RAS question
Which Bhakti saint composed the 'Bijak'?
Correct answer: (C) Kabir.
The Bijak is associated with Kabir and is the sacred book of the Kabir Panth.
Explanation
Bijak is linked to Kabir because it preserves the core teachings and verse forms associated with him, including dohas, shabds and sakis. Encyclopedia.com describes Kabir as a mystic poet in the Bhakti tradition and says his works were collected in the Granth Sahib, the Kabir Granthavali and the Bijak. It also identifies the Bijak as the sacred book of the Kabir Panth, the sect devoted to Kabir's teachings. Kabir is therefore the relevant saint, not merely because he is a famous Bhakti figure, but because the text is tied to his teaching tradition and to the community that follows him.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Ramananda is linked to Kabir as his teacher in Bhakti tradition, but the Bijak is identified with Kabir's teachings and the Kabir Panth, not with Ramananda's authorship.
- (B) Namdev belongs to a different Bhakti stream, while the Bijak is connected specifically with Kabir and his followers.
- (D) Ravidas was a separate Bhakti saint, whereas the Bijak is a Kabir Panth scripture centred on Kabir's teachings.
Concept
Medieval Bhakti study links saints with their texts and sects. RAS often uses names such as Bijak or Kabir Panth to connect a saint with the devotional tradition around him.