Skip to content Sri Perialwar: Exploring the Bhakti of Andal’s Father To uplift mankind and to establish ‘dharma,’ God the Almighty, took many incarnations in this world, but His mission was not fully successful. So, He sent the divine people called the Sri Alwars to carry out His commands. They form the parts of His divine weapons, garland, Read More
Category: Alvars
The Tamil word ‘Alvar’ means “one who remains immersed”. Alvars were devotees who were immersed in bhakti for the Supreme, Narayana. The Alvars who have contributed rightly to the Sri Vaishnava scripture, Nalayira Divya Prabhandham, are twelve in number.
Sri Nammalvar: Premier Among the Alvars & Vaishnava Acharyas
Nammalvar: Life, Works, and Philosophy of the Great Alwar Saint We live in this material world amidst a lot of misery. Whatever small amount of pleasure we have, it is always followed by sadness and suffering. So, the enjoyment is not permanent. But our Scriptures say that there is a place called Moksha, where there Read More
Sri Nammalwar: Premier Among the Alwars & Vaishnava Acharyas
Nammalwar: Life, Works, and Philosophy of the Great Alwar Saint We live in this material world amidst a lot of misery. Whatever small amount of pleasure we have, it is always followed by sadness and suffering. So, the enjoyment is not permanent. But our Scriptures say that there is a place called Moksha, where there Read More
Periya Alwar (Vishnu Chitta) – Greatest of all Alwars
Periya Alwar In all, we have 12 Alwars. Of them, two hail from Sri Villi Puttur. They are Vishnu Chitta and Andal, father and daughter. Vishnu Chitta is also called Periya Alwar. Among the Alwars, Vishnu Chitta has received high reverence. That is why he is also called as Periya Alwar. In Tamil, Periya means Read More
Mudhal Alwars – First 3 Alwars
Mudhal Alwars Poigaialwar, Boodatalwar and Peyaiaalwar are collectively called as Mudhal Alwars or the first Alwars. They lived during the same period. Poigaialwar Tradition tells us that the first of them, Poigaialwar, was born at Kanchipuram, under the star Sravanam (thiruvonam) in October – November (Aippasi). The period is reported to be the 7th C Read More
The Privilege of Kulasekhara Alwar
Kulasekhara Alwar Kulasekhara Alwar wrote in Sanskrit called ‘Mukundamala’, a garland of poems in praise of Lord Krishna. He was also a staunch devotee of Lord Rama and his eleven Pasurams on the Lord of Seven Hills reflect his ‘Saranagati’ to Lord Venkateswara. His pasurams dedicated to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala Hills are to be Read More
Sri Godambika Sri Vratam Nirattotsavam
Sri Godambika Godambika or Goda Devi or Andal as popular in Tamil Vaishnava Tradition are the names of the same great person. Godambika was the only female of Vaishnava Dharma among the 12 alwars or azhwars. She was praised as the human incarnation of Goddess Bhudevi as a baby found in the Tulasi Garden at Read More
Goda Parinayotsavam
Goda Parinayotsavam Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the presiding deity of Tirumala is adorned with the garlands brought from Sri Govindaraja swami temple in Tirupati on Kanuma day every year. These garlands are the presentations of Sri Godadevi (Andal) as part of a festival called ‘Sri Goda Parinayotsavam’. The holy garlands are first brought to Pedda Jeeyar Read More
Madhurakavi Alvar – the incarnation of Vainatheya
Madhurakavi Alvar Madhurakavi Alvar (Chitra – Chitrai) Madhurakavi (Sweet poetic), the incarnation of Vainatheya (the divine bird) was born in the year Easwara, Chitrai month, Sukla Paksha, Chaturdasi day (Friday) in the constellation of Chitrai at Tirukkolur in the Pandya Kingdom. He was well-versed in Tamil and Sanskrit, was of excellent conduct and devoted to Read More
Kulasekhara Alvar – An Avatar of Kousthubham
Kulasekhara Alvar Kulasekhara Alvar was born in ThiruvanjikulamChera Kingdom (Kerala). His father was renowned king Dhidaviradhan and Mother Nadhanayagi who was the daughter of Pandya King. He is the Avatar of Gem adorned by Lord Vishnu in his Chest named “Kousthubham”. He was born in Maasi (between mid-February and mid-March) on Punarvasu Star (Nakshatra). Kulasekhara Read More
