Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021

Bhakti Literature

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The collection of the writings of the Saivite saints is considered as Fifth Veda. What is the name of the above collection?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The Bhakti movement in South India led to the creation of vast devotional corpora that were elevated to the status of Vedic scripture.

Explanation Tirumurai is a 12-volume collection of hymns by the 63 Nayanars. It is revered as the 'Tamil Veda' or the 'Panchama Veda' (Fifth Veda).

Logical Breakup
Option D is Correct: Tirumurai contains the Thevaram and the Thiruvasagam, which are core to Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy.
Logic: By calling it the Fifth Veda, the Tamil people asserted that vernacular devotion was equal in spiritual potency to Sanskrit ritual.

Active Recall

Question

Who are the primary contributors to the Thevaram part of Tirumurai?

Answer

Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar are the three prominent saints of the Thevaram.

Core Insight

Tirumurai represents the institutionalization of the Bhakti experience into a formal liturgical canon.