Read the passage and answer the questions:
Read the following verse composed by 'Appar', a Bhakti saint of South India and answer the question given below:
"O rogues who quote the law books, Of what use are your gotra and kula? Just bow to Marperu's lord as your sole refuge".
Identify the correct statements:
A. The Bhakti saints composed hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods.
B. Bhakti saints identified certain shrines as abode of their gods.
C. Alvar saints composed 'Tevaram'.
D. The South Indian Bhakti movement at least attempted to reform the caste system.
E. Relations with Buddhism and Jainism in Alvar hymns was cordial.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → A, B, D, E only
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, there seems to be a mistake in the question: statement E is not supported by NCERT, which speaks of the poets’ opposition to Buddhism and Jainism, and no option gives A, B and D alone, as explained below.
A. The Bhakti saints composed hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods. Correct statement. The Alvars and Nayanars travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods.
B. Bhakti saints identified certain shrines as abode of their gods. Correct statement. During their travels, the Alvars and Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities; large temples were often built later at these places.
C. Alvar saints composed ‘Tevaram’. Incorrect statement. The Tevaram is formed by the poems of Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar, who were Nayanars, devotees of Shiva. The compositions of the 12 Alvars were compiled in the Nalayira Divyaprabandham.
D. The South Indian Bhakti movement at least attempted to reform the caste system. Correct statement. Some historians suggest that the Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas, or at least attempted to reform the system; the bhaktas came from diverse social backgrounds.
E. Relations with Buddhism and Jainism in Alvar hymns was cordial. Correct as per the NTA answer key; however, it should have been Incorrect. One of the major themes in Tamil bhakti hymns is the poets’ opposition to Buddhism and Jainism, which is particularly marked in the compositions of the Nayanars. Relations with Buddhism and Jainism in the Alvar hymns are nowhere described as cordial. NTA has probably read the words “particularly marked in the compositions of the Nayanars” to mean that the Alvars were not hostile.
Strictly, only A, B and D are correct, and no option gives them alone. Option (1) carries C, which is plainly wrong, while Option (2) carries E, which is only doubtful, so Option (2) is the closer of the two.
NCERT (2026-27): “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.… 2.1 The Alvars and Nayanars of Tamil Nadu … During their travels the Alvars and Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities. Very often large temples were later built at these sacred places. These developed as centres of pilgrimage.… 2.2 Attitudes towards caste … Some historians suggest that the Alvars and Nayanars initiated a movement of protest against the caste system and the dominance of Brahmanas or at least attempted to reform the system. To some extent this is corroborated by the fact that bhaktas hailed from diverse social backgrounds ranging from Brahmanas to artisans and cultivators and even from castes considered ‘untouchable’.… …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. 2.4 Relations with the state … While Buddhism and Jainism had been prevalent in this region for several centuries, drawing support from merchant and artisan communities, these religious traditions received occasional royal patronage. Interestingly, one of the major themes in Tamil bhakti hymns is the poets’ opposition to Buddhism and Jainism. This is particularly marked in the compositions of the Nayanars. Historians have attempted to explain this hostility by suggesting that it was due to competition between members of other religious traditions for royal patronage.…” |