CodyyyGardner Authors Ms K G Dhouhithri

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Actually, in general, the term Azhwar is used to refer to even those Adiyaars who permanently reside in Sri Vaikuntam with Emperumaan. They are called Nithyasuris. Chakrathazhwar, Garudazhwar, Thiruvananthazhwan, Senapathi Azhwan and such names are quite common.

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In fact, even for some Acharyas the term Azhwan has been suffixed to Their Thirunamams as a mark of Their strikingly deep Bhakthi. Eg: Sri Koorathazhwan, Sri Milagazhwan.

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That being said, the term Azhwar is primarily used to refer to those specific Bhakthas who were gifted with purest gnanam (mayarvara mathinalam) by Sriman Narayana for the unique cause of revealing the 4000 Divya Prabandhas (also celebrated as Thamizh or Dravida Vedas).

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Thereby, those 12 noble Devotees alone are included in the Azhwar list.

In case of Swami Ramanujacharya, the purpose of His Avathara was not to reveal the 4000 Divya Prabandhas but to enhance the spread of those 4000 Divya Prabandhas and Their glories.

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Hence, Swami Ramanuja is in the Acharya goshti. However, two major points to note are:

1. Swami Ramanuja is none but Swami Nammazhwar's Divine Feet and His Avathara is an extension of Swami Nammazhwar's Avathara.

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