Āḻvārs / Azhwars

Āḻvārs / Azhwars

The Āḻvārs or often transliterated as Azhwars (Tamil: ‘those immersed in the Divine) were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between sixth and ninth centuries and espoused ‘devotion’ to Viṣṇu-Krishna in their songs of love, ecstasy and service.

These twelve Vaishnava saints who lived during the early medieval period of Tamil History helped revive devotional Hinduism (bhakti) through their hymns to Vishnu and his incarnations.

The collection of their hymns is known as Divya Prabandham which is part of the daily liturgy in all Śrī Vaishnava temples.

The Bhakti literature these Āḻvār's compiled has contributed to the establishment and sustenance of a culture that broke away from the ritual-oriented Vedic religion and rooted itself in devotion as the only path for salvation.

In addition they helped to make the Tamil religious life independent of Sanskrit.

They are regarded as the “Rishis” of the South and the Divya Prabandham that they composed is considered on a par with the Sanskrit Vedas. They are referred to as the Drāviḍa Veda.

The one held in greatest esteem among the Āḻvār s is Nammāḷvār. He lived during the seventh century CE. He contributed a total of 1352 hymns to the four thousand prabandhams.

His hymns are considered by the Śrī Vaishnavas to contain the essence of the Vedas. His work Periya Tirumoḷi (Divine words) is the one of the key works of Vaishnavism.

Periyāḻvār delighted in worshipping Vishnu as mother, nurse, devotee and lady love.

Andal, who grew up in Periyāḻvār 's home as his adopted daughter and is the only female Āḻvār, composed many poems of love to Krishna, the most popular being the Tiruppaavai, a most beautiful collection of 30 verses giving expression to the purest love of God.

The revered Āḻvār’s came from all castes, a symbolic notion in Śrī Vaishnavism to show that devotion to God transcends caste:

Nammāḷvār, or Caṭakōpaṉ, belonged to the Vellala (Śūdra) caste. Tirumangai Āḻvār belonged to the Kallara tribe, Tirumalisai Āḻvār belonged to Paraiyar “untouchable” caste. Tiruppani Āḻvār belonged to Panār “untouchable” caste, Kulashekhara was a warrior and Vishnu Chitta, or Periyāḻvār was a Brahmin. Interesting enough Nammāḷvār, the Śūdra, is the head (kula-pati) of the Śrī Vaishnava lineage!

The Āḻvār’s in Śrī Vaishnava Theology are considered to be the incarnations of the various associates and accoutrements of Lord Vishnu:

Tamiḷ name - Sanskrit name - Identity

Pogai āḷvār – Śrī Saro-muni - Pañcajanya (Conch)

Bhūtat-āḷvār - ŚrīBhūta-muni - Kaumodakī (Mace/Club)

Pey-āḷvār - Śrī Mahadāhvaya-muni - Nandaka (Sword)

Tirumalisai-āḷvār – Śrī Bhaktisāra-muni - Sudarśana (discus)

Nammāḷvār - Śrī Śatakopan - Viśvaksena (Commander-in-chief)

Madhurakavi-āḷvār – Śrī Madhurakavi - Vainateya (Garuda)

Kulaśekhara-āḷvār – Śrī Kulaśekhara - Kaustubha (Gem Necklace)

Periyāḷvār – Śrī Viṣṇucitta - Garuḍa (vehicle)

Andal - Śrī Godā Devi - Bhū-devī (Goddess Earth)

Toṇḍaraḍippodi āḷvār – Śrī Bhaktāṅghrireṇu - Vanamāla (Garland)

Tiruppānāḷvār – Śrī Pāna-suri - Śrīvatsa

Tirumaṅgai āḷvār – Śrī Parakāla-suri - Śārṅga (Bow)