By The Alvars, are also spell as Alwars or Azhwars (‘those immersed in god’) were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu Supreme God Vishnu or his avatar Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service.
The Vaishnavas of Vaishnava Sampradayam, the followers and worshipers of Lord Vishnu, (popularly known as Srivaishnavas), boast of their 12 Alwars as the great seers of enlightenment. Alwars are those who preached and practiced the lifestyle of Sri Vaishnava sampradaya and showed to people how to reach God through their unconditional devotion. Each Alvar is an embodiment of a certain part or element of Lord Vishnu. So, the Alwars represent God’s own form in human form. They were sent to this world to restore dharma and spirituality among people.The Alwars stressed the importance of surrendering before the Almighty with pure devotion as the only way of attaining moksha
The Nalayara Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during 9th – 10th centuries. The works were lost before they were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni. The Divya Prabandham sings the praise of Narayana (or Vishnu) and his many forms. The Alvars sang these songs at various sacred shrines known as the Divya Desams.
107 Temples and Vikundam makes 108 Divya Desams in total which are considered must visit for devotees.
The following are the 12 alwars
Poothatta Alwar
Poigai Alwar
Peyalwar
Periyalwar
Andal (Chudi Kodutha Nachiyar)
Tirumozhi sayyalwar or Thirumalisai Alvar
Kulasekhara Alwar
Thiruppani Alwar
Thondaradippodi Alwar
Thirumangai Alwar
Madhura Kavi
Nammalwar (Karimaran)
Pl check Bharat marg every week to know more about each Alwars and all about them on weekly basis.
