Thirumangai Alvar

Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar
	Sculpture of Tirumangai Alvar, Yoga Narasimhar Temple, Velachery, Chennai
Personal
Born	Kaliyan; the 8th century CE (traditional dating: 2702 BCE); Kuriayalur (Thiruvali-Thirunagari)
Died	Thirukkurungudi (Thirunelveli dist.)
Religion	Hinduism
Other names	Parakalan
Organization
Philosophy	Vaishnava Bhakti
Religious career
Literary works	Periya Tirumoli; Tirunetuntantakam; Tirukkuruntantakam; Tiruvelukkutrirukkai; Ciriya Tirumatal; Periya Tirumatal

Thirumangai Alvar (IAST:Tirumaṅgai Āḻvār ), also referred to as Thirumangai Mannan^[2] is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvars, and the most superior Alvar in the context of composition of verses.^[3] He holds the title Narkavi Perumal, the mark of an excellent poet,^[3] 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 the sect of Shaivism, as well as Buddhism and Jainism.

^ Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar (1911). Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India. pp. 403–404, 409. ISBN 9788120618503.
^ Cite error: The named reference Subramanian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Pillai 1994, pp. 192–4

[aiyangar-1] Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar (1911). Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India. pp. 403–404, 409. ISBN 9788120618503.

[Subramanian-2] Cite error: The named reference Subramanian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Pillai-3] Pillai 1994, pp. 192–4

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