(9th c.) The Alvars, a group of twelve poet-saints who lived
in southern India during the seventh and tenth centuries, are by far the most
picturesque.
The Alvars were all worshippers of the deity Vishnu, and
their emphasis on ardent devotion (bhakti) to a particular god, expressed via
hymns sung in Tamil, revolutionized Hindu religious life.
Tirumangai was born into a thieving caste, according to
legend, and stealing, robbery, and deception play a prominent part in the
stories related with him.
According to one narrative, after accepting a vow to feed
1,008 Vaishnavas for a year, he resorted to highway robbery to collect the
necessary finances; another time, he resorted to robbery to raise funds to
expand the Shrirangam temple.
He enjoyed the constant assistance of Vishnu, his favorite
god, in these and other works; regardless of their veracity or untruth, these
legends indicate a great deal about the fervent devout dedication of his day.
See Kamil Zvelebil, Tamil Literature, 1975, and John
Stirling Morley Hooper, Hymns of the Alvars, 1929, for further details.