Arrange the following saints in correct chronological order and select the correct answer from the code given below.

Question

Arrange the following saints in correct chronological order and select the correct answer from the code given below.

1. Nanak

2. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

3. Namdev

4. Kabir

1. A. 3, 4, 2, 1
2. B. 4, 3, 1, 2
3. C. 3, 4, 1, 2 (Correct answer)
4. D. 4, 3, 2, 1

Correct Answer

Option C — 3, 4, 1, 2

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is 3, 4, 1, 2.

Key Points

• 3. Namdev — c. 1270-1350. A Marathi saint-poet of the Varkari tradition; the earliest of the four.
• 4. Kabir — c. 1440-1518. The Nirguna saint of Varanasi.
• 1. Guru Nanak — 1469-1539. Founder of Sikhism.
• 2. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — 1486-1533. The Bengal Vaishnava saint of the Krishna bhakti tradition.
• Order: 3 → 4 → 1 → 2, option (c).

Additional Information

• The Bhakti saints divide into two streams:
  • Nirguna — worship of a formless god: Kabir, Guru Nanak, Ravidas, Dadu Dayal
  • Saguna — worship of god with attributes: Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Chaitanya, Tukaram
• Namdev's compositions are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, as are those of Kabir, Ravidas and Sheikh Farid — an important illustration of the movement's inclusiveness.
• Chaitanya popularised kirtan and sankirtan (congregational singing) and is regarded by his followers as an incarnation of Krishna; the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition descends from him.
• Southern precursors of the movement were the Alvars (Vaishnava) and Nayanars (Shaiva) of Tamil Nadu, and its philosophical foundations were laid by Shankaracharya, Ramanuja, Madhva, Nimbarka and Vallabhacharya.