Alvars - Revision history

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Summary

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	The '''alvars''' ({{lang-ta\|ஆழ்வார்\|āḻvār\|translit-std=ISO}}){{notetag\|Considered by some a misspelling as the pronunciation for "wa" is not the same as "va" and does not exist in [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] or [[Sanskrit]])<ref>https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/6039/how-is-sanskrit-va-supposed-to-be-pronounced</ref>}} or '''Alvarkal''' ({{lang-ta\|ஆழ்வார்கள்\|translit=āḻvārkaḷ\|translit-std=ISO\|lit=those immersed in god}}) were [[Tamil people\|Tamil]] poet-saints of [[South India]] who espoused [[bhakti]] (devotion) to the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] god [[Vishnu]] in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf \|title=The Alvars \|author=Andrea Nippard \|access-date=2013-04-20 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001609/http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf \|archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> They are venerated especially in [[Vaishnavism]], which regards Lord Vishnu as the Supreme entity.		The '''alvars''' ({{lang-ta\|ஆழ்வார்\|āḻvār\|translit-std=ISO}}){{notetag\|Considered by some a misspelling as the pronunciation for "wa" is not the same as "va" and does not exist in [[Tamil language\|Tamil]] or [[Sanskrit]])<ref>https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/6039/how-is-sanskrit-va-supposed-to-be-pronounced</ref>}} or '''Alvarkal''' ({{lang-ta\|ஆழ்வார்கள்\|translit=āḻvārkaḷ\|translit-std=ISO\|lit=those immersed in god}}) were [[Tamil people\|Tamil]] poet-saints of [[South India]] who espoused [[bhakti]] (devotion) to the [[Hinduism\|Hindu]] god [[Vishnu]] in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf \|title=The Alvars \|author=Andrea Nippard \|access-date=2013-04-20 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001609/http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf \|archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> They are venerated especially in [[Vaishnavism]], which regards Lord Vishnu as the Supreme entity.

	Many modern academics place the Alvar date between 5th century to 10th century CE, ~~however~~ traditionally the Alvar are considered to have lived between ~~4200–2700~~ BCE. Orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are other references that include [[Andal]] and [[Madhurakavi Alvar]], making the number twelve.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Flood\|1996\|p=131}}</ref> Andal is the only female Alvar among the 12. Together with the contemporary sixty three [[Shaiva]] [[Nayanars]], they are among the most important saints from Tamil Nadu.		Many modern academics place the Alvar date between 5th century to 10th century CE. However, traditionally the Alvar are considered to have lived between 4200 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 twelve.<ref>{{Harvnb\|Flood\|1996\|p=131}}</ref> Andal is the only female Alvar among the 12. Together with the contemporary sixty three [[Shaiva]] [[Nayanars]], they are among the most important saints from Tamil Nadu.

	The devotional outpourings of alvars, composed during the early medieval period of [[History of Tamil Nadu\|Tamil history]], helped revive the [[bhakti movement]], through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the [[Divya Desam]]s, 108 "abodes" (temples) of these Vaishnava deities. 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 felicity of expressions.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Indian Literature Through the Ages \|url=http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm \|publisher=Indian literature, Govt of India \|access-date=2013-04-20 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515213735/http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm \|archive-date=15 May 2013 }}</ref> The collection of their hymns is known as ''[[Divya Prabandha]]''. The Bhakti literature that sprang from alvars 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 a knowledge of [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="About Alvars">{{cite web		The devotional outpourings of alvars, composed during the early medieval period of [[History of Tamil Nadu\|Tamil history]], helped revive the [[bhakti movement]], through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the [[Divya Desam]]s, 108 "abodes" (temples) of these Vaishnava deities. 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 felicity of expressions.<ref>{{cite web\|title=Indian Literature Through the Ages \|url=http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm \|publisher=Indian literature, Govt of India \|access-date=2013-04-20 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515213735/http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm \|archive-date=15 May 2013 }}</ref> The collection of their hymns is known as ''[[Divya Prabandha]]''. The Bhakti literature that sprang from alvars 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 a knowledge of [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="About Alvars">{{cite web
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	As per the boon given to Agastya Maharshi by Lord Vishnu, the 5th (or sometimes the 10th or 12th) Alvar, Nammalvar (amsha or incarnation of Vishvaksena) is credited for converting the Rig Veda to 100 poems called the ''Thiruviratham,'' Yajur Veda as ''Thiruvarshiyam'' and the most difficult Sama Veda as ''Thiruvaimozhi'' in 1000 verses (poems).		As per the boon given to Agastya Maharshi by Lord Vishnu, the 5th (or sometimes the 10th or 12th) Alvar, Nammalvar (amsha or incarnation of Vishvaksena) is credited for converting the Rig Veda to 100 poems called the ''Thiruviratham,'' Yajur Veda as ''Thiruvarshiyam'' and the most difficult Sama Veda as ''Thiruvaimozhi'' in 1000 verses (poems).

	The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three alvars, Poigai Alvar, Bhuthath Alvar and ~~Peyalvar~~ were born miraculously i.e., they were not given birth. Thirumizhisai Alvar was the son of a sage Bhargava; Thondaradipodi Alvar, Mathurakavi Alvar, Periazhwar ~~and Andal~~ were [[brahmin]]; Kulasekhara was a [[Kshatria\|Kshatriya]], Nammalvar was from a cultivator family, Thirupanalvar from ''[[Tamil Panar]]'' community and Thirumangai Alvar from ''kalvar'' community. Some Vaishnavities consider only the main 10 alvars (except Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar) while other include these two in the list too. Srirangam is the only Divya Desam that was glorified commonly by the 12 Alvars.		The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three alvars, Poigai Alvar, Bhuthath Alvar, Peyalvar and Andal were born miraculously i.e., they were not given birth. Thirumizhisai Alvar was the son of a sage Bhargava; Thondaradipodi Alvar, Mathurakavi Alvar, Periazhwar were [[brahmin]]; Kulasekhara was a [[Kshatria\|Kshatriya]], Nammalvar was from a cultivator family, Thirupanalvar from ''[[Tamil Panar]]'' community and Thirumangai Alvar from ''kalvar'' community. Some Vaishnavities consider only the main 10 alvars (except Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar) while other include these two in the list too. Srirangam is the only Divya Desam that was glorified commonly by the 12 Alvars.

	Temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the alvars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Few of them are:		Temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the alvars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Few of them are:
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	Traditionally the Alwars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE,<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs]", by S. M. Srinivasa Chari, publisher = Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|9788120813427}}, p. 10</ref><ref>"Śrībhāṣyam: Catuḥsūtryātmakaḥ", by Rāmānuja, Raghunath Damodar Karmarkar, p.18, original from = The University of Michigan</ref> while some texts account for range between 4200 BCE to early 10th century. Traditional dates take them to the age of [[Shuka]] from the period of the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', the first four ([[Poigai Alvar\|Poigai]] Alvar, [[Bhoothath Alvar\|Bhoothathalvar]], [[Pey Alvar\|Peyalvar]] and [[Thirumalisai Alvar\|Thirumalisai]] alvar) are from ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'', while [[Nammalvar\|Nammalwar]], [[Madhurakavi Alvar]] and others belong to ''[[Kali Yuga]]''.<ref>{{cite book\|title= Religion, Philosophy, Yoga: A Selection of Articles\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|author=Jean Filliozat\|page=23}}</ref>		Traditionally the Alwars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE,<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs]", by S. M. Srinivasa Chari, publisher = Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN\|9788120813427}}, p. 10</ref><ref>"Śrībhāṣyam: Catuḥsūtryātmakaḥ", by Rāmānuja, Raghunath Damodar Karmarkar, p.18, original from = The University of Michigan</ref> while some texts account for range between 4200 BCE to early 10th century. Traditional dates take them to the age of [[Shuka]] from the period of the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', the first four ([[Poigai Alvar\|Poigai]] Alvar, [[Bhoothath Alvar\|Bhoothathalvar]], [[Pey Alvar\|Peyalvar]] and [[Thirumalisai Alvar\|Thirumalisai]] alvar) are from ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'', while [[Nammalvar\|Nammalwar]], [[Madhurakavi Alvar]] and others belong to ''[[Kali Yuga]]''.<ref>{{cite book\|title= Religion, Philosophy, Yoga: A Selection of Articles\|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|author=Jean Filliozat\|page=23}}</ref>

	The following table shows the place, century and star of birth of each alvar. Scholarly dating, except that of Kulasekhara Alvar, is based on summary of views of modern scholars by Dr. N Subba Reddiar, although even these dates lack historical evidence.<ref name="Chari"/> Much effort has gone into dating Kulasekhara Alvar recently. The alvar is now identified as Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (reigned ~~844–883~~ CE), the ~~second~~ known ruler of the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras]] of Makotai ([[Cranganore]]) (c. 800–1124 CE).<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124">[[M. G. S. Narayanan\|Narayanan, M. G. S.]] "Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy—Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cera Perumals of Makotai (c. AD 800–AD 1124)" Kerala. Calicut University Press. 1996</ref>		The following table shows the place, century and star of birth of each alvar. Scholarly dating, except that of Kulasekhara Alvar, is based on summary of views of modern scholars by Dr. N Subba Reddiar, although even these dates lack historical evidence.<ref name="Chari"/> Much effort has gone into dating Kulasekhara Alvar recently. The alvar is now identified as Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (reigned c.844–871 CE), the first known ruler of the [[Chera dynasty\|Cheras]] of Makotai ([[Cranganore]]) (c. 800–1124 CE).<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124">[[M. G. S. Narayanan\|Narayanan, M. G. S.]] "Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy—Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cera Perumals of Makotai (c. AD 800–AD 1124)" Kerala. Calicut University Press. 1996</ref>

	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
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	\|[[Thirumalisai Alvar]]		\|[[Thirumalisai Alvar]]
	\|720 CE		\|720 CE
	\|~~4203~~ BCE [[Thirumazhisai]]		\|3102 BCE [[Thirumazhisai]]
	\|''Nanmugan Thiruvandhadhi'', 96 verses; ''ThiruChanda Virutham'', 120 verses.		\|''Nanmugan Thiruvandhadhi'', 96 verses; ''ThiruChanda Virutham'', 120 verses.
	\|''Thai''		\|''Thai''
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	\|[[Nammalvar]]		\|[[Nammalvar]]
	\|798 CE		\|798 CE
	\|~~3102/~~3059<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC History of Classical Sanskrit Literature]", by M. Srinivasachariar, p. 278, {{ISBN\|9788120802841}}</ref> [[Alwarthirunagiri\|Alwarthirunagiri (Kurugur)]]		\|3059<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC History of Classical Sanskrit Literature]", by M. Srinivasachariar, p. 278, {{ISBN\|9788120802841}}</ref> BCE[[Alwarthirunagiri\|Alwarthirunagiri (Kurugur)]]
	\|''Thiruvaymozhi'', 1102 verses; ''Thiruvasiriyam'', 7 verses; ''Thiruvirutham'', 100 verses; ''Periya Thiruvandhadhi'', 87 verses.		\|''Thiruvaymozhi'', 1102 verses; ''Thiruvasiriyam'', 7 verses; ''Thiruvirutham'', 100 verses; ''Periya Thiruvandhadhi'', 87 verses.
	\|''Vaikasi''		\|''Vaikasi''
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	\|[[Madhurakavi Alvar]]		\|[[Madhurakavi Alvar]]
	\|800 CE		\|800 CE
	\|~~3102~~ BC, Thirukollur		\|3049 BC, Thirukollur
	\|''Kanninun Siruthambu'', 11 verses.		\|''Kanninun Siruthambu'', 11 verses.
	\|''Chitthirai''		\|''Chitthirai''
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	\|-		\|-
	\|7		\|7
	\|		\|[[File:Kulasekhara Alwar.png\|130x130px\|center]]
	\| [[~~Kulashekhara Alwar\|Kulashekhara~~ Alvar]] (Sthanuravi Kulasekhara<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>)		\|[[Kulasekhara Alvar]] (Sthanuravi Kulasekhara<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>)
	\| 9th century CE (reigned 844–883{{nbsp}}CE)<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>		\| 9th century CE (reigned 844–883{{nbsp}}CE)<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>
	\|3075 BC, [[Cranganore\|Tiruvancikkulam (Cranganore)]], Chera Kingdom of Makotai		\|3075 BC, [[Cranganore\|Tiruvancikkulam (Cranganore)]], Chera Kingdom of Makotai
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	\|-		\|-
	\|8		\|8
	\|		\|[[File:Periazhwar.jpg\|130x130px\|center]]
	\|[[Periyalvar]]		\|[[Periyalvar]]
	\|785 CE		\|785 CE
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	\|-		\|-
	\|9		\|9
	\|		\|[[File:NarayanaTirumala5.JPG\|130x130px\|center]]
	\|[[Andal]]		\|[[Andal]]
	\|767 CE		\|767 CE

>Pi bot: Updating the Commons category from "Category:Azhwars" to "Category:Alvars" to avoid a category redirect

2021-04-26T07:05:22Z

Updating the Commons category from "Category:Azhwars" to "Category:Alvars" to avoid a category redirect

New page

{{about||the city in Rajasthan|Alwar|the village in Iran|Alvars, Iran}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Alvar
| image = {{image array|perrow=2|width=100|height=100|
| image1 = Nammazhwar.jpg|caption1=[[Nammalvar]]
| image2 = The_Saint_Andal_LACMA_M.86.94.2.jpg|caption2 =[[Andal]]
| image3 = |caption3=[[Thiruppaan Alvar]]
}}
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}

The '''alvars''' ({{lang-ta|ஆழ்வார்|āḻvār|translit-std=ISO}}){{notetag|Considered by some a misspelling as the pronunciation for "wa" is not the same as "va" and does not exist in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] or [[Sanskrit]])<ref>https://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/6039/how-is-sanskrit-va-supposed-to-be-pronounced</ref>}} or '''Alvarkal''' ({{lang-ta|ஆழ்வார்கள்|translit=āḻvārkaḷ|translit-std=ISO|lit=those immersed in god}}) were [[Tamil people|Tamil]] poet-saints of [[South India]] who espoused [[bhakti]] (devotion) to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god [[Vishnu]] in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf |title=The Alvars |author=Andrea Nippard |access-date=2013-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001609/http://www.mahavidya.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nippard-Andrea-The-Alvars-Yes.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013 }}</ref> They are venerated especially in [[Vaishnavism]], which regards Lord Vishnu as the Supreme entity.

Many modern academics place the Alvar date between 5th century to 10th century CE, however traditionally the Alvar are considered to have lived between 4200–2700 BCE. Orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are other references that include [[Andal]] and [[Madhurakavi Alvar]], making the number twelve.<ref>{{Harvnb|Flood|1996|p=131}}</ref> Andal is the only female Alvar among the 12. Together with the contemporary sixty three [[Shaiva]] [[Nayanars]], they are among the most important saints from Tamil Nadu.

The devotional outpourings of alvars, composed during the early medieval period of [[History of Tamil Nadu|Tamil history]], helped revive the [[bhakti movement]], through their hymns of worship to Vishnu and his avatars. They praised the [[Divya Desam]]s, 108 "abodes" (temples) of these Vaishnava deities. 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 felicity of expressions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian Literature Through the Ages |url=http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm |publisher=Indian literature, Govt of India |access-date=2013-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515213735/http://ccrtindia.gov.in/literaryarts.htm |archive-date=15 May 2013 }}</ref> The collection of their hymns is known as ''[[Divya Prabandha]]''. The Bhakti literature that sprang from alvars 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 a knowledge of [[Sanskrit]].<ref name="About Alvars">{{cite web
|title = ''About Alvars''
|publisher = divyadesamonline.com
|url = http://www.divyadesamonline.com/alwars.asp
|access-date = 2007-07-02
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070621230057/http://www.divyadesamonline.com/alwars.asp
|archive-date = 21 June 2007
|url-status = dead}}</ref> As part of the legacy of the alvars, five [[Vaishnava]] philosophical traditions (sampradayas) have developed at the later stages.<ref name=Mittal2004>{{cite book
| last1= Mittal| first1=S. G. R.|last2= Thursby
| year = 2006
| title = Religions of South Asia: An Introduction
| publisher = Routledge
| isbn =9780203970027
|page=27
}}</ref>
{{Vaishnavism}}

==Etymology==
{{Hinduism}}
The word ''alvar'' has traditionally been etymologized as from Tamil. ''Al'' (ஆழ்), 'to immerse oneself' as 'one who dives deep into the ocean of the countless attributes of god'.<ref name="Etymology">{{cite web|
title=''Meaning of Alvar''
| publisher=ramanuja.org|
url=http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/alvars/|
access-date= 2007-07-02}}</ref>

However recently Indologist Sudalaimuthu Palaniappan has established<ref name="academia.edu">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/9668394|title=Āḻvār or Nāyaṉār: The Role of Sound Variation, Hypercorrection and Folk Etymology in Interpreting the Nature of Vaiṣṇava Saint-Poets|first=Sudalaimuthu|last=Palaniappan|via=www.academia.edu}}</ref> from epigraphy and textual evidence that the traditional term Āḻvār (ஆழ்வார்) for Vaiṣṇavaite Tamil poet saints has historically been a corruption of the original Āḷvār (ஆள்வார்). It is investigated with a multi-faceted approach using philology, linguistics, epigraphy, and religion.

=== Correction of the original Āḷvār (ஆள்வார்) to Āḻvār (ஆழ்வார்) ===
Palaniappan<ref name="academia.edu"/> shows that what was originally Āḷvār (ஆள்வார்) meaning 'One who rules', or '(Spiritual) Master' got changed through hypercorrection and folk etymology to Āḻvār (ஆழ்வார்) meaning 'One who is immersed'. Palaniappan cites inscriptional evidence and even literary evidence from Vaishnavaite tradition itself for a gradual sound change from Āḷvār (ஆள்வார்) to Āḻvār (ஆழ்வார்) over a period of two centuries from the 9th to the 11th century involving references to religious leaders in Vaiṣṇavism, Śaivism and even Jainism and to political personalities. He states: "āḻvār is but a corrupt form of āḷvār which has been used interchangeably with nāyanār in secular and religious contexts in the Tamil land" and "... Notwithstanding the Vaiṣṇava claim of unbroken teacher-student tradition, the fact that Nāthamuni has used the form āļvār but Piļļān, a disciple and younger cousin of Rāmānuja, ended up using the form āḻvār suggests that there has been an error in transmission somewhere along the teacher-student chain between the two teachers. This error was obviously due to the influence of the sound variation that has occurred in the Srirangam area and elsewhere".

The original word ஆள்வார் compares with the epithet 'Āṇḍãḷ' (ஆண்டாள்) for the female canonized Vaishnava saint Gōdai (கோதை) and they share the same verb Tamil. āḷ (ஆள்), the former being the honorific non-past (or present-future) form and the latter the feminine past form of that same verb.

=== Reception by scholars ===
Palaniappan's findings on 'Āḻvār' have been accepted by scholars like Prof. Alexander Dubyanskiy. In his article on Āṇṭāḷ, Dubyanskiy says,<ref>https://publications.efeo.fr/en/livres/820_the-archaeology-of-bhakti-i and http://www2.rsuh.ru/binary/object_40.1412591563.13923.pdf</ref> "Āṇṭāḷ was among the twelve Āḻvārs, the poet-saints, adepts of Viṣṇu, canonized by the tradition, which accepted the interpretation of meaning of the word āḻvār as "submerged, plunged [in love for god]", from the verbal root āḻ, "to plunge, to be in the deep". But recently it was convincingly shown by S. Palaniappan (2004) that initially the term in question was represented by the word āḷvār (from the verbal root āḷ "to rule"), which reads as "those who rule, lords", and was applied in the texts, both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava, to Śiva and Viṣṇu accordingly (pp. 66–70). In the course of time the term underwent the process of sound variation, took the form āḻvār and acquired the folk etymology which was accepted and fixed by the tradition. It is worth noting here that this interpretation agrees well with the meaning of the poetess' nickname Āṇṭāḷ, which means "she who rules".

=== Modern Alvar ===
'''Alvar or Alwar'''<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Somasundaram |first1=Ottilingam |last2=Murthy |first2=Tejus |title=Alvars of South India: A psychiatric scanner |journal=Indian Journal of Psychiatry |date=2017 |volume=59 |issue=3 |pages=375–379 |doi=10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_383_16 |pmid=29085100 |pmc=5659091 }}</ref> in modern times are confined to temples in South India. Still devout to Lord Vishnu, lot of the practices of have remained the same, except for some modern changes.<ref>https://in.pinterest.com/pin/575686764849073511/{{full citation needed|date=October 2020}}{{self-published inline|date=October 2020}}</ref><ref>https://indiathedestiny.com/india-philosophers/alvars-tamil-saints/</ref>

==Legacy and History==
Alvars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of [[Vishnu]], who were instrumental in popularising [[Vaishnavism]] in the Tamil-speaking regions.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 47-48</ref> The alvars were influential in promoting the [[Bhagavata]] cult and the two Hindu epics, namely, [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabaratha]].<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 42</ref> The religious works of these saints in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], songs of love and devotion, are compiled as ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]]'' containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as ''[[Divya desam]]''.<ref name="Rao"/><ref name="Dalal21">[[#Dalal|Dalal]] 2011, pp. 20-21</ref> The verses of the various ''alvars'' were compiled by [[Nathamuni]] (824 - 924 CE), a 10th-century Vaishnavite theologian, who called it the "Dravida Veda or Tamil Veda".<ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of Indian Literatures: Beginnings-1850 Volume 1 of A Dictionary of Indian Literature, A Dictionary of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YCJrUfVtZxoC&q=poygai&pg=PA15|page=15|last=Mukherjee|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=1999|isbn=9788125014539}}</ref><ref name="Garg">{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World: Ak-Aq|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WjDcd0cTFxQC&q=poygai&pg=PA352|pages=352–354|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|last=Garg|first=Gaṅgā Rām|year=1992|isbn=9788170223757}}</ref> The songs of ''Prabandam'' are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.<ref name="Dalal21"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&q=poygai&pg=PA14|page=211|last=Ramaswamy|first=Vijaya|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2007|isbn=9780810864450}}</ref>

The birth of Alvars were already been sketched in mid-Dwapara Yuga due to a heated debate between Vishvakarma (the divine architect of Gods) and Agastya (a sage) about the best language (Sanskrit or Tamil). Midst of debate, Agastya Maharshi gets furious which makes him to curse the former that, at some point of time one of his architecture would be destroyed (a contemporary to Gandhari's curse to Dwarka) and can never be recovered. (Some sources say Agastya Maharshi curses Vishvakarma for Sanskrit to lose its fame, as the curse became true in the present Kali Yuga). Enraged Vishvakarma too curse Agastya Maharshi in return that his most favorite language (Tamil) will be downtrodden in the future, and will go very remote that people will badly fail to identify its history and its sources. Agastya Maharshi who felt very bad by then for confronting Vishvakarma for a childish reason is in turn blessed by the vision (darshan) of Lord Vishnu after a long penance who promises him that one day Tamil language will regain consciousness and will emerge same as before but with little disparities and disabilities among people in pronunciation of words as Kali Yuga progresses. At the same time Vishnu also promises the Vedas to be translated to Tamil as the result of his curse on Vishvakarma. Agastya Maharshi gets happy and awaits for the time for his boon to become true. After the Mahabharata war and all the post incidents in Dwarka (Gandhari's curse coming into effect and Lord Krishna's death in the hands of the hunter Jara), Lord Krishna as Lord Vishnu resumes his abode in Vaikunta, hence sowing the seeds of Kali Yuga. In Vaikunta, Lord Vishnu rests on Adi Sesha, surrounded by his amshas (messengers). He becomes worried about the people of Kali Yuga. His weapons (The Sudarshana Chakra, Panchajanya, etc.) asks the reason he to which he responded the same. Sudarshana immediately responded to slice the head of all people who refused Dharma, to which Lord Vishnu smiled and corrected him exclaiming nobody would be left alive if he were to do so even in the Dwapara Yuga, then Kali Yuga would be no less. When asked any other solution, Lord Vishnu says his amshas (messengers or weapons) to take birth and to become a role model and inspire how they suffered to reach the holy feet of Lord to the human beings who come in the future. Thus descended those weapons to Earth, being the amshas (or weapons of Lord Vishnu) who happily accepted to take birth as different Alvars, aligning with the boon given to Agastya Maharshi and also became a role model for the human beings who came later in the Kali Yuga.

As per the boon given to Agastya Maharshi by Lord Vishnu, the 5th (or sometimes the 10th or 12th) Alvar, Nammalvar (amsha or incarnation of Vishvaksena) is credited for converting the Rig Veda to 100 poems called the ''Thiruviratham,'' Yajur Veda as ''Thiruvarshiyam'' and the most difficult Sama Veda as ''Thiruvaimozhi'' in 1000 verses (poems).

The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three alvars, Poigai Alvar, Bhuthath Alvar and Peyalvar were born miraculously i.e., they were not given birth. Thirumizhisai Alvar was the son of a sage Bhargava; Thondaradipodi Alvar, Mathurakavi Alvar, Periazhwar and Andal were [[brahmin]]; Kulasekhara was a [[Kshatria|Kshatriya]], Nammalvar was from a cultivator family, Thirupanalvar from ''[[Tamil Panar]]'' community and Thirumangai Alvar from ''kalvar'' community. Some Vaishnavities consider only the main 10 alvars (except Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar) while other include these two in the list too. Srirangam is the only Divya Desam that was glorified commonly by the 12 Alvars.

Temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the alvars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Few of them are:

# ''Divya Suri Saritra'' by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century)
# ''Guruparamparaprabavam'' by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar
# ''Periya tiru mudi adaivu'' by Anbillai Kandadiappan
# ''Yatindra Pranava Prabavam'' by Pillai Lokacharya
# commentaries on ''Divya Prabandam''
# Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts

According to traditional account by [[Manavala Mamunigal]], the first three ''alvars'' namely Poigai Alvar, Bhoothath Alvar and Pey Alvar belong to ''[[Dvapara Yuga|Dwapara Yuga]]'' (even before birth of Lord Krishna, i.e., before 4200 BCE). It is widely accepted by tradition and historians that the trio are the earliest among the twelve alvars.<ref name="Rao">{{Cite book |last=Rao|first=P.V.L. Narasimha|title=Kanchipuram – Land of Legends, Saints & Temples|year=2008|publisher=Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd.|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-93-5018-104-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GTMTQLuCNSMC&q=poigai+azhwar&pg=PA27|page=27}}</ref><ref name="Dalal21" /><ref name="James">{{cite book|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|quote=poygai.|last=Lochtefeld|first=James|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/515 515]|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=9780823931804}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Early history of Vaishnavism in south India|url=https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryvai00aiyagoog|quote=poigai azhwar.|pages=[https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryvai00aiyagoog/page/n35 17]–18|last=Aiyangar|first=Sakkottai Krishnaswami |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1920}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Book of Vishnu|last=Krishna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f9cSlaLMlgEC&q=poygai&pg=PA136|page=136|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=2009|isbn=9780143067627}}</ref> Along with the three Saiva [[Nayanmars]], they influenced the ruling [[Pallava]] kings, creating a Bhakti movement that resulted in changing the religious geography from [[Buddhism]] and [[Jainism]] to these two sects of [[Hinduism]] in the region.

After the era of Alvars, few of the Divya Prabandham were lost. So in order to retrieve them, Lord Vishnu sent Nathamuni, who had vision of Nammalvar through the idol that Nammalvar advised Madhurakavi Alvar to get for. The idol can be found till date in Alvarthirunagari Temple.

==Summary==

Some modern scholars suggest that they lived during 5th – 9th century CE, "on the basis of a few historical evidences", although no "clear" evidence exists to fit them between 5th to 9th century CE.<ref name="Chari">"[https://books.google.com/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs]", by S. M. Srinivasa Chari, publisher = Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120813427}}, p. 11</ref><ref>"Mādhavêndra Purī: A Link between Bengal Vaiṣṇavism and South Indian "Bhakti", by Friedhelm HardyThe Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland No. 1 (1974), pp. 23-41, Published by: Cambridge University Press, {{JSTOR|25203503}}</ref> The ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' says that alvars lived between 7th – 10th century CE.<ref>"Azhvaar". ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online''. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2014 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/18115/Azhvar>.</ref> 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 rest of them lived in the 9th century.<ref name="Lochtefeld2002">{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch|url-access=registration|year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3179-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/n7 29]–30}}</ref>

Traditionally the Alwars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE,<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs]", by S. M. Srinivasa Chari, publisher = Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|9788120813427}}, p. 10</ref><ref>"Śrībhāṣyam: Catuḥsūtryātmakaḥ", by Rāmānuja, Raghunath Damodar Karmarkar, p.18, original from = The University of Michigan</ref> while some texts account for range between 4200 BCE to early 10th century. Traditional dates take them to the age of [[Shuka]] from the period of the ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', the first four ([[Poigai Alvar|Poigai]] Alvar, [[Bhoothath Alvar|Bhoothathalvar]], [[Pey Alvar|Peyalvar]] and [[Thirumalisai Alvar|Thirumalisai]] alvar) are from ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]'', while [[Nammalvar|Nammalwar]], [[Madhurakavi Alvar]] and others belong to ''[[Kali Yuga]]''.<ref>{{cite book|title= Religion, Philosophy, Yoga: A Selection of Articles|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |author=Jean Filliozat|page=23}}</ref>

The following table shows the place, century and star of birth of each alvar. Scholarly dating, except that of Kulasekhara Alvar, is based on summary of views of modern scholars by Dr. N Subba Reddiar, although even these dates lack historical evidence.<ref name="Chari"/> Much effort has gone into dating Kulasekhara Alvar recently. The alvar is now identified as Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (reigned 844–883 CE), the second known ruler of the [[Chera dynasty|Cheras]] of Makotai ([[Cranganore]]) (c. 800–1124 CE).<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124">[[M. G. S. Narayanan|Narayanan, M. G. S.]] "Perumals of Kerala: Brahmin Oligarchy and Ritual Monarchy—Political and Social Conditions of Kerala Under the Cera Perumals of Makotai (c. AD 800–AD 1124)" Kerala. Calicut University Press. 1996</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! Sl no
! Image
! Alwar Saint
! Scholarly dating<ref name="Chari"/> !! Traditional date<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=htArUg0OMpcC Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India]", by Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar, p. 403-404, publisher = Asian Educational Services</ref><ref>"Music and temples, a ritualistic approach", by L. Annapoorna, p. 23, year = 2000, {{ISBN|9788175740907}}</ref> and place
! Composition
! [[Tamil Calendar#The Months of a Tamil Calendar|Month]]
! [[Nakshatra]]
! Avatar of
|-
|1
|
|[[Poigai Alvar]]
|713 CE
|4203 BCE, [[Kanchipuram]]
|''Mudhal Thiruvandhadhi'', 100 verses.
|''[[Tamil Calendar|Aiypassee]]''
|''[[Shravana|Thiruvonam (Sravana)]]''
|[[Panchajanya]] (Vishnu's [[shankha|conch]])
|-
|2
|
|[[Bhoothath Alvar]]
|713 CE
|4203 BCE, [[Mahabalipuram|Thirukadalmallai (Mahabhalipuram)]]
|''Irandam Thiruvandhadhi'', 100 verses.
|''Aiypassee''
|''[[Dhanishta|Avittam (Dhanishta)]]''
| [[Kaumodaki]] ([[Vishnu]]'s [[Mace (bludgeon)|Mace]])
|-
|3
|
|[[Pey Alvar]]
|713 CE
|4203 BCE, [[Mylapore]]
|''Moondram Thiruvandhadhi'', 100 verses.
|''Aiypassee''
|''[[Shatabhisha|Sadayam (Satabhishak)]]''
| [[Nandaka]] (Vishnu's sword)
|-
|4
|
|[[Thirumalisai Alvar]]
|720 CE
|4203 BCE [[Thirumazhisai]]
|''Nanmugan Thiruvandhadhi'', 96 verses; ''ThiruChanda Virutham'', 120 verses.
|''Thai''
|''[[Maghā|Magam (Maghā)]]''
| [[Sudarshana Chakra]] (Vishnu's [[discus]])
|-
|5
|[[File:Kalamegaperumal1 (2).jpg|130px|center]]
|[[Nammalvar]]
|798 CE
|3102/3059<ref>"[https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC History of Classical Sanskrit Literature]", by M. Srinivasachariar, p. 278, {{ISBN|9788120802841}}</ref> [[Alwarthirunagiri|Alwarthirunagiri (Kurugur)]]
|''Thiruvaymozhi'', 1102 verses; ''Thiruvasiriyam'', 7 verses; ''Thiruvirutham'', 100 verses; ''Periya Thiruvandhadhi'', 87 verses.
|''Vaikasi''
|''[[Vishākhā|Vishaakam (Vishākhā)]]''
|[[Vishvaksena]] (Vishnu's commander)
|-
|6
|
|[[Madhurakavi Alvar]]
|800 CE
|3102 BC, Thirukollur
|''Kanninun Siruthambu'', 11 verses.
|''Chitthirai''
|''[[Chithra|Chitthirai (Chithra)]]''
| [[Kumuda Ganesha]] (Vishvaksena's disciple) or Padma (Lotus)
|-
|7
|
| [[Kulashekhara Alwar|Kulashekhara Alvar]] (Sthanuravi Kulasekhara<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>)
| 9th century CE (reigned 844–883{{nbsp}}CE)<ref name="Narayanan, M. G. S 1124"/>
|3075 BC, [[Cranganore|Tiruvancikkulam (Cranganore)]], Chera Kingdom of Makotai
|''Perumal Thirumozhi'', 105 verses.
|''Maasee''
|''[[Punarvasu|Punar Poosam (Punarvasu)]]''
|[[Kaustubha]] (Vishnu's jewel embedded in his necklace)
|-
|8
|
|[[Periyalvar]]
|785 CE
|3056 BC, [[Srivilliputhur]]
| ''Periyalvar Thirumozhi'', 461 verses.
|''Aani''
|''[[Svati|Swathi (Swaathee)]]''
| [[Garuda]] (Vishnu's [[vahana|mount]])
|-
|9
|
|[[Andal]]
|767 CE
|3005 BC, Srivilliputhur
|''[[Nachiyar Thirumozhi]]'', 143 verses; ''[[Thiruppavai]]'', 30 verses.
|''Aadi''
|''[[Pūrva Phalgunī|Pooram (Pūrva Phalgunī (Pubbha))]]''
|[[Bhudevi]] (Vishnu's wife and the earth goddess)
|-
|10
||[[File:Thondaradipodi Azhwar.jpg|130x130px|center]]
|[[Thondaradippodi Alvar]]
|726 CE
|2814 BCE, Thirumandangudi
|''Thirumaalai'', 45 verses; ''Thirupalliezhuchi'', 10 verses.
|''Margazhi''
|''[[Jyeshta|Kettai (Jyeshta)]]''
| [[Vaijayanti|Vanamalai]] (Vishnu's [[garland]])
|-
|11
|[[File:Thirupaan Azhwar.jpg|130x130px|center]]
|[[Thiruppaan Alvar]]
|781 CE
|2760 BCE, [[Uraiyur]]
|''Amalan Adi Piraan'', 10 verses.
|''Karthigai''
|''[[Rohini (nakshatra)|Rogini (Rohinee)]]''
|[[Srivatsa]] (An auspicious mark on Vishnu's chest)
|-
|12
|[[File:Thirumangai Azhwar.jpg|130x130px|center]]
|[[Thirumangai Alvar]]
|776 CE
|2706 BCE, Thirukurayalur
|''Periya Thirumozhi'', 1084 verses; ''Thiru Vezhukootru irukkai'', 1 verse; ''Thiru Kurun Thandagam'', 20 verses; ''Thiru Nedun Thandagam'', 30 verses; ''Siriya Thirumadal'', 40 verses; ''Periya Thirumadal'', 78 verses;
|''Kaarthigai''
|''[[Kṛttikā|Krithika (Kṛttikā)]]''
| [[Sharanga (Hindu mythology)|Sharanga]] (Vishnu's bow)
|}

==See also==
* [[Bhakti movements]]
* [[Tamil mythology]]
* [[Nathamuni]]

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Flood |first= G.D.
| author-link = Gavin Flood
| year = 1996
| title = An Introduction to Hinduism
| url = https://archive.org/details/introductiontohi0000floo | url-access = registration | publisher = Cambridge University Press
}}
* Hymns for the Drowning by A.K. Ramanujan (Penguin)
* Nammalvar by A. Srinivasa Raghavan (Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi),1975, {{ISBN|81-260-0416 9}}
* Alwargal - ^Or Eliya Arimugam by Sujatha (Visa Publications, Chennai, India)(in Tamil), 2001

==External links==
{{commons category|Alvars}}
* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/a-history-of-indian-philosophy-volume-3/d/doc209943.html The Philosophy of the ''{{IAST|Āḻvārs}}''], Surendranath Dasgupta, 1940
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051212130345/http://www.divyadesamonline.com/ The Twelve Alvars]
* [http://www.srivaishnavan.com Alvars and Srivaishnavism]
* [http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/alvars/index.html The Alvar Saints] (ramanuja.org)
* [http://www.kamat.com/indica/faiths/bhakti/alvars.htm The Alvar Saints of Tamilnadu] by Jyotsna Kamat
{{Alvars}}

[[Category:Alvars| ]]
[[Category:Indian philosophy]]
[[Category:Bhakti movement]]
[[Category:Tamil Hindu saints]]