2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 120: History and Culture

Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult ?

aNagarjuna
bTukaram
cTyagaraja
dVallabhacharya

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Nagarjuna was a Buddhist philosopher, the founder of the Madhyamika school, and was not a bhakti saint. Tukaram (Maharashtra), Tyagaraja (the Carnatic composer who devoted his songs to Rama) and Vallabhacharya (the Pushtimarg Vaishnava teacher who worshipped Krishna) all belong to the bhakti tradition. Remember: bhakti = devotion to a personal god; Nagarjuna = Madhyamika Buddhism.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: Nagarjuna was a Madhyamika Buddhist philosopher, not a bhakti proponent.
  • (b) Tukaram was a Maratha bhakti saint-poet.
  • (c) Tyagaraja composed devotional songs to Rama.
  • (d) Vallabhacharya founded the Pushtimarg Krishna-bhakti tradition.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.