UPSC Prelims 2019 · Question 73 of 99
UPSC Prelims 2019 question on Nimbarka Kabir Akbar Sirhindi
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2019
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectMedieval History
- TopicBhakti and Sufi Movement
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
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?
Show answer
Answer: D. Neither 1 nor 2
Verdict
Neither statement is correct → Option (d).
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – INCORRECT: Nimbarka, a Telugu Brahmin, is believed to have been a younger contemporary of Ramanuja (11th Century). He spent most of his time in Vrindavan near Mathura in North India. He believed in total devotion to Krishna and Rama. The Mughal emperor Akbar lived from 1542-1605. Hence statement 1 is not correct as Nimbarka was much earlier than Akbar.
Statement 2 – INCORRECT: Naqshbandi Sufi Saint Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was in Haryana in the period of 1624. Whereas Kabir Das, is a 15th century mystical poet and great Bhakti Saint of India. He is the most important Nirguna Bhakti saint. The nirguna bhaktas were devotees of a formless God even while calling him variously as Rama, Govinda, Hari or Raghunatha. Kabir was not influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi — they were from different periods. Hence statement 2 is not correct.