Question

According to the historians of religion, 'Saguna bhakti' included which type of traditions?

• A. Worship of an abstract form of god
• B. Worship of non-specific deities
• C. Worship of gods often conceptualised in anthropomorphic forms
• D. No worship of any form of god

Hint:

Classification of Bhakti:
- Saguna: With attributes/form; idol worship; anthropomorphic deities (e.g., Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Alvars, Nayanars).
- Nirguna: Without attributes/form; abstract, formless Divine; anti-idolatry (e.g., Kabir, Guru Nanak).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:
Historians of medieval Indian religious movements classify the Bhakti tradition into two broad ideological and devotional streams: Saguna and Nirguna.
These two categories differentiate the philosophical understanding of the Divine and the corresponding forms of worship.

Step 1: Understanding Saguna vs. Nirguna Bhakti:
Saguna literally means “with attributes” or “with qualities”.
In Saguna bhakti traditions, the Divine is perceived as having definite, personal, visible attributes and forms.
Devotees worship specific manifestations of God, primarily conceptualized in anthropomorphic (human-like) forms.
These include incarnations (avataras) of Vishnu (such as Rama and Krishna), manifestations of Shiva, and diverse forms of the Goddess (Devi).
Such worship is expressed through temple architecture, anthropomorphic idols, iconographic representations, and devotional hymns praising the divine form.

Step 2: Comparing with Nirguna Bhakti:
Conversely, Nirguna bhakti (advocated by saint-poets like Kabir and Guru Nanak) means worship of God “without attributes”.
Nirguna traditions reject image worship, anthropomorphic representations, and institutionalized caste hierarchies, conceiving the Supreme Reality as formless, abstract, and pervasive.
Final Answer:
Saguna bhakti included traditions focused on the worship of gods often conceptualized in anthropomorphic forms.