Andal
The only woman saint among the twelve Vaishnava alvars. She lived in the 9th century in Srivilliputtur, Tamil Nadu, and her poetic works are still very popular.
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Nammalvar
‘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.
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Karaikkal Ammaiyar
‘The lady from Karaikkal’ (6th cent.). One of the great figures or early Tamil literature and one of the three female saints among the 63 nayanmars. She is the author of forceful poems, often filled with gruesome imagery.
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Kanappa Nayanmar
‘He who gave his eyes’ (to Shiva). One of the 63 nayanmars, a hunter by caste, who lived in Srikalahasti (Andhra Pradesh).
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Manikkavachakar
One of the four most important Shaiva saints (9th cent.). He became an important figure at the Pandya court in Madurai but after a series of dramatic events he renounced the world and wandered through South India and further afield singing the praises of Shiva
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Sambandar
One of the four most important Shaiva saints (7th cent.) author of a number of hymns. He wandered from temple to temple singing the praise of Shiva. He cured the Pandya king of Madurai from an illness and converted him to Shaivism. He is said to have merged into Shiva at the age of 16.
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Appar
One of the four most important Shaiva saints. He lived in the 7th century and composed numerous poems in honour of Shiva.
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Sundarar
One of the four most important Shaiva saints (8th cent.). During his eventful life, he is reputed to have compiled the original list of the sixty three nayanmars, which was then elaborated upon by Sekkilar’s in his Periya Puranam
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Manuniti Cholan
One of the 63 nayanmars, whose sense of justice became proverbial, hence his name ‘establisher of Manu’s justice’. He lived in Tiruvarur and it is said that he hung a huge bell at the entrance of his palace, so that anyone seeking justice could ring the bell and would be heard.
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