The Alwars

Sri Vaishnavism is one of the pre-eminent traditions of Hinduism. An unbroken lineage of teachers, (the Acharyas) and a wealth of literature in Tamil and in Sanskrit and the Vishishtadvaita philosophy form the backbone of the Sri Vaishnava religion. Twelve saint (poet) devotees - the great Alwars lived their lives dedicated to expressing their devotion to MahaVishnu - considered to be the supreme manifestation of Divinity in the Vaishnava system of beliefs.. These saints composed verses in chaste tamil, and revitalized the religious spirit of the region, sparking off a renewal of devotional worship in what is generally referred to as the Bhakti movement. The first of the twelve, Peyalwar, Bhootattalwar and Poikaialwar lived in the first half of the first millennium CE.

Alwar Thirunagari

The Vishnu temple is dedicated to Adhinathaswamy. There are nine sacred Vaishnavite centers on the banks of river Thambraparni, known as Nava Tirupatis. Alwar Thirunagari, also called Thirukurugar, is one among them. The other places are Srivaikuntam, Thiruvaragunamangai, Thirukulanthai, Thirupulingudi,Thirukolur, Thiruperai and the two shrines of Thirutholaivillimangalam, together called Twin Tirupatis. In alwar Thirunagari. The worship of Bhudha is considered holy. It is the birthplace of Saint Nammalwar, said to be an incarnation of Vishnu. He was meditaing under a holy tamarind tree in the temple for 16 years. Nammalwar was the author of more than a thousand verses of Divya prabhandam.
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