The Saivite Nayanmars
The Saivite Nayanmars lived roughly during the same period as the Alwars. While Karaikkal Ammaiyaar and Tirumoolar lived in the first half of the first millennium CE (the first of the Alwars are said to belong to the same period), Appar and Sambandar the foremost of the Tevaram saints lived in the 7th century. (Tirumangaialwar belonged to the 9th century while ) Sundaramurthy Nayanar lived in the 9th century CE. The Tevaram hymns were rescued from obscurity and set to music by Nambiandar Nambi during the rule of Rajaraja Chola I, roughly during the same period in which the Alwar Paasurams were compiled by Nadamuni. 275 Shiva temples in the Indian subcontinent have been glorified with at least a decad of 10 Tevaram verses (patikam) each of the Nayanmars (275 Tevara Paadal Petra Stalams) , while 249 (others) have been addressed (referred to) by the Tevaram (249 Tevara Vaipputtalams). Please visit the Abodes of Shiva for more information on the Nayanmars, the Tevaram hymns and these shrines.
