E

This lesson deals with the fore-runners of Vaishnavism called Alwars. Three popular poets of this group are illustrated with their history and their contribution to Tamil literature.

Vaishnava religion praises Lord Vishnu. Alwarkal the Vaishnavite poets are twelve and the compendium of their works is called Nalayiraththivya pirapantham. The three earliest among them are Poykai Alwar, Poothathalwar, and Peyalwar. They are worshipped in Vaishnava Temples.

Poykai Alwar considered God as the five senses felt through the five organs of human body. The five elements of land, water, fire, wind, and space - Panja Poothankal - are considered as different forms of God. He is seen as the Eternal Truth.

Poothathalwar occupies the second place among the three first Alwarkal. He is called so because Pootham means the essence of knowledge and because he has actually experienced the Holy charactertistics of Thirumal. His Rentaam Thiruvanthathi has 100 stanzas. Love is considered as the wick to light the lamp of knowledge for worshipping Vishnu, also called Narayana.

Peyalwar was born at Mylapore in Chennai. He is considered to be the incarnation of the sword carried by Thirumal. His staunch faith was as strong as the grip of a ghost and hence the reason for his name. His Thirunool considers Siva and Vishnu as one called Sankaranarayanan, He invites the devotees to chant the name of Thirumal for attaining the goal of salvation of human life.

On learning this lesson you will understand the meaning of the word Alwar, the tweleve such poets, the three earliest among them and their works, and above all how all the three were taken into His hold by Lord Vishnu Himself. This practical guidance enables the devotees of Lord Vishnu to adopt the worshipping manner, the benefits of such worship and the greatness of ecstasy in encompassing all things in the world.