Philosophy & Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars

Philosophy & Theistic Mysticism of the Alvars

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Author: S M Srinivasa Chari
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 263
ISBN/UPC (if available): 81-208-1342-1

Description

The God-intoxicated twelve Vaisnava Saints of South India popularly known as Alvars, who lived between fifth and eighth centuries A.D. represent a significant phase of Vaisnava Philosophy and Religion which provided a solid foundation for the development of the system of Visistadvaita Vedanta in the hands of Ramanuja and his illustrious successors. They have bequeathed a rich heritage for the posterity in the form of four thousand devotional Tamil hymns collectively known as Nalayira-Divyaprabandham, replete with philosophical and theological teachings.

This book attempts to present these teachings as contained in the original hymns in a systematic manner against the background of the Vedanta as reflected in the Upanishads, Agamas and selected Vaisnava Puranas, without bringing the sectarian and theological views that came to be developed by the commentators in the post-Ramanuja period. Based on the original source material, the Philosophy and Mysticism of the Alvars is discussed, fully supported by textual authority, under six broad headings: Doctrine of the Ultimate Reality (paratattva), Doctrine of God (Isvara), Doctrine of the Individual Self (Jivatman), Doctrine of Sadhana, Doctrine of the Supreme Goal (parama-purusartha) and Theistic Mysticism.

This volume makes available for the first time in English a comprehensive and authoritative exposition of the Philosophy and Mysticism of the Alvars. The book will be highly useful for the students of comparative religion for an indepth study of Vaisnavism in general and the Alvars in particular.

Contents

Foreword
Preface
Notes on Transliteration
List of Abbreviations
Introduction

Chapter I
LIFE AND WORKS OF THE ALVARS
The Dates of the Alvars
The Divine origin of the Alvars
The Life and Compositions of the Alvars
The Classification of the Prabandhams

Chapter 2
THE DOCTRINE OF ULTIMATE REALITY
The Philosophical Theory of Paratattva
Paratattva as Narayana
Paratattva as Sriyahpati

Chapter 3
THE DOCTRINE OF GOD
Divine Attributes
Divine Personality
Divine Incarnations
Divine Activities

Chapter 4
THE DOCTRINE OF INDIVIDUAL SELF
The Nature of Jiva
Jiva and Human Bondage
Jiva and Isvara
The Concept of Bhagavata-sesatva

Chapter 5
THE DOCTRINE OF SADHANA
The Views of Nammalvar on Sadhana
The Theory of Bhakti-yoga
The Theory of Prapatti
Divine Grace and Sadhana

Chapter 6
THE DOCTRINE OF SUPREME GOAL
The Upanisadic theory of Moksa
The Theological View of Moksa
The Theory of Kaivalya

Chapter 7
THEISTIC MYSTICISM
Meaning of Mysticism
Theistic Mysticism as Aspects of Bhakti
Philosophical Significance of Mysticism
Mysticism of Nammalvar
Mysticism of Tirumangai Alvar
Mysticism of Andal
Mysticism of Periyalvar
Mysticism of Kulasekaralvar

Chapter 8
GENERAL EVALUTION AND CONCLUSION
The Status of Divyaprabandham as Tamil Veda
The Tiruvaymoli as Vedanta
The Theory of Ubhaya-vedanta
The Influence of the Tamil Prabandhams on Ramanuja and his Successors
The Alvars and the Vaisnava Sects

Glossary
Select Bibliography
Index