The Divine World of the Alvars - Lives and Songs of the Vaishnana Saints of South India

Author: Pravrajika SuddhatmapranaPublisher: Ramakrishna Mission Institute of CultureYear: 2003Language: EnglishPages: 126ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788187332244 DescriptionBetween the sixth and ninth centuries a group of Vaishnava saints appeared in South Indian who, through their lives as well as their songs, completely changed the religious life of India. Like the sages of ancient times, whose deep spiritual experiences recorded in the Vedas became the foundation of most of Indian philosophy, the Alvars also revealed their spiritual experiences in their songs and thus inspired a new path towards God -one of ecstatic love. Their love was for Vishnu in all his aspects. He who was the Lord of Vaikuntha was also the Lord in the temple, and again it was He who dwelt in their own hearts. But more than anything else, He was their own Child, or their Playmate, or their Beloved. These saints were possible the first to establish an intimate human relationship with God and realize Him through in