Which of the following statements about the Alvars and Nayanars is/are correct?
1. The Alvars were a group of Tamil poet-saints devoted to Lord Shiva, and their hymns are part of the Divya Prabandham.
2. The Nayanars were Tamil saints who focused on the worship of Lord Vishnu and rejected the caste system.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question

Which of the following statements about the Alvars and Nayanars is/are correct?
1. The Alvars were a group of Tamil poet-saints devoted to Lord Shiva, and their hymns are part of the Divya Prabandham.
2. The Nayanars were Tamil saints who focused on the worship of Lord Vishnu and rejected the caste system.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is not correct: The Alvars were a group of Tamil poet-saints devoted to Lord Vishnu, not Lord Shiva. Their hymns, known as Pasurams, were compiled into the Divya Prabandham, which is a significant scripture in the Vaishnavite tradition, not related to Lord Shiva.

Statement 2 is not correct: The Nayanars were Tamil saints who were devoted to Lord Shiva, not Vishnu. They were primarily focused on Shiva worship and their hymns were compiled into the Tevaram. The Nayanars were also known for rejecting the caste system and promoting devotion as a means to spiritual liberation, similar to the Alvars, but they did not focus on Lord Vishnu.

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M Question 1	⏱ 0
Which of the following statements about the Alvars and Nayanars is/are correct? 1. The Alvars were a group of Tamil poet-saints devoted to Lord Shiva, and their hymns are part of the Divya Prabandham. 2. The Nayanars were Tamil saints who focused on the worship of Lord Vishnu and rejected the caste system. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2