Question

Saguna bhakti traditions do not include:

• A. Traditions that focused on the worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations)
• B. Forms of the goddess or Devi, all often conceptualized in anthropomorphic forms
• C. Worship of an abstract form of god
• D. Worship of a form of god with attributes

Hint:

Break down the Sanskrit terms: - **Sa-guna** = With attributes/form (e.g., Vishnu with his chakra). - **Nir-guna** = Without attributes/form (e.g., the abstract 'Brahman').

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify which description does NOT fit the Saguna school of the Bhakti movement. The Bhakti movement had two main streams: Saguna (with attributes) and Nirguna (without attributes).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

Saguna Bhakti: This tradition conceives of God as having a specific form (\textit{rupa}), attributes (\textit{guna}), and a name. Devotion is directed towards a personal deity.
Statement (1) and (2): The worship of deities like Shiva, Vishnu, his avatars (like Rama and Krishna), and the Goddess (Devi) in their anthropomorphic (human-like) forms is the very essence of Saguna bhakti. These statements are correct descriptions.
Statement (4): "Worship of a form of god with attributes" is the literal definition of Saguna. This is a correct description.
Statement (3): "Worship of an abstract form of god" describes the Nirguna tradition. Nirguna bhakti conceives of God as formless, nameless, and without attributes. Saints like Kabir and Guru Nanak were proponents of Nirguna bhakti.
Therefore, the worship of an abstract God is what Saguna traditions explicitly do not include.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Saguna bhakti traditions do not include the worship of an abstract form of god.