U.P.P.C.S. Prelims 1994

Syncretic Traditions of India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The thought of which of the following Sufi saint have been incorporated in the religious book 'Adi Granth' of the Sikh?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept The Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib) is a unique syncretic scripture that includes the works of not only Sikh Gurus but also various Hindu and Muslim saints (Bhagats).

Explanation Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar, popularly known as Baba Farid, was a 13th-century Chishti Sufi saint. Guru Arjan Dev incorporated 112 'Shalokas' and 4 'Shabads' of Baba Farid into the Adi Granth because they resonated with the core Sikh values of humility and love for God.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option C is correct. Baba Farid’s Punjabi poetry is among the oldest preserved literature in the language and is a cornerstone of the Adi Granth.
Logic 2: While Muinuddin Chishti (A) and Nizamuddin Auliya (D) are major Sufi figures, their specific verses were not formally included in the Sikh canon in the same systematic way as Baba Farid's.

Active Recall

Question

Why did the Sikh Gurus include Sufi and Bhakti verses in their scripture?

Answer

To emphasize the universality of Truth and to show that spiritual wisdom is not the property of any single religion or caste.

Core Insight

The inclusion of Baba Farid's work in the Adi Granth is a supreme example of the 'Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb' and the shared spiritual heritage of the Indian subcontinent.