CBSE Class 7 Social Science Chapter 8 – Devotional Paths to the Divine NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 7 PDF

CBSE Class 7 Social Science Chapter 8, Devotional Paths to the Divine, introduces the rich tapestry of spiritual traditions that flourished in India. This chapter explores the profound influence of the Bhakti and Sufi movements, highlighting the lives and teachings of influential figures such as Shankara, Ramanuja, Kabir, and Baba Guru Nanak, alongside the Sufi saints. It emphasizes their shared belief in devotion to a formless God, their critique of elaborate rituals and the caste system, and their advocacy for equality and kindness. The text also sheds light on the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis, and the significant contributions of the Alvars and Nayanars. These insights offer a comprehensive understanding of the spiritual and social dynamics of medieval India, making the subject accessible and engaging for students.

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Board	CBSE
Class	Class 7
Subject	Social Science
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 8 – Devotional Paths to the Divine

Chapter summary

Chapter 8 of the Class 7 Social Science textbook, 'Devotional Paths to the Divine,' explores the emergence and development of Bhakti and Sufi movements. The NCERT Solutions cover the core beliefs and practices of various spiritual traditions, including the teachings of key saints, their views on caste and rituals, and their emphasis on devotion and love. The solutions also touch upon the Nathpanthis, Siddhas, Yogis, Alvars, and Nayanars, offering insights into their paths to the divine.

Learning outcomes

Understand the core beliefs of the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Identify key saints and their teachings, such as Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Sufi mystics.
Explain the rejection of caste and ritualism by various devotional paths.
Describe the practices of Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis.
Recognize the significance of the Alvars and Nayanars in devotional traditions.
Analyze the attitudes of different religious groups towards caste and social differences.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Introduction to Devotional Paths
The Buddha and Questioning Social Differences
Shankara and Advaita
Ramanuja and Vishishtadvaita
Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
Kabir's Teachings
Sufi Mystics and their Practices
Rejection of Prevalent Religious Beliefs
Baba Guru Nanak's Teachings
Virashaivism and Caste
The Saints of Maharashtra
Mirabai's Devotion

Important topics

Bhakti and Sufi Movements
Teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak
Sufi Practices (Zikr, Sama)
Attitude towards Caste
Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis
Alvars and Nayanars

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

Match the following:

The Buddha

namghar

Shankaradeva – worship of Vishnu

Nizamuddin Auliya questioned social differences

Nayanars

Sufi saint

Alvars

worship of Shiva

Solution: The correct matching is as follows:

The Buddha – questioned social differences
Shankaradeva – namghar
Nizamuddin Auliya - Sufi saint
Nayanars - worship of Shiva
Alvars - worship of Vishnu

Question 2

Fill in the blanks:

Shankara was an advocate of.....
Ramanuja was influenced by the ......
, ..... and ...... were advocates of Virashaivism.
..... was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.

Solution: Here are the completed sentences:

Shankara was an advocate of Advaita.
Ramanuja was influenced by the Alvars.
Basavanna, Allama Prabhu, Akkamahadevi were advocates of Virashaivism.
Pandharpur was an important centre of the Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra.

Question 3

Describe the beliefs and practices of the Nathpanthis, Siddhas and Yogis.

Solution: The Nathpanthis, Siddhas, and Yogis were a group of religious ascetics who advocated a path to salvation through intense training of the mind and body. Their major beliefs and practices included:

Renunciation of the world: They believed that worldly attachments hindered spiritual progress.
Meditation on the formless God: They advocated meditation on the formless Supreme Being and sought to realize oneness with it as the path to salvation.
Intense physical and mental training: To achieve their spiritual goals, they practiced yogasanas, breathing exercises, and meditation.
Rejection of conventional religion: They did not believe in the rituals and other aspects of conventional religion and the established social order.

Question 4

What were the major ideas expressed by Kabir? How did he express these?

Solution: Kabir was a prominent mystic poet and saint whose teachings profoundly influenced the Bhakti movement. The major ideas expressed by Kabir include:

Rejection of Major Religious Traditions: He criticized the rigid doctrines and practices of both Hinduism and Islam.
Criticism of External Worship: Kabir strongly opposed the emphasis on idol worship and elaborate rituals, advocating for a more internalized form of devotion.
Criticism of Social Evils: He was a vocal critic of the caste system and the priestly classes who perpetuated social inequalities.
Belief in a Formless Supreme God: Kabir believed in one formless Supreme God, whom he referred to by various names.
Emphasis on Bhakti: He stressed that devotion and love for God were the most effective means to achieve salvation.

Kabir expressed these ideas through a vast collection of verses known as sakhis and pads. These verses were composed by him and were widely sung by wandering bhajan singers, making his message accessible to the common people.

Question 5

What were the major beliefs and practices of the Sufis?

Solution: The Sufis were Muslim mystics who sought a direct personal experience of God. Their major beliefs and practices included:

Rejection of Outward Religiosity: They emphasized inner spiritual experience over outward religious observance and rituals.
Love and Devotion to God: Sufis believed that love and devotion were the primary means to connect with the divine.
Compassion for All: They inspired people to be compassionate and kind towards all fellow human beings, irrespective of their background.
Simplified Worship: While rejecting idol worship, they simplified rituals into collective prayers and focused on the spiritual essence of worship.
Training the Heart: Sufis believed that the heart could be trained to perceive the world differently through spiritual discipline.
Spiritual Training Methods: They developed elaborate methods for spiritual training under the guidance of a master (pir). These methods included zikr (chanting of a name or sacred formula), contemplation, sama (listening to music), rags (dancing), and discussion of parables.

Question 6

Why do you think many teachers rejected prevalent religious beliefs and practices?

Solution: Many teachers and spiritual reformers rejected the prevalent religious beliefs and practices of their time for several significant reasons:

Social Differences and Inequality: Existing religious systems often upheld and justified social hierarchies, including the caste system, which led to discrimination and inequality. Reformers sought a more egalitarian approach.
Excessive Ritualism: The emphasis on complex and often meaningless rituals, sacrifices, and outward displays of piety was seen as a barrier to genuine spiritual connection.
Superficiality: Many religious practices had become superficial, focusing on outward appearances rather than inner spiritual development and ethical conduct.
Inaccessibility: Certain religious traditions and their texts were inaccessible to the common people, often due to language barriers or the exclusivity of religious knowledge.

These teachers advocated for simpler, more personal, and inclusive paths to the divine that emphasized love, devotion, and ethical living.

Question 7

What were the major teachings of Baba Guru Nanak?

Solution: Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, imparted profound teachings that emphasized spiritual equality and social responsibility. His major teachings include:

Worship of One God: He stressed the importance of worshipping a single, formless God.
Equality of All: Guru Nanak insisted that caste, creed, or gender were irrelevant for attaining spiritual liberation. He promoted the idea of equality among all human beings.
Active Life with Social Commitment: His concept of liberation was not about renouncing the world but about pursuing an active, engaged life with a strong sense of social responsibility and ethical conduct.
Essence of Teaching (Nam, Dan, Isnan): He summarized the essence of his teachings using the terms nam (right worship), dan (welfare of others), and isnan (purity of conduct).
Importance of Right Conduct: He gave importance to right belief, honest living, and helping others as integral parts of spiritual life.

Question 8

For either the Virashaivas or the saints of Maharashtra, discuss their attitude towards caste.

Solution: The Virashaivas held a progressive and egalitarian attitude towards caste, challenging the prevailing Brahmanical norms.

Belief in Equality: They strongly believed in the fundamental equality of all human beings, irrespective of their social standing or background.
Opposition to Caste System: The Virashaivas were against the rigid caste system and the discriminatory practices associated with it. They rejected the Brahmanical notions of purity and pollution based on birth.
Advocacy for Women: They also opposed the Brahmanical ideas regarding the treatment of women and advocated for their respect and inclusion.
Vision of a Harmonious Society: Their ideal was a society where people from all walks of life could coexist harmoniously, free from feelings of superiority or inferiority based on wealth or social status.

This inclusive approach aimed to create a more just and equitable social order.

Question 9

Why do you think ordinary people preserved the memory of Mirabai?

Solution: Ordinary people likely preserved the memory of Mirabai because her life and devotion resonated deeply with their own spiritual aspirations and experiences. Despite being a Rajput princess married into a royal family, Mirabai renounced worldly status and norms of high society to dedicate herself to the worship of Lord Krishna. Her supreme devotion, her willingness to leave the royal palace, and her choice to live a simple life among ordinary people made her an inspiring figure. Her poetry, filled with intense love for her deity, expressed sentiments that were relatable to many, transcending social barriers and offering a powerful example of unwavering faith and spiritual commitment.

Question 10

Find out whether in your neighbourhood there are any dargahs, gurudwaras or temples associated with saints of the Bhakti tradition in your neighbourhood. Visit any one of these and describe what you see and hear.

Solution: This is an exercise designed for students to explore their local environment and connect with the history of devotional traditions. Students are encouraged to identify any such places in their neighbourhood, visit them, and observe the architecture, listen to the devotional songs or prayers, and understand the significance of the place and the saint associated with it. This personal exploration can provide a deeper appreciation for the living heritage of Bhakti and Sufi traditions.

Question 11

For any of the saint-poets whose compositions have been included in this chapter, find out more about their works, noting down other poems. Find out whether these are sung, how they are sung, and what the poets wrote about.

Solution: This question encourages students to conduct further research into the lives and works of the saint-poets discussed in the chapter. For example, students could explore more compositions by Kabir, Mirabai, or Guru Nanak. They can investigate how these poems are preserved, whether they are set to music and sung in devotional gatherings, and the common themes and messages conveyed by the poets, such as devotion, social justice, and spiritual wisdom.

Common mistakes

Confusing the specific teachings of different saints.
Not clearly distinguishing between Bhakti and Sufi practices.
Overlooking the emphasis on social equality in the teachings of reformers.
Misinterpreting the role of rituals and idol worship in these traditions.

Revision tips

Create a table to compare the beliefs and practices of different saints and movements.
Focus on the key ideas of each teacher mentioned in the chapter.
Understand the reasons why many teachers rejected existing religious norms.
Pay attention to the specific terms used by saints like Guru Nanak (nam, dan, isnan).

Practice MCQs

Q1. Who among the following were devotees of Lord Vishnu?

Q2. Which concept was advocated by Shankara?

Q3. Kabir criticized which of the following?

Q4. What did Baba Guru Nanak emphasize as essential for liberation?

Q5. The Sufis emphasized which of the following?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 8: Devotional Paths to the Divine for Class 7 Social Science?

This chapter explores the emergence and development of various devotional paths in India, primarily focusing on the Bhakti and Sufi traditions, and the teachings of prominent saints and reformers who emphasized devotion, love, and equality.

Who were the Alvars and Nayanars?

The Alvars were devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars were devotees of Shiva. They were Tamil saints who spread the message of Bhakti through their poems and teachings.

What were the key ideas of Kabir?

Kabir's major ideas included the rejection of major religious traditions, criticism of external worship, the caste system, and priestly classes, and a strong belief in a formless Supreme God attained through devotion.

What practices did Sufis follow?

Sufis followed practices like zikr (chanting a name or sacred formula), contemplation, sama (singing), rags (dancing), and discussion of parables, all under the guidance of a master called a pir.

What was the attitude of Virashaivas towards caste?

The Virashaivas believed in the equality of all human beings and were against Brahmanical ideas about caste and the treatment of women. They advocated for a harmonious society without distinctions of high and low.

How do these NCERT Solutions help students?

These solutions provide clear, rewritten answers to all questions, helping students understand the concepts, methods, and key figures discussed in the chapter, which is crucial for exam preparation.

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