The anthology 'Nalayira Divyaprabandham' or 'Four Thousand Sacred Compositions' is composed by how many Alvar Saints?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 12
By the tenth century the compositions of the 12 Alvars were compiled in the anthology known as the Nalayira Divyaprabandham (“Four Thousand Sacred Compositions”).
NCERT (2026-27): “2.2 Attitudes towards caste … The importance of the traditions of the Alvars and Nayanars was sometimes indicated by the claim that their compositions were as important as the Vedas. For instance, one of the major anthologies of compositions by the Alvars, the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, was frequently described as the Tamil Veda, thus claiming that the text was as significant as the four Vedas in Sanskrit that were cherished by the Brahmanas.… Compilations of devotional literature … By the tenth century the compositions of the 12 Alvars were compiled in an anthology known as the Nalayira Divyaprabandham (‘Four Thousand Sacred Compositions’). The poems of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar form the Tevaram, a collection that was compiled and classified in the tenth century on the basis of the music of the songs.” |