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Nayanars and Alvars were actually the Tamil poet-saints who made significant contributions in promoting the Bhakti Movement in the Southern part of India during the 5th-10th centuries. The term Nayanars was used for a group of 63 saints who were devotees of Lord Shiva. They lived somewhere around the 6th to 8th centuries CE. On the other hand, the Alvars were Tamil poet-saints of South India. They worshipped Lord Vishnu and his avatar Lord Krishna. But this is not it. In this blog, we will explore more about the difference between Nayanars and Alvars.
Contents
Who were the Nayanars?
The Nayanars were a group of 63 saints from South India who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. They were strong followers of Lord Shiva and played a big role in spreading the ideas of Shaivism, the worship of Shiva. The Nayanars believed that true devotion and love for God were more important than rituals or caste.https://leverageedu.com/discover/general-knowledge/indian-history-goswami-tulsidas/
Some of the most famous Nayanars include Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar. They travelled across Tamil Nadu, visiting Shiva temples, singing beautiful songs called hymns. These hymns were full of emotion and showed deep love for Lord Shiva.
The Nayanars’ songs were later collected in a book called the Tevaram, which became a very important part of Tamil literature. Their work inspired many people and helped make Shiva worship popular.
Also Read: Goswami Tulsidas: Life, Works and Ramacharitmanas
Who were the Alvars?
The Alvars were a group of 12 saint-poets from South India who lived between the 6th and 9th centuries CE. They were devoted followers of Lord Vishnu and helped spread the ideas of Vaishnavism, which is the worship of Vishnu as the supreme god. The Alvars believed that anyone could connect with God through love, faith, and devotion, regardless of caste or background.
Some of the well-known Alvars include Andal, the only female saint among them, Nammalvar, and Periyalvar. They visited many Vishnu temples and sang devotional songs filled with deep emotion and spiritual meaning.
These songs were later collected into a famous book called the Divya Prabandham, which is a key part of Tamil religious literature.
Difference Between Nayanars and Alvars
Now that we have a basic idea of who Alvars and Nayanars were, let’s explore the significant differences between them.
| Parameters | Nayanars | Alvars |
| Time period | They were active somewhere around the 6th and 8th centuries AD. | Although some believe that Alvars were active between the 5th and 10th centuries AD, others believe that they lived between 4200 BCE – 2700 BCE. |
| Deity of worship | They were devoted to Lord Shiva and his avatars. | They worshipped Lord Vishnu and his avatars. |
| Number of saints | Period | There were 12 Alvars. |
| Origins | Nayanars belonged to different origins including Brahmins, Harijan, farmers, and nobles. | Alvars belonged to lower castes. |
| Important Scholars | ViralmindaMeiporul, Tiru Neelakanta, Karaikkal Ammaiyar (women) | Thiruppan Alvar, Thirumazhisai Alvar, Kulasekara Alvar, and Andal (only female Alvar saint and is also referred to as Meera of the South |
| Popular literary works | Nambiyandar Nambi, the high priest of Raja Raja Chola I compiled the hymns of Nayanars into a series of volumes called the Tirumurai. | The hymns of Alvars were later consolidated into a single volume called Divya Prabandha. |
| Major impact | Revival of Shaivism | Thiruppan Alvar, Thirumazhisai Alvar, Kulasekara Alvar, and Andal (only female Alvar saint and is also referred to as “Meera of the South” |
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FAQs
Ans. There were 63 Nayanars and 12 Alvars who came from different backgrounds of society.
Ans. The Alvars and Nayanars were two prominent groups of poet-saints who are believed to exist between the 5th and 10th centuries CE. They were ardent devotees who spent their lives travelling from one place to another, wrote beautiful poetry, and composed hymns for their deities.
Ans. The Nayanars and Alvars went from one place to another and wrote exceptionally amazing literary works in praise of their deities in the villages they visited. Apart from poetry, they also composed music in honour of their deities.
Ans. The Nayanars were saints devoted to Lord Shiva, while the Alvars were saints devoted to Lord Vishnu. Both promoted the Bhakti movement in South India through devotional songs.
Ans. The main difference is their choice of deity; Nayanars worshipped Shiva, and Alvars worshipped Vishnu. Their teachings and poems helped spread devotion and spiritual values among people.
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