Alvars - Thirumangai Alvar, Thirumazhisai Aazhwar, Fifth Veda, Aandaal, Nammalvar, Divya Prabandha, Thondaradippodi Alvar, Thiruppaan Alvar (Paperback)

Chapters: Thirumangai Alvar, Thirumazhisai Aazhwar, Fifth Veda, Aandaal, Nammalvar, Divya Prabandha, Thondaradippodi Alvar, Thiruppaan Alvar, Madhurakavi Alvar, Araiyar Sevai, Kulashekhara, Thirumalisai Alvar, Periyalvar, Peyalvar, Bhoothathalvar, Poigai Alvar. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 70. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Thirumangai Alvar or Tirumangai Alvar or Tirumankai Alvar or Thirumangai Mannan (8th century AD) is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvar and the most superior Alvar in the context of composition of verses. He holds the title Narkavi Perumal, the mark of an excellent poet, and Parakala (Beyond Time). Though he is respected as a Vaishnava saint-poet, he, initially, worked as a military commander, a chieftain and then a robber. After his conversion to Vaishnavism, he confronted practitioners of rival Hindu sect of Shaivism as well as Buddhism and Jainism. K. C. Varadachari, author of Alvars of South India describes Thirumangai as: He was a petty cheiftain. He in many respects a dynamic figure, ardent in love, spectacular in his deeds, a rebel and a social reformer, even a kind of Robin Hood, and above all an exquisite lyricist. The traditional date attributed to Thirumangai is year 399 of Kaliyuga, that is 2702 BC, making him traditionally the last of the Alvar saints. Modern scholars have placed the Alvars in between 5th to 9th centuries based on few historical evidence. Dr. N. Subba Reddiar summarizes their views and arrives at the date 776 AD for Thirumangai, making him chronologically the eighth Alvar, though even these dates are disputed. The hagiographies detailing the life of Thirumangai and other Alvars are Divya charitam...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=1017495