Aalvantar's Catuh Sloki: Journal of Vaishnava Studies

Abstract

Aavantâr—the composer of Cotoh Sloki or Four Stances  (in praise of Goddess Sri) and Periyavaccan Pillai the author of the commentary included below, were preeminent teacher-theologians of the Srivaishnava community, which is centered in the Tamil-speaking region of South India. Srivaishnavas are worshippers of the Supreme Lord Visnu Narayana, who is
eternally accompanied by his consort Sri-Lakshmi. Their theology and spirituality are known as Ubhaya Vedinta (“dual Vedanta”), which is founded on two revealed scriptural sources. The first of these two sources consists of the Sanskrit Sruti, i.e., the Four Vedas (as interpreted by  Ramanuja, the great philosopher of Y*i$}itdvaita Vedanta) and of Smriti texts such as the Bhaganad Gitâ, the
Epics, the Purañpas and the Dhatma Sñstras. The second source is comprised of the Tamil poems of the
Alvars (“those immersed in God”)—the twelve devotees who lived from the sixth to the tenth century C.E.—whose poetic works are collectively known as the Nâlayira Tivyap Pirapantam.