Nammalwar is the first great mystic and poet. He is the greatest among the Alwars. ‘Nammalwar’ means ‘Our Alwar’. He is also known by the names Satakopar and Vakulabharanar. Nammalwar is the popular name.

Tradition says that Nammalwar was born in Thirukkuruhur, now called as "Azhwar Thirunagari", in the Tirunelveli district, on the banks of the Tambraparani, ona Friday, which was a Full Moon day in Vygasi, Pramadhi, in the 43^rd year after the birth of the Kali Age.

Nammalwar was born of Kariar or Karimaran and Udaiya Nangaiyar. Kariar was a Vellala Pillai. His ancestors were all devoted worshippers of Lord Hari. Kariar was married, while young, to Udaiya Nangaiyar, daughter of the Vaishnava Sthanik of the village of Thiruvanparisaran, lying on the other side of the Western Ghats. Udaiya Nangaiyar was a chaste woman. Nammalwar was known by the names of Maran and Senamsa.

Madhurakavi a learned Brahmin from the Chola country who was well versed in the Vedas came to Maran’s village and asked him an abstruse philosophical question. "if within a dead thing a small thing were to take birth, what will the latter eat and where will it sleep? The meaning is: If within the inanimate matter or body, the subtle soul or Jiva were to take birth, what would it feed on and where would it rest? Maran replied "The small thing will feed on it and rest therein. It means The subtle soul encashed in matter of prakirti will feed on it. The Prakirti will enjoy pleasure and pain the body and rest in it. Or it will enjoy God and rest in God".

Madhurakavi was struck with admiration at the subtle and wise answer. He became Maran’s disciple. He determined to remain by the side of his Guru and learn wisdom at his feet. Maran sang soul-stirring hymns such as Thiruvirutham, Thiruvasiriam, Peria Thiruvantadi and Thiruvaimozhi. Madhurakavi carefully wrote down the song-as they were sung-on palm leaves and published them after the death of Nammalwar.

The popular view is that Thiruvirutham contains the essence of the Rig Veda, that Thiruvasiriam contains the essence of the Yajur Veda, that Peria Thiruvantadi contains the Atharva Veda and that Thiruvaimozhi contains the essence of the Sama Veda. This is not correct. There is no semblance between Nammalwar’s works and the Vedas. The only thing that is common to both Nammalwar’s works and the Vedas is that both contain descriptions about God and the means of attaining God-realization.

Nammalwar ever lived in divine consciousness. He had cosmic consciousness. He experienced "Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat. The whole world is full of Vishnu". He would embracea tree or a calf or a pillar say: This is my Lord Hari". He would point out to the blue sky and say: "Here is my blue-colored Krishna". He shed profuse tears. He sang, wept and danced. He passed away at the age of 35.