Students can keep Class 7 SST Extra Questions and Class 7th SST Chapter 8 How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Important Extra Question Answer handy for quick reference during exams.
Class 7 SST Chapter 8 How the Land Becomes Sacred Extra Questions
NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 8 Extra Questions on How the Land Becomes Sacred
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Very Short Question Answer
Question 1.
What does ‘sacredness’ mean in the context of geography?
Answer:
Sacredness refers to the spiritual or religious importance of a place. It could be a natural site like a river or mountain, or a man-made structure like a temple or shrine.
Question 2.
Name two sacred rivers in Flinduism and explain why they are respected.
Answer:
The Ganga and Yamuna are considered goddesses and worshipped in Hinduism. They are believed to purify the soul and are important in various rituals and festivals.
Question 3.
What is the significance of Bodh Gaya in Buddhism?
Answer:
Bodh Gaya is where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Buddhists worldwide.
Question 4.
What are sacred groves and who protects them?
Answer:
Sacred groves are forest areas protected by tribal communities because of their spiritual significance. Hunting and tree cutting arc usually forbidden there.
Question 5.
How are pilgrimage routes important besides religious reasons?
Answer:
Pilgrimage routes encouraged travel, trade, and cultural exchange. They helped spread art. stories, goods, and knowledge across different regions of India.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Short Question Answer
Question 1.
How do sacred places reflect the connection between nature and spirituality in India?
Answer:
Sacred places in India often include natural features like rivers, mountains, and forests. These are worshipped and protected due to their religious significance. For example, the Ganga River is seen as a goddess, and many forests are preserved as sacred groves. This connection teaches people to respect and care for the environment while also practicing their faith.
Question 2.
Explain the significance of the Golden Temple in Sikhism.
Answer:
The Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is the holiest site in Sikhism. Located in Amritsar, it symbolizes equality, peace, and devotion. People from all faiths are welcomed here. The temple is built around a sacred pool of water believed to have healing powers. It also houses the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs.
Question 3.
What role do sacred trees play in Indian religious traditions?
Answer:
Sacred trees like the Peepul are respected in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. They are often seen as homes of gods or symbols of life and wisdom. People worship them, tie threads around them for blessings, and avoid cutting them. These practices promote environmental conservation as well.
Question 4.
Why are places like Shatrunjaya and Gimar sacred in Jainism?
Answer:
Shatrunjaya and Girnar hills are sacred to Jains because they are believed to be places where Jain Tirthankaras meditated and attained enlightenment. Many Jain temples are built on these hills. Pilgrims visit them as acts of devotion and spiritual growth.
Question 5.
Describe how sacred geography can influence daily life and behavior.
Answer:
Sacred geography teaches respect for nature, encourages eco-friendly practices, and promotes values like peace and harmony. People avoid polluting sacred rivers, protect forests, and celebrate nature through rituals and festivals. It shapes how people travel, live, and interact with the environment in meaningful ways.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Long Question Answer
Question 1.
How do sacred places contribute to environmental protection and sustainability?
Answer:
Sacred places in India, such as rivers, forests, and mountains, are not just religious landmarks—they play a key role in environmental conservation. Sacred groves, for example, are forests preserved by tribal communities and are off-limits for hunting or deforestation. Worship of rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna teaches people not to pollute them. Sacred trees like the Peepul are rarely cut down due to religious respect. These beliefs and practices foster an attitude of environmental care and sustainability, showing how faith can support ecological balance.
Question 2.
Discuss how sacred geography in India promotes unity in diversity.
Answer:
Sacred geography in India includes places from all major religions—Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, Islamic dargahs, Buddhist stupas, Christian churches, and Jain hills. People of different communities often visit each other’s sacred sites, especially during festivals or pilgrimages. This shared respect builds harmony and mutual understanding. For example, the Dargah Sharif in Ajmer is visited by both Muslims and Hindus. Sacred geography, therefore, helps people connect spiritually while respecting cultural differences, reinforcing India’s identity as a land of unity in diversity.
Question 3.
What lessons can modern society learn from the concept of sacred geography?
Answer:
Modern society can learn valuable lessons from sacred geography. First, it teaches respect for nature, reminding us to preserve rivers, forests, and mountains. Second, it emphasizes peaceful coexistence and spiritual unity among diverse communities. Third, sacred geography highlights the importance of balance between development and tradition. As people become more urbanized, they often lose their connection with nature. Sacred places help maintain that bond and promote sustainable lifestyles. Lastly, sacred geography fosters tourism, cultural heritage, and education about environmental responsibility.
Question 4.
Explain the connection between pilgrimage and the spread of culture and knowledge in ancient India.
Answer:
In ancient India, pilgrimage routes were not just for religious travel but also served as important paths for cultural exchange. As pilgrims traveled across regions, they brought with them stories, art, music, and local traditions. These routes became channels for sharing knowledge, including medicinal practices, philosophical ideas, and crafts. Markets and rest stops developed along these paths, encouraging trade and interaction among different communities. Sacred geography, therefore, helped bind the country together and contributed to its cultural richness.
Question 5.
How are sacred rivers and trees examples of India’s deep cultural and spiritual bond with nature?
Answer:
India’s sacred geography includes natural features like rivers and trees that are worshipped and protected. Rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna are seen as divine mothers and are central to many religious rituals. Trees like the Peepul are worshipped for their life-giving qualities and are linked to deities. These natural elements are part of everyday life, from prayer to festivals. This reverence fosters an emotional and spiritual connection with nature, encouraging people to care for and preserve their environment. These practices reflect a worldview where nature and spirituality are deeply intertwined.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Source Based Questions
Read the below passages and answer the questions that follow:
Another example is the pilgrimage to Sabarimala temple (Kerala), dedicated to the deity Ayyappa, which draws over ten million devotees every year. This hilltop shrine was traditionally reached by an immensely difficult trek through hills and forests. Such a challenging approach, common to many hilltop or mountain shrines all over the country, symbolises the difficulties of the inner path, with natural landmarks along the route being considered sacred.
(i) In which state is the Sabarimala temple located?
Answer:
The Sabarimala temple is located in Kerala.
(ii) To which deity is the Sabarimala temple dedicated?
Answer:
It is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.
(iii) Why is the trek to Sabarimala considered symbolic in spiritual terms?
Answer:
The difficult trek to Sabarimala through hills and forests is symbolic of the inner spiritual journey, with the natural landmarks along the route seen as sacred.
2. In many parts of India, trees are adorned with offerings like turmeric and kumkum. One species of fig tree commonly called ‘peepul’ (or ‘pipal’), ‘bo tree’ or ‘bodhi tree’ (ashvattha in Sanskrit) is sacred to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. In fact, its botanical name is Ficus religiosa (literally, in Latin, the ‘religious’ or sacred fig tree).
(i) What offerings are often placed on sacred trees in India?
Answer:
Offerings like turmeric and kumkum are placed on sacred trees.
(ii) What is the botanical name of the peepul tree?
Answer:
The botanical name of the peepul tree is Ficus religiosa.
(iii) Why is the peepul tree considered sacred in India?
Answer:
The peepul tree is considered sacred because it is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and symbolizes deep religious and spiritual significance.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Picture Based Questions
Question 1.
Look at the below picture and answer the questions that follow:
(i) Identify the image?
Answer:
Golden Temple at Amritsar.
(ii) Which religion is it associated with?
Answer:
It is associated with the Sikh religion.
(iii) Mention two important features of the above picture.
Answer:
The two important features are:
(a) The Golden Temple is built in the middle of a holy tank called the Amrit Sarovar.
(b) It is open to people of all religions, castes, and backgrounds, symbolising equality and unity.
Class 7 How the Land Becomes Sacred Extra Questions for Practice
I. Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
Which of the following is considered a sacred river in India?
(a) Yamuna
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Ganga
(d) Tapti
Question 2.
Why are sacred groves important?
(a) For building temples
(c) For preserving biodiversity
(b) For urban development
(d) For agriculture
Question 3.
Which religious site is located in Amritsar?
(a) Meenakshi Temple
(b) Dargah Sharif
(c) Golden Temple
(d) Mahabodhi Temple
Question 4.
What is the main reason behind considering certain natural features sacred?
(a) Their economic value
(b) Mythological and spiritual beliefs
(c) Government protection
(d) Their aesthetic beauty
Question 5.
Assertion (A): Sacred trees are often left untouched due to their religious value.
Reason (R): People fear punishment from gods if they harm sacred trees.
Options:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
II. Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is sacred geography?
Question 2.
Why is the Ganga considered sacred in India?
Question 3.
Mention two examples of sacred groves in India.
Question 4.
Why do people visit pilgrimage sites?
III. Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
How do sacred places contribute to environmental protection?
What is the cultural importance of pilgrimage routes in India?
I. Explain the significance of the Golden Temple in Sikhism.
How do different religions in India express sacredness in geography?
IV. Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Discuss the connection between nature and sacredness in Indian traditions.
Question 2.
Describe the role of sacred places in uniting communities and preserving culture.
Question 3.
How do sacred places help in the preservation of biodiversity? Give examples.
Question 4.
Explain the significance of sacred geography in different religious traditions in India.
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