History of Classical Sanskrit Literature c19.s1.1

c19.s1.1

**205. Alwars.** The traditions of Śrī Vaiṣṇavas mention 12 Saints or Alwars.¹ Garuḍavāhanapaṇḍita in his Divyasūricarita,² and Anantācārya in his Prapannāmṛta,³ describe their story. The traditional dates,⁴ ascribed to many of these Ālwars are not accepted by "modern" scholars, probably because according to them tradition cannot be accepted as history. It is not known however why the innocent Vaiṣṇavas should forge chronology, for their reverence to these sages is not due to the time that has gone by, but to the intrinsic merit of their teachings. Speculation cannot displace tradition.