Which of the following pairs, drawn from devotional traditions, is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Raidas - a leather worker
Option (1) Shankaradeva - a leading proponent of Vaishnavism in Kashmir — Incorrect. Shankaradeva was a leading proponent of Vaishnavism in Assam in the late fifteenth century.
Option (2) Mirabai - the saffron robe of a widow — Incorrect. Mirabai is said to have worn the white robes of a widow or the saffron robe of the renouncer. The pair mixes up the two robes.
Option (3) Raidas - a leather worker — Correct. According to some traditions, Raidas, Mirabai's preceptor, was a leather worker. Choosing such a teacher showed her defiance of the norms of caste society.
Option (4) Basavanna - author of the Kirtana-ghosha — Incorrect. The Kirtana-ghosha is one of the major compositions of Shankaradeva. Basavanna is known for his vachanas.
NCERT (2026-27): “8.3 Mirabai, the devotee princess … “In the late fifteenth century, Shankaradeva emerged as one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam. His teachings, often known as the Bhagavati dharma because they were based on the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana, focused on absolute surrender to the supreme deity, in this case Vishnu. He emphasised the need for naam kirtan, recitation of the names of the lord in sat sanga or congregations of pious devotees. He also encouraged the establishment of satra or monasteries for the transmission of spiritual knowledge, and naam ghar or prayer halls. Many of these institutions and practices continue to flourish in the region. His major compositions include the Kirtana-ghosha.” |