Q. Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

  1. Dadu Dayal
  2. Guru Nanak
  3. Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?

(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 2

Answer: (b) 2 only

Guru Nanak (1469-1539)
  • Guru Nanak Dev was born in 1469. Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in 1526.
  • When Babur took over and established the Mughal dynasty Nanak was travelling to different parts of India and preaching Sikhism.
    • Babur once met Guru Nanak during one of his travel.
  • Guru Nanak, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in the village Talwandi in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent in the year 1469.
  • In modern-day Pakistan, the village of Nankana Sahib is located near the city of Lahore.
  • Guru Nanak’s birth is commemorated by Sikhs all over the world on the Pooranmashi (full moon) day in the Lunar month of Katak (October-November), which varies from year to year.
  • He was a proponent of Nirguna School and was inspired by Kabir Das.
  • He emphasized “Nam Japna,” or repeating God’s name in order to sense his presence. It is important to stress, however, that Sikhism is not a continuation of the Bhakti movement.
  • He also chastised discriminatory caste systems and called for all people to be treated equally. Everyone was welcome to come and eat in the community kitchens (langars), regardless of their caste or creed.
  • Guru Granth Sahib, the renowned Sikh text, contains his teachings.
  • He taught about God’s unity and fiercely condemned idol worship, pilgrimages, and other formal religious observances.
  • He called for a medium road in which a spiritual life could coexist with domestic responsibilities.
  • One of his famous quotes was, “Abide pure amidst the impurities of the world.”
  • He intended to blur the lines between Hindus and Muslims in order to foster a climate of peace, friendliness, and reciprocal giving and taking.
  • Guru Nanak was venerated by both Hindus and Muslims throughout his lifetime on Earth, and many people outside of the Sikh faith still hold him in high regard today.
Dadu Dayal (1544-1603)
  • Dadu worked as a cotton cleaner for a living. He was born in Ahmedabad, India, around 1544 to Brahmin merchant parents.
  • Lodi Ram was his father’s name. He lived during the conclusion of Akbar’s reign and at the start of Jehangir’s.
  • He was a Kabir devotee who thought that God is independent of all religions and sects.
  • He was a contemporary of Akbar, the Mughal emperor, and it is stated that Akbar held him in high regard.
  • He was born in Gujarat and went to Jaipur later. Later, his supporters formed the Dadu Panth.
  • Dadu rejected the Vedas (the earliest Hindu scriptures), caste divisions, and other divisive, external forms of worship, such as temple visits and pilgrimages.
  • Instead, he focused on japa (the chanting of God’s name) and ideas like the soul as God’s bride.
  • Dadu’s poetic aphorisms and devotional hymns, which served as the medium for his teachings, were compiled in Bani (“Poetic Utterances’ ‘), a 5,000-verse anthology.
  • They also occur in a relatively fluid poetic anthology called Panchvani (“Five Utterances”), which serves as scriptures for the Dadu Panth, alongside selections from other poet-saints Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, and Haridas.
Tyagaraja
  • Tyagaraja, Indian composer of Carnatic songs of the genre kirtana, or kriti (devotional songs), and of ragas.
  • Although, Purandara Dasa gave Carnatic Music a start, it was the musical trinity of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshatar, and Syama Sastry really helped to bring structure to Carnatic Music, besides raising it to truly exalted levels.
  • Tyagraja is known for his life and his exemplary devotion to Lord Rama, via the path of soulful music.
  • Born in Thanjavur in 1767, Tyagaraja is credited with creating thousands of devotional compositions mostly in praise of Lord Rama, of which his most famous is called the Tyagaraja Aradhana, a music festival, is held every year at Thiruvaiyaru in his honour.