 Spread of Bhakti Movement to the North India > p. 192
Strength: 4/5
“When the popularity of the bhakti movement in south India reached its peak, the doctrine of bhakti was expounded at the philosophical level by a series of Vaishnava scholars and saints. Ramanujar expounded the philosophy known as Vishistadvaita, or qualified monism. His teaching qualified Adi Sankara's emphasis on absolute monism or the oneness of the 'supreme' and the 'souls'. If the Bhakti movement flourished in the Tamil country from the seventh century, it was only from the fifteenth century that there was an extraordinary outburst of devotional poetry in north India. The society had degenerated into a caste-ridden community with practice of segregation, polytheism and idolatry.”
Why relevant

Explains that the bhakti movement produced several Vaishnava scholars who expounded distinct philosophies (e.g., Ramanuja's Vishistadvaita vs. Sankara's Advaita).

How to extend

A student could use the pattern—different bhakti leaders founding distinct schools—to hypothesize that Pushti Marg may have its own founder rather than being Madhvacharya's doctrine.

History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Introduction > p. 190
Strength: 3/5
“Even though texts such as the Bhagavad Gita talk about the path of bhakti, or bhakti-marga, the movement gained force only in this period. Historians argue that this emerged in opposition to the ethical, fatalistic and atheistic traditions of Jainism and Buddhism. Vedic theism incorporated certain features from both.”
Why relevant

Describes the bhakti movement producing many sects and doctrines, indicating multiple distinct devotional paths arose historically.

How to extend

A student could treat Pushti Marg as one such devotional path and investigate whether historical patterns attribute its doctrine to Madhvacharya or to another teacher.

Pattern takeaway: UPSC Culture questions often use 'Famous Noun + Wrong Famous Owner'. They paired a very famous text (Bijak) with a slightly less mainstream saint (Dadu) to test your confidence in the basics. If you know the core fact (Bijak = Kabir), the obscure part (Dadu) becomes irrelevant.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from NCERT Themes in Indian History Part II (Page 161 mentions Kabir Bijak) and TN Class XI (Page 196 distinguishes Madhvacharya from Pushti Marg).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Bhakti & Sufi Traditions > The crystallization of oral traditions into texts (Bijak, Granthavali) and philosophical schools (Vedanta schools).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Six Schools of Vedanta' & Bhakti equivalents: 1) Shankara = Advaita (Monism), 2) Ramanuja = Vishishtadvaita, 3) Madhvacharya = Dvaita (Dualism), 4) Nimbarka = Dvaitadvaita, 5) Vallabhacharya = Shuddhadvaita (Pushti Marg), 6) Chaitanya = Achintya Bheda Abheda.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just read names. Create a 'Confusion Matrix'. If the question mentions 'Bijak', ask 'Is it Kabir?'. If it mentions 'Pushti Marg', ask 'Is it Vallabhacharya?'. The examiner relies on you knowing the names but forgetting the specific pairings.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Sectal preservation of saintly compilations
💡 The insight

Reference [1] shows specific compilations (Kabir Bijak, Kabir Granthavali, Adi Granth) are tied to particular sects (Kabirpanth, Dadupanth), highlighting how texts are preserved by religious communities.

UPSC questions often test attribution and provenance of religious texts. Mastering how sects preserve and name compilations helps correctly attribute texts to saints/sects and avoid confusion between similarly named works. Prepare by mapping key saints to their principal compilations and the sects that guard them.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > 8.1 Weaving a divine fabric: Kabir > p. 161
🔗 Anchor: "Is "Bijak" a compilation of the teachings of the saint Dadu Dayal?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Compilation of poet-saints' works by disciples after death
💡 The insight

Reference [7] explains that compositions of poet-saints were often compiled by disciples posthumously, a process relevant to claims about who authored or compiled a 'Bijak'.

Understanding the common practice of posthumous compilation aids in evaluating provenance claims and source reliability in history questions. This concept links to textual criticism and the study of hagiographies; practise by reviewing examples where disciples compiled poets' works and noting sectal variations.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Bhakti- Sufi Traditions Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional T tional Ttional Texts (c. eighth to eighteenth century) > p. 140
🔗 Anchor: "Is "Bijak" a compilation of the teachings of the saint Dadu Dayal?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Varieties of textual sources and their provenance
💡 The insight

Reference [5] outlines different genre-types (treatises, malfuzat) and compilation practices by religious orders, which is relevant for assessing claims about the origin of a named text like 'Bijak'.

High-yield for questions on historical sources and methods — knowing genres and compilation norms helps evaluate authenticity and origin of texts across traditions. Study by categorising source-types and matching examples to religious traditions.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Varieties of sources used to reconstruct the history of sufi traditions > p. 166
🔗 Anchor: "Is "Bijak" a compilation of the teachings of the saint Dadu Dayal?"
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Major Vedanta schools: Dvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita
💡 The insight

References identify Madhavacharya with Dvaita and Ramanuja with Vishishtadvaita, showing relevance of Vedanta classifications to questions about who propounded which sect.

UPSC often asks to match religious leaders with their philosophical schools and contrast doctrinal differences. Mastering the names and basic positions of the three classical Vedanta schools helps answer identification and comparison questions, and connects to topics on Bhakti movements and regional religious developments. Prepare by creating a concise table of proponents, core tenets, and historical impact.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Ramananda (1400-1470) > p. 195
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > 13.2 Spread of Bhakti Movement to the North India > p. 192
🔗 Anchor: "Was the philosophy of the Pushti Marg propounded by the philosopher Madhvacharya..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Philosophical affiliations of Bhakti leaders
💡 The insight

Evidence links individual bhakti leaders (e.g., Chaitanya, Ramananda) to specific Vedanta schools, illustrating that bhakti movements often had distinct philosophical backdrops.

Questions frequently require linking bhakti saints/movements to their doctrinal origins. Knowing these affiliations enables quick elimination in MCQs and supports essay arguments about doctrinal diversity within Bhakti. Study by mapping prominent bhakti figures to their philosophical lineage and regional base.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Ramananda (1400-1470) > p. 195
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > 13.2 Spread of Bhakti Movement to the North India > p. 192
🔗 Anchor: "Was the philosophy of the Pushti Marg propounded by the philosopher Madhvacharya..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Bhakti movement: regional spread and doctrinal evolution
💡 The insight

References describe the south-to-north spread of bhakti and how Vaishnava scholars developed devotional doctrine at a philosophical level.

High-yield for polity/culture sections: questions probe causes, regional trajectories, and intellectual elaboration of Bhakti. Understanding how regional contexts linked to doctrinal schools aids in analytical answers and source-based questions. Revise chronology, regional centres, and key doctrinal contributions from primary scholars.

📚 Reading List :
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > 13.2 Spread of Bhakti Movement to the North India > p. 192
  • History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Introduction > p. 190
🔗 Anchor: "Was the philosophy of the Pushti Marg propounded by the philosopher Madhvacharya..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Since Dadu Dayal was a distractor here, he is a candidate for future questions. Fact: Dadu Dayal was a Nirguna saint from Gujarat/Rajasthan. His teachings were compiled by his disciples (Rajjab and Jagannath) into 'Dadu Anubhav Vani' and 'Harde Vani'. He founded the 'Brahma Sampradaya'.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Famous Mismatch' Heuristic: 'Bijak' is the single most famous work associated with Kabir. If a statement attributes the *most famous* work of Saint A to Saint B, it is almost certainly false. Similarly, Madhvacharya is the champion of 'Dvaita' (Dualism/Logic); 'Pushti' implies 'Grace/Emotion' (Vallabha). The vibe of the philosopher doesn't match the school.

🔗 Mains Connection

Connect Bhakti Philosophy to GS4 (Ethics): The 'Pushti Marg' (Path of Grace) represents a shift from 'Karma' (Ritual action) and 'Jnana' (Knowledge) to 'Bhakti' (Surrender). This parallels the ethical shift from rigid deontological rules to virtue ethics and love-based morality in medieval India.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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Consider the following Bhakti Saints : 1. Dadu Dayal 2. Guru Nanak 3. Tyagraja Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

CDS-I · 2016 · Q105 Relevance score: -0.73

Consider the following statements : 1. Abhinavagupta wrote a comprehensive treatise called the Tantraloka which systematically presents the teachings of the Kula and Trika systems 2. The Samaraichchakaha by Haribhadra Suri written in Gujarat around the eighth century is technically not a tantric work but is saturated with tantric ideas and practices Which of the statements given above is / are correct ?

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Consider the following statements : 1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar. 2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II · 2023 · Q96 Relevance score: -1.94

Which of the following statements about the Vaishnava saint of Assam, Shankardeva, is/are correct? 1. His teachings are often known as the Bhagavati dharma. 2. He encouraged the establishment of satras or monasteries and namghars or prayer halls for the transmission of spiritual knowledge. 3. His major compositions include the Kirtana-ghosha.

CDS-II · 2024 · Q62 Relevance score: -2.22

Consider the following statements about the Vedanta philosophy: 1. Shankara was the founder of Advaita Vedanta. 2. The philosophy of Dvaita was elaborated by Madhva. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?