Historians of religion often classify Bhakti traditions into two broad categories, which are:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Saguna and Nirguna
Option (1) Vedic and Tantric — Incorrect. These are not the two categories of bhakti. They were two different religious practices that sometimes came into conflict: those who valued the Vedic tradition stressed the performance of sacrifices and precisely chanted mantras, while those engaged in Tantric practices, often associated with the goddess, frequently ignored the authority of the Vedas.
Option (2) Saguna and Nirguna — Correct. Saguna (with attributes) bhakti focused on the worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avatars and forms of the goddess, often conceived in human form. Nirguna (without attributes) bhakti was the worship of an abstract form of god.
Option (3) Virashaivas and Lingayats — Incorrect. These are two names for the same group: the followers of Basavanna in twelfth-century Karnataka, known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga). They form one tradition, not two categories.
Option (4) Alvars and Nayanars — Incorrect. These were the saints of Tamil Nadu who led some of the earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century): the Alvars were devoted to Vishnu and the Nayanars to Shiva. They are two groups of saints of one region, not the broad categories into which historians classify bhakti traditions.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.2 Difference and conflict … Not surprisingly, there were sometimes conflicts as well – those who valued the Vedic tradition often condemned practices that went beyond the closely regulated contact with the divine through the performance of sacrifices or precisely chanted mantras. On the other hand those engaged in Tantric practices frequently ignored the authority of the Vedas.… 2. Poems of Prayer Early Traditions of Bhakti … At a different level, historians of religion often classify bhakti traditions into two broad categories: saguna (with attributes) and nirguna (without attributes). The former included traditions that focused on the worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations) and forms of the goddess or Devi, all often conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms. Nirguna bhakti on the other hand was worship of an abstract form of god.… 2.1 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu … Some of the earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century) were led by the Alvars (literally, those who are ‘immersed’ in devotion to Vishnu) and Nayanars (literally, leaders who were devotees of Shiva). They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods.… 3. The Virashaiva Tradition … The twelfth century witnessed the emergence of a new movement in Karnataka, led by a Brahmana named Basavanna (1106-68) who was a minister in the court of a Kalachuri ruler. His followers were known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga).…” |