Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

The Alvars are identified as followers of Vishnu, whereas the Nayanars are identified as devotees of Lord Shiva.

Alvars and Nayanars led the Bhakti Movement in its early years around sixth century. They would travel around and, depending on the location, sing devotional songs in Tamil in the names of Shiva or Vishnu.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

Historical Overview of Nayanars and Alvars

Many historians believe that Brahminism and the caste system were destroyed by the Alvars and Nayanars. This is supported by the fact that individuals from a variety of backgrounds were welcomed to join the movement.

The castes of Brahmins, artisans, and even those deemed untouchables comprised the Bhaktas. The Virashaivas were a Karnataka-based movement that began in the 12th century. A Brahmin serving as a minister in the Chalukya king's court by the name of Basavanna 1106-68 led the movement.

The Virashaivas, who worshipped Shiva, are the adherents of Basavanna. Their other name, Lingayats, which translates to "wearers of linggas," may have been used more frequently. Both the caste structure and the notion that any caste is a pollutant were contested by them.

As a result, they gained support from socially marginalized groups. The harmful customs of post-puberty marriage and widows' remarriage, which were purportedly disapproved by the Shastras, were also opposed by the Virashaivas. They also questioned the rebirth notion in further detail.

The primary distinction between the Alvars and the Nayanars of Tamil Nadu was their devotion to their gods. The poet-saints of Nayanar were followers of Lord Shiva, but the Alvars were followers of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna, who was an avatar of Lord Vishnu. The poet- saints of Alvar lived from the seventh to the tenth century, whereas the saints of Nayanars lived from the sixth to the eighth century. Important thinkers from the Alvars include Sri Andal, Thiruppan Alvar, and so on; from the Nayanars, some important thinkers include Tiru Neelakanta, Viralminda, and so on.

Alvars and Nayanars

The history of India has been significantly influenced by the Alvars and Nayanars. From the seventh to the tenth centuries, these poet-saints spread the bhakti movement throughout India, not just in the southern regions but also in other regions.

In the sixth century, the Nayanars and the Alvars initiated some of the first bhakti movements.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

The distinctions between Alvars and Nayanars have long piqued the curiosity of historians.

Twelve saints from Alvar and sixty-three saints from Nayanar are mentioned in the historical documents.

The melodies were converted into a series of booklets known as Tirumurai by Nambiyandar Nambi, the head priest of Raja Raja Chola I, while the hymns of the Alvars were compiled into Divya Prabandha, a single volume that included all of their hymns.

The Alvars

Alvars were followers of the Hindu god Vishnu and were a group of saints and Tamil poets under the rule of South India. They dedicated their songs and poems, which express longing, ecstasy, and service, to God Vishnu, whom they believe to be the highest deity and the ultimate source of Nirvana.

Certain myths state that there were ten Alvars in total. Nevertheless, Andal and Madhurakavi Alvar are also mentioned in other sources, therefore there are a total of 12 people in the count. It's thought that out of the twelve Alvars, Andal was the only woman.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

In addition to producing a vast amount of bhakti literature and walking the road of devotion, both groups were regarded as the most significant saints in Tamil Nadu. The Bhakti movement was sparked during the medieval era by the devotional poetry and lyrics of the Alvars. Through their poetry and music, they paid tribute to the 108 Vaishnavite deities' Divya Desams.

Their love and devotion to God Vishnu was evident in the thousands of songs they created and performed. Their writings are gathered together under the name "Naalayira Divya Prabandham." With dedication seen as the only route to salvation, the Bhakti literature of the Alvars helped to create a culture that strayed from the Vedic religion.

The Nayanars

The Nayanars were a group of 63 Tamil Hindu saints who were followers of the Hindu god Shiva who lived in the Middle Ages. In South India throughout the Middle Ages, the Nayanars played a significant role in the Bhakti movement.

It was Sundarar who came up with the list of Nayanar's names first. Sundarar and his parents were included in the list of poets Nambiyandar Nambi included when compiling their works for the Tirumurai collection. Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, and Manikkavaasagar are the four most important Nayanars and are collectively referred to as "The Four" or The Nalvar.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

The hymns were gathered into a set of volumes known as the Tirumurai in Nayanaras by Nambiyandar Nambi, the head priest of Raja Raja Chola I.

The hymns of the Alvars were composed from a united collection called Divya Prabandha.

Like the Brahmins, Harijan, and nobility, the Nayanars came from a variety of origins. They are regarded as the principal Hindu saints of South India, along with the twelve Vaishnava Alvars.

A civilization that rejected the ritualistic Vedic faith and was based on dedication as the only path to salvation was created and supported as a result of the Bhakti literature that arose in Alvars.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

Significance of Nayanars and Alvars

Tamil hymns were chanted and sung by both Nayanars and Alvars as they journeyed from one place to another, all in adoration of their lords. Both groups were instrumental in initiating a protest movement against the then-dominant caste system, which was a major issue, as well as in the effort to try and modify the caste system. The beliefs of the bhaktas, who hailed from a variety of social backgrounds-Brahmanas, cultivators, and even the untouchables-put this in place.

Difference Between Nayanars And Alvars

Difference Between Alvars and Nayanars

Hindu poet-saints from the south were known as Alvars and Nayanars. In addition to the shared characteristics, the table below lists the main differences between Alvars and Nayanars. As a result of the movement, regional languages like Tamil, Kannada, Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, and others spread and the lower classes gained prominence.

In addition to emphasizing the value of women in society, the movement gave men and women equal attention.

ParametersNayanarsAlavars
ConceptThe Nayanars had a great devotion to Lord Shiva and his forms.Alvars were devoted to Lord Vishnu and his avatars
PeriodNayanars were active around the 6th-8th Century ADThe Alvars are thought to have lived between 4200 and 2700 BCE, even though contemporary researchers place their active period between the fifth and tenth centuries AD.
VolumesThe chief priest of Raja Raja Chola I, Nambiyandar Nambi, collected the hymns into a series of books known as the Tirumurai.The Alvars' hymns are collected in a collection called as Divya Prabandha.
BackgroundThe Nayanars came from a variety of backgrounds, including as nobility, Brahmins, and Harijan. Together with the twelve Vaishnava Alvars, they are regarded as the most important Hindu saints in South India.The literature of Bhakti that emerged from Alvars played a significant role in establishing and maintaining a culture of devotion as the means of achieving salvation.
Poet Saints
  • Tiru Neelakanta
  • Meiporul
  • Viralminda
  • Amaraneedi
  • Eripatha
  • Yenathinathar
  • Sri Andal
  • Thirumazhisai Alvar
  • Thiruppaan Alvar
  • Nammalwar
  • Kulasekara Alwar
Use Of HymesThe hymns of the Nayanars were collected by Nambiyandar Nambi in the tenth century and published as the Tevaram, an anthology.
The hymns were adapted to Dravidian music and included into the rituals of temples in South India.
The Alvars' hymns are thought to have been collected in the tenth century by the leader of the Shrivaishnava sect, Nathamuni.
He brought hymns into the Vaishnava temples in South India on a regular basis.
ConceptAn introduction detailing the singing of the Nayanar hymns in the grand temple at Thanjavur (Tanjore) is found in inscriptions from the period of Chola king Rajaraja the grand (985-1014).
The hymns compiled by Manikkavachakar in Tiruvachakam, or Sacred Utterance, are also connected to the Nayanars.
The Alvars' hymn collection is referred to as the Collection of 4,000 Songs, or Naalayira Prabandham.
No.Of Nayanars And AlavarsThere were 63 Nayanar saints that were recognized.Historical documents list the names of twelve saints from Alvar.

Conclusion

As for the Alvars, they were devotees of Vishnu, whereas the Nayanars turned to Shiva worship. All social classes, even the deemed "unassailable" Pulaiyar and Panniers, were among those from which they sprung.

The path of atonement was promoted by Nayanars and Alvars as being by the love of Shiva or Vishnu. Moving from one town to another, they composed and arranged exquisite poetry as a tribute to the gods residing in those places.

63 Nayanars in total, representing a variety of castes, have been identified. But there were 12 Alvars, and they all had very different origin stories.






Latest Courses