A Wisdom Archive on Alvars

An alvar or pavement barren is a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation. This environment suffers from poor drainage, so these areas flood in the spring and become very dry and hot in the summer. This challenging habitat supports a community of rare plants and animals, including species more commonly found on prairie grasslands. Lichen and mosses are common species. Trees and bushes are absent or severely stunted. Alvars can be found in southern Sweden, northwest Estonia and around the Great La ... Including:

• Alvar - Alvar locations

Read more here: » Alvar: Encyclopedia - Alvar

The Alvars (pronounced 'aalvaars', and also spelt as 'azhvars' and pronounced 'aazhvaars') are Hindu saint-mystics of antiquity, followers of Lord Vishnu. There were twelve of them. They sang in praise of Lord Vishnu. While the Alvars are devotees of Vishnu, the Nayanmars, (pronounced 'naayanmaars') are devotees of Siva. Alvars - Imperishable legacy. The twelve Alvars and sixty-three Nayanmars, the last of whom lived in the 9th century AD – were all inspired and ardent devotees who transmitted their divin ... Including:

• Alvars - Imperishable legacy
• Alvars - The Vedas in Tamil
• Alvars - Tiruppaavai
• Alvars - The remaining Azhvars
• Alvars - Renaissance of Bhakti
• Alvars - External link

Read more here: » Alvars: Encyclopedia - Alvars

Andal, pronounced 'aanDaaL' is one of the twelve Alvars of Vaishnavism, and is the second most important of them. Her spiritual significance to Hinduism, however, is second to none. Her name is often transliterated as "Antal." Andal - Monumental example of pure love. To Andal, the divine gift to Periaazhvaar in the form of a daughter is attributed the Tiruppaavai, the most beautiful string of 30 verses giving expression to the purest love of God -- equivalent to the love of the cowherdesses (Gopis) of Brind ... Including:

• Andal - Monumental example of pure love
• Andal - Miraculous birth
• Andal - I am going to be his wife
• Andal - ChooDik-koDutha Naachiyaar
• Andal - Beatitude
• Andal - Tiruppaavai
• Andal - Avatar of Goddess Earth
• Andal - Sources

Read more here: » Andal: Encyclopedia - Andal

Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto (February 3, 1898 - May 11, 1976) was a Finnish architect and designer. He was a Scandinavian modernist designer, noted for his humanistic approach to modernism. His work includes architecture, furniture, and glassware. He was one of the first and most influential architects of the Scandinavian modern movement, and a member of the Congres Internationaux d'Architecture Moderne. Major works include the Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Finland, and the campus of Helsinki University of Technology. Aalto's glasswa ... Including:

• Alvar Aalto - Life and works
• Alvar Aalto - Significant buildings
• Alvar Aalto - Furniture and glassware

Read more here: » Alvar Aalto: Encyclopedia - Alvar Aalto

The rare Ram's-Head Lady's-Slipper, Cypripedium arietinum, is an orchid that is native to the alvars around the Great Lakes in North America. The plant grows to 10-40 cm (4-16 in), and the flowers may reach 1-2 cm (0.5-0.75 in). It flowers from May to June, producing brownish-green flowers with a pink and white lip. The Ram's-Head Lady's-Slipper is difficult to cultivate ... Including:

• Ram's-head Lady's-slipper - Conservation

Read more here: » Ram's-head Lady's-slipper: Encyclopedia - Ram's-head Lady's-slipper

Öland ▶ (help·info) is an island in the Baltic Sea, located off the coast of Småland. At 1,342 km² it is the second largest Swedish island, after Gotland. Administratively it nowadays is counted as a part of Kalmar County, (Kalmar län). Historically however, Öland (or Latin Oelandia) formed one of the Provinces of Sweden ( ... Including:

• Öland - County
• Öland - History
• Öland - Geography
• Öland - City
• Öland - Hundreds
• Öland - Facts
• Öland - Culture
• Öland - Heraldry

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Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Vaishnavism is one of the principal divisions of Hinduism. Its adherents worship Vishnu or one of his avatars and are panentheistic monotheistic. Bhaktas, or worshippers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavites, an English term that originated from Vaishnava in Sanskrit). Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism. Major Vaishnava schools of thoug ... Including:

• Vaishnavism - Schools of Vaishnavism
• Vaishnavism - The Major Schools
• Vaishnavism - The Supreme Godhead
• Vaishnavism - History of Vaishnavism
• Vaishnavism - Vaishna Upanishads
• Vaishnavism - See Also

Read more here: » Vaishnavism: Encyclopedia - Vaishnavism

Bhakti movements are Hindureligious movements in which the main spiritual practice is the fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. They are monotheistic movements generally devoted to worship of Shiva or Vishnu or Shakti. Sikhism evoloved out of the Bhakti movement. Bhakti movement - Origins. The Bhakti Movement was essentially founded in South India and later spread to the North during the late medieval period. The notion of 'Bhakti' (loosely translated as devotional love to God) i ... Including:

• Bhakti movement - Origins
• Bhakti movement - Rama bhakti
• Bhakti movement - Vaishnava bhakti
• Bhakti movement - Influences
• Bhakti movement - Bibliography

Read more here: » Bhakti movement: Encyclopedia - Bhakti movement