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{{About|the Hindu poet-saint|the agriculturist|G. Nammalvar}}{{Short description|Hindu poet-saint}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Nammalvar
| image = Manavala mamunigal 03.jpg
| caption = Stucco image of Nammalvar in [[Kalamegha Perumal temple]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date = 8 century CE<ref name="britannica">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC&pg=PA278&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false | title=Nammazhvar | South Indian poet-saint | Britannica | date=May 2024 }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Alwarthirunagiri]], [[Tamil Nadu]]
| birth_name = śaṭhakopa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| varna =
| guru =
| philosophy = [[Sri Vaishnavism]], [[Bhakti]]
| honors =
| literary_works = [[Tiruviruttam]]<br>[[Tiruvaciriyam]]<br>[[Periya Tiruvantati]]<br>[[Tiruvaymoli]]
| footnotes =
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}
'''Nammalvar''' was one of the twelve [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints of [[Tamil Nadu]], India, who are known for their affiliation to the [[Vaishnava]] tradition of [[Hinduism]]. The verses of the Alvars are compiled as the [[Nalayira Divya Prabandham|Naalayira Divya Prabandham]], where praises are sung of 108 temples that are classified as divine realms, called the [[Divya Desam|Divya Desams]]. Nammalvar is considered to be the fifth in the line of the twelve Alvars. He is highly regarded as a great mystic of the Vaishnava tradition. He is also considered to be the foremost among the twelve Alvars, and his contributions amount to 1352 among the 4000 stanzas in the ''Naalayira Divya Prabandam''.

According to traditional scriptures, Nammalvar was born in 3059 BCE in [[Alwarthirunagiri]];<ref name="Srinivasachariar1974">{{cite book|author=M. Srinivasachariar|title=History of Classical Sanskrit Literature: Being an Elaborate Account of All Branches of Classical Sanskrit Literature, with Full Epigraphical and Archaeological Notes and References, an Introduction Dealing with Language, Philology, and Chronology, and Index of Authors & Works|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC&pg=PA278|year=1974|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publisher|isbn=978-81-208-0284-1|pages=278–}}</ref> historically he flourished in 8th century CE.<ref name="britannica"/> In Hindu legends, Nammalvar remained speechless from the moment of his birth, sitting under a tamarind tree when he first interacted with [[Madhurakavi Alvar]], who saw a bright light shining to the south, and followed it until he reached the tree where the boy was residing.

The works of Nammalvar were compiled by Madhurakavi as four different works, the ''[[Tiruvaymoli]]'' (1,102 verses), ''[[Tiruviruttam]]'' (100 verses), ''[[Tiruvasiriyam|Tiruvaciriyam]]'' (or Tiru Asiriyam - 7 verses) and ''[[Periya Tiruvantati]]'' (87 verses). The works of Nammalvar contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism.

The Garudasevai festival in [[Nava Tirupathi|Nava Tirupati]], the nine Vishnu temples in the [[Thoothukudi]] region, and the [[Araiyar Sevai]] during the [[Vaikuntha Ekadashi]] festival of the [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam|Srirangam temple]] are dedicated to him. The verses of Nammalvar and other Alvars are recited as a part of daily prayers and during festive occasions in several Vaishnava temples in Tamil Nadu.

==Alvars==
[[File:Nammazhwar.jpg|250px|thumb|Festive image of Nammalvar|left]]
The word ''alvar'' means the 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>{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} The Alvars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism. 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 saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per history, the first three ''alvars'', [[Poigai Alvar]], [[Bhoothath Alvar]] and [[Pey Alvar]] were born miraculously. [[Thirumalisai Alvar]] was the son of a sage, [[Thondaradippodi Alvar]], [[Madhurakavi Alvar]], [[Periyalvar]] and [[Andal]] were from the [[Brahmin]] community, [[Kulashekhara Alwar|Kulashekhara Alvar]] was a [[kshatriya]], Nammalvar was a [[Vellalar|Vellala]], [[Thiruppaan Alvar]] was a paanar and [[Thirumangai Alvar]] was a ''kallar''. The ''Divya Suri Charitra'' by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century), ''Guruparamparaprabhavam'' 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, 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. Poigai is considered an incarnation of ''[[Panchajanya]]'' (Krishna's conch), Bhoothath of ''[[Kaumodaki|Kaumodakee]]'' (Vishnu's Mace/Club), Pey of ''[[Nandaka]]'' (Vishnu's sword), Thirumalisai of ''[[Sudarshan Chakra|Sudarshanam]]'' (Vishnu's discus), Namm of ''[[Vishvaksena]]'' (Vishnu's commander), Madhurakavi of ''Vainatheya'' (Vishnu's eagle, [[Garuda]]), Kulasekhara of ''[[Kaustubha]]'' (Vishnu's necklace), Periya of Garuda (Vishnu's eagle), Andal of [[Bhūmi|Bhoodevi]] (Vishnu's wife, [[Lakshmi]], in her form as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi of ''Vanamaalai'' (Vishnu's garland), Thiruppaan of ''[[Srivatsa]]'' (An auspicious mark on Vishnu's chest) and Thirumangai of [[Sharanga (Hindu mythology)|Sharanga]], [[Rama]]'s bow. 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>

According to a traditional account by Manavala Mamunigal, the first three ''alvars,'' namely Poigai, Bhoothath and Pey, belong to the [[Dvapara Yuga]] (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>{{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 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=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> The ''alvars'' were also instrumental in promoting the Bhagavatha cult and the two epics of India, the ''[[Ramayana]]'' and the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, p. 42</ref> The ''alvars'' were instrumental in spreading Vaishnavism throughout the region.<ref>[[#B.S.|B.S.]] 2011, pp. 47-48</ref> The verses of the various ''alvars'' were compiled by [[Nathamuni]] (824-924 CE), a 10th-century Vaishnava theologian, who called it the "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>

[[File:Sri nammalvar,subbiah kumara valai.jpg|thumbnail|right|Sri nammalvar-Subbiah kumara valai]]

==Early life==
According to traditional scriptures, Nammalvar was born on the 43rd Kali in 3059 BCE as an amsha of [[Vishvaksena]], Vishnu's army commander.<ref name="Srinivasachariar1974" /> He was born into a [[Vellalar]] clan<ref>{{cite book |last=Narayanan |first=Vasudha |year=1994 |title=The Vernacular Veda: Revelation, Recitation, and Ritual |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |isbn=978-0872499652 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_Vernacular_Veda/x8uL8ki9-D8C}}</ref> at Thirukurukur (modern day [[Alwarthirunagiri]]) in the southernmost region of the Tamil country.<ref name="Sadaranganip28">{{cite book |title=Bhakti Poetry in Medieval India: Its Inception, Cultural Encounter and Impact |first=Neeti M. |last=Sadarangani |publisher=Sarup & Sons |year=2004 |isbn=9788176254366 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WVQrKJbJ2JIC |page=28}}</ref><ref name="Carmanp64">{{cite book |title=Majesty and Meekness: A Comparative Study of Contrast and Harmony in the Concept of God |first=John B. |last=Carman |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |year=1994 |isbn=9780802806932 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DyVfKEmEK2QC |pages=64–65}}</ref>

Tradition says that he must have been born fully enlightened because as a baby he never cried or suckled and never opened his eyes. According to legend, as a child he responded to no external stimuli and his parents left him at the feet of the deity of [[Sri Adhinathar]] in [[Alwarthirunagari]]. The child then got up and climbed into a hole in a [[tamarind]], sat in the [[lotus position]], and began to meditate. It appears he was in this state for as long as sixteen years when a [[Tamil people|Tamil]] poet and scholar named [[Madhurakavi Alvar]] was born in Thirukolur (who was elder to him by age) and had travelled to North India on a temple trip. As he was performing his Nityaanushtanam (daily rituals) one day, he saw a bright light shining to the south, and followed it until he reached the tree where the boy was residing. Unable to elicit any reaction from the child, he asked him a riddle: "If the small is born in a dead's body (or stomach), what will it eat and where will it stay?" meaning, if the subtle soul is embodied in the gross body, what are its actions and thoughts? Nammalvar broke his lifelong silence and responded, "That it will eat, it will rest!" meaning that if the soul identifies with the body, it will be the body but if it serves the divine, it will stay in [[Vaikunta|Vaikuntha]] and eat (think) of God.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Purāṇas| last=Swami |first=Parmeshwaranand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QxPCBCk3wVIC&q=Encyclopaedic+Dictionary+of+Puranas+%2B+nammalwar&pg=PA908|page=908|publisher=Sarup & Sons|year=2001|isbn=9788176252263}}</ref> [[Madhurakavi Alvar]] realized the divinity of this child.

It is believed that in the Kali Yuga, the doors of Vaikuntham (The abode Of Vishnu) was opened first time for him by [[Narayana]] himself and it is believed that the followers of Swami Nammalvar have the most easy access to the supreme abode. Following his moksha his family entitle as the Subbiah Kumara Pillai by holy Vaishnava acharyas and they serve him and believe him to be Sriman Narayana Tiruvadi. After the passing of Nammalvar, Madhurakavi Alvar composed 10 pasrams called Kanninin Sirutambu. He gave a word that whoever reads this 11,000 times with devotion will get vision and blessings of Nammalvar whenever they visit his abode at Alvarthirunagari.

Nammalvar was one of the twelve [[alvar]] poet-saints who immersed themselves in a love of [[Vishnu]] and who had a considerable knowledge of ancient Tamil literature and its variants of traditional stories concerning Vishnu and his associates, as well as the philosophical differences between [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]] and [[Jainism]].<ref name="Carmanp64" />

[[Madhurakavi Alvar]] was his first disciple. Swami Madhurakavi Alvar composed 11 pasurams in praise of his Acharya, Swami Nammalvar known as [[Kanninun Siruthambu]], which are included among the [[Nalayira Divya Prabandham]].

[[File:Swami Nammaazhvar.jpg|thumb|Swami Nammalvar with Madhurakavi Alvar and Nathamunigal]]

==Work==
He contributed four pieces of works to ''[[Divya Prabhandham]]''. These works consisted of 1,296 poems, making him the most prolific contributor to the 4,000 hymns written by the Alvar poet-saints.<ref name="Sadaranganip28" /> These works are:

*''[[Tiruvaymoli]]'' (1102 verses)
*''[[Tiruviruttam]]'' (100 verses)
*''[[Tiruvasiriyam|Tiruvaciriyam]]'' (7 verses)
*''[[Periya Tiruvantati]]'' (87 verses)

''Tiruvaymoli'' describes [[Ranganatha]] as a metaphor for discussing the philosophical details in
*The nature of the ''[[paramatma]]'' (divine soul)
*The nature of the ''[[jeevatma]]'' (living soul)
*The means for the ''[[jeevatma]]'' (living soul) to attain the goal of ''[[Paramatma]]'' (divine soul)
*The blocks and hurdles on the way and
*The goal ''[[moksha]]'' (divinity).

In the Sri Vaishnava canon, these four represent (in Tamil language) the four [[Sanskrit]] vedas, respectively, the [[Sama Veda]], [[Rig Veda]], [[Yajur Veda]] and [[Atharva Veda]]. According to tradition "He poured the cream of these vedas" into his songs and poetry that were the result of deep mystic experience. Though Nammalvar did not visit any of the 108 [[divyadesam]] temples talked about in the Vaishnava religion, it appears from his works he must have had the vision of all the archa forms in the temples he glorified in his hymns.<ref>[[#Das|Das]] 2005, p. 29</ref>

==Style of composition==
The distinction of Nammalvar with his contemporaries is above the devotional aspects in writing, the visualization and dramatic movement. He mentions Vishnu in various aspects frequently in all his verses. The poems of ''Tiruvirrutam'' are depicted fully between the lone context of the hero and heroine. Most of these are utterances of the hero, heroine, her friends to the heroine or her mother to the heroine. The heroine always perceives her hero, Vishnu everywhere around her. As per Varadachari, ''Tiruviruttam'' is "an account of the pilgrimage of the soul to its transcendence over its ignorance, sleep and sloth in which it is caught up in the body". While medieval poetry is considered self-pity and repentance, his works always have a message of hope.<ref name="Das4144">[[#Das|Das]] 2005, pp. 41-44</ref>

==Significance ==
{{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2022|section=yes}}
Nammalvar is regarded as one of the top three Hindu mystics in India, with the other two being [[Manickavasagar]] and [[Kabir]].<ref>{{cite book|title=A Social History Of Early India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0tX4wzIUY3QC&q=nammazhwar&pg=PA240|page=240|last=Chattopadhyaya|first=Brajadulal |publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2009|isbn=9788131719589|location=Delhi}}</ref> Nammalvar is considered greatest among the twelve alvars and his contributions amount to 1352 among the 4000 stanzas in the ''Nalayira Divya Prabandam''.

The [[Garuda]] Sevai ''utsavam'' (festival) in the month of Vaikasi (May-Jun) witnesses nine [[Garuda]]sevai, an event in which festival image deities from the nava tirupathis temples namely, [[Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Tirukulandhai|Mayakoothar Temple]], [[Makara Nedunkuzhai Kannan Temple]], [[Irattai Thiruppathy|Rettai Tirupathi - South Temple]], [[Irattai Thiruppathy|Rettai Tirupathi North Temple]], [[Vaithamanidhi Perumal Temple]], [[AlwarThirunagari Temple|Adhinaatha Perumal Temple - Thirukkurugur]], [[ThiruPulingudi Perumal Temple|Kaaisinavendhan Temple]], [[ThiruVaragunamangai Perumal Temple|Vijayaasana Perumal Temple]], [[Srivaikuntanathan Permual Temple|Sri Vaikuntanatha (Kallapiran) Temple]] are brought on [[Garuda]] [[vahana]]. The festival image of Nammalvar is also brought in ''Anna Vahanam'' (palanquin) and his verses dedicated to each of these nine temples are recited. The ''[[utsavar]]'' of deities of each of the nine temples, travel through the paddy fields in the area, reach Alvar Thirunagari. The verses dedicated to each of the nine [[Divyadesam]]s are chanted with music and dance in front of respective utsavar deities. It is the most important of the festivals in this area, and it draws thousands of visitors.After this paasuram recital is completed, the Alvar utsavar in anna vahanam and the nine Perumal deities in Garuda Vahanam come around the maada veethi [temple street] of Alvar Thirunagari. Then, each divyadesam Perumal utsavar bid farewell to their most relished jeevathma Nammalvar and return to their respective temples. Amongst these Perumals, when Alvar most favourite deities of Irattai tirupathi leave after the utsavam, Alvar is saddened by their departure and will wait until they take a turn to their divyadesams. This episode of the Garuda Sevai is known as "Vidaiyaatri Utsavam". The saddened Alvar is taken into the temple by Alvar Thirunagari's deity Polindhu Nindra Piran by showing his beauty. This garuda sevai is to show how Alvar has sung paasurams on each perumal without moving an inch from his Thirupuliyazhwar. All the Perumals come to the Holy Tamarind tree to get sung by the Alvar.<ref>{{cite news|title=Garudasevai|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501050700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030630055238/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/10/25/stories/2002102501050700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2003|date=25 October 2002|work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=2013-07-07}}</ref>

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The ''Pagal Pathu'' and ''Ra Pathu'' festivals are celebrated in the month of ''Margazhi'' (December–January) for twenty days in [[Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam]]. The first ten days are referred to as ''Pagal-Pathu'' (10-day daytime festival) and the second half as ''Ra Pathu''(10-day nighttime festival). The first day of ''Ra pathu'' is ''[[Vaikunta Ekadashi]]''. The eleventh day of each fortnight in [[Tamil calendar|the Tamil calendar]] is called ''Ekadasi'' and the holiest of all ''Ekadasi'' in the Vaishnava tradition is the ''[[Vaikunta Ekadashi]]''. Nammalvar, one of the 12 ''alvars'', is believed to have ascended to ''[[vaikuntam|Vaikuntha]]'' (the heavenly abode of Vishnu) on this day. The devotion of the 9th-century poet, Nammalvar, and his perceived ascent to heaven are enacted annually. During the festival, through song and dance, this place is affirmed to be ''Bhoologa Vaikunta'' (heaven on earth).<ref name="Mittal">{{Cite book |last=Mittal |first=Sushil |author2=G. R. Thursby |title=The Hindu World|year=2005 |publisher=Routelge |location=New York |isbn=0-203-67414-6|page=474}}</ref> ''Araiyar Sevai'' is a divine colloquium of ''araiyars'', who recite and enact [[Divya Prabandha|Nalayara Divya Prabanda]], the 4000 verses of ''alvars'' (Vaishnavite poets of the 7th–10th century).<ref name ="Narayanan">{{Cite book |last1=Narayanan |first1=Vasudha |last2=Nammāl̲vār |title=The vernacular Veda: revelation, recitation, and ritual |year=1994 |publisher=University of South California |location=Columbia |isbn=0-87249-965-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/vernacularvedare00nara/page/43 43–44] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/vernacularvedare00nara/page/43 }}</ref><ref name="Norman">{{Cite book |last=Cutler |first=Norman |title=Songs of experience: the poetics of Tamil devotion |year=1987 |publisher=Norman J. Cutler |location=USA|isbn=0-253-35334-3|page=187}}</ref> ''Araiyars'' are born to the ''Araiyar'' tradition most prevalent in Sri Vaishnava families in Srirangam, [[AlwarThirunagari Temple|Alvar Thirunagari]] and [[Srivilliputhur Divya Desam|Srivilliputhur]].<ref name ="Narayanan" /> The tradition of ''Araiyar Sevai'' was started by [[Nathamuni]], a 10th-century Vaishnavite who compiled the works of ''alvars''.<ref name="Norman" /> It is believed as per [[Hindu mythology]] that 330 million demi-gods came down to witness the event.<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu and Muhammadan festivals|page=13|first=John|last= Murdoch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BUQ4OvusWwIC&q=Hindu+and+Muhammadan+festivals|publisher=Asian Educational Services|year=1904|isbn=9788120607088}}</ref> The festival deity is brought to the 1,000-pillared hall on the morning of ''Vaikunta Ekadashi'' through the ''Paramapada Vasal'' (gate to paradise). Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims rush to enter it after the gate is opened and the deity passes through it as it is believed that one who enters here will reach ''Vaikuntha'' (heaven) after death. The gate is open only during the ten days of ''Ra Pathu'' (10 days of the nighttime festival). On the last day of the festival, the poet Nammalvar is said to be given salvation. The performance is enacted by priests and images in the temple depicts Nammalvar as reaching heaven and getting liberation from the cycle of life and death. At that point, a member from the crowd of devotees, who are witnessing this passion play, goes up to the centre stage and requests Vishnu to return Nammalvar to humanity, so that his words and form in the temple will continue to inspire and save the devotees. Following this performance of the salvation of Nammalvar, the cantors are taken in procession around the temple.<ref name="Mittal"/>

==See also==
*[[Ramanuja]]
*[[Nathamuni]]
*[[Vedanta Desika]]
*[[Manavala Mamunigal]]
*[[Mudaliyandan]]
*[[Hindu reform movements]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin|20em}}
* {{cite book|last=A. |first=Srinivasa Raghavan|title= Nammalvar, in "Makers of Indian Literature" Series|publisher= Sahitya Akademi|location= New Delhi, India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N6jhhcEFEZ0C}}
* {{cite book|title=History of People and Their Environs|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crxUQR_qBXYC&q=poygai&pg=PA47|publisher=Bharathi Puthakalayam|year=2011|last1=B. S.|first1=Chandrababu|last2=S.|first2=Ganeshram|last3=C.|first3=Bhavani|isbn=9789380325910|ref=B.S.}}
* {{cite book|title=Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs|first= S. M. Srinivasa|last= Chari|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass|Motilal Banarsidass Publishers]]|year=1997|isbn=9788120813427|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8TwHhuZrZ-wC&q=poygai&pg=PA16|ref=Chari}}
* {{cite book|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=poigai&pg=PA308|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|ref=Dalal|publisher=Penguin Books India|year=2011|isbn=9780143414216}}
* {{cite book | title=A history of Indian literature, 500-1399: from courtly to the popular| last=Das| first=Sisir Kumar|author2=Sāhitya Akādemī| year=2005| publisher=Sāhitya Akādemī|location=chennai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BC3l1AbPM8sC&q=madhurakavi+azhwar&pg=PA29|isbn = 81-260-2171-3|ref=Das}}
* {{cite book|first=Attipat Krishnaswami |last=Ramanujan|title=Hymns for the Drowning: Poems for Vishnu|publisher=Penguin Books|year=2005|isbn=9780144000104|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9pa7-h0jhB0C&q=nammalvar|ref=Ramanujan}}
* {{cite book|title=Sri Srirama Bharathi Araiyar Sacred Book|year=1995|publisher=Dhivya Prabhanda Pathasala, Jalladam Pattai |location= Chennai, India 601 302}}
* {{cite book|last=Sujatha|title= Alvargal - Oor Eliya Arimugam|publisher= Visa Publications|location= Chennai, India|year= 2007}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vedics.org Alvars and Srivaishnavism]
* [http://acharya.org/ Sri Vaishnava Sampradhayam]
* [http://www.thrikodithanam.org/ Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple - Temple associated with Nammalvar]
* [http://www.araiyar.com Araiyar Sevai]

{{Authority control}}

{{Alvars}}

[[Category:Alvars]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Hindu poets]]
[[Category:Tamil Hindu saints]]
[[Category:Scholars from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:8th-century Hindus]]

Nammalvar - Revision history

Godrejsplender: adding new data