Alvars

The Alvars or Alwars or Azhwar (Tamil: ஆழ்வார், romanized: Āḻvār, lit. ’those immersed [in God]’) were Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu god Vishnu in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. They are venerated especially in Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu as the Supreme entity. Many modern academics place the Alvar date between 5th century to 10th century CE. Traditionally, the Alvars are considered to have lived between 4200 BCE and 2700 BCE....