Alvars information

Alvar
Alvar
Nammalvar	Andal
Thiruppaan Alvar	Poigai Alvar
Thondaradippodi Alvar	Thirumangai Alvar
Kulasekhara Alvar	Periyalvar
Personal
Religion	Hinduism
Region	Tamilakam
Denomination	Vaishnavism
School	Bhagavata
Notable work(s)	Naalayira Divya Prabandham
Known for	Bhakti movement
Organization
Philosophy	Vishishtadvaita
Religious career
	Influenced Regional Vaishnava movements;

The Alvars (Tamil: ஆழ்வார், romanized: Āḻvār, lit. 'The Immersed') were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and service.^[2] They are venerated in Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu as the Ultimate Reality.

Many modern academics place the lifetime of the Alvars between the 5th century and 9th century CE.^[3] Traditionally, the Alvars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE and 2700 BCE. Orthodoxy posits the number of Alvars as ten, though there are other references that include Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar, making the number 12.^[4] Andal is the only female Alvar among the 12. Together with the contemporary 63 Shaivite Nayanars, they are among the most important saints from Tamil Nadu.

The devotional outpourings of the Alvars, composed during the early medieval period of Tamil history, were the catalysts behind the Bhakti Movement through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the Divya Desams, the 108 divine realms of deities affiliated to Vaishnavism. The poetry of the Alvars echoes bhakti to God through love, and in the ecstasy of such devotions they sang hundreds of songs which embodied both depth of feeling and the felicity of expressions.^[5] The collection of their hymns is known as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. The bhakti literature that sprang from Alvars has contributed to the establishment and sustenance of a culture that deviated from the Vedic religion and rooted itself in devotion as the only path for salvation. In addition, they contributed to Tamil devotional verses independent of a knowledge of Sanskrit.^[6] As a part of the legacy of the Alvars, five Vaishnavite philosophical traditions (sampradayas) developed over a period of time.^[7]

^ Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. Abc-Clio. 2004. ISBN 9781576073551.
^ Andrea Nippard. "The Alvars" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
^ Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (6 October 1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120813427.
^ Flood 1996, p. 131
^ "Indian Literature Through the Ages". Indian literature, Govt of India. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
^ "About Alvars". divyadesamonline.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.
^ Mittal, S. G. R.; Thursby (2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 9780203970027.

[1] Holy People of the World: A Cross-cultural Encyclopedia. Abc-Clio. 2004. ISBN 9781576073551.

[2] Andrea Nippard. "The Alvars" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.

[3] Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (6 October 1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120813427.

[4] Flood 1996, p. 131

[5] "Indian Literature Through the Ages". Indian literature, Govt of India. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.

[About_Alvars-6] "About Alvars". divyadesamonline.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 2 July 2007.

[Mittal2004-7] Mittal, S. G. R.; Thursby (2006). Religions of South Asia: An Introduction. Routledge. p. 27. ISBN 9780203970027.

Alvars information

and 22 Related for: Alvars information

Alvars

Alvar

Thondaradippodi Alvar

Tiruppan Alvar

Alvar Aalto

Tirumalisai Alvar

Poigai Alvar

Thirumangai Alvar

Divya Desam

Bhoothath Alvar

Madhurakavi Alvar

Elias Parish Alvars

Alvar Lidell

Kulasekhara Alvar

Nammalvar

Burnt Lands alvar

Pey Alvar

Naalayira Divya Prabandham

Panmure Alvar

Alvar Aalto Museum

Abhimana Kshethram

Manuel Alvar

Vaishnavism
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Supreme deity Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities Dashavatara Matsya Kurma Varaha Narasimha Vamana Parasurama Rama Balarama Krishna Buddha Kalki Other forms Dhanvantari Guruvayurappan Hayagriva Jagannath Mohini Nara-Narayana Prithu Shrinathji Venkateshvara Vithoba Consorts Lakshmi Bhumi Sita Radha Rukmini Alamelu Related Garuda Hanuman Shesha Shasta
Holy scriptures Vedas Upanishads Vaikhanasa Pancharatra Bhagavad Gita Mahabharata Ramayana Harivamsa Divya Prabandha Gita Govinda Puranas Vishnu Bhagavata Naradiya Garuda Padma Agni
Sampradayas Sri (Vishishtadvaita) Rudra (Śuddhādvaita) Kumara (Dvaitadvaita) Brahma (Tattvavada or (Dvaita)), Acintyabhedabheda) Others Ekasarana Dharma Mahanubhava Pranami Radha Vallabha Ramsnehi Sant Mat Swaminarayan Vaishnava-Sahajiya Warkari
Teachers—acharyas Chaitanya Chakradhara Dadu Dayal Harivansh Jayatirtha Jiva Goswami Jñāneśvara Kabir Madhavdev Madhvacharya Manavala Mamunigal Namadeva Nammalvar Nathamuni Nimbarka Padmanabha Tirtha Pillai Lokacharya Purandara Dasa Raghuttama Tirtha Raghavendra Tirtha Ram Charan Ramananda Ramanuja Ravidas Satyanatha Tirtha Satyabhinava Tirtha Satyabodha Tirtha Satyadharma Tirtha Satyadhyana Tirtha Samarth Ramdas Sankardev Swaminarayan Sripadaraja Tukaram Tulsidas Vallabha Vedanta Desika Vidyapati Vishnuswami Viṭṭhalanātha Vyasatirtha Vadiraja Tirtha Yamunacharya
Related traditions Bhagavatism Vaikhanasas Pancharatra Tenkalai Vadakalai Munitraya Krishnaism Jagannathism Haridasa Sahajiya Baul Pushtimarg Gaudiya ISKCON Ramanandi Kapadi Balmiki Kabir panth Dadu panth Mahanam
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