Match List-I with List-II:
| List-I Bhakti-Traditions | List-II Meanings | ||
| (A) | Saguna | (I) | Leaders, devotees of Shiva |
| (B) | Nirguna | (II) | With Attributes |
| (C) | Alvars | (III) | Without Attributes |
| (D) | Nayanars | (IV) | Immersed, devotees of Vishnu |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A)-(II), (B)-(III), (C)-(IV), (D)-(I)
(A) Saguna — this matches (II) With Attributes. Saguna means with attributes. Saguna 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.
(B) Nirguna — this matches (III) Without Attributes. Nirguna means without attributes; nirguna bhakti was the worship of an abstract form of god.
(C) Alvars — this matches (IV) Immersed, devotees of Vishnu. The Alvars were literally those who are “immersed” in devotion to Vishnu.
(D) Nayanars — this matches (I) Leaders, devotees of Shiva. The Nayanars were literally leaders who were devotees of Shiva.
NCERT (2026-27): “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.…” |