Nammalvar
Historical background
‘Our alvar’ (9th cent.) one of the greatest Vaishnava poet-saints, who was born in a small town in Tirunelveli district, now called Alvar-Tirunagari in his honour. Author of numerous works he is one of the pivotal figures of Tamil religious poetry.
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Rows 1 to 4: Unidentified Srivaishnava divyadeshams; The last vignette on the fourth row, depicts Alvar Tirunagari, with Nammalvar seated beneath the tamarind tree; Row 5: Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha Setupati in council; On the wall projection on the left: Kalki avatara; Devotees.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north east corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Row 1: Unidentified Srivaishnava divyadeshams; Row 2: Two unidentified Srivaishnava divyadeshams; The vignette on the extreme right shows Nammalvar seated under the tamarind tree at Alvar Tirunagari; On the wall projection on the left: Kalki avatara; Beneath it, devotees.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north east corner
Date: First half of the 18th century, restored
Description: Top row: Two unidentified Srivaishnava divyadeshams; The vignette on the extreme right shows Nammalvar seated beneath the tamarind three at Alvar Tirunagari; Bottom row: Muthu Vijaya Raghunatha in council.
Location: Tamil Nadu Palace;Ramanathapuram
Positioning: Room 1, north-east corner
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Makaranedungulaikadan of TenTiru Perai seated on Sheha and flanked by his consorts; 2) Sri Adinatha Perumal, of Tirukkurugur (Alvar Tirunagari) standing, flanked by his consorts. Above them are two smaller shrines dedicated to Adinatha’s consorts. On the extreme left is the Varaha shrine. 3) The main scene depicts Satkopan (Nammalvar) seated beneath the tamarind tree, in whose branches is an image of Sri Ranganatha. He is flanked on the left, by Tiruvaimolipillai, and Madurakavi, and, on the right, by Nathamuni and Manavalamamuni.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: 108 Srivaishnava divyadeshams. 1) Sri Anantapadmanabha of Tiruvananthapuram, reclining on Shesha, with Garuda standing at his feet and his weapons in the background. Brahma emerges from the lotus issuing from Anantapadmanabha’s navel. On the foreground are (from left) seated Shiva, Sri Hari Lakshmi Thayar, an ascetic and a devotee. 2) Sri Tiruvalimarbal of Tiruvanparisaram seated, flanked by his consorts. On the left is Udayanankai (mother of Nammalvar), on the right Kari Rajan (Nammalvar’s father). In the upper corner left: the Lakshmi tirtham and on the right, the Nammalvar shrine.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, south wall
Date: Paintings, late 20th century
Description: Sri Tirumalisai alvar, Sri Nammalvar, Sri Kulasekhara alvar, Sri Periya alvar.
Location: Tamil Nadu Temple;Andal Temple;Srivilliputtur
Positioning: Inner prakara, north wall