Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about the women devotees of the period? I. Karaikkal Ammaiyar, a devotee of Shiva, adopted the path of extreme asceticism in order to attain her goal. II. Andal and Karaikkal Ammaiyar renounced their social obligations, but did not join an alternative order or become nuns.

The correct answer is: C. Both I & II.

Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a 7th-century Tamil poet and saint who is considered one of the greatest female devotees of Shiva. She is said to have renounced her social obligations and adopted the path of extreme asceticism in order to attain her goal of union with Shiva. Andal was also a 7th-century Tamil poet and saint who is considered one of the greatest female devotees of Vishnu. She is said to have been born as a manifestation of Vishnu’s consort Lakshmi and to have renounced her social obligations in order to devote herself to Vishnu. Both Karaikkal Ammaiyar and Andal are revered in Tamil Hinduism and their stories are often told and sung.

Option A is incorrect because it only states that Karaikkal Ammaiyar adopted the path of extreme asceticism. Option B is incorrect because it only states that Andal and Karaikkal Ammaiyar renounced their social obligations. Option D is incorrect because both statements are correct.