 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2022) |
Alvar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||
| 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
| |||||||||
.jpg)
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]
| Part of a series on |
| Vaishnavism |
|---|
 |
- ^ 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.