Vishnucitta
| Periyalvar | |
|---|---|
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Philosophy | Vaishnava Bhakti |
| Personal | |
| Born | Vishnuchitta c. 9th century Srivilliputhur |
| Died | Unknown |
| Literary works | Tirupallandu, Periya Azhwar thirumozhi |
| Honors | Alvar saint |
Periyalvar (c. 9th century), also known as Vishnucitta was one of the twelve alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. His name is also transliterated as Periyalwar, Periyazhwar, or Periyazhvar
The verses of alvars are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham and the 108 temples revered are classified as Divya desam. According to some accounts, Periyalvar is considered the first in the line of the twelve alvars, while other accounts place him as the eighth. His original name is Vishnuchittar, since he blessed Lord Vishnu assuming he is elder to the Lord, he is called Periyalvar.
As per Hindu legend, Periyalvar was the foster father of Andal, the only female alvars.The works of Periyalvar contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. His contributions are Thirupallandu and Periya Azhwar thirumozhi among the 4000 stanzas in the Nalayira Divya Prabandam.
In South-Indian Vishnu temples, Periyalvar has images and festivals associated with him. The Garudasevai festival in Srivilliputhur temple, where five Vishnu temples in the region participate, is an event dedicated to him. The verses of Periyalvar and other alvars are recited as a part of daily prayers and during festive occasions in most Vishnu temples in South India.
A poem of Periyalvar names the ruling Pandya king as Netumaran, and states that the king extolled the lord of Tirumaliruncolai (that is, Vishnu). The Pandyan kings were generally staunch Shaivites: the only king described as a parama-vaishnava ("Great Vaishnavite") in the Pandyan inscriptions was Jatila Parantaka (r. c. 765-815), who was also known as Netun-jataiyan. His successor Shrimara Shrivallabha (r. c. 815-862) was known as Netumaran, although he is not known to be a Vaishnavite. Either of these kings can be identified as the "Netumaran" mentioned by Periyalvar. Thus, Periyalvar can be placed in the first half of the 9th century.
According to the Vaishnavite tradition, Vishnucitta or Periyalvar incarnated on this earth in the 47th year after the beginning of the Kali Era (3102 BC).
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