The List of Holy Hymns by Azhwars

Each Azhwar's personal experience of God shows that He is accessible through sincere and humble devotion. They have sung 4000 songs praising the supreme. Details are given below (with titles of the songs:

• Poigai Azhwar - Birth Place: Thiruvekoo (Kancheepuram) Mudhal Thiruanthaathi. He expressed the Para Bhakti by his songs.Demonstrated that the Lord is the essence of the Vedas.

• Boothath Azhwar - Birth Place: Mamallapuram Irandam Thiruanthathi. He expressed the Para Gnanam by his songs.

• Pey Azhwar - Birth Place: Mylapore (Chennai) Moondraam Thiruanthaathi. He expressed the Parama Bhakti by his songs. Revealed the truth of the Lord's consort, Goddess Lakshmi.

• Thirumazhisai Azhwar - Birth Place: Thirumazhisai (Chennai) Naanmugan Thiruanthaathi, Thiruchandavirutham. He expressed the reality of the supreme by his Knowledge--who is the supreme, what are his qualities, etc. Affirmed the truth of the Almighty and the need to remain focused on Him without distractions.

• Nam Azhwar - Birth Place: Tirukurugoor (Azhwar Tirunagari) Thiruvirutham, thiruvaasiriyam, Thiruvaaimozhi and periya thiruanthaathi. Converted the entire Sanskrit Vedas in to four Tamil prabhandams. That's why he is called Vedam Tamil seitha Maaran sadagopan. Propagated the principle of surrender as the means and end of attaining liberation.

• Madhurakavigal - Birth Place: Thirukollur (Azhwar Tirunagari) Kanninunsiruthambu. He expressed the Acharya Bhakti in his songs. He enjoyed Krishna Avatar in his songs from the childhood of the LordKrishna.

• Peria Azhwar - Birth Place: Srivilliputhur Periyazhwar Thirumozhi. Sensitized us to the Lord's infinite mercy and compassion when he spontaneously sung "Tirupallandu" to the Lord wishing Him longevity and protection against evil.

• Andal - Birth Place: Srivilliputhur Thiruppaavai and Naachiyaar Thirumozhi. Andal's devotion and bhakti was supreme love for Lord Vishnu. It was different from other commons. It was the spontaneous outpouring of Prem towards her Beloved. She vowed that Lord Vishnu would be her lover and her husband. She believed that her bhakti would show the way in getting married to Lord Vishnu. She invoked her Lord by chanting the hymns of Thiruppavai and Naachiyaar Thirumozhi. She chose the early morning hours in the Tamil month Margazhi (14 Dec - 13 Jan) to chant the hymns. She was thinking that Lord Vishnu is her Lord and also her reality. All wordly things are not permanent (only illusion). Reaching and attaining bliss in the company of Lord Vishnu was considered by her as 'REALITY.' She was able to reach and got married with Lord Vishnu as vowed by her. Of the 173 hymns composed by her, the 30 hymns Thiruppaavai are well known among people.

• Thiruppaanazhwar - Birth Place: Uraiyur (Trichy) Amalanaathipiran. He enjoyed the beauty of Lord Sri Rang Nathan. He said that he would never like to see anything after seeing the Beauty of the Lord.

• Kulasekara Aazhwar - Birth Place: Thiruvanjikkallam Perumal Thirumozhi. Taught by example the value of Vairagya (ability to renounce worldly objects even when in the midst of them). He enjoyed the Rama avatar as well.

• Thondaradipodi Azhwar - Birth Place: Thirumandangudi Thirumaalai text shows the barathvam of the supreme and Thirupalliezuchi songs are being prayed at temple daily at the vishwaroopam time. Stressed the path of worshipping God's devotees and taught the lesson of humility, without which it is impossible to realize God.

• Thirumangai Azhwar Birth Place: Thirukurayalur (Thiruvali) - Periya Thirumozhi, thiruvezhukkootrirukai, Siriya thirumadal, periya thirumadal, thirukkurunthaandagam and Thirunedunthaandagam. He had the unique distinction of having visited more than 86 holy places (Sri Vaishna Divya Desams) dotted all over the country and worshipped all the Divya Desa Emberumans and sung praising the deities therein in his six Prabandhams wherein he has poured out his Divine emotions.

Anyone can see why their poetry was so attractive, at once both impassioned and philosophical, their words cut across all barriers of caste and class, attracting all to their faith. In doing so, they sculpted a new religious heritage of intensely emotional bhakti, or love of the Divine, whose impact is still felt today in the Indian Spiritual life.