41. When was Guru Nanak Dev Ji born?
a) 1569 CE
b) 1469 CE
c) 1666 CE
d) 1769 CE
Answer: b) 1469 CE
Explanation: Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born on 15 April 1469 CE (as per the Nanakshahi calendar) in Talwandi (now called Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). His birth is celebrated worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, one of the most significant festivals in Sikhism. His teachings laid the foundation for the Sikh religion, promoting equality, devotion, and service to humanity.
42. In which place was Guru Nanak Dev Ji born?
a) Amritsar
b) Talwandi (Nankana Sahib)
c) Anandpur Sahib
d) Patna Sahib
Answer: b) Talwandi (Nankana Sahib)
Explanation: Guru Nanak was born in Talwandi, which is now known as Nankana Sahib (Pakistan). This place has become an important pilgrimage site for Sikhs, and the Gurdwara Janam Asthan stands there today in his honor. His birthplace remains a center of deep reverence and is visited by devotees from around the world.
43. What is Guru Nanak Dev Ji known for?
a) Establishing the Mughal Empire
b) Founding Sikhism
c) Writing Hindu Vedas
d) Being the 10th Sikh Guru
Answer: b) Founding Sikhism
Explanation: Guru Nanak Dev Ji is the founder of Sikhism, one of the major religions in the world. He preached monotheism (belief in one God), equality of all humans, rejection of caste-based discrimination, and the importance of truthful living. His teachings are recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism.
44. Who was Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s spiritual companion and musician?
a) Bhai Mardana
b) Bhai Bala
c) Bhai Gurdas
d) Bhai Lehna
Answer: a) Bhai Mardana
Explanation: Bhai Mardana, a Muslim companion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, was a skilled rabab (string instrument) player. He accompanied Guru Nanak during his Udasis (spiritual journeys) and played music while Guru Nanak sang hymns. This tradition of singing Gurbani (divine hymns) became an essential part of Sikh devotional practice known as Kirtan.
45. What is the central teaching of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
a) Idol worship is the key to spirituality
b) Rituals are essential for enlightenment
c) Naam Simran, Kirat Karni, and Vand Chakna
d) Only fasting can bring one closer to God
Answer: c) Naam Simran, Kirat Karni, and Vand Chakna
Explanation: Guru Nanak’s teachings are summarized in three core principles:
Naam Simran – Meditating on God’s Name to attain spiritual enlightenment.
Kirat Karni – Earning an honest living through hard work and integrity.
Vand Chakna – Sharing wealth and resources with others, practicing selflessness and charity.
These principles emphasize a balanced life of devotion, ethical conduct, and service to society.
46. What was the name of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s first composition recorded in Sri Guru Granth Sahib?
a) Japji Sahib
b) Anand Sahib
c) Rehras Sahib
d) Sukhmani Sahib
Answer: a) Japji Sahib
Explanation: Japji Sahib is the first composition in Sri Guru Granth Sahib, containing the essence of Guru Nanak’s teachings. It is a morning prayer recited daily by Sikhs, explaining the nature of God, the importance of truth, and the path to spiritual liberation. This sacred hymn begins with the fundamental Sikh belief: Ik Onkar (There is One God).
47. How many Udasis (spiritual journeys) did Guru Nanak Dev Ji undertake to spread his teachings?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 5
d) 6
Answer: c) 5
Explanation: Guru Nanak Dev Ji undertook five major Udasis (1500–1524) to spread the message of oneness, equality, and devotion to God. His first journey (1500–1506) took him eastward to Varanasi, Bengal, and Sri Lanka, challenging rituals and promoting honest living. The second (1506–1513) led him south, emphasizing devotion over external practices. The third (1514–1518) covered Kashmir, Tibet, and Nepal, advocating interfaith harmony. The fourth (1519–1521) took him west to Mecca and Baghdad, stressing God’s omnipresence. In his final journey (1523–1524), he settled in Kartarpur, laying the foundation for Sikhism.
48. What was Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s main message regarding God?
a) God is formless and present everywhere
b) God is only in temples
c) God can only be worshipped through priests
d) God prefers elaborate rituals
Answer: a) God is formless and present everywhere
Explanation: Guru Nanak rejected idol worship and the idea of God being confined to temples or religious rituals. He emphasized that God (Waheguru) is Nirankar (formless), omnipresent, and beyond human comprehension. His teachings focused on experiencing God through meditation, righteous living, and serving others.
49. What did Guru Nanak Dev Ji establish at Kartarpur?
a) A great army
b) A new empire
c) The first Sikh community (Sangat)
d) A royal palace
Answer: c) The first Sikh community (Sangat)
Explanation: After completing his spiritual journeys, Guru Nanak settled in Kartarpur (now in Pakistan) and established the first Sikh Sangat (community). This was a self-sustaining society based on equality, service, and devotion to God. Here, he introduced Langar (community kitchen), where people of all castes, religions, and backgrounds ate together as equals.
50. Who was appointed as the successor of Guru Nanak Dev Ji?
a) Guru Angad Dev Ji
b) Guru Gobind Singh Ji
c) Guru Arjan Dev Ji
d) Guru Hargobind Ji
Answer: c) Guru Angad Dev Ji
Explanation: Before his passing in 1539 CE, Guru Nanak chose Bhai Lehna as his spiritual successor, renaming him Guru Angad Dev Ji. He became the 2nd Guru of Sikhism, known for developing Gurmukhi script and continuing Guru Nanak’s teachings. Guru Nanak’s choice of a successor emphasized that leadership should be based on devotion and humility, not birth or lineage.
51. Complete the line: “The Sky is Your ______, The sun and moon are the lamps.”
a) Creation
b) Platter
c) Offering
d) Home
Answer: b) Platter
Explanation: Guru Nanak describes the sky as a platter (Thaal) in this Aarti, comparing it to the traditional offering plate used in Hindu and Sikh rituals. Instead of using a man-made plate with lamps and offerings, he suggests that the entire cosmos is already engaged in divine worship, where the sky itself serves as the offering platter.
52. What poetic device is used in the line “The Stars in the sky are the pearls”?
a) Simile
b) Hyperbole
c) Metaphor
d) Personification
Answer: c) Metaphor
Explanation: In this line, stars are metaphorically compared to pearls. Just as pearls are rare, precious, and shining, stars beautifully adorn the night sky. Guru Nanak’s use of metaphor here enhances the grandeur of nature’s divine worship, portraying the universe as a sacred temple of God.
53. In the hymn, which natural element is compared to incense?
a) Fire
b) Wind
c) Water
d) Earth
Answer: b) Wind
Explanation: Traditionally, incense (Dhoop) is used in Aarti to spread fragrance during worship. However, Guru Nanak redefines incense as the wind that naturally carries the fragrance of the earth, making human rituals unnecessary. This signifies that nature itself worships God through its elements, without any external offerings or ceremonies.
54. Which line from Guru Nanak’s Aarti reflects God’s omnipresence?
a) “You have a thousand eyes, but not one is yours”
b) “The forest is Your flowers”
c) “Your Name is so subtle that it goes unheard”
d) “I am charmed by You”
Answer: c) “You have a thousand eyes, but not one is yours”
Explanation: This paradoxical statement expresses God’s omnipresence—He sees everything but does not have a single physical form like humans. It emphasizes that God’s presence is beyond physical perception, existing everywhere and in all living beings.
55. What does the line “The sound of Your Name, which is so subtle, that it goes unheard, resounds endlessly” signify?
a) Only the saints can hear God’s voice
b) God’s presence is subtle yet eternal
c) Prayers should be spoken loudly
d) Worship should be performed in silence
Answer: b) God’s presence is subtle yet eternal
Explanation: This line highlights the continuous presence of God’s Name (Naam) in the universe. Though it may not be heard with physical ears, its divine resonance is felt in every aspect of creation. This aligns with the Sikh belief in Naam Simran (meditation on God’s Name), which connects the soul with the Divine.
56. What does the line “Your Light enlightens all!” symbolize?
a) The power of the sun
b) God’s wisdom and knowledge
c) The brightness of fire
d) The reflection of the stars
Answer: b) God’s wisdom and knowledge
Explanation: In this line, “Light” is a metaphor for divine wisdom, truth, and enlightenment. Just as light eliminates darkness, God’s wisdom removes ignorance and leads humans to righteousness. Guru Nanak teaches that spiritual awakening comes through recognizing and embracing divine knowledge.
57. What is Guru Nanak’s request in the line “Nanak is like the thirsty bird that asks, for a drop of water, from You O Lord!”?
a) He is thirsty for divine wisdom
b) He is requesting physical water
c) He is asking for worldly pleasures
d) He is describing nature
Answer: a) He is thirsty for divine wisdom
Explanation: Here, Guru Nanak compares himself to a thirsty bird longing for a drop of water, symbolizing a deep spiritual yearning for divine grace. In Indian mysticism, the Chaatrik bird (Pied Cuckoo) is believed to drink only raindrops, representing a soul’s longing for true connection with God. This metaphor conveys intense devotion and humility.
58. What is Guru Nanak expressing in the line “I am charmed by You”?
a) His admiration for nature
b) His devotion and love for God
c) His fascination with rituals
d) His interest in poetry
Answer: b) His devotion and love for God
Explanation: Guru Nanak expresses his deep admiration and devotion to the Divine. He acknowledges that God’s vastness, mystery, and presence in the universe are beyond human understanding, yet he is drawn to Him with immense love and humility. This line reflects the poet’s emotional connection with God.
59. Which of the following best represents the message of the poem?
a) God can only be worshipped in temples
b) Nature itself is engaged in divine worship
c) Only priests can perform Aarti
d) Wealth is necessary for true devotion
Answer: b) Nature itself is engaged in divine worship
Explanation: The central theme of Guru Nanak’s Aarti is that the entire cosmos naturally worships God. Instead of human-performed rituals, the sun, moon, stars, wind, and forests continuously glorify the Divine. This message challenges traditional worship practices and promotes a universal, nature-based devotion.
60. What is the meaning of the line “What pleases the Almighty is this Aarti”?
a) God is pleased with sincere devotion, not rituals
b) Only a proper ceremony can please God
c) Singing hymns loudly is the best form of worship
d) External offerings are the key to spiritual success
Answer: a) God is pleased with sincere devotion, not rituals
Explanation: Guru Nanak emphasizes that God does not need material offerings, temple rituals, or formal ceremonies. Instead, true Aarti is performed through sincere remembrance (Naam Simran), selfless service, and truthful living. This concept aligns with Sikhism’s rejection of external rituals in favor of inner devotion and ethical conduct.
