Thirumalisai Alvar
Encyclopedia
Thirumalisai Alvar is a tamil
mendicant-saint revered in the srivaishnavism school of south india between the 4th to 9th century CE in Tondai Nadu
[now called Kanchipuram
and Tiruvallur
districts]. There are only little historical records of this alvars
. The legend of this saint devotees of srivaishnavism say that he was the incarnation of vishnu
's disc, Sudarshana. He belonged to Paraiyar
caste
, he proclaimed that he was "not of the 4 castes" (Brahmin
, Kshatriya
, Vaishya
& Shudra
) in one of his couplets as he was considered (Avarna
) untouchable and casteless person.
He had the access and resources to learn about various religions because in one of his couplets he says "After my futile efforts to know the supreme principle through Jainism
, and Buddhism
I am blessed by sriman Narayana
to take refuge at the Lotus feet of Sri Devi
and have escaped all problems and misfortunes since then".
There is also evidence in his couplets that show that he asked God to help reveal their ignorance to them. Legend also says that when he displeased the pallava
king and was banished, he asked the God from the temple, Yathotkari, to leave with him. Vishnu
is said to have rolled up the snake Sesha like a matress and left with him. There are 216 of his paasurams in the 4000 Divya Prabhandham.
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
mendicant-saint revered in the srivaishnavism school of south india between the 4th to 9th century CE in Tondai Nadu
Tondai Nadu
Tondai Nadu is a historical region located in the northernmost part of Tamil Nadu. The region comprises the districts which formed a part of the traditional Pallava kingdom...
[now called Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
and Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur
Tiruvallur is a temple town and Grade I municipality in Tiruvallur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Cooum river about northwest of the city of Chennai , the capital city of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Tiruvallur district...
districts]. There are only little historical records of this alvars
Alvars
The alwar or azhwars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between the sixth and ninth centuries A.D. and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Sri Vaishnava orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are...
. The legend of this saint devotees of srivaishnavism say that he was the incarnation of vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
's disc, Sudarshana. He belonged to Paraiyar
Paraiyar
Paraiyar, Parayar, and Sambavar, anglicised by Europeans as Pariah are a social group found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and in Sri Lanka . In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, though they have been enumerated under three different caste names, they have generally been referred to as...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, he proclaimed that he was "not of the 4 castes" (Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
, Kshatriya
Kshatriya
*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
, Vaishya
Vaishya
Vaishya is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order. According to Vedic tradition, this caste primarily comprises merchants, farmers, cattle-herders and artisans.-Duties of Vaishyas:...
& Shudra
Shudra
Shudra is the fourth Varna, as prescribed in the Purusha Sukta of the Rig veda, which constitutes society into four varnas or Chaturvarna. The other three varnas are Brahmans - priests, Kshatriya - those with governing functions, Vaishya - agriculturalists, cattle rearers and traders...
) in one of his couplets as he was considered (Avarna
Avarna
Avarna in the Sanskrit language of India means one who does not have a varna. The term denotes those sections of people in the Hindu fold who do not belong to the four major castes or Varnas. The four major castes are Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra...
) untouchable and casteless person.
He had the access and resources to learn about various religions because in one of his couplets he says "After my futile efforts to know the supreme principle through Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
I am blessed by sriman Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
to take refuge at the Lotus feet of Sri Devi
Lakshmi
Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
and have escaped all problems and misfortunes since then".
There is also evidence in his couplets that show that he asked God to help reveal their ignorance to them. Legend also says that when he displeased the pallava
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
king and was banished, he asked the God from the temple, Yathotkari, to leave with him. Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
is said to have rolled up the snake Sesha like a matress and left with him. There are 216 of his paasurams in the 4000 Divya Prabhandham.