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Hindu Philosophy and Temple System for APPSC Executive Officer · Chapter 9

Alwars and Nayanars

What to remember

  • The Alwars were 12 Vaishnava saints and the Nayanars were 63 Shaiva saints of Tamil country; both led the early Bhakti movement (c. 6th to 9th century).
  • Alwar hymns are collected as the Nalayira Divya Prabandham (compiled by Nathamuni); Nayanar hymns are collected as the Tirumurai (twelve books), with the Tevaram as the first seven.
  • Both groups taught devotion to a personal God, welcomed all castes and women, and shaped the temple worship and festivals that Endowments officers manage today.

1. The Bhakti background

Bhakti means loving devotion to a personal God. The movement began in the Tamil country in the Pallava and early Pandya period. It was a reply to the strict ritual religion of the time and to the strong influence of Buddhism and Jainism.

The saints travelled from temple to temple. They sang in Tamil, the language of the people, and not in Sanskrit. They said that birth in a low caste or being a woman did not stop a person from reaching God. Their songs praised the deity of each holy place, so temples became centres of pilgrimage and music.

Two streams grew side by side. The Alwars were devoted to Vishnu. The Nayanars were devoted to Shiva. Later, the Alwars' ideas helped Sri Vaishnava philosophy, and the Nayanars' ideas helped Shaiva Siddhanta.

2. The twelve Alwars

The word Alwar means one who is "immersed" in God. The twelve are:

  • 1. Poigai Alwar, 2. Bhutattalwar (Bhutam), 3. Peyalwar (these three are the "Mudal" or first Alwars)
  • 4. Tirumalisai Alwar
  • 5. Nammalwar (also called Satakopan or Maran)
  • 6. Madhurakavi Alwar
  • 7. Kulasekhara Alwar
  • 8. Periyalwar (Vishnuchitta)
  • 9. Andal (the only woman Alwar; foster daughter of Periyalwar)
  • 10. Tondaradippodi Alwar
  • 11. Tiruppan Alwar
  • 12. Tirumangai Alwar

Key points:

  • The three Mudal Alwars are said to have met in a small shelter and sung the first hymns (the Tiruvandadis).
  • Nammalwar is the most honoured. His great work is the Tiruvaymozhi, often called the Tamil Veda.
  • Madhurakavi sang only in praise of his teacher Nammalwar (Kanninun Siruttambu).
  • Kulasekhara was a Chera king. His work is the Perumal Tirumozhi.
  • Periyalwar sang the Tirupallandu (a song of blessing for the Lord) and the Periyalwar Tirumozhi. He lived in Srivilliputtur.
  • Andal composed the Tiruppavai (30 verses, sung in the month of Margali) and the Nachiyar Tirumozhi.
  • Tondaradippodi composed the Tirumalai and Tiruppalliyezhuchi (the morning awakening hymn to Lord Ranganatha).
  • Tiruppan Alwar, born in a community of wandering singers, composed the Amalanadipiran, a short poem of ten verses.
  • Tirumangai Alwar was a chieftain. He wrote the largest number of verses among the Alwars, including the Periya Tirumozhi.
  • Tirumalisai Alwar composed the Tiruchchanda Viruttam and Nanmukhan Tiruvandadi.

3. Divya Prabandham and Divya Desams

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham means "four thousand divine verses". Nathamuni, a Vaishnava teacher of about the 10th century, collected and arranged them. Sri Vaishnavas honour it as equal to the Vedas.

The temples praised in the hymns are the 108 Divya Desams (holy places of Vishnu). Srirangam is the best known. Tirumala (Venkatam), the hill of Lord Venkateswara in Andhra Pradesh, is one of the Divya Desams and is praised by several Alwars. Ahobilam in Andhra is also counted among the Divya Desams.

AlwarMain workSpecial point
NammalwarTiruvaymozhiCalled the Tamil Veda
AndalTiruppavai, Nachiyar TirumozhiOnly woman Alwar
KulasekharaPerumal TirumozhiChera king
PeriyalwarTirupallanduFoster father of Andal
TirumangaiPeriya TirumozhiMost verses
TondaradippodiTirumalai, TiruppalliyezhuchiWake-up hymn to Ranganatha
TiruppanAmalanadipiranHumble birth, ten verses

4. The sixty-three Nayanars

Nayanar means "leader" or "master". The list of 63 comes from the Tiruttondar Tokai (by Sundarar) and the later Periya Puranam (by Sekkizhar). They came from all walks of life: kings, farmers, potters, hunters, washermen, and three women saints (Karaikkal Ammaiyar, Mangayarkkarasiyar and Isaignaniyar).

The three greatest, called the Moovar (the three), sang the Tevaram:

  • Sambandar: a child saint who is said to have defeated Jains in debate.
  • Appar (Tirunavukkarasar): first a Jain, then returned to Shaivism; said to have influenced the Pallava king Mahendravarman I. He did much service in cleaning temple grounds.
  • Sundarar (Sundaramurthi): called "friend of the Lord"; wrote the Tiruttondar Tokai, a list of Shiva's devotees.

Other points:

  • Manikkavasagar wrote the Tiruvasagam. He is placed in the Tirumurai, but he is not among the 63 Nayanars.
  • Karaikkal Ammaiyar is the best-known of the three women saints among the 63. She is shown as a thin old woman singing Shiva's praise.
  • Kannappa Nayanar is linked with Srikalahasti in Andhra. A hunter, he offered his own eye to the Shiva linga. He is a famous example of faith without learning.
  • Tirumular wrote the Tirumandiram, an early Shaiva work.
  • Nandanar (Tirunalaipovar) is a farm worker saint whose story shows that caste was no barrier to devotion.

5. Tirumurai

The Tirumurai (sacred writings) has twelve books. Nambiyandar Nambi arranged the first eleven in the time of the Cholas. The twelfth is the Periya Puranam by Sekkizhar, a minister of a Chola king.

BookContents
Tirumurai 1 to 3Sambandar's hymns
Tirumurai 4 to 6Appar's hymns
Tirumurai 7Sundarar's hymns
Tirumurai 8Tiruvasagam and Tirukkovaiyar (Manikkavasagar)
Tirumurai 10Tirumandiram (Tirumular)
Tirumurai 12Periya Puranam (Sekkizhar)

The Tevaram hymns, together with the Alwar hymns, are sung in many temple rituals even today. Hymns are chosen by the festival and the deity.

6. Effect on temples and worship

  • Tamil hymn singing (Oduvars for Shaiva, Adhyapakas for Vaishnava) became part of temple routine.
  • Temple festivals such as processions of the utsava murti were shaped by hymn traditions.
  • Women and people of all communities were respected as saints, which helped build a wider devotional society.
  • The Alwars' teachings were later systematised by Sri Vaishnava teachers such as Nathamuni, Yamunacharya and Ramanuja.
  • The Nayanars' songs helped the Shaiva Siddhanta school, whose later great text is by Meykandar (13th century).

7. Worked comparison: how the two streams differ in practice

The Alwars and Nayanars share the same spirit but differ in deity, text and teachers. A quick way to hold the two together is the table below.

PointAlwarsNayanars
DeityVishnuShiva
Number1263
Main collectionNalayira Divya PrabandhamTirumurai (Tevaram is the first seven)
CompilerNathamuniNambiyandar Nambi
Story of the saintsGuruparampara traditionPeriya Puranam by Sekkizhar
Woman saintAndalKaraikkal Ammaiyar (best known of three)
Holy places108 Divya DesamsPadal Petra Sthalams (temples sung in the Tevaram)
Later schoolSri Vaishnavism (Ramanuja)Shaiva Siddhanta

The temples sung by the Nayanars in the Tevaram are called the Padal Petra Sthalams. In Andhra Pradesh, Srikalahasti is linked to the Nayanar story of Kannappa, while Tirumala and Ahobilam are linked with the Alwar tradition. An Executive Officer in such a temple will meet this tradition in daily ritual: hymn recitation before the deity, recitation of Tiruppavai in Margali, and special chanting during festivals.

The hymns were not only poetry. They also taught that a devotee of any birth could be a saint. This is why the later Acharyas, such as Ramanuja, drew on Alwar teaching to open worship to all. It is a useful link between this chapter and the next, on the Acharyas.

Exam traps

  • 1. Alwars (Vishnu, 12) versus Nayanars (Shiva, 63): do not swap numbers or gods.
  • 2. Divya Prabandham (Alwars) versus Tirumurai (Nayanars).
  • 3. Nathamuni compiled the Divya Prabandham; Nambiyandar Nambi compiled the Tirumurai.
  • 4. Tevaram means the hymns of three saints only: Sambandar, Appar, Sundarar. Manikkavasagar is not one of them.
  • 5. Andal is the only woman among the Alwars; Karaikkal Ammaiyar is the best-known of the three women among the Nayanars.
  • 6. Tiruppavai is by Andal; Tiruvaymozhi is by Nammalwar; Tirupallandu is by Periyalwar.
  • 7. Madhurakavi sang only on his teacher, not directly on Vishnu.
  • 8. Kulasekhara was a Chera king; Tirumangai was a chieftain, not a king of the Pallavas.

One-liners

  • 1. There are 12 Alwars and 63 Nayanars.
  • 2. The Divya Prabandham has about 4,000 verses.
  • 3. The Alwars praised 108 Divya Desams.
  • 4. Nammalwar's Tiruvaymozhi is called the Tamil Veda.
  • 5. Andal is the only woman Alwar.
  • 6. Periya Tirumozhi is by Tirumangai Alwar.
  • 7. The Tevaram is by Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar.
  • 8. Sekkizhar wrote the Periya Puranam.
  • 9. Sundarar wrote the Tiruttondar Tokai.
  • 10. Manikkavasagar wrote the Tiruvasagam.
  • 11. Kannappa Nayanar is linked with Srikalahasti.
  • 12. Bhakti hymns were sung in Tamil, the language of the people.

Practice questions

  1. How many Alwars are traditionally counted among the Vaishnava saints of the Tamil country?

    1. 18
    2. 63
    3. 10
    4. 12
    Answer

    D. 12

    Twelve Alwars are devoted to Vishnu.

  2. How many Nayanars are traditionally counted among the Shaiva saints?

    1. 108
    2. 12
    3. 32
    4. 63
    Answer

    D. 63

    The Nayanars are 63 in number.

  3. The Alwars were devotees of which deity?

    1. Surya
    2. Vishnu
    3. Brahma
    4. Shiva
    Answer

    B. Vishnu

    Alwars sang of Vishnu; Nayanars sang of Shiva.

  4. The collected hymns of the Alwars are known as

    1. Nalayira Divya Prabandham
    2. Tirumurai
    3. Periya Puranam
    4. Tevaram
    Answer

    A. Nalayira Divya Prabandham

    Nalayira means four thousand; Divya Prabandham means divine verses.

  5. Who compiled the Nalayira Divya Prabandham?

    1. Ramanuja
    2. Sekkizhar
    3. Nathamuni
    4. Nambiyandar Nambi
    Answer

    C. Nathamuni

    Nathamuni, a Sri Vaishnava teacher, collected and arranged the hymns.

  6. Who is the only woman among the twelve Alwars?

    1. Avvaiyar
    2. Akka Mahadevi
    3. Karaikkal Ammaiyar
    4. Andal
    Answer

    D. Andal

    Andal, foster daughter of Periyalwar, is the sole woman Alwar.

  7. Tiruppavai was composed by

    1. Nammalwar
    2. Periyalwar
    3. Andal
    4. Tirumangai Alwar
    Answer

    C. Andal

    Tiruppavai has 30 verses sung in the month of Margali.

  8. Nammalwar's Tiruvaymozhi is often called the

    1. Tamil Purana
    2. Tamil Veda
    3. Tamil Smriti
    4. Tamil Gita
    Answer

    B. Tamil Veda

    Its high honour among Sri Vaishnavas gives it this name.

  9. Which Alwar was a Chera king?

    1. Kulasekhara
    2. Tiruppan
    3. Tirumangai
    4. Madhurakavi
    Answer

    A. Kulasekhara

    Kulasekhara composed the Perumal Tirumozhi.

  10. Which Alwar composed the largest number of verses, including Periya Tirumozhi?

    1. Tirumangai Alwar
    2. Periyalwar
    3. Tiruppan Alwar
    4. Nammalwar
    Answer

    A. Tirumangai Alwar

    Tirumangai Alwar's works are the largest in the Prabandham.

  11. Which Alwar sang only in praise of his teacher Nammalwar?

    1. Bhutattalwar
    2. Tondaradippodi
    3. Madhurakavi
    4. Tirumalisai
    Answer

    C. Madhurakavi

    Kanninun Siruttambu is addressed to Nammalwar.

  12. The three Mudal (first) Alwars are Poigai, Bhutam and

    1. Madhurakavi
    2. Pey
    3. Tiruppan
    4. Andal
    Answer

    B. Pey

    Poigai, Bhutam and Pey are the three first Alwars.

  13. The Tiruppalliyezhuchi, a morning awakening hymn to Ranganatha, was composed by

    1. Periyalwar
    2. Tiruppan
    3. Kulasekhara
    4. Tondaradippodi
    Answer

    D. Tondaradippodi

    Tondaradippodi also composed the Tirumalai.

  14. Amalanadipiran, a poem of ten verses, is by

    1. Tiruppan Alwar
    2. Tirumalisai Alwar
    3. Andal
    4. Madhurakavi
    Answer

    A. Tiruppan Alwar

    Tiruppan Alwar sang this short hymn on Ranganatha.

  15. The number of Divya Desams praised in the Alwar hymns is

    1. 63
    2. 108
    3. 12
    4. 64
    Answer

    B. 108

    The Divya Desams are the 108 holy places of Vishnu.

  16. Which of these Vaishnava shrines in Andhra Pradesh is praised in the Alwar hymns?

    1. Draksharama
    2. Srisailam
    3. Tirumala
    4. Srikalahasti
    Answer

    C. Tirumala

    Tirumala (Venkatam) is a Divya Desam; the others are Shaiva shrines.

  17. The Tevaram hymns were sung by Sambandar, Appar and

    1. Tirumular
    2. Sekkizhar
    3. Manikkavasagar
    4. Sundarar
    Answer

    D. Sundarar

    These three are the Moovar of the Tevaram.

  18. Who wrote the Periya Puranam, the story of the 63 Nayanars?

    1. Nambiyandar Nambi
    2. Sekkizhar
    3. Appar
    4. Sundarar
    Answer

    B. Sekkizhar

    Sekkizhar's work forms the twelfth Tirumurai.

  19. The Tiruttondar Tokai, a list of Shiva's devotees, is by

    1. Sundarar
    2. Appar
    3. Sekkizhar
    4. Sambandar
    Answer

    A. Sundarar

    Sundarar began the list of the 63.

  20. Who arranged the first eleven Tirumurai?

    1. Nathamuni
    2. Appar
    3. Nambiyandar Nambi
    4. Sekkizhar
    Answer

    C. Nambiyandar Nambi

    He compiled them in the Chola period.

  21. Tiruvasagam was composed by

    1. Sambandar
    2. Appar
    3. Sundarar
    4. Manikkavasagar
    Answer

    D. Manikkavasagar

    It is in the eighth Tirumurai.

  22. Which woman is among the 63 Nayanars?

    1. Andal
    2. Karaikkal Ammaiyar
    3. Akka Mahadevi
    4. Lalleshwari
    Answer

    B. Karaikkal Ammaiyar

    She is the only woman saint in the Nayanar list.

  23. Kannappa Nayanar, who offered his eye to the Shiva linga, is linked with

    1. Tirumala
    2. Simhachalam
    3. Ahobilam
    4. Srikalahasti
    Answer

    D. Srikalahasti

    The story is associated with the Srikalahasti temple.

  24. Tirumandiram, an early Shaiva work, was written by

    1. Tirumular
    2. Appar
    3. Manikkavasagar
    4. Sekkizhar
    Answer

    A. Tirumular

    Tirumandiram forms the tenth Tirumurai.

  25. The Bhakti hymns of the Alwars and Nayanars were composed mostly in

    1. Prakrit
    2. Pali
    3. Tamil
    4. Sanskrit
    Answer

    C. Tamil

    They used the language of the people.

  26. The Bhakti movement of the Alwars and Nayanars arose first in

    1. Punjab
    2. Gujarat
    3. Bengal
    4. Tamil Nadu
    Answer

    D. Tamil Nadu

    It began in the Tamil country, c. 6th to 9th century.

  27. Which Alwar is the foster father of Andal?

    1. Poigai
    2. Tirumangai
    3. Periyalwar
    4. Nammalwar
    Answer

    C. Periyalwar

    Periyalwar (Vishnuchitta) found her in Srivilliputtur.

  28. A temple priest wants to sing a hymn by an Alwar. He should choose a verse from

    1. Divya Prabandham
    2. Tirumandiram
    3. Tevaram
    4. Periya Puranam
    Answer

    A. Divya Prabandham

    The Prabandham is the Vaishnava collection; the others are Shaiva.

  29. A Shaiva temple wishes to recite the hymns of Sundarar. The proper collection is

    1. Tiruppavai
    2. Tevaram
    3. Divya Prabandham
    4. Tiruvaymozhi
    Answer

    B. Tevaram

    Sundarar's songs are in the seventh Tirumurai, part of the Tevaram.

  30. The Bhakti saints made temples centres of music and pilgrimage mainly because they

    1. sang hymns in praise of each holy place
    2. wrote law codes for temples
    3. banned all rituals
    4. ruled over temple estates
    Answer

    A. sang hymns in praise of each holy place

    Their songs about particular deities drew pilgrims.

  31. The Alwar and Nayanar saints came from many castes. This shows that their message

    1. was limited to Brahmins
    2. welcomed all castes and women
    3. opposed all devotion
    4. rejected temples completely
    Answer

    B. welcomed all castes and women

    Their devotion was open to all.

  32. Which pair of saint and work is correctly matched?

    1. Tirumangai - Tirumandiram
    2. Andal - Tiruvaymozhi
    3. Nammalwar - Tiruppavai
    4. Periyalwar - Tirupallandu
    Answer

    D. Periyalwar - Tirupallandu

    Tirupallandu is Periyalwar's blessing song.

  33. Meykandar, the author of the later Shaiva Siddhanta text Sivajnana Bodham, belongs to the

    1. 8th century
    2. 18th century
    3. 13th century
    4. 6th century
    Answer

    C. 13th century

    Shaiva Siddhanta was systematised in the 13th century.

  34. Consider the statements: 1. The Alwars are 63 in number. 2. The Nayanars are 12 in number. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    D. Neither 1 nor 2

    It is the reverse: 12 Alwars and 63 Nayanars.

  35. Consider the statements: 1. The Tevaram includes the hymns of Manikkavasagar. 2. Nathamuni collected the Divya Prabandham. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Tevaram means Sambandar, Appar and Sundarar only.

  36. Consider the statements: 1. Appar was also called Tirunavukkarasar. 2. Sundarar wrote the Tiruttondar Tokai. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  37. Consider the statements: 1. Madhurakavi sang directly in praise of Vishnu only. 2. Andal composed the Nachiyar Tirumozhi. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Madhurakavi sang on his teacher Nammalwar.

  38. Consider the statements: 1. Sekkizhar's Periya Puranam is the twelfth Tirumurai. 2. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was an Alwar. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    A. 1 only

    She was a Nayanar, not an Alwar.

  39. Consider the statements: 1. Kulasekhara Alwar was a Chera king. 2. Tirumangai Alwar composed the Periya Tirumozhi. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    C. Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct.

  40. Consider the statements: 1. Manikkavasagar is one of the three Tevaram singers. 2. Sambandar is traditionally shown as a child saint. Which of the statements is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer

    B. 2 only

    Manikkavasagar wrote the Tiruvasagam; he is not one of the Moovar.

  41. Match: (1) Nammalwar (2) Andal (3) Sundarar (4) Sekkizhar with (a) Tiruppavai (b) Periya Puranam (c) Tiruvaymozhi (d) Tiruttondar Tokai

    1. 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b
    2. 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d
    3. 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d
    4. 1-b, 2-d, 3-c, 4-a
    Answer

    A. 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b

    Nammalwar-Tiruvaymozhi; Andal-Tiruppavai; Sundarar-Tiruttondar Tokai; Sekkizhar-Periya Puranam.

  42. Match: (1) Kulasekhara (2) Tirumalisai (3) Tondaradippodi (4) Tiruppan with (a) Amalanadipiran (b) Tirumalai (c) Perumal Tirumozhi (d) Tiruchchanda Viruttam

    1. 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d
    2. 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b
    3. 1-c, 2-b, 3-d, 4-a
    4. 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a
    Answer

    D. 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a

    Each Alwar is paired with his own work.

  43. Which one of the following is NOT an Alwar?

    1. Tiruppan
    2. Kulasekhara
    3. Appar
    4. Poigai
    Answer

    C. Appar

    Appar is a Nayanar (Shaiva).

  44. Which of the following Nayanars is NOT one of the Tevaram trio?

    1. Sundarar
    2. Sambandar
    3. Appar
    4. Kannappa
    Answer

    D. Kannappa

    Kannappa was a devotee but not a Tevaram singer.

  45. Which is the correct pair of tradition and text?

    1. Nayanars - Tirumurai
    2. Nayanars - Divya Prabandham
    3. Alwars - Periya Puranam
    4. Alwars - Tirumurai
    Answer

    A. Nayanars - Tirumurai

    Tirumurai is Shaiva; Divya Prabandham is Vaishnava.

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