page_title: Thirumangai Alvar
hierarchical_section_title: Thirumangai Alvar
caption_attribution_description: This picture was taken at Thirunaangur, a small village in TamilNadu, where, every year, on the second day after the New moon in the month of Thai (mahara), i.e, Jan 15th -Feb15th, Vishnu idols from eleven temples converge, get mounted on gold plated huge Garuda vaahanas(mounts), magnificiently decorated with floral garlands, give dharshan to Thirumangai Alwar, the wonderful Devotee. This picture is of thitumangai Alwar, seated on gold plated Hamsa(swan mount) vaahana, along with his wife,Kumudhavalli Thaayar, a true pious lady, having dharshan of eleven vishnus of whom he has sung poems of great devotion.
context_page_description: Thirumangai Alvar, also spelt as Tirumangai Alvar and 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.
  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.
context_section_description: Thirumangai Alvar, also spelt as Tirumangai Alvar and 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.
caption: Thirumangai Alvar (left) with his wife Kumudavalli (right, only her crown is visible, rest of her image is covered with garlands)
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