- Who were the Nayanars in the Bhakti movement?
A) Saints devoted to Vishnu
B) Saints devoted to Shiva
C) Followers of Buddhism
D) Sufi saints - Who were the Alvars?
A) Devotees of Shiva
B) Followers of Jainism
C) Saints devoted to Vishnu
D) Teachers of the Vedic tradition - Which literary tradition influenced the devotional songs of the Nayanars and Alvars?
A) Buddhist Jataka tales
B) Sangam literature
C) Vedic hymns
D) Persian poetry - What was a common feature of the Nayanars and Alvars?
A) They rejected idol worship
B) They composed devotional hymns and traveled to temples
C) They followed strict Brahmanical traditions
D) They did not believe in social equality - How many Nayanars were there?
A) 12
B) 30
C) 63
D) 108 - What is the name of the collection of hymns composed by the Nayanars?
A) Tevaram
B) Tirukkural
C) Divya Prabandham
D) Rigveda - What was the name of the collection of hymns composed by the Alvars?
A) Ramayana
B) Divya Prabandham
C) Upanishads
D) Bhagavad Gita - Which of the following is a well-known Nayanar saint?
A) Andal
B) Manikkavasagar
C) Mirabai
D) Kabir - Which ruling dynasties supported the Bhakti tradition of the Nayanars and Alvars?
A) Mauryas and Guptas
B) Cholas and Pandyas
C) Rajputs and Mughals
D) Lodis and Tughlaqs - How did the Bhakti movement influence temple worship in South India?
A) It led to the construction of grand temples around important shrines
B) It reduced the importance of temple worship
C) It banned idol worship in temples
D) It replaced temple rituals with philosophical debates
Answers and Explanations
- B) Saints devoted to Shiva
The Nayanars were Tamil saints who expressed their devotion to Shiva through poetry and songs. - C) Saints devoted to Vishnu
The Alvars were saints who expressed their devotion to Vishnu and composed hymns in his praise. - B) Sangam literature
The devotional poetry of the Nayanars and Alvars was influenced by Sangam literature, which emphasized love and heroism. - B) They composed devotional hymns and traveled to temples
Both groups traveled to various shrines, composed hymns, and promoted Bhakti worship. - C) 63
There were 63 Nayanars, coming from different backgrounds, including peasants, hunters, and kings. - A) Tevaram
The hymns of the Nayanars were compiled in the Tevaram and Tiruvacakam. - B) Divya Prabandham
The Alvars’ hymns were compiled in the Divya Prabandham, an important Tamil literary work. - B) Manikkavasagar
Manikkavasagar was one of the most well-known Nayanar saints who composed devotional poetry. - B) Cholas and Pandyas
The Chola and Pandya rulers supported the construction of temples and the compilation of Bhakti hymns.
A) It led to the construction of grand temples around important shrines
Chola and Pandya rulers built temples around Bhakti sites, reinforcing the connection between Bhakti and temple worship.
