Correct Option
The correct option is Mangalakavyas – Biographies of Sufi Saints
Explanation
The development of regional cultures in medieval India was closely linked to the growth of vernacular languages and literature. This period saw the composition of significant literary works and the consolidation of regional dynasties that patronized specific religious traditions.
Option Analysis
- Pair (a): Correct. Mahodayapuram was the capital of the Chera Kingdom (Perumals of Kerala) in the southwestern part of the peninsula. The rulers introduced the Malayalam language and script in their inscriptions, marking one of the earliest examples of the use of a regional language in official records.
- Pair (b): Correct. Lilatilakam is a fourteenth-century text dealing with grammar and poetics. It was composed in Manipravalam (literally, "diamonds and corals"), a literary style referring to the blend of Sanskrit and the regional language (Malayalam).
- Pair (c): Incorrect. Mangalakavyas (literally "auspicious poems") are a genre of Bengali religious literature that became prominent around the 13th century. They are dedicated to local deities such as Chandi, Manasa, and Dharma Thakur, narrating stories of how these deities established their worship on earth. They are not biographies of Sufi saints.
- Pair (d): Correct. Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva was one of the most important rulers of the Ganga Dynasty in Odisha. In the 12th century, he decided to erect a temple for Purushottama Jagannatha at Puri, which became a central pilgrimage site.
Key Takeaway
Mangalakavyas are medieval Bengali narrative poems eulogizing local indigenous deities, often assimilating them into the Puranic Hindu framework, and are distinct from Sufi literature.