Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in South India is NOT correct?
CAPF 2020
A. The Nalayira Divyaprabandham was also known as the Tamil Veda.
B. Andal was an Alvar.
C. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu.
D. Metal images of the saints Appar and Sundarar were made and then consecrated in a Shiva temple.
Answer: Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu.
Option c is the correct answer.
Karaikkal Ammaiyar was one of the three women among the 63 Nayanars, a group of saints living in Tamil Nadu devoted to Lord Shiva. According to Cekkilar's story, Karaikkal Ammaiyar was born in Karaikal, South India, and was originally named Punitavati. She was married to a merchant named Paramadattan.
Important Tips
Alvars:
The Alvars were a group of twelve Tamil Vaishnava saints who lived between the 5th and 9th centuries CE.
They were deeply devoted to Lord Vishnu and composed devotional hymns and poetry in Tamil.
Their works are compiled in the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, considered the Tamil Veda and a significant scripture in Vaishnavism.
Nayanars:
The Nayanars were a group of 63 Tamil Shaivite saints who lived between the 6th and 8th centuries CE.
They were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and expressed their devotion through devotional hymns, poetry, and acts of worship.
Their compositions, known as Thevaram, Thiruvasagam, and Devaram, are considered significant in Shaivism.