Read the passage and answer the questions:
Early Traditions of Bhakti
In course of evolution of these forms of worship, poet-saints emerged as leaders around whom there developed community of devotees in many instances. Further, while Brahmanas remained important intermediaries between gods and devotees in several forms of bhakti, these traditions also accommodated and acknowledged women and “lower castes,” categories considered ineligible for liberation within orthodox Brahmanical framework. What also characterized traditions of bhakti, was remarkable diversity. At 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 worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu, and his avatars and forms of goddess or Devi, all often conceptualized in anthropomorphic forms. Nirguna bhakti, on other hand, was worship of an abstract form of god. Some of earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century) were led by 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 praise of their gods.
The bhakti without attributes, worshipped an ________________ form of god.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Abstract
Historians of religion divide bhakti traditions into two groups. Saguna bhakti is worship with attributes, of deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and the goddess, usually imagined in human form. Nirguna bhakti, bhakti without attributes, was the worship of an abstract form of god. ‘Anthropomorphic’, in human form, describes the saguna deities, not nirguna worship.
NCERT (2025-26): “2. Poems of Prayer Early Traditions of Bhakti … What also characterised traditions of bhakti was a remarkable diversity. 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.…” |