CDS 2019 (II)

Bhakti Literature and Geography

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who is the author of the 16th century Sanskrit text, the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa which focuses on the Braj region in North India?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept The 16th century saw the 'rediscovery' and literary mapping of the Braj region (Mathura/Vrindavan) by Gaudiya Vaishnava scholars who sought to establish the physical sites of Krishna's pastimes.

Explanation Narayana Bhatta Goswami authored the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa. He was a prominent scholar who contributed to the systematic ritual and geographical documentation of the Vraja region.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Option B is correct. While Rupa Goswami (Option D) was a major theologian, Narayana Bhatta specifically focused on the pilgrimage geography of Braj.

Logic 2: The text serves as both a devotional guide and a cultural map of the 84-kos Vraja-mandala.

Active Recall

Question

What is the significance of the 16th-century Vrindavan movement?

Answer

It transformed Mathura and Vrindavan into the central hub of Krishna Bhakti, through the architectural and literary work of the Six Goswamis and their associates.

Core Insight

Vraja Bhakti Vilasa is a key text for understanding how religious literature can physically reshape a landscape through pilgrimage and memory.

Who is the author of the 16th century Sanskrit text, the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa which focuses on the Braj region in North India?

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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