Rev. Dr. Selvam Robertson

Alvars and Religious Pluralism CONCLUSION The aim of the present book is to explore relevant insights for a ‘life sustaining pluralistic perspective’ from, ‘the response to religious pluralism in the bhakti tradition of Ālvārs ’, using textual-historical and analytical method.   Although the texture of Nālāyiram was religious mobility and its purpose was to defend the greatness of Vaisnavism and superiority of Visnu, there are challenging aspects, which indeed can inspire the contemporary Christian theology of religions. The Ālvārs propounded prapatti , which people of all class and grade could practice, in the place of bhakti , which is confined to caste hierarchy and strict religious observances.   In spite of its openness, the bhakti tradition of Alvars constantly maintained that, the ultimate reality is one and that is Tirumāl. Vaisnavites and Śaivites were united with one accord in their struggle against the Buddhists and the Jains.   Otherwise, the response of A

CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY OF RELIGIONS Introduction It has been sufficiently established that the main purpose of the bhakti tradition of Alvars was to respond to religious pluralism and to defend the greatness of Visnuand Vaisnavism. Thus the text of Nālāyiram was placed in the texture of religious mobility and analyzed to find out relevant insights for a contemporary Christian theology of religions. It was evident from the analysis that the ‘one-many’ aspect of the Ālvārs’ response to religious pluralism may be a right paradigm for a relevant contemporary Christian theology of religions.   Further, the insistence of Alvars on the importance of spiritual foundation, the human dignity and the liberative elements mirrored in their life concerns, exclusion of caste differences, concerns for the emancipation of women, spiritual use of ecological resources, utility of the language of the people and the application of inclusive language are useful inspirations for a contemporary