Thondaradippodi Alwar | |
|---|---|
 Image of the granite and festival image of Thondaradipodi in Alwarthirunagari Temple | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 8th Century AD |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Organization | |
| Philosophy | Vaishnava Bhakti |
| Religious career | |
| Literary works | Tirumālai and Tirupalliyeḻuchi |
| Honors | Alwar saint |
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| Vaishnavism |
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Thondaradippodi Alwar or Vipra Narayana was one of the twelve Alwar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of Alwars are compiled as Naalayira Divya Prabandham and the 108 temples revered are classified as Divya desam. Thondaripodi is considered the tenth in the line of the twelve Alwars.
As per Hindu legend, he was born as Vipra Narayana and got devoted to Ranganatha of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. Since he worshipped even the dust from the devotees of Ranganatha, he attained the name Thondaradipodi.
His works are the Tiruppallieluchi having ten verses, and Tirumālai having forty verses, both of which are counted among the 4000 stanzas in the Naalayira Divya Prabandam. The works of Thondaradipodi and other Alwars contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. Along with the three Saiva nayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings of the South Indian region, resulting in changing the religious geography from Buddhism and Jainism to the two sects of Hinduism.
In South-Indian Vishnu temples, Thondaradipodi Alwar has images and festivals associated with him. The Vasantha Utsavam festival is celebrated in Srirangam and for nine days in the garden believed to have been maintained by him. The verses of Thondaripodi and other Alwars are recited as a part of daily prayers and during festive occasions in most Vishnu temples in South India.