Who was/were the 10th centuiy composer(s) of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham?

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a monumental anthology of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars, who were Vaishnavite poet-saints [1]. These hymns, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his various incarnations, were meticulously compiled and classified in the 10th century by the theologian Nathamuni [1]. While the Alvars themselves lived between the 6th and 9th centuries, their collective works were canonized into this single collection during the 10th century to preserve the Vaishnava devotional tradition [1]. In contrast, the Nayanars (including Appar and Sambandar) were Saivite saints whose hymns were compiled into the Tevaram and the Tirumurai [3]. The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is often referred to as the 'Dravida Veda,' highlighting its supreme spiritual status in South Indian Vaishnavism.

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Bhakti-Sufi Traditions > Compilations of devotional literature > p. 144
2. [3] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 13: Cultural Syncretism: Bhakti Movement in India > Conflict with Buddhism & Jainism > p. 191