Hindu Tamil Saints: Alwars and Nayanmaars of South India

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Hindu Tamil Saints:
Alwars and Nayanmaars of South India

Bakthi /Devotional Period in Tamil History

Sangam Age (that lasted till ca. 3rd century AD) is an important period for Tamil Literature. After this, during the next few centuries (Kalabhra Period) there was a lull in literary output. Then came a period of about four centuries (6- 10th C. AD) when a number of devotional or Bakthi literature appeared. There were many important saivaite and Vaishnavaite literature contributions. On a latter date, Nambi Andar Nambi and Nathamuni compiled respectively these saivaite and vaishnavaite literary works as "twelve thirumurais" and "naalayira divya prabhandam". Amongst many Tamil devotees who lived and contributed during this period, 63 saivaite ones (known as Nayanmaars) and 12 vaishnavaite ones (known as Alwars) stand out for their extreme devotion and dedication to God. Herein we list details of these Tamil Saints of this Bakthi period.

Alwars (Vaishnavaite Saints)

Alvar means one who is "immersed" in the experience of God, the omnipresent mysterious One. Tradition reckons 12 Alvars. They come from all walks of life and all strata of society and include in their ranks one woman. Between the fifth and ninth century, in the Tamil-speaking region of South India, these saints revitalized the Indian religious milieu, sparking a renewal of devotional worship throughout the subcontinent. Traveling from place to place, from temple to temple, from holy site to holy site, they composed exceedingly beautiful poetry to their Divine Beloved, Vishnu, as an expression of their love for Him. Anyone can see why their poetry was so attractive; at once both impassioned and philosophical, their words cut across all barriers of caste and class, attracting all to their faith. In doing so, they sculpted a new religious heritage of intensely emotional bhakti, or love of the Divine, whose impact is still felt today in the Indian religious life.
The Alvars composed approximately 4000 Tamil verses. In the 9th-10th centuries, the philosopher-saint Nathamuni went to extraordinary efforts to recover these verses from near oblivion. Nathamuni arranged them as the Divya Prabandham, or Divine Collection, set many of them to music, and rejuvenated the tradition of formally reciting them in temples.

Alwar Saint (Period, Place)	Other names	Month	Star	Sign
Poigai Azhwar 7th C. AD, Kanchipuram	Saro-yogi, Kaasaara-yogi, Poigai-piraan, Padma-muni, Kavinyarporeyeru	Aiypassee	Thiruvonam (Sravana)	Panchajanya (Conch)
Bhoodath Azhwar (7th C. AD, Mylapore)	..	Aiypassee	Avittam (Dhanishta)	Kaumodakee (Mace/Club)
Pey Azhwar	Kairava-muni, Maha-daahva-yaar	Aiypassee	Sadayam (Satabhishak)	Nandaka (Sword)
Thirumazhisai Azhwar (7th C. AD, Thirumazhisai)	Bhakthi-saarar, Bhaargavar, Magisaaraapuriswarar, Mazhisai-piraan	Thai	Magam (Magha)	Sudarshanam (Discus)
Namma Azhwar (9th C. AD, Azhwar Thirunagari (Kurugur))	Sadagopan, Sadaari, Paraankusun, Maaran, Vakulaaa Baranan, Kurugaiyar-kone	Vaigaasi	Vishaakam (Vishaaka)	Vishvaksena (Commander)
Madhura Kavi Azhwar (9th C. AD, Thirukollur)	Inkaviyaar, Azhwaarukku Adiyaan	Chitthirai	Chitthirai (Chithra)	Vainatheya (Garuda)
Kulashekara Azhwar (8th C. AD, thirvanjikkolam)	Kolli-kaavalan, Koodal-naayakan, Koyikone, Villavar-kone, Cheyralar-kone	Maasee	Punar Poosam (Punarvasu)	Kaustubha (Gem Necklace)
Periya Azhwar (9th C. AD, Sri Villiputhur)	Vishnu-chitthar, Patta-naadan, Battar-piraan, Sri-Villiputthooraar, Sriranganaatha-Svasoorar	Aani	Swathi (Swaathee)	Garuda (Chariot)
Andal (9th C. AD, Sri Villiputhur)	Choodikoduttha Naacheyaar, Godai, Godai-piraatti	Aadi	Pooram (Poorva Phalguni)	Bhoodevi
Thondaradippodi Azhwar (8th C. AD, Thirumandangudi)	Vibranaaraayanar, Thirumandangudiyaar, Bhakthangirirenu, Palliunartthiya-piraan	Maargazhi	Kettai (Jyeshta)	Vanamaalai (Garland)
Thirupaan Azhwar (8th C. AD, Uraiyur)	Paanar, Muni-vaahanar, Yogi-vaahanar, Kaveeswarar	Kaarthigai	Rogini (Rohinee)	Srivatsa
Thirumangai Azhwar (8th C. AD, thirukurayalur)	Kaliyan, Aalinaadan, NaaluKaviPerumaal, Arulmaari, Parakaalan, Mangaiyarkone	Kaarthigai	KrithikaI (Kritthikaa)	Saranga (Bow)

Naayanmaars (Saivaite Saints)

nAyanmAr refer to the 63 devotees (and 9 general devotees) of Lord Shiva who lived before or during the life time of Sundaramurthy Nayanar. Sundarar praised them all in the thiruththoNdath thokai, he sang at thiruvArUr. "periya purANam" of Cekkizhar talks in detail the life of these 63 devotees. It is important to note that these devotess come from very different background (caste, economic background, main work for living), stages of life (single, married or sanyasi) and include both male and female ones. Some were learned scholars while others did not have any formal schooling. The unifying factor is their extreme devotion to Lord Shiva, through which the bliss of His grace.

Saint	Month	Star
thirunIlakaNda nAyanAr	thai	vichAkam
iyarpakai nAyanAr	mArkazi	uththiram
iLaiyAnkudi mARa nAyanAr	AvaNi	makam
meypporuL nAyanAr	kArththikai	uththiram
viraNmiNda nAyanAr	chiththirai	thiruvAdhirai
amarnIdhi nAyanAr	Ani	pUram
eRipaththa nAyanAr	mAchi	hastam
EnAthi nAtha nAyanAr	purattAchi	uththiram
kaNNappa nAyanAr	thai	mirugachIrcham
kuN^kiliyak kalaya nAyanAr	AvaNi	mUlam
mAnak kanychARa nAyanAr	mArkazi	svAdhi
arivAttAya nAyanAr	thai	thiruvAdhirai
AnAya nAyanAr	kArthikai	hastam
mUrththi nAyanAr	Adi	kruthikai
muruga nAyanAr	vaikAchi	mUlam
uruththira pachupathi nAyanAr	purattAchi	asvini
thirunAlaip pOvAr nAyanAr	purattAchi	rOhiNi
thirukkuRipputh thoNdar	chiththirai	svAthi
chaNdIcha nAyanAr	thai - uththiram
thirunAvukkarachar	chiththirai	chathayam
kulachchiRai nAyanAr	AvaNi	anusham
perumizalaik kuRumba nAyanAr	Adi	chiththirai
kAraikkAl ammaiyAr	paN^guni	svAti
appUdhi adikaLAr	thai	chadhayam
thiru nIlan^akka nAyanAr	vaikAchi	mUlam
naminandhi nAyanAr	vaikAchi	pUsam
thiru nyAnychampan^dhar	vaikAchi	mUlam
EyarkOn kalikAmar	Ani	rEvati
thirumUla nAyanAr	aippachi	asvini
dhaNdiyadikaL	paN^guni	chadhayam
mUrgga nAyanAr	kArththikai	mUlam
chOmAchi mARa nAyanAr	vaikAchi	Ayilyam
chAkkiya nAyanAr	mArkazi	pUrAdam
chiRappuli nAyanAr	kArththikai	pUrAdam
chiRuththoNda nAyanAr	chiththirai	baraNi
kazaRiRRu aRivAr nAyanAr (chEramAn perumAL nAyanAr)	Adi	svAti
gaNa nAdha nAyanAr	paN^guni	thiruvAdhirai
kURRuva nAyanAr	Adi	thiruvAdhirai
pukazch chOza nAyanAr	Adi	kruththikai
narachiNka munaiyaraiya nAyanAr	purattAchi	chadhayam
adhipaththa nAyanAr	AvaNi	Ayilyam
kalikkamba nAyanAr	thai	rEvathi
kaliya nAyanAr	Adi	kEttai
chaththi nAyanAr	aippachi	pUcham
aiyadikaL kAdavar kOn nAyanAr	aippachi	mUlam
kaNampulla nAyanAr	kArththikai	kruththikai
kAri nAyanAr	mAchi	pUrAdam
ninRa chIr nedumARa nAyanAr	aippachi	baraNi
vAyilAr nAyanAr	mArkazi	rEvathi
munaiyaduyAr nAyanAr	paN^guni	pUsam
kazaRchiNka nAyanAr	vaikAchi	baraNi
idaNkazi nAyanAr	aippachi	kruththikai
cheruththuNai nAyanAr	AvaNi	pUsam
pukazth thuNai nAyanAr	AvaNi	Ayilyam
kOtpuli nAyanAr	Adi	kEttai
pUchalAr nAyanAr	aippachi	anusham
maNkayark karachiyAr nAyanAr	chiththirai	rOhiNi
nEcha nAyanAr	paN^kuni	rOhiNi
kOchcheN^kat chOza nAyanAr	mAchi	chadhayam
thirunIlakaNda yAzppANa nAyanAr	vaikAchi	mUlam
chadaiya nAyanAr	mArkazi	thiruvAdhirai
ichainyAniyAr	chiththirai	chiththirai
cundhara mUrthi nAyanAr	Adi	svAthi

Sundaramurthy Nayanar
8th C. One of the four Tamil Samaya Acharyas (four Tamil religious Teachers)

Thiru Neelakanta Nayanar
Lived in Chidambaram. Potter by caste. thai month, vicAkam

Iyarpahai Nayanar
native of Kaveripoompattinam. Vaisya by caste.
markazhi month, uthiram

Ilayangudi Mara Nayanar
A farmer who lived in a village called Ilayangudi
AvaNi month, makam

Maiporul Nayanar
A pious King who ruled over the hill tribes of Sethi.
karththikai month, uthithiram

Viralminda Nayanar
Vellala by caste. Lived in the hill town of Sengunru.
chiththirai month, thiruvathirai

Eirpatha Nayanar
born in Kaaruvur, on the banks of the river Ambiravathi.

Enadinatha Nayanar
A Shanar (toddy topper) born in Eyinanur in Chola Kingdom.

Kannappa Nayanar
Tinnanar, son of a hunters' King Nagan.

Kungiliya Kalaya Nayanar
A brahmin born in Thirukadavur in Chola Kingdom; got the name because he always holding a pot (an incense pot)in his hand.

Manakanchara Nayanar
Lived in Kancharur in Chola Kingdom. A vellala by caste, a hereditary Senathipathi. A contemporary of Sundaramurthy Nayanar.

Arivattaya Nayanar
Lived in Kannamangalam in Chola Kingdom.

Anaya Nayanar
A cowherd in Mazhanad (Trichi district).

Murthy Nayanar
A vaisya king born in Madura of Pandya King. To adore Lord Shiva with sandalwood paste, smearing it all over the Lingam is regarded as a great form of worship by him.

Muruga Nayanar
Born in Tirupukalur. Contemporary of Gnana Sambandar.

Rudra Pasupathi Nayanar

Thiru Nalai Povar Nayanar

Thiru Kurippu Thonda Nayanar

Chandeswara Nayanar

Thirunavukkarasar Nayanar (Appar)

Kulichirai Nayanar

Perumizhalai Kurumba Nayanar

Karaikal Ammaiyar

Thiru Nalai Povar Nayanar

font color="blue">Appuddi Nayanar

Thiruneelanakka Nayanar

Nami nandi adigal

Thiru Gnana Sambandar

Eyorkon Kalikama Nayanar

Dandi Adigal Nayanar

Murga Nayanar

Somasira Nayanar

Sakkiya Nayanar

Siruppuli Nayanar

Siruthonda Nayanar

Cheraman Perumal Nayanar

Gananatha Nayanar

Kootruva Nayanar

Pugal chola Nayanar

Narasinga Muniyaraiyar

Adipattha Nayanar

Kalikampa Nayanar

Kaliya Nayanar

Satti Nayanar

Kanampulla Nayanar

Kari Nayanar

Ninra Seer Nedumara Nayanar

Mangayairkaraciyar

Vayilar Nayanar

Munaiyadavur Nayanar

Idangazhi Nayanar

Pugaz thunai Nayanar

Kotpuli Nayanar

Pusalar Nayanar

Nesa Nayanar

Kochangat Chola Nayanar

Thiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar

Sadaya Nayanar

Isaignaniyar

Manickavacagar

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