Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Yoga / Hindu : Vaishnava (Krishna/Rama)

8th Century

India
(Indian Subcontinent)

Nammalvar

Timeline (8th Century)

Poems by Nammalvar
Books - Links

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are always welcome. Thank you!	Click here
Click here	A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo.
Click here	Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a Supporter for just $10/mo.

Nammalvar is considered the foremost of the Alvars, a group of twelve semi-legendary saints dedicated to God in the form of Vishnu in the Tamil-speaking southern regions of India. His name can translate as "our own Alvar," a sign of the deep personal connection Tamil Vaishnavas have always felt for this poet-saint.

Although tradition says that the Alvars lived two to four millennia BC, modern scholars believe the actual historical figures probably lived between the fifth and ninth centuries AD.

In the traditional stories, Nammalvar was said to have been born in such deep spiritual communion, that he didn't bother to eat or drink or speak or even open his eyes until he was sixteen years old. Instead, he remained in meditation beneath a tamarind tree near a temple dedicated to Adinatha. He only deigned to open his eyes when his first disciple approached him and asked him a question.

Even after emerging from his utter introversion, Nammalvar is said to have remained beneath the tamarind tree, singing his hymns to God which eventually composed four books.

Poems by Nammalvar

	My dark one
	O Lord, infinite in Thy glory,
	The earth and the far-flung sky
	While I was waiting eagerly for him

Recommended Books

Hymns for the Drowning: Poems for Vishnu by Nammalvar, Translated by A. K. Ramanujan

Amazon.com

Nammalvar: (Makers of Indian Literature), Translated by A. Srinivasa Raghavan

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Nammalvar's Life http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/alvars/nammalvar/life.html An excellent site with biographical notes about Nammalvar, information about the Alvars, and several excerpts from Nammalvar's four books of sacred poetry.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Nammalvar

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World