Correct Option
The correct option is 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
The medieval Bhakti movement witnessed the rise of saint-poets across India who emphasized personal devotion to a deity over ritualism. Mirabai was a prominent figure in the Saguna school of North India, while Shankaradeva spearheaded the Vaishnavite renaissance in Assam, both utilizing vernacular languages to spread their message.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Mirabai was a Rajput princess from Merta (Marwar) and was married into the royal family of Mewar. She was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna, whom she worshipped in the Madhurya Bhava, regarding him as her lover and husband, often defying royal etiquette for her devotion.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Tradition holds that Mirabai accepted Raidas (Ravidas), a saint belonging to a leather-working caste (considered "untouchable" at the time), as her preceptor. This association highlights her rejection of rigid caste hierarchies and social conventions.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Shankaradeva (1449-1568) was the leading proponent of Vaishnavism in Assam. He propagated the Ekasarana Dharma (devotion to a single God, Krishna) and established institutions like Satras (monasteries) and Namghars (prayer halls) to sustain the faith.
- Statement 4 is Correct: The Kirtana-ghosha is a major literary composition by Shankaradeva. It is a collection of poetical works meant for community singing (kirtan) and is written in Brajavali, a literary language he developed. It remains a central text in Assamese Vaishnavism.
Key Takeaway: Mirabai (Rajasthan) and Shankaradeva (Assam) were contemporary Bhakti saints who propagated Vaishnavism through vernacular literature. Mirabai is noted for her defiance of caste and gender norms under the guidance of Raidas, while Shankaradeva institutionalized Bhakti in Assam through the Kirtana-ghosha and the Satra system.