AlvarsPersonal lifeRegionTamilakamNotable workNaalayira Divya PrabandhamKnown forBhakti movementReligious lifeReligionHinduismDenominationVaishnavismPhilosophyVishishtadvaitaSchoolBhagavataReligious careerInfluencedRegional Vaishnava movementsThe Alvars (Tamil: ஆழ்வார், romanized: Āḻvār, lit.'The Immersed') were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu through their songs of longing, ecstasy, and service.
NayanarsThe Nayanars (or Nayanmars; Tamil: நாயன்மார், romanized: Nāyaṉmār, lit.'hounds') were a group of 63 Tamil saints living during the 6th to 8th centuries CE. Along with the Alvars, their contemporaries, they influenced the Bhakti movement in early medieval South India. The names of the Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar.BhaktiBhakti (Sanskrit: भक्ति; Pali: bhatti) is a concept common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love. In Indian religions, it may refer to loving devotion for a personal God (like Krishna or Devi), a formless ultimate reality (like Nirguna Brahman or the Sikh God) or an enlightened being (like a Buddha, a bodhisattva, or a guru).
HinduismHinduism () is an umbrella term for a range of Indian religious and spiritual traditions (sampradayas) that are unified by adherence to Dharma, a cosmic order maintained by its followers through rituals and righteous living, as expounded in the Vedas. The word Hindu originated as an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest surviving religion in the world, it is also described since the 19th century by the term Sanātana Dharma (lit. 'eternal dharma').
VaishnavismMajor Hindu tradition that reveres Vishnu as the Supreme BeingVaishnavism (Sanskrit: वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, romanised: Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ), also called Vishnuism, is one of the major Hindu religious traditions, that considers Vishnu as the supreme being leading all other Hindu deities, that is, Mahavishnu. It is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism.
God in HinduismHindu conception of God Framed images of various Hindu deities. In dualistic Hindu thought, the Hindu deities are viewed and worshipped as aspects of, or incarnations, of the same-single ultimate reality called Brahman. In nondualistic Hindu thought, the self in each being (Atman) is considered identical with Brahman, expressed in the analogy of essential unity between a wave (individual self) and the ocean (God/higher self).
VishnuMajor deity in HinduismVishnu (; Sanskrit: विष्णु, lit. 'All Pervasive', IAST: Viṣṇu, pronounced), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation (sattva). Though not prominently represented in the Vedas, Vishnu was possibly already a significant non-elite divine figure in early Vedic times.
ShaivismHindu tradition that worships ShivaShaivism (; Sanskrit: शैवसंप्रदायः, romanised: Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is an umbrella-term for a number of Hindu religious traditions, which worship Shiva as the supreme being. The followers of Shaivism are called Shaivas or Shaivites, numbering about 385 million people, across South Asia predominantly in India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
Middle kingdoms of IndiaPolitical entities in the Indian subcontinent from 3rd century BCE - 13th century CE This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
ShaktismShaktism (Sanskrit: शाक्तसम्प्रदायः, romanised: Śāktasampradāyaḥ) is a major Hindu denomination in which Shakti or the divine feminine energy is revered as the Ultimate reality, and is personified as Adi Parashakti (Great Goddess), whose numerous forms, with each having distinct functions and unique attributes, are worshipped.
ShivaShiva (; Sanskrit: शिव, IAST: Śiva, lit. 'The Auspicious One'), also known as Mahadeva (; Sanskrit: महादेव, IAST: Mahādevaḥ, [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh], lit. 'The Great God') and Shankara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe.
TamilakamTamilakam (Tamil: தமிழகம், romanised: Tamiḻakam), also known as ancient Tamil country, was the geographical region inhabited or dominated by the ancient Tamil people, covering the southernmost region of the Indian subcontinent. Tamilakam occupied today's Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Lakshadweep and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.