The correct answer is: A. Gnanadev
Gnanadev was a 13th-century Marathi Bhakti saint who opposed caste distinctions and was sympathetic towards lower castes. He was born into a Brahmin family in the town of Paithan, in the Deccan region of India. Gnanadev was a precocious child and began to study Sanskrit and Marathi at a young age. He also became interested in the teachings of the Bhakti movement, which emphasized the importance of devotion to God over caste or social status.
Gnanadev’s writings often criticized the caste system and the discrimination that it caused. He argued that all people are equal in the eyes of God and that caste should not be a barrier to spiritual progress. Gnanadev’s teachings were popular among the lower castes, who found them to be liberating. He is considered to be one of the most important figures in the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.
The other options are incorrect because:
- Chaitanya was a 16th-century Bengali Bhakti saint who did not oppose caste distinctions.
- Namadeva was a 13th-century Marathi Bhakti saint who was not sympathetic towards lower castes.
- Ekanatha was a 16th-century Marathi Bhakti saint who did not oppose caste distinctions.