Consider the following statements regarding Vaishnavism & Shaivism:1....
The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.
- The theistic religion evolved with the single soul devotion of worshipper to a personal God connected with some moral link.
- This led to the evolution of different religious sects like Vaishnavism, Shaivism & Shaktism.
Important Points
Vaishnavism: - In South India, Vaishnava saints known as Alvars preached single-minded devotion for Lord Vishnu.
- Their religious songs were collectively called Prabandhas.
- A sutra in Panini's Ashtadhyayi refers to the worshippers of Vasudeva.
- The Chandogya Upanishad speaks of Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
- A large number of people worshipped Krishna as their personal god & were called as Bhagavatas.
- The Vasudev-Bhagavata cult grew steadily, absorbing other Vedic & Brahminic deities like Lord Vishnu & Narayana.
- From the late Gupta period, these cults designated themselves as Vaishnava.
- It indicated the predominance of the Vedic Vishnu element in it.
- It laid emphasis on the doctrine of Avataras (incarnations).
Shaivism: - Panini described a group of Shiva worshippers as Shiva Bhagavatas.
- They were characterised by the iron spear & clubs which they carry with themselves.
- The Shaiva movement in South India flourished with the activities of many of the saints known in Tamil as Nayanars.
- Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Their songs in Tamil were called Tevaram Stotras & Dravida Veda.
- They were sung on occasion in shiva temples.
- Nayanars hailed from all castes of society as they had contributed in various Shaiva movements like Shudha, Agamanta etc.
- Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
- These saints composed their works in Tamil & other languages of the area.
- These writings were collected into 11 volumes under the name Tirumurais in the early 12th century.
- They are considered sacred & looked upon as fifth Veda.
- Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Additional Information
Other Vedas are the following:
Rigveda: - It is the oldest religious text in the world.
- Consists of 1028 hymns.
- Divided into 10 mandals.
- The 2nd & 7th are the oldest mandals.
Samaveda: - It is a collection of hymns.
- It is used for the purpose of singing during rituals.
Yajurveda: - It prescribes the rituals for performing sacrifice with the hymns.
- It is primarily a guide for the use of Adhvaryu priests.
- Krishna Yajurveda (Black): It has both hymns & prose commentaries.
- Shukla Yajurveda (White): It contains only hymns.
- Atharvaveda: It contains charms & spells in verse to ward off evil forces & diseases.
View all questions of this test
Consider the following statements regarding Vaishnavism & Shaivism:1....
1. Vaishnavism is a major tradition within Hinduism that worships Lord Vishnu as the supreme deity.
2. Vaishnavism emphasizes the concept of bhakti, or devotion, as the primary means of attaining salvation.
3. Vaishnavism believes in the doctrine of avatar, which holds that Lord Vishnu incarnates on Earth in various forms to restore balance and righteousness.
4. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text within Vaishnavism, is considered a central scripture that emphasizes the importance of duty and righteousness.
5. Vaishnavism is known for its various sects, including the Sri Vaishnavas, which trace their origins to the philosopher Ramanuja, and the Gaudiya Vaishnavas, which follow the teachings of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
6. Vaishnavism is practiced predominantly in India, particularly in the regions of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, but also has followers in other parts of the world.
7. Vaishnavism places great importance on rituals, temple worship, and pilgrimage as means of expressing devotion and seeking the blessings of Lord Vishnu.
8. Vaishnavism teaches the concept of moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death, through surrendering to Lord Vishnu and attaining union with him.
9. Vaishnavism has had a significant influence on art, literature, and culture, with the stories and teachings of Lord Vishnu and his incarnations inspiring countless works of art and literature.
10. Vaishnavism promotes values such as compassion, tolerance, and non-violence, and encourages individuals to lead a virtuous and righteous life.