SSC GD 2025 PYQ — Question 37

The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Srimanta Sankardev.

The Sattriya dance in Assam was introduced by the great Vaishnavite saint and scholar, Srimanta Sankardev, in the 15th century CE. He created this dance form as a part of his dramatic presentations called Ankiya Naat, using it as a powerful medium to propagate his neo-Vaishnavite faith. The dance was preserved and developed within the Vaishnavite monasteries, known as Sattras, from which its name is derived. It was officially recognized as one of India's eight classical dance forms in 2000. 

Other Options:

• Ramanujacharya: An 11th-century philosopher and social reformer from Tamil Nadu, Ramanuja was the chief proponent of the Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) school of Vedanta. His teachings emphasized devotion (bhakti) to a personal God (Lord Vishnu) as the path to salvation and challenged caste-based discrimination. He had a profound influence on the Bhakti Movement across India.

• Swami Narayan: Also known as Sahajanand Swami, Swaminarayan was an 18th-century spiritual leader from Uttar Pradesh who founded the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He is revered by his followers as an incarnation of God and worked to reform social practices, advocate for women's and the poor's rights, and promote a moral and disciplined life through his teachings and texts like the Shikshapatri.

• Tukaram: A 17th-century poet-saint from Maharashtra, Tukaram was a prominent figure of the Varkari sect and the Bhakti Movement. He is best known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga, which he used to express his profound devotion to the god Vithoba and to address social injustices, the caste system, and the hypocrisy of religious leaders. His poems are still widely popular and influential today.