TS 7th Class Social Study Material 20th Lesson Folk – Religion

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TS Board Telangana SCERT Class 7 Social Solutions 20th Lesson Folk – Religion Textbook Questions and Answers.

TS 7th Class Social 20th Lesson Questions and Answers – Folk – Religion

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Question 1.
What are the common elements in the worship of most of the village deities? (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:

  1. There are a large number of village deities – some of them belong to particular castes, or particular villages or even particular families.
  2. Some of the most common goddesses are Pochamma, Maisamma, Gangamma, and Yellamma.
  3. Common things in worshipping are – any deity is established in the form of stone under a neem tree.
  4. There are no priests – Everybody can touch the deity and pray in their own language.
  5. Another common element is offering bonhams, or sacrificing the sheep or goat, cock or hen, etc.

Question 2.
When people go to towns and settle there, do they continue to worship their old village deities? How do they do it? (C.U. & Appreciation and Sensitivity)
Answer:
Yes, they continue to worship their old village deities. On the festival days or jatara days, these people go to their own villages and participate in the worshippings.

Question 3.
Why do people use different languages while worshipping different kinds of deities? (Appreciation and Sensitivity)
Answer:
The Gods and deities mentioned in Vedas are worshipped in Sanskrit. Other different deities like Pochamma, Maisamma, Pothuraju, Beerappa, Samniakka, Sarakka are worshipped in regional languages. The reason is that they belong to particular caste, particular village or even particular family. So, the language of worshipping also changes.

Sammakka, Sarakka are folk deities. They belong to tribal people. The tribal language is different and a mixture of languages of border states.

Question 4.
Do you think the way people worship the village deities is changing now? What kind of changes do you see? (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:

  1. Yes, the way people worshipping the village deities in changing now along with the economic status of the deities.
  2. Some people donate money to build temples for the goddesses.
  3. In some places the deities are decorated with silver and gold ornaments with the donations from the public.
  4. Some deities are provided temple-like shelters and transport facilities for the visitors.

Question 5.
Point out the main places of important Jataras and Urs in given Map. (Mapping skills)
Answer:
TS 7th Class Social Study Material 20th Lesson Folk - Religion 1

Question 6.
Read the fourth paragraph of page 194 and commeni on it. (Reading the text (given), sinders ta riding and interpretation)
Most of these deities are worshipped by, people irrespective of their caste or religion or economic status. For exam pie. even Muslini farmers participate in many of  the rituals of village gods. Similarly, people of all reg? ions throng to the dargahs to seek the blessing of the peers. They tie strings on a tree or on th’ walls of the dargah making a vow in return for the wishes granted. They request the pirzadas to prepare tawiz for them to drive away evil spirits.
Answer:
1. The paragraph explains the universal concept like universal love. religious tolerance and unity in diversity.
2. Folk tradition does not have any religious barriers.
3. Muslims participate in many of the rituals of village gods.
4. Similarly people of all religions visit Dargah and request the pirradas to prepare tawiz.
5. Hence we can conclude that out folk tradition laid foundation for reigious toletence and universal brotherhood.’

Question 7.
Collect the following particulars by talking to the people of different religions of
your area.
Answer:

Name Religion Practised God worshipped Festivals celebrated
1. N. Ravi Hindu Ganesh. Hanuman Siva etc. Vinayaka chaviti. Dassahra, Deepawali
2. Stella Christianity Jesus Christ Good Friday, Christmas.
3.Razia Islam Allah Id, Ramzan
4. Jashbeer Sikh Guru Nanak GurunanakJayanthi


Project Work

Question 1.
Get detailed Information from your grandparents about ay ¡atara of your area. Prepare a report.
Answer:
Student Activity.

Question 2.
Collect stories about any of the folk deities of your area and prepare a small book.
let about it.
Answer:
Student Activity.

Intext Questions

Text Book Page No. 18

Question 1.
Which goddesses are worshipped in your area?
Answer:
Durga, Kanaka Mahalakshmi, etc. are worshipped.

Question 2.
Which gods are worshipped in your area?
Answer:
Srirama. Anjaneya. Sai Baba. Sri Venkateswara Swamy are worshipped in our
area.

Question 3.
Which saints, pin or babas do your family respect f (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
Satya Saibaba. Shirdi Saibba. Raghavendra Swamy.

Question 4.
Which animals and trees have you seen people worship? (C.U)
Answer:
Neem and peepal trees and cows.

Question 5.
Do you know how people worship? (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
By offering flowers. coconuts and harathi.

Question 6.
How are the deities worshipped and who performs the worship? (C. U.)
Answer:

  1. The deities are worshipped with marithras and slokas in Sanskrit. The priest or pujan worships in the temple.
  2. In Churches, the Father offer prayers, and candles are lit in prayers.
  3. Muslims worship five times a day. No deities are seen in Mosques.

Question 7.
In which languages are the deities addressed by the worshippers?
Answer:
In Sanskrit and Dravidian languages, the deities are addressed by the worshippers.

Text Book Page No. 191

Question 8.
You may have participated in the worship of many of these village and community deities and may also have been to some of the temples of Shiva or Vishnu. Can you confirm how the worship is conducted in these places? What are the similarities and differences? Discuss them in the class. (Appreciation and Sensitivity)
Answer:
Differences:

  1. The deities of the villages and communities are worshipped in the form of small shapeless stones generally under neem, banyan trees. There are no priests. People pray according to their customs, traditions, and in their language. The temples of Vishnu or Shiva are big with stone idols. The temples generally beautiful with architecture. Priests perform the rituals in traditional way.
  2. The village deities are sometimes offered a chicken or soup. This is strictly prohibited in the big temples of Shiva and Vishnu.
  3. Sanskrit is the language used In big temples and local languages are used in worshipping village deities.

Similarities:

  1. Both in the village deities and big temples, people offer prayers in one way or other.
  2. Offering flowers, harathi, coconuts, bananas etc., is common in both the cases.

Text Book Page No. 194

Question 9.
If you have participated in any of these jataras or Urs or Bonalu, describe them in your classroom and discuss their important features. (Appreciation / Sensitivity)
Answer:
Recently have participated in Medaram jatara. it is a three-day festival celebrated in Medaram village of Warangal district. Lakhs of people visited Samniakka and Sarakka Jatara. All kinds of people from our state visited the jatara along with people of neighbouring states. The people offer Bangararn i.e., jaggery to the goddess
for her blessings.

Question 10.
How are these different from the worship of village deities or worship in large temples or mosques? (Reflection on contemporary issues and questioning)
Answer:
Jataras or bonalu festivals are certainly different from the worship in large temples.

  1. In temples there are priests or pujaris who chant the Sanskrit slokas to God and request him on behalf of people for blessing. People are not allowed to touch the God.
  2. Whereas the village deities are worshipped by the tribal people or the folk by touching the stone god and can chant in his own language to shower boons for them.
  3. Jataras are celebrated on specific days i.e. every year or once in two years etc. Whereas we offer prayers in temples daily.

Additional Questions

Question 1.
Write about Medaram jatara.
Answer:

  1. Medaram Jatara is also known as Sammakka, Sarakka jatata.
  2. It is a celebration by the tribal people of Taadwai Mandal in Warangal District at Medaram village.

Question 2.
Why is Moharram celebrated?
Answer:
Moharram Commemorates the battle of Karbala in Iraq in which the grandson of Prophet Mohammed was killed.

Question 3.
What are Urs?
Answer:
Urs are the anniversary of Muslim Saints.

Question 4.
Who wrote the Palnati Veera Katha?
Answer:
The Palnati Veera Katha was written by Srinath around 1450s.

Question 5.
What are the other names of Yellamma?
Answer:
Yellamma is also called as Polimeramma, Maritemma, Renuka, Mahaukali, Joganima, Somalanuna and by other names.

Question 6.
Who is worshipped as Goddess of water?
Answer:
Katta Maisamma.

Question 7.
Who is the most famous folk Goddess of Telangana?
Answer:
Pochamma is the most popular folk goddess of Telangana.

Question 8.
Compare Pochamma with gods like Rama or Shiva.
Answer:

Rama or Shiva Pochamm
1) There are temples to Rama or Shiva in big villages. 1) There is no temple with idol but only a stone under a neem tree.
2) There is daily worship. 2) There is no daily worship.
3) There will be priests in the temple. 3) No priests and people pray themselves.
4) Offering coconut, bananas, and naiyedams. 4) Sacrificing hens, goats, and other animals.

Question 9.
Why people believe Pochamma as goddess?
Answer:

  1. People believe that she will cure their sickness.
  2. They believe that she will keep away all infections, diseases, and evils from their family.

Question 10.
Write about Maisamma.
Answer:

  1. The village among the cattle sheds, a niche is white washed and decorated with ‘Kumkuma’ and is called as Maisamma Goodu”.
  2. Maisamma is believed to protect the cattle.

Question 11.
Why and how is Maisamma worshipped?
Answer:

  1. She is in the form of a small stone on the tank bund.
  2. She is worshipped as a goddess of water.
  3. People believe that she will ensure that the tank will be filled with water and crops flourish.
  4. Once in five years a major festival is celebrated in which sheep, goats and chickens are sacrificed and a big feast is organised.
  5. Cooked rice mixed with blood is sprinkled in the fields to ensure their fertility.

Question 12.
Why Is Gangamma worshipped?
Answer:

  1. She is considered as water goddess protecting fishermen who go out into the sea.
  2. It is believed that the poor and the orphans are protected by the goddess Gangamma.

Question 13.
Why and how is Yellamma worshipped?
Answer:

  1. She guards the boundaries of the village and will not allow any diseases or evils to enter into the village.
  2. People mainly pray to her to prevent epidemics like cholera.
  3. Once in a few year5 rice and meat cooked together and it is offered to her and sprinkled all over the village.

Question 14.
What is the significant aspect of folk goddesses?
Answer:

  1. Most of these goddesses do not have a definite shape or regular temple.
  2. These goddesses do not have any male consorts or husbands.
  3. They are worshipped alone and revered as Amma Devathalu or Mother Goddess.

Question 15.
Why Potharaju is worshipped in villages?
Answer:

  1. People believe that Potharaju looks after their agricultural lands and protects crops from dreadful diseases, thieves, and animals.
  2. Usually, a cock is sacrificed near the deity when the crop is harvested.

Question 16.
Write a note on the Medaram jatara.
Answer:

  1. It is a tribal atara where more than one crore people attend it.
  2. It is organised every two years.
  3. it is a three-day fair.
  4. The jatara deities Sammakka and Sarakka are the formless goddesses.
  5. Caskets representing Sam nìakka and Sarakka are brought from the forests in an elaborate procession, gaily decorated and placed on the platform under a tree.
  6. Devotees feel that during the jatara period spirits or goddess has taken possession of them.
  7. The people offer Bangaram – jaggery and sacrifice hens, goats, and other animals.

Question 17.
Why people worship Sam makka and Sarakka?
Answer:
The tribal people consider them as their heroines who sacrificed their Lives to keep the honour of tribals.

Question 18.
Where is Medaram and who are the people to participate in Sammakka Sarakka Jatara?
Answer:

  1. Sammaklca, Sarakka Jatara is celebrated by tribal people of Taadwai Mandal in Warangal district.
  2. people from Telangana, Odisha, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand. etc., participate in this jatara.

Question 19.
Describe Bonalu festival.
Answer:

  1. Bonalu is one of the major folk festivals, popular in Telangana.
  2. The women folk participate in the procession carrying ‘Ghatams or ornamented pots filled with flowers on their heads.
  3. They also carry brass vessels or clay pots filled with cooked rice and decorated with neem leaves.
  4. The male dancers who accompany them are known as Potharajus, who lead the procession by lashing whips and holding neem leaves.
  5. The Goddesses are worshipped by offering food, which is later shared among the family members.

Question 20.
What is the belief of high religion of Islam?
Answer:
The high religion of Islam believes in strict monotheism or worship of one and only God – Allah.

Question 21.
What ¡s the belief of folk followers of Islam?
Answer:

  1. The folk followers of Islam began to revert Sufi saints and believed that worshipping at their dargahs will solve their problems.
  2. In this way a very strong tradition of pilgrimages to dargahs and Urs developed in which people of all faith participated.
  3. They also popularised the tradition of taking out processions of Gods took the form of Moharram recessions.

Question.
How do you find religions integrated in villages?
Answer:

  1. Most of the local deities are worshipped by people irrespective of their caste or religion or economic status.
  2. Muslim farmers participate in many of the rituals of village gods.
  3. People of all religions go to dargahs to seek the blessing of the Peers.
  4. Both Buddhists and Brahmins taught the people that the village deities they worship were related to Buddha, Shiva, or Vishnu.
  5. Shramanas and Brahmins began worshipping the peepul tree, snakes and the mother goddess.

Reading the text (given), understanding and interpretation

“Without personal experience. The mere repetition of scriptures will not remove fears. Just as darkness is never dispelled by a merely painted flame.” “The six tastes are diverse, but taste is one; various are the creeds regarding the truth, but truth is one; and saints differ among themselves, while he on whom they meditate is one.” Bald heads, matted hair, I iu bing ashes, recitations, religions dress! No man is a saint who is not pure in heart.”

Question.
What is the essence of the above poem?
Answer:

  1. Pure repetition of scriptures will not remove fears.
  2. Everyone needs to have personal experience.
  3. Truth is one.
  4. Though saints differ, the God they meditate is one.
  5. As per Vemana, the person who has a bald head, matted hair, daubing ashes is not a saint.
  6. A person who is pure at heart is a saint.

Information Skills

A.
The Story: ‘Medaraju’, was a tribal chief who was under the Kakatiya kings. His wife was Sammakka and their daughter was Sarakka and his son was Jampanna. He had a son-in-law named ‘Pagididda Raju Once, due to drought Medaraju could not pay the tribute to the Kakatiya King who sent his army. Medaraju’s entire family led the men and women of the tribe in the fierce battle.

All of them got killed in the battle, Jampanna also fought bravely till his last breath and died in ‘Sarnperiga Vaugu ‘ to prevent the Kakatiya army from crossing the stream.

Hence it is called ‘Jampanria Vaugu. Sammakka and Sarakka fought against the army and sacrificed their lives for the sake of their tribe. The tribal people of the entire region venerated them for their courage and sacrifice and to this day celebrate the Medaram Jatara in their honour.
Answer the following questions:
1. Who was the tribal chief of the Kakatiya kings?
Answer:
“Medaraju’ was the tribal chief of the Kalcatiya kings.

2. Why could not Medaraju pay tribute to the kings?
Answer:
Due to drought, Medaraju could not pay the tribute to the kings.

3. Who was Jampanna?
Answer:
Jampanna was the son of Medaraju.

4. How did Jainpanna die?
Answer:
He wanted to prevent the Kakatiya army from crossing the stream and finally died at “Sampenga Vaagu”.

5. Why did the people celebrate Medaram Jatara?
Answer:
In the honour of courage and sacrifice of Medaraju and family, the people celebrate Medaram Jatara.

B.

Subject Folk deities Deities of great religions
Place of worship Location of shrines Under the trees stones Village boundaries, entrance of the village, Tankhund Temples, Mosque, Church In the middle of villages
Idol without any definite form With definite shape, structure
Priest No special priests Brahmanas, maulvies
Offerings Toddy, blood, Bonam Flowers, coconuts, naivedyam
Prominent gods Mother goddesses, saints Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu Durga, Lakshmi, Venkateswara etc.

Read the above information and answer the following Questions:

1. Where are the deities of great religion are worshipped?
Answer:
The deities of great religions are worshipped at Temples, Mosques, and Churches.

2. Who are the prominent gods of folk deities?
Answer:
Mother Goddesses and saints.

3. What are offered to folk deities?
Answer:
Toddy, blood, bonam are offered to folk deities.

4. Who are the prominent gods of the great religions?
Answer:
Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu, Durga etc.

5. What is the shape of idol in folk deities and the deities of great religions?
Answer:
1. Folk deities have no definite shape.
2. But the deities of great religions have definite shape and structure.

Mapping Skills

Locate the following.
1. Warangal rural
2. Medaram jatara
3. Chattisgarh
4. Hyderabad
Answer:
TS 7th Class Social Study Material 20th Lesson Folk - Religion 2

Work Book

Question 1.
This folk goddess is not popular in Telangana ( )
A) Maisamnia
B) Pochamma
C) Gangamma
D) Paidithalli
Answer:
B) Pochamma

Question 2.
Katta Maisamma is a goddess of ()
A) Water
B) Fishermen
C) Health
D) Visa
Answer:
A) Water

Question 3.
Goddess of boundaries of the village ( )
A) Paidithalli
B) Garigamma
C) Yellamma
D) Sanunakka
Answer:
C) Yellamma

Question 4.
Protector of crops ( )
A) Beerappa
B) Jampanna
C) Medaraju
D) Pothuraju
Answer:
D) Pothuraju

Question 5.
Worshipped by shepherd communities
A) Katamraju
B) Pothuraju
C) Paidithalli
D) Pagididdaraju
Answer:
A) Katamraju

Question 6.
Anniversaries of Muslim saints
A) Moharram
B) Shabe barat
C) Urs
D) Barkat
Answer:
C) Urs

Question 7.
Jahangeer Peer dargah is located in …………………. district. ( )
A) Warangal
B) Nalgonda
C) Mahahubnagar
D) Hyderabad
Answer:
D) Hyderabad

Question 8.
Bonalu is a festival of ( )
A) Tamilnadu
B) Coastal Andhra Pradesh
C) Rayalascema
D) Telangana
Answer:
D) Telangana

Question 9.
The Palanati Virula Katha was written by ( )
A) Nagamma
‘B) Brabmanna
C) Srinatha
D) Vallabhaya
Answer:
C) Srinatha

Question 10.
The Brahmanas spread the
A) Vedic religion
B) Buddhist religion
C) lain religion
D) Islamic religion
Answer:
A) Vedic religion

Question 11.
TS 7th Class Social Study Material 20th Lesson Folk - Religion 3
The picture shows ………………. .( )
A) Sammakka Sarakka Jatara
B) Yellamma Jatara
C) Sirimanu Utsavam
D) Maisamma Jatara
Answer:
A) Sammakka Sarakka Jatara

Question 12.
The belief behind conducting Bonalu ( )
A) to show gratefulness towards mother nature
B) to eat well
C) to clean tanks
D) to go foreign trips
Answer:
A) to show gratefulness towards mother nature

Question 13.
This is not true with regard to Medaram jatara ( )
A) Sarnmakka and Sarakka are the main deities
B) The jatara is celebrated in memory of brave fight of tribals.
C) The jatara is three days fair
D) It is celebrated once in every four years
Answer:
D) It is celebrated once in every four years

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