The correct option stating that "the best means of salvation was devotion" aligns with the teachings of Ramanuja, who was a prominent philosopher and theologian in the Vaishnavism tradition. He emphasized the path of bhakti (devotion) as essential for attaining liberation (moksha), advocating that sincere love and devotion to God, particularly to Lord Vishnu, was more efficacious than mere rituals or intellectual knowledge. This perspective of bhakti not only democratized spiritual practices by making them accessible to all but also laid the foundation for later devotional movements across India, reinforcing the significance of personal experience and emotional connection in spiritual life.