The Bhakti movement refers to the theistic devotional trend that emerged in medieval Hinduism and

later revolutionized in Sikhism. It originated in the eighth-century Tamil south India (now parts of Tamil
Nadu and Kerala), and spread northwards. It swept over east and north India from the 15th century
onwards, reaching its zenith between the 15th and 17th century CE.

The real development of Bhakti took place in South India between the
7th and the 12th centuries through the teachings of poet saints known
as Alvars and Nayanar whose hymns were collected and compiled in
the 10th century. The Sufi saints of the Muslims also emphasized
devotion to Allah (God). The spiritual yearning made Kabir, Guru
Nanak, Mirabai, Surdas, Tulsi Das, Chaitanya and others, the great
exponents of Bhakti movement.

‘Alwar’ means someone who is deeply immersed and it is because of their extreme devotion to
Lord Vishnu that they came to be known as Alwars.

In all, there 12 Alwars but orthodoxy considers only 10 Alwars; excluding Andal and
Madhurakavi Alwar.

It is through their songs that the Bhakkti movement was revived in South India; by bhakti to God
through love and ecstasy.

Through their songs, they praised 108 Divya Desams (Divine Places) of Lord Vishnu. In other
words, they showered praise on 108 temples of Lord Vishnu. Out of these, 105 are in India, one
is in Nepal and the two others are considered to be beyond Earthly realms.

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4000 of the songs composed by the 12
Alvars. These songs were said to have been sung at the Divya Desams.

Andal is the only female Alwar and she was a major source of inspiration for many other female
members of the Bhakti movement in the later centuries. There is also a temple dedicated to her
in Srivilliputhur in Tamil Nadu. In this temple, she is worshipped as a consort of Lord Vishnu.
In a time where only certain castes were into the composition of music, etc; Alwars were not
from any particular caste and had different origins.

They were instrumental in making religious practice in South India independent of Sanskrit
language.

The Alwars were also among the first ones to go beyond rituals and instead, started the culture
of devotion as the only path of salvation.

The Alwars’ literature is said to have given rise to five different philosophical traditions
(sampradaya) of Vaishnavism.

Nammalwar and Thirumangai Alwar are the two Alwars who composed more than 1000
songs each; with Nammalwar writing 1100+ songs himself!