RBSE Solutions for Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 8 Devotional Paths to the Divine

Rajasthan Board RBSE Solutions for Class 7 Social Science  History Chapter 8 Devotional Paths to the Divine Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 7 Social Science Solutions History Chapter 8 Devotional Paths to the Divine

RBSE Class 7 Social Science Devotional Paths to the Divine InText Questions and Answers

Page 105

Question 1. 
You can observe this process of local myths and legends receiving wider acceptance even today. Can you find some examples around you?
Answer: 
The stories of Anjana Kumari and Maina Sundari in Jainism are well known that they attained salvation due to their Bhakti in the supreme God. Other examples are as following:

1. Baba Ramdevji in Rajasthan.
2. Forms of Goddess Durga.
3. Raginis in Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
4. Alha Udal in Bundelkhand.

 

Page 106

Question 2.
How does the poet describe his relationship with the deity?
Answer: 
The poet says that he has got salvation with the blessings of God.

Page 10

Question 3.
Try and find out more about the ideas of Shankara or Ramanuja.
Answer: 
Shankaracharya was one of the well known philosophers in south India, bom in Kerala in the 8th century. He gave the idea bf-Advaita. This is doctrine of the oneness of individual soul and supreme God. He taught that the world prevailed around us to the illusion or Maya. He laid stress on the adbption of path of knowledge to know the true nature of Brahman and attain salvation. He helped in the improvement of Hinduism.Ramanuja is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita, subschool of Vedanta who followed Lord Vishnu. He presented the epistemic importance of bhakti, or the devotion to a personal God as a means to spiritual liberation. His theories assert that there exists a plurality and distinction between Atman (soul) and Brahman (meta¬physical, ultimate reality), while he also affirmed that there is unity of all souls and that the individual soul has the potential to realise identity with the Brahman.

Page 108

Question 4.
What is the temple that Basavanna is offering to God?
Answer: Basavanna’s body.

Page 109

Question 5.
Discuss the ideas about the social order expressed in the compositions of Saint Tukaram.
Answer: The ideas expressed in the compositions of Saint Tukaram are as follows:

1. God lives in the hearts of all high or low, dalits or the high ups.
2. God treats the weak as his son and daughter.
3. These pious people are God themselves.
4. If anyone ill treats them, he should be ashamed of

Page 115

Question 6. 
Why do you think Mirabai left the Rana’s palace?
Answer: 
Mirabai left the Rana’s palace because she did not like to remain confined in the four walls of the palaces. She devoted herself to Lord Krishna. 

Page 116

Question 7.
In what ways are the ideas of this poem similar to or different from those of Basavanna and Jalaluddin Rumi?
Answer: 
Similarity-Just as Basavanna and Jalaluddin Rumi have described the abode of God in the heart of man, Kabir has also described the abode of God within the heart of man.
Difference-The poem says that God lives inside us so there is no need to keep fast and RamzAnswer:

RBSE Class 7 Social Science Devotional Paths to the DivineTextbook Questions and Answers

imagine

Question 8.
You are attending a meeting where a saint is discussing the caste system. Relate the conversation.
Answer: 
The main points of conversation are as follows:

1. Varna system was the classification of society according to low and high, rich and poor.
2. It was not fruitful for the society as it divided the society into low or high caste.
3. There are many ill effects of caste system.
4. Some rules were prescribed by some influential people. 
5. It should be removed to create harmony.

Let’s recall 

Question 1. 
Match the following:

Column A	Column B
1. The Buddha	(a) Nmhar
2. Shankaradeva	(b) Worship of Vishnu
3. Nizamuddin Auliya	(c) Questions social difference
4. Nayanars	(d) Sufi saint
5. Alvars	(e) Worship of Shiva

Answer:

Column A	Column B
1. The Buddha	(c) Questions social difference
2. Shankaradeva	(a) Nmhar
3. Nizamuddin Auliya	(d) Sufi saint
4. Nayanars	(e) Worship of Shiva
5. Alvars	(b) Worship of Vishnu

Question 2. 
Fill in the blanks:
(a) Shankara was an advocate of ................
Answer:
advaita

(b) Ramanuja was influenced by the ................
Answer:
 alvars

(c)  ................ , ................and ................ were advocate of Virashaivism.
Answer:
Basavanna Allama Prabhu Akkamahadevi

(d)  was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.
Answer: 
Pandharpur

Question 3. 
Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.
Answer: 
Beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis are as follows:

1. They criticised prevalent rituals and unequal social order.
2. They believed in the renunciation of the world. According to them, meditation on the formless reality and the realisation of oneness with it, is the path of salvation.
3. To achieve salvation, they prescribed . training of mind and body through practices like Yogasana, breathing exercises and meditation.

Question 4. 
What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these? 
Answer: 
Kabir’s ideas were:

1. Rejection of religious traditions and orthodox religion.
2. Denied idolatry and external forms of worship by Hindus or Muslims.
3. His teachings did not pay attention to justly classes and caste system.
4. Believed in a formless supreme God.
5. Devotion is the only path to salvation. Kabir encouraged people to search their own heart to approach the God. He expressed his ideas through avast collection of Sakhis and Pads. These were composed by him and sung by wandering bhajan singers.

Let’s understand

Question 5. 
What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?
Answer: 
The major beliefs and practices of the Sufis are as follows:

1. They rejected the elaborate rituals and codes of behaviour demanded by Muslim religious scholars.
2. They emphasised love and devotion to God.
3. They believed that God is one and all powerful.
4. Everyone should love humanity to love God.
5. They composed poems and prose to devote their feelings.
6. They developed methods to train heart, for examples zikr, contemplation, sama, raqs, discussion of parables, breath control, etc.
7. These methods were performed with the help of guidance of Pirs.
8. They held assemblies in their Khanqahs.
9. Devotees of all castes assembled here to discuss about spiritual matters and solved their wordily problems.

Question 6. 
Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?
Answer: 
Many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices because of the following reasons: 

1. They were based on social difference, promoted division in the society.
2. Ritualism and outward display of piety was main feature.
3. Religious teachers did not favour them.

Question 7. 
What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?
Answer: 
The main teachings of Baba Guru Nanak were as follows:

1. He believed in the oneness of God and the importance of living a pure life.
2. He insisted that caste, creed, gender were irrelevant for attaining liberation.
3. He also used the terms riam, dan, and isnam to mean right worship, welfare, and purity of conduct.
4. His ideas were called nam-japna kirt-karna, and vand-chhakna, which mean right belief and worship, honest living, and helping others.
5. He insisted on eating together in a common kitchen known as a langar, to remove mass distinction and create equality.

Let’s discuss 

Question 8. 
For either the Virashaivas or the Saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.
Answer: The attitude of Virashaivas or the Saints of Maharashtra towards caste was:

1. They rejected caste difference based on birth.
2. They preached a humanistic attitude.
3. They taught to help fellow human beings and sharing the pain of others is more important.
4. They were against social difference, ritualism, renunciation and outward display of piety.

Question 9. 
Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?
Answer: 
Mirabai was the disciple of Ravidas, a saint hailing from a caste considered as ‘untouchable’ in Hinduism. Mirabai was devoted to Lord Krishna and comppsed many bhajans expressing her intensely felt devotion to the almighty. Ordinary, people have strived to preserve her memory because her songs openly and comprehensively challenged upper caste privileges. This gave immense popularity to Mirabai among the common people.