Step 1: Recall the Tamil Bhakti tradition: In the Tamil Bhakti movement, two groups of poet-saints are well known: the Alvars, who were devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars, who were devotees of Shiva.
Step 2: Match the term: 'Nayanar' saints (like Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar) composed hymns in praise of Shiva and are classified as Shaivite bhakti saints, not Vaishnava.
Final Answer: Followers of the Shaiva religion — option (A).