Poygaiyazhvar

Azhwars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism during the 5th to 8th centuries AD. The religious works of these saints in Tamil, songs of love and devotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as Divya desam. Poigai Azhwar (also spelt Poygai Alvar or Poigai Alvar or Poygai Azhwar & also known as Ayonigi, Saro-yogi, Kasara-yogi, Poigai-piraan, Saravora Munindra and Padma-muni) is one of the twelve azhwar saints of South India.

He was found in a small pond near the Yadhotakaari temple at Tiruvekkaa. In Tamil, small pond is called poigai, and since he was found in a pond, he got the name Poigai.

From childhood, Poigaiyazhvar was deeply devoted to Vishnu. He mastered all the Vaishnava speeches and followed Vaishnavite tradition.This azhvar took a incarnation of Lord Vishnu's conch.As per legend, Vishnu appeared to the first three azhwars at Thirukkoilur. It was day time, but it darkened and started raining heavily. The three azhwars were confined in a small dark enclosure. They found out that the god Vishnu was with them and Pogaiyazhvar wished to see his face continuously but could view only from the simmering light of the lightening. With a view to maintain the contiuity of light, he instantly composed hundred songs wishing light to emerge. The other two continued composing hundred songs each on Vishnu. The works of these earliest saints contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. Along with the three Saiva nayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings of the South Indian region.There is a shrine dedicated to Pogaiyazhvar in the Yathothkari Perumal Temple tank called Deva Sarovaram where his image is depicted in a reclining posture. Poyagaiyazhvar has been mentioned in Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in one, Thirupaarkadal in one, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in ten, Thiruvikrama Perumal Temple in two, Vaikuntha in two and Tiruvekkaa in four verses. In celebration of his birth, a festival called Azhwar Utsavam is celebrated on the saint's birthday at the Yathothkariswami temple at Tiruvekka.