Talk:The Nāyaṉmār Saints

By Vishal Agarwal

Between 500 and 900 CE, Tamil Nadu witnessed the rise of sixty-three saintly devotees of Śiva, collectively known as the Nāyaṉmārs. These saints were among the foremost exponents of the Śaiva bhakti movement, emphasizing devotion to Bhagavān Śiva through song, service, and surrender.

Remarkably, more than a quarter of the Nāyaṉmārs belonged to the Śūdra or socially marginalized communities, while many others were Vaiśyas. This inclusivity illustrates that within Hindu dharm, devotion and sainthood have never been limited by social class or birth. True bhakti is open to all who approach the Divine with purity of heart and steadfast faith.

Around 1050 CE, the poet-historian Cēkkilār compiled the hymns and life stories of these saints into twelve volumes, forming the Periyapurāṇam, which remains a foundational text of Tamil Śaiva literature.

In the neighbouring region of Karnataka, the spiritual reformer Sant Bāsavaṇṇā (Basaveshwara) propagated intense devotion to Śiva through his vachanas—short poetic expressions of experiential wisdom. Among his foremost disciples was the mystic poetess Akkā Mahādevī, whose life and teachings also reflect the ideal of inner renunciation and universal devotion.

The lives of these Nāyaṉmārs and Śaiva saints reveal how the path of bhakti united diverse communities across southern India, giving rise to a vibrant spiritual culture grounded in equality, compassion, and selfless love.