The correct option is
2 and 3 only
.Explanation
The Alvars (devotees of Vishnu) and Nayanars (devotees of Shiva) led the early Bhakti movement in Tamil Nadu between the 6th and 9th centuries. Their hymns and devotion challenged rigid caste structures and laid the foundation for temple worship and vernacular devotional literature in South India.
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The Nalayira Divyaprabandham is a major anthology of compositions by the Alvars (the 12 Vaishnavite saints). It is often described as the "Tamil Veda." The compositions of the Nayanars (the 63 Shaivite saints) are collected in the Tirumurai, with the Tevaram containing the hymns of Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar.
Statement 2 is Correct:
Women devotees played a significant role in these traditions and often renounced social obligations to pursue their devotion.
- Andal, the only female Alvar, saw herself as the beloved of Vishnu and refused to marry a mortal. Her verses express intense longing for the deity.
- Karaikkal Ammaiyar, a Nayanar, renounced her role as a wife and adopted the path of severe asceticism to worship Shiva.
Statement 3 is Correct:
The Chola rulers were ardent patrons of Shaivism and the Nayanar saints. In the tenth century, the Chola ruler Parantaka I consecrated metal images of the prominent Nayanars-Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar-in a Shiva temple. These images were carried in processions during the festivals dedicated to these saints, integrating the Bhakti tradition into imperial temple rituals.
Key Takeaway:
The Nalayira Divyaprabandham is associated with the Alvars (Vaishnavite), while the Tevaram and Tirumurai are associated with the Nayanars (Shaivite). Chola rulers actively institutionalized the worship of these saints.