Alwars were a distinctive group of Tamil Vaishnava saints who played a prominent role in revitalizing the bhakti cult of Lord
Vishnu. Alwar in Tamil means ‘one who is immersed’; one who is immersed in the devotion of Lord Vishnu. These Alwars are 12 in number; out of which one is Sri Andal, a woman saint. They were born in different parts of the country but united by a common motive.
Alwars composed nearly 4000 verses in Tamil, known as the ‘Naalaayira Divya Prabandam’, in praise of Lord Vishnu, aimed at revitalizing the religious spirit of the people. These verses are considered to be the Tamil-equivalent of the Vedas.
