Periyalvars

Periyalvar, also known as Vishnuchittar, was one of the twelve Alvar saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. He is considered the earliest and most prominent among the Alvars. Born in Srivilliputhur in present-day Tamil Nadu, India, Periyalvar was a poet and devotee of Vishnu. His poetic works are primarily collected in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a corpus of 4,000 Tamil verses attributed to the Alvars.

Periyalvar's most famous work is the Tiruppallantu, a hymn of praise and a prayer for the well-being of Vishnu. This work is sung daily in many Vishnu temples, particularly during festivals. His other significant contribution is the Periyalvar Tirumoli, which comprises over 100 verses describing his devotion to Krishna, often from the perspective of a parent or a lover. He is credited with composing 303 verses in total within the Divya Prabandham.

The tradition holds that Periyalvar's devotion was so profound that he was chosen to be the father of the divine consort Lakshmi. His daughter, Andal, also became a revered Alvar saint, continuing his legacy of passionate devotion. Periyalvar's writings are foundational to Sri Vaishnavism, offering rich theological and devotional insights that have inspired generations of devotees and scholars. His emphasis on divine grace and surrender forms a core aspect of the Alvar tradition.