The question asks about Andal, a prominent female Alvar saint-poet, and her primary deity of devotion, specifically noting her expression of devotion through the language of human love. This requires knowledge of the Bhakti movement, particularly the Alvars, and their specific devotional practices.
Correct Option: B) Vishnu (Krishna) — Andal was a devout follower of Vishnu, specifically expressing her intense love and longing for Krishna, one of Vishnu's most popular avatars. Her poetry exemplifies the 'madhura bhava' (sweet devotion) where the devotee assumes the role of a lover or bride of the divine.
The question asks about the literary influences on the early Bhakti tradition of the Alvars and Nayanars, specifically concerning ideals of love and heroism. We need to identify which body of early Tamil literature provided these themes.
Correct Option: D) Sangam literature. The Alvars and Nayanars extensively borrowed the poetic conventions and themes of love (Akam) and heroism (Puram) from the earlier Sangam literature to express their fervent devotion to Vishnu and Shiva, respectively. Their hymns often mirrored the emotional intensity and literary devices found in Sangam poetry.
The question asks about the two broad categories into which Bhakti traditions are classified based on the conception of the divine. We need to identify the terms that describe these two distinct ways of understanding God in Bhakti.
C) Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes) — This option correctly identifies the two primary classifications of Bhakti traditions based on the conception of the divine. Saguna refers to the worship of a God with form and attributes, while Nirguna refers to the worship of a formless, attributeless absolute reality.
The question asks about the meaning of 'Nirguna' within the Bhakti tradition. To answer this, one needs to understand the core philosophical concepts of Bhakti, particularly the distinction between Saguna and Nirguna forms of the divine.
Correct Option: C) The idea of a formless God without attributes
This option accurately defines 'Nirguna'. In the Bhakti tradition, particularly among certain saints like Kabir and Nanak, the divine was conceived as Nirguna – an ultimate reality that is formless, attributeless, and beyond all material qualities and distinctions. This contrasts with Saguna Bhakti, which focuses on worshipping God with specific forms and attributes.
The question asks to identify the Bhakti saint most strongly associated with Nirguna bhakti, which involves devotion to a formless God and rejection of idol worship. We need to evaluate each option based on their known philosophical and devotional practices.
Correct Option: A) Kabir is the most prominent Bhakti saint associated with Nirguna bhakti. He vehemently opposed idol worship, ritualism, and emphasized the formless, attributeless nature of God, promoting a direct, personal devotion.
The question asks to classify saint-poets like Mirabai and Surdas based on their devotion to Krishna in his personal divine form. This requires understanding the different classifications within the Bhakti movement.
Correct Option: C) Saguna bhakti — Mirabai and Surdas were prominent figures in the Saguna Bhakti tradition. They worshipped Krishna as a personal God with specific attributes and a defined form, expressing their devotion through poetry and songs.