NAYANMARS THE PIONEERS OF BHAKTHI MOVEMENT
Nayanmars are 63 in number who composed poems on Lord Shiva.These saint poets lived in 6th to 8th century.These poets influenced the Bhakthi movement in TamilNadu when Jainism was at it's peak.With the advent of Nayanmars of saivism and the Alwars of vaishnuism ,Hinduism was saved from Jainism when it was on the verge of extinction.Sundarar's Thiruthondarthogai was the first poem which streamlined the names of the Nayanmars. Among the nayanmars Sundarar was the friend to Lord Shiva who took liberty to ask and demand anything as a friend.During his marriage ceremony lord Himself came in the guise of an old man and made him to realize the purpose of his birth.Only for 18 years he lived in this earth.The youngest among the Nayanmars is Thirugnasambandar who was fortunate to be fed with milk by Umadevi Herself who is Shiva's consort. His life span was only 16 years and he was the youngest among the Nayanmars. Thirunaukarasar who was otherwise known as Appar was the el...