Bhakti in Southern Parts of India - Nayanaras and Alvaras

Introduction

Bhakti comes from the Sanskrit word, Bhanj, which means charity and coordination. The Bhakti movement was started by the Shankaracharya in the 8th century A.D., according to the Bhagwat Purana Bhakti, born in the Dravida areas of Indian territory.

The Viashnava and Shaiva saints during the Pallavas' rule started the Bhakti movement. It also gains the patronage of the Chola rulers. As the result of the idol worship of the Bhakti movement, the aspects of the incarnation spread in the extreme south. There occurred the broad spread of religious rituals. The rulers and subjects in south India gradually replaced Jainism and Buddhism with Vaishanvism and Shaivism.

The Bhakti movement was divided into two components, Alvaras and Nayanaras, that used both Tamil and Sanskrit languages in their hymns.

The Nayanaras

The Tamil Shaiva saints are known as the Nayanaras Saints. They are a total of 63 in number. This Shaivism idea started in the 8th century A.D. At the start of the 10th century, a nayanara saint, nambiandar nambi, wrote the song and placed the name Tiruktatotar tiruvantati. It gives brief information on the lives of the 63 Nayanara saints.

Significant Nayanaras Saints

Appar

Another name of Appar is Tirunavukarrashu. He was born in the vellal family at tiruvallur. He lived his life as a Jain saint. It is believed that he got free from the severe ailament by the Lord shiva's grace as the result in which he adopted the Shaivism to the Pallava rulers, named the Mahendravarman.

Tirugyansamnbandara

He was contemporary to the above Saint. He was born in the Shiyali Village in a Brahmin family. Among the all nayanaras saints, he was famous by the name of the most pious Saint. His contemporary ruler's name was the Narsighavarman and Manvarma Avni Shulpani. The name is also known as the Dravida Shishu.

Sundarmurti

He was born at the Navllur in the Brahmin family. He was brought up by the commander in chief, Narshingha Muvedaryana. He is known as the Saints of Saints. He adopted Shaivism at the age of only 18 years. But the thing is that he remains the less controversial character among all significant saints.

Mannikavachkar

He was born in the at vadvur. This is the reason why he is also known as the Tiru vadvur. His songs mainly consist the love themes. The four above-mentioned nayanaras saints are collectively considered the Samyacharya. The idols of the Sundarmurti and tirugyansambandar were established in the temples and worshipped. Many time, the statue of Mannikavachkar are also found along with them. This bronze statue is found in one of the major national museums.

Tirumular

It is believed that the Tirumular is the first saint in the category of all nayaranas saints. He is the great mysterious Saint and the pioneer of spiritual reforms. The connection in the Bhakti movement was turned into a complicated movement. In this, the Tamil text” Periyapurana" condemns the entry of women into this movement.

There is a list of the few female saints, such as

• Karaikkal Ammeiyar

• Isaignaniyar

Karaikkal Ammeiyar was considered the great Shaiva saint. She worshiped Lord Shiva in the She is also known as the name of Lord Shiva as ‘Appa,' which means father.

Nayanara Literature

In the 11th century, Nambi-ander-nambi, the court poet of Raja Raj Chola, created the Nayanaras saints' songs in 11 Tirumurai, considered one of the greatest texts in the category of the Nayanara saints. Due to this, Nambi-ander-nambi is also known as the ‘Vedvyas of Tamil or 'Tamilvyas.' This is considered the last Tirumurai.

The Alvaras − Along with Vaishnavism and Shaivism, it was too prospered at the time of Pallava rule. The Vaishnava saints in the Southern part of India were known as the Alvaras. Always means a person who can get the ultimate knowledge and is completely lost in his thoughts. There are a total of 12 Alvara saints. They worshipped Naryana, Lord Vishnu, Rama, Krishna, Shrirangnath, etc. They never believe in any religious rituals. Instead of it, they are only focused on God's workshop.

Significant Alvara saints

Nammalwar

He was the great Saint among the category of the Alvaras Saints. He was born at Tinnevelli in the Vellal family. His four works are - Tiruvashirium, Tiruviruttam, Tiruvaymeli, Periyatiruvantadi. These works are collectively known as the four Vedas of the South. He is considered the feet incarnation of lord Rama. His poetic style depends upon the style of the Sangam age in Agama literature, in which the relation between the disciple and God is that of lovers. He also produced a connection picture of Lord Krishna with his Copies.

Madhurakavi

He was a student of Nammalwar. He had famous for his great devotion to Lord Shri Rama. It is said that he lived in Ayodhaya for a few months. In his work, he writes about the travel when he goes to Ayodhaya, bath in the Saryu river and worships Lord Rama.

Thirumangai

He belonged to the robber's category of the Chola army. He spends his life building the Srirangam temple because of his inclination toward Vaishnavism.

He started a campaign to spread discontentment against Jainism and Buddhism. His most famous work was Periyatirumoli. He had own his six poetries that are come from the six Vedangas of Tamil.

Vishuchitta

He was born at the village, srivillipur. He is the inspiration of the Pandya rulers to accept Vaishnavism. The ruler of Vijaynagar, Krishan Dev Rai and their empire wrote in his book 'Amuktamalyad’ on the life of Vishuchitta.

Poigai

Poigai is considered the first and Madhurakavi the last Alwar saints among all. There are the total 12 Alwar saints and their hymns were compiled Acharyanathmuni work, named as the Naliyar Divya prabandhanam. It was considered as the last pious text of the Tamil Vaishnavas. You can also call it by the name of 'Tamil Veda.

Conclusion

According to the Alvaras literature of the 12th century, 'Divyatirucharitam’ was written by the Garudavahana' and is considered the first and most significant book. It will produce the life history of the Alwar saints. Historian Uma Chakravarti is one view of how males are allowed to worship God.

It also maintains their normal family life together in which the females are not allowed to do the same as their youthfulness and beauty, that is turned out to be a great obstacle in the path they worship.

FAQs

Qns 1 − Who begins the Bhakti Movement in India?

Ans 1. Ramananda, Nanak and Kabir are the one to begin. The development of the Bhakti movement started in the southern part of India when the people were tired of the caste system.

What are the contributions of nayanaras and Alvaras in Bhakti Literature?

Ans 2. The Nayanaras were the Harijans, Brahmins, and nobles of different origins who were considered important saints in southern India.

Qns 3 − How did the Nayanaras and Alvaras reform the caste system?

Ans. They initiated the protest against the societal norms and the caste system. In the medieval era, the Brahmanas dominated, and the caste system also influenced their people.