Who among the following Bhakti Saints was responsible for founding many punyakshetras along the length and breadth of India, by taming avatars of Parvati and imprisoning her essence in Sri Chakras?

Shankaracharya
Ramanada Saraswati
Tulsidas
Valmiki

The correct answer is A. Shankaracharya.

Shankaracharya was a 7th-century Indian philosopher, theologian, and reformer who is considered one of the most important figures in Hinduism. He is credited with establishing the Advaita Vedanta school of thought, which is one of the most influential schools of Hindu philosophy. Shankaracharya also founded many Hindu monasteries and temples throughout India.

One of the most famous legends about Shankaracharya is that he tamed the goddess Parvati, who was in the form of a tigress. Shankaracharya is said to have imprisoned her essence in a Sri Chakra, which is a sacred diagram used in Tantric Hinduism. This legend is often used to explain why Shankaracharya is credited with founding so many punyakshetras, which are sacred sites that are believed to be especially auspicious.

The other options are incorrect. Ramanada Saraswati was a 12th-century Indian saint who is considered one of the founders of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement. Tulsidas was a 16th-century Indian poet and saint who is best known for his epic poem Ramacharitamanasa. Valmiki was a 7th-century Indian sage who is considered the author of the Ramayana, one of the two major epics of Hinduism.