Thirumangai Alvar

Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar (left) with his wife Kumudavalli (right, only her crown is visible, rest of her image is covered with garlands)
Religion	Hinduism
Philosophy	Vaishnava Bhakti
Personal
Born	Kaliyan the 8th century CE (traditional dating: 2702 BCE) kuriayalur (thiruvali-thirunagari)
Died	Thirukkurungudi (Thirunelveli dist.)
Literary works	Periya Tirumoli, Tirunedunthandakam, Tirukuruthandakam, Tiruvelukkutirukkai, Siriya Tirumadal and Periya Tirumadal
Honors	Alvar saint

Thirumangai Alvar, also spelt as Tirumangai Alvar and Tirumankai Alvar, or Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvar and the most superior Alvar in the context of composition of verses. He holds the title Narkavi Perumal, the mark of an excellent poet, and Parakala (Beyond Time).

Though he is respected as a Vaishnava saint-poet, he, initially, worked as a military commander, a chieftain and then a robber. After his conversion to Vaishnavism, he confronted practitioners of rival Hindu sect of Shaivism as well as Buddhism and Jainism.

The traditional date attributed to Thirumangai is year 399 of Kaliyuga, that is 2702 or 2706 BC, making him traditionally the last of the Alvar saints. Modern scholars have placed the Alvars in between 5th to 9th centuries based on few historical evidence. Dr. N. Subba Reddiar summarizes their views and arrives at the date 776 AD for Thirumangai, making him chronologically the eighth Alvar, though even these dates are disputed. Sakkottai Krishnaswami Aiyangar notes he is generally dated to 7th-8th century. Professor of Religion and Asian Studies, James G. Lochtefeld of Carthage College dates Tirumangai to the 9th century.

The hagiographies detailing the life of Thirumangai and other Alvars are Divya charitam (11th century) and Guruparampara-prabhavam-arayirappadi (13th century) and Guruparampara-prabhavam-muvayirappadi (14th century). Other Vaishnava scholars have written hagiographics based on the above works later.

Thirumangai was born in Thirukuraiyalur, a small village in Tamil Nadu, in a non-Brahmin family. Thirumangai's real name was Kaliyan or Kalikanti. Thirumangai's father was Nilam , a general under the Chola empire. He was skilled in archery and worked as a military commander himself for the Chola king. In recognition of his valour, he was conferred upon the title Parakala and rewarded a small terrority called Ali Nadu to govern, for his military services. Its capital was Thirumangai. He earned the title Thirumangai Mannan or chief of Thirumangai, a name he maintained even when he became a saint.