Nammalvars

Nammalvar was a prominent Tamil poet and saint who lived in the 9th century CE. He is revered as one of the twelve Alvars, a group of Vaishnavite poet-saints who were instrumental in the revival of devotional Hinduism in South India. Nammalvar's birth name is often cited as Maran, with Nammalvar meaning "Our Alvar" or "Our Leader," a testament to his significant influence among the Alvar tradition. He is believed to have been born in Alwarthirunagari, a village in modern-day Tamil Nadu.

His literary contributions are primarily found in the Tiruvaymoli, a collection of 1100 verses that form a significant part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the collective works of the Alvars. These verses are devotional hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu, expressing profound love, longing, and philosophical insights. Nammalvar's poetry is characterized by its deep emotional intensity, intricate literary style, and a sophisticated understanding of Vedanta philosophy, particularly Vishishtadvaita. He is considered by many scholars to be the most important and influential of the Alvars. His works have had a lasting impact on Tamil literature and South Indian religious thought, shaping devotional practices and philosophical discourse for centuries.