Who among the following is not a woman Nayanar saint ?
- A.Karaikkal Ammaiyar
- B.Mangayarkkarasiyar
- C.Andal
- D.Isaignaniyar
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Andal. Andal was a woman Alvar, a Vaishnava saint devoted to Vishnu, not a Nayanar.
The Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu grew between about the sixth and ninth centuries through two groups of poet-saints: the 63 Nayanars, devotees of Shiva, and the 12 Alvars, devotees of Vishnu. Andal is the only woman among the Alvars; her Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi express her love for Vishnu. The Nayanar tradition has three women saints: Karaikkal Ammaiyar, one of the earliest Tamil devotional poets; Mangayarkkarasiyar, the Pandya queen who supported Sambandar; and Isaignaniyar, the mother of Sundarar.
A is wrong because Karaikkal Ammaiyar is a celebrated woman Nayanar. B is wrong because Mangayarkkarasiyar, the Pandya queen, is counted among the Nayanars. D is wrong because Isaignaniyar, mother of the saint Sundarar, is also a woman Nayanar.
Exam tip: Nayanars = 63 Shaiva saints (three women); Alvars = 12 Vaishnava saints (Andal the only woman).
Practice Questions
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