Tondaradippodi
Topic: Bhakti and Sufi Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Bhakti-Sufi Traditions"
Meaning
Tondaradippodi was a Brahmana Alvar, one of the twelve Tamil saints of Vishnu. He lived c. 9th century. His name means "dust at the feet of the devotees". Even though he was born a Brahmana, his verses attack caste pride. Historians use his verses to argue that the Alvars questioned caste and Brahmana dominance.
Example
In one verse, Tondaradippodi says that Vishnu loves his devoted "servants" more than the chaturvedins, Brahmanas who know all four Vedas but feel no devotion. He says this is true even if those servants are born outside the caste order. His hymns are part of the Nalayira Divyaprabandham.
Don't confuse with
- Appar: also attacked caste pride, mocking "rogues who quote the law books". But he was a Nayanar, a devotee of Shiva, not an Alvar.
Related concepts
- Alvars
- Nayanars
- Nalayira Divya Prabandham
- Tevaram
- Appar
- Sambandar
- Sundarar
- Manikkavachakar
- Nammalvar
- Andal