upscools
UPSC CSE Prelims 2013

Bhakti Movement Timelines

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

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?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept Synchronizing the lives of religious reformers with the political transitions of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire is a common UPSC theme.

Explanation The Lodi dynasty fell in 1526 AD. Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539) was an adult preaching in the Punjab during this exact period. Dadu Dayal (1544–1603) and Tyagaraja (1767–1847) lived in later centuries.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option 2 is correct. Guru Nanak witnessed the Babur-Lodi conflict (noted in his 'Babur-vani' verses).
Logic 2: Statement 1 is incorrect because Dadu Dayal was born nearly two decades after Babur's invasion. Statement 3 is incorrect as Tyagaraja was an 18th-19th century Carnatic composer.

Active Recall

Question

What was Guru Nanak's reaction to Babur's invasion?

Answer

In his compositions, Guru Nanak expressed deep sorrow over the suffering caused by the invasion, calling Babur's army a 'marriage party of sin'.

Core Insight

Guru Nanak's life spanned the rule of Five Delhi Sultans and the first two Mughal Emperors, placing him at a unique historical crossroads.

Practice Navigation