The Alvars () are the Tamil people poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hinduism preserver deity Vishnu, through their songs of longing, ecstasy, and service. They are venerated in Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu as the Brahman.
Orthodoxy posits the number of Alvars as ten, though there are other references that include Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar, making the number 12. Andal is the only female Alvar. Together with the 63 contemporary Shaivism Nayanars, they are among the most important saints from Tamil Nadu.
The twelve Alvars were:
The Alvars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu in Sri Vaishnavism, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism in the Tamil-speaking regions. The Alvars were influential in promoting the Bhagavata Sampradaya and the two Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The religious works of these saints in Tamil language, and their hymns, are compiled as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, containing 4000 verses, and the 108 temples revered in their hymns are classified as Divya desam. The verses of the various Alvars were compiled by Nathamuni (824–924 CE), a 9th-century Vaishnavite theologian, who called it the "Dravida Veda or Tamil Veda". The songs of the Prabandam are regularly sung in various Vishnu temples of South India, daily, and also during festivals.
Etymology
Traditional and Common Understanding
The precise meaning of the term
Āḻvār (often transliterated as
Alvar or
Azhwar) has been debated. The common understanding is that the traditional meaning is derived from the
Tamil language root
āḻ or
azh (ஆழ்) which means "deep". From this, definitions such as "one who has plunged deep into the divine" , "who is immersed in deep meditation" , "god-intoxicated mystics" , and "one who is deeply immersed in God's experience" are commonly given.
Earlier Etymologies
Scholars like S. Palaniappan (2004) argue that the original term
āḷvār underwent a process of sound variation, taking the form
āḻvār. This linguistic shift and the subsequent folk etymology are seen to have occurred over approximately two centuries in the
Srirangam area. Some linguistic analyses show that the term was initially
āḷvār (from the verbal root
āḷ), meaning "to rule". In this sense it could mean "those who rule, lords". This interpretation is supported by its semantic parallel with
Nāyaṉār ("lord, master"), the title given to Saivite saints. Early temple inscriptions also give weight to this etymology. The term
āḷvāṉ (singular masculine form of
āḷvār) is also found in earlier texts, including in reference to
Vishnu's devotees and even to
Vishnu himself.
Andal, the only woman Alvar, is referred to as
āṇṭāḷ "the lady" (literally "she who rules"). This is seen as a fairly precise semantic parallel to
āḷvār in the sense of "lord" or "ruler".
Legend
Sources
The legendary information surrounding the Alvars is primarily derived from a variety of Vaishnava hagiographical works, alongside insights from their own literary compositions. These sources often present traditional accounts that blend historical elements with miraculous anecdotes and theological interpretations.
There are many texts that serve as key source material for the Alvar legends. The Divyasuricarita by Garuḍavāhana Paṇḍita in the 11th century CE is considered the earliest poetical work detailing the biographies of the Alvars. The Guruparampara Prabhavam is found in multiple variations such as Guruparamparāprabhāvam-ārāyirappaḍi by Pinpaḻakiyaperumāḷ Jīyar in the 13th century CE, and Guruparamparāprabhāvam-mūvāyirappaḍi by Tṛtīya Brahmatantra Parakālasvāmi in the 14th century CE. The Vārtta Malai by an unknown author of "a fairly late date" also recounts some stories and the Ramanuja connection. The Upadeśa Ratnamālai by Manavala Mahāmuni and Periya Thirumaḍi Aḍaivu by Koil Kandāḍai Nāyan, both from the 15th century CE, also provide biographical details.
Divine Origins and Miraculous Births
A central theme of the Alvar legends is their divine origin, with
Vishnu reportedly sending his various insignia to Earth to be incarnated as the Alvars. For example, Poygai Alvar is believed to be the incarnation of
Panchajanya (
sangu), Bhoothath Alvar of his
Kaumodaki (
kowmodhakam), and Pey Alvar of the
Nandaka. Other Alvars are linked to Vishnu's divine attendants or attributes, such as Nammalvar as
Vishvaksena, Kulasekhara Alvar as the
Kaustubha, Periyalvar as
Garuda, and Tirumangai Alvar as
Sharnga.
Many are said to have had supernatural births rather than natural ones. Poygai Alvar reportedly emerged from a Nelumbo nucifera, Bhoothath Alvar from a madhavi flower, and Pey Alvar from a red lotus. Andal was discovered as an infant in a flower garden, and Nammalvar was found by his foster parents in the hollow of a tamarind tree.
Specific Alvar Legends
-
The first three Alvars (Poygai, Bhoothath, Pey Alvar) are said to have been born on three consecutive days and later met by chance in a narrow passageway ( itaikkali) in Tirukkovalur during a storm, where Vishnu revealed himself to them.
-
Nammalvar's legend tells of him remaining in yogic meditation under a tamarind tree from birth until the age of sixteen, speaking his first words as an esoteric answer to Madhurakavi Alvar.
-
Tirumangai Alvar's life is recounted as a transformation from a Brigandage to a saint. Legends include him robbing a Buddhist shrine to fund the construction of the fourth wall ( prakara) of the Srirangam temple, with the Lord's assistance. He also reportedly engaged in a poetical contest with the Saiva saint Sambandar.
-
The only female Alvar, Andal is renowned as a bridal mystic who vowed to marry only Vishnu/Krishna. Her legend culminates in her mystical marriage to Ranganatha at Srirangam, where she is said to have been absorbed into the deity.
-
One legend recounts that when a Pandyan king tried to coerce Tirumalisai Alvar's disciple, Kannikrishna, to compose songs in his honor, Vishnu himself left his temple to follow the Alvar, only returning after the king humbly apologized.
-
Tiruppan Alvar's legend highlights that he was carried on the shoulders of a temple priest, despite belonging to the lowest caste ( panchama/outcaste), into the sanctum sanctorum of Srirangam, where he merged with the deity.
Dating
Traditional Dating
Traditionally the Alvars are said to have lived in ancient times. The first three Alvars (Poygai Alvar, Bhutattalvar, Peyalvar) are believed to have been born at the end of the
Dvapara Yuga, corresponding to around 4203 BCE. Madhurakavi is believed to have also been born in Dvapara Yuga, corresponding to 3222 BCE. Nammalvar, Kulashekhara Alvar, Periyalvar, and Andal are placed in the first century of the
Kali Yuga (3102 BCE - 3005 BCE). Specific dates such as Nammalvar in 3102 BCE, Kulashekhara in 2075 BCE, Periyalvar in 3056 BCE, and Andal in 3005 BCE are also given. Thondaradippodi Alvar, Thiruppaan Alvar, and Thirumangai Alvar are dated to 2803 BCE, 758 BCE, and 2702 BCE respectively.
General Scholarly Consensus
The
Encyclopædia Britannica says that Alvars lived between 7th and 10th centuries CE. Professor of Religion and Asian Studies, James G. Lochtefeld of
Carthage College, notes in his
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, the first three Alvars Poigai, Bhoothath and Pey belonged to the 7th century; while Nammalvar and Madhurakavi belonged to the 10th century; while the rest of them lived in the 9th century.
Modern scholarship generally places the Alvars in the early medieval period. Most sources agree that the Alvars "probably lived between the sixth and the tenth centuries CE", or more specifically, between the fifth and eighth centuries CE. One source suggests their age as a class lies "between somewhere about the commencement of the 3rd century A.D. and the 9th century." This period aligns with the Pallava dynasty, Chola dynasty, and Pandya dynasty kingdoms in Tamil Nadu, a time when Tamil literature emerged.
A significant point in dating the Alvars is their relationship with Ramanuja. Scholars agree that the Alvars considerably predated Ramanuja, as his theology was heavily influenced by their teachings. This refutes earlier views by Bishop Caldwell and M. Seshagiri Sastriar, who mistakenly believed the Alvars were disciples of Ramanuja.
Works
Naalayira Divya Prabandham
The main collection of works of devotional poetry created by the Alvars, compiled by
Nathamuni, is known as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, with 4,000 verses. . These works include:
After the era of the Alvars, a few of the poems from the Divya Prabandham were said to be lost. Nathmuni in the 10th century is said to have gone on search for these lost works. He is said to have been blessed with the revelation of three short works by Nammalvar and around 20 poems composed by other poets.
Commentaries and other works
These works have been the subject of extensive commentaries and other literary works by later scholars and saints. These are:
-
On the entire corpus:
-
Commentary by Periyavāccān Piḷḷai.
-
Commentary by Periya Parakālasvāmi.
-
Nigama Parimaḷa by Vedānta Deśika
-
Commentaries on the Tiruvāymoḻi:
-
Ārāyirappaḍi by Tirukkurukaipirān Piḷḷān, a direct disciple of Ramanuja (1068 CE).
-
sub-commentary on Ārāyirappaḍi called Irupattunālāyirappāḍi by Vedānta Rāmānuja/Sākṣātsvāmi (1700 CE).
-
Oṉpadināyirappaḍi by Nanjiyar (1113 CE).
-
Irupattunālāyirappāḍi by Periyavāccān Piḷḷai (1168 CE).
-
Īḍu Muppattiyārāyarappāḍi by Vaḍakkutiruvīdi Piḷḷai (1167 CE).
-
Pannirāyirappāḍi by Vādikesarī Aḻakiamaṇavāḷa Jīyar (1242 CE).
-
Oṉpadināyirappaḍi by Raṅgarāmānuja (1650 CE).
-
Padinettāyirappaḍi by Periya Parakālasvāmi (1676 CE).
Philosophy
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. The philosophy of the
Āḻvārs is fundamentally rooted in devotion (
bhakti) to
Viṣṇu and forms the spiritual and theological basis for the
Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta system. Their poetic compositions, collected as the Nālāyira Divya Prabandham, are viewed as the "Dravida Vedam" (Tamil Veda), containing the quintessence of Upanishadic teachings and philosophical ideas disseminated through the Tamil language to the common people. Their teachings cover the three fundamental doctrines of
Vedānta:
tattva (ultimate reality),
hita (means of attainment), and
puruṣārtha (supreme goal of life).
The Doctrine of Ultimate Reality (Tattva)
The
Āḻvārs posit
Vishnu/
Narayana as the supreme deity (
paratattva) and the sole ultimate reality. They uphold the
Saviśeṣa Brahma-vāda, viewing
Brahman as the absolute endowed with infinite auspicious attributes (
guṇa). Narayana is described as
Sarveśvara, the Lord of all, including
Brahma and
Rudra (
Shiva), and the primary cause of the universe's creation, sustenance, and dissolution. They emphasize the theological belief in the inseparability of
Viṣṇu and
Śrī (
Lakshmi), with the Goddess acting as the
mediatrix.
The Āḻvārs refer to five manifestations ( avatāra) of God that make the divine accessible:
-
Para (The transcendent form in Vaikuntha)
-
Vyūha (The expansive form, e.g., lying in the Kshira Sagara)
-
Vibhava (Incarnations like Rama and Krishna)
-
Arcā (The Murti enshrined in temples)
-
Antaryāmin (The inner controller dwelling within every sentient and non-sentient entity)
The Kṛṣṇa avatāra holds special importance due to its display of God's easy accessibility ( saulabhya). The devotion of the Āḻvārs was largely temple-centred, praising the local deities (Divya Desam). They frequently glorify God's protective and merciful nature, highlighting attributes such as easy accessibility ( saulabhya) and gracious condescension ( sauśīlya).
The Path to Attainment (Hita)
The core philosophy of the
Āḻvārs is the promotion of Bhakti (fervent devotion), which they considered the great way of salvation.
Prapatti (Absolute Surrender)
The central ideology is the idea of absolute surrender to the deity. They advocated implicit faith, ardent devotion, and utter surrender of will and action to
Viṣṇu.
Prapatti (self-surrender) is often seen as the only effective means (
sādhana) for complete and final liberation.
Arul (Grace)
The attainment of God is believed to be possible only through the Lord's grace.
They accepted both grace linked to human effort (
sahetuka-kṛpā) and spontaneous, unconditioned grace (
nirhetuka-kṛpā).
The Supreme Goal (Puruṣārtha)
The ultimate goal of life is
Moksha (liberation, or
vidu). Moksha is described as the realization of the blissful Brahman (
Brahmānandānubhava). The theological concept of the ultimate goal emphasizes continuous and uninterrupted divine service (
Bhāgavat-kaiṅkarya) to the Lord in His eternal abode,
Vaikuṇṭha (
Paramapada). Nammalvar asserts that he would prefer service to the Lord over moksha itself.
The Individual Self (Jīva) and Mysticism
The Alvars provided insights into the nature of the individual self (
jīvātman), describing it as an eternal spiritual entity of the nature of knowledge (
jnāna) and bliss (
ānanda). They posit that the individual soul is eternally subordinate (
śeṣa-bhūta) to the Supreme Being. They frequently used the term
adiyēn (subservient) to signify their dependence on God. A distinctive theological concept developed by the Āḻvārs is that the highest ideal is absolute subordination not just to God, but to the devotees of God. They wished to become the servant of the servants, who are servants to the servants of God's servants.
Nāyaki Bhāva (Bridal Mysticism)
Key Alvars, notably Nammalvar and Tirumangai Alvar, often assume the role of the female beloved (
nāyaki) longing for Vishnu, the divine lover (
nāyaka). This utilizes the imagery of erotic love (
Sringara or
rati-bhāva) as an allegory for the spiritual quest and the soul's intense craving for union with the Divine. This mystic experience alternates between the joy of communion (
samśleṣa) and the anguish of separation (
viraha or
viśleṣa).
Legacy
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. As a part of the legacy of the Alvars, five Vaishnavite philosophical traditions (
) developed over a period of time. These were the sampradayas founded by
Ramanuja,
Madhva,
Vallabha,
Nimbarka, and Chaitanya.
Sources
Books
Journal articles
Theses / Dissertations
Websites
External links
Further reading
See also
