Consider the following statements:

1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Saint Nimbarka was not a contemporary of Akbar (c.1556–1605 CE). There is a great disagreement among historians about his year of birth. However, modern historical research places him in the 13th-14th century. He was a Vaishnava saint and a chief proponent of Dvaita-Advaita philosophy, i.e., duality and nonduality simultaneously (dualistic nondualism). He founded a community called Nimbarka Sampradaya. The basic practice of this community is the worship of Sri Radha Madhav, with Sri Radha personified as an inseparable part of Sri Krishna.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624) belonged to the Naqshbandi Sufi order and opposed the religious ideas of Akbar. However, Kabir is a 15th-century saint and died even before the birth of Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Hard