# Tamil Vaiṣṇava Literature *Devotional compositions of the Āḻvārs* Total entries: 0 ## Divya Prabandham (Nālāyira Divya Prabandham) **The Four Thousand Divine Compositions:** - Composed by the twelve Āḻvārs - Written in Tamil between 6th-9th centuries - Glorification of Lord Viṣṇu - 108 Divya Desams (sacred temples) - Considered "Tamil Veda" ## Major Works **Tiruvāymoḻi** by Nammāḻvār: - 1,102 verses - Most important of Divya Prabandham - Called "Tamil Veda" - Deep philosophical content **Tiruppāvai** by Āṇḍāl (Godādevī): - 30 verses - Prayer to serve Radha-Krishna - Sung during Mārgaśīrṣa month - Expression of gopī-bhāva **Nācciyār Tirumoḻi** by Āṇḍāl: - 143 verses - Deep devotional yearning **Periyāḻvār Tirumoḻi** by Periyāḻvār: - Songs celebrating Krishna's childhood - Vātsalya-rasa ## The Twelve Āḻvārs Each Āḻvār contributed to the 4,000 verses: 1. Poygai Āḻvār - 100 verses 2. Bhūtattāḻvār - 100 verses 3. Pēyāḻvār - 100 verses 4. Tirumalisai Āḻvār - 216 verses 5. Nammāḻvār - 1,296 verses 6. Kulasekhara Āḻvār - 105 verses 7. Periyāḻvār - 473 verses 8. Āṇḍāl - 173 verses 9. Toṇḍaraḍippoḍi Āḻvār - 55 verses 10. Tiruppāṇāḻvār - 10 verses 11. Tirumaṅgai Āḻvār - 1,361 verses 12. Madhura-kavi Āḻvār - 11 verses ## Significance - Foundation of Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition - Influenced Rāmānujācārya - Devotional fervor equal to Sanskrit scriptures - Accessible to common people - Recited in temples daily ## All Related Entries ## Related Categories - [[index/personalities/alvars|Alvars]] - [[index/places/south-india|South India]] - [[index/concepts/rasa-theory|Rasa Theory]]