The sixty-three Nāyaṉārs (c. 500–750 CE) are the early leaders (Tam., nāyaṉār, "lord, leader"; pl., nāyaṉmār) and canonized saints of the Tamil Śaivas, a Hindu sect that commands a large following in the Tamil linguistic area of South India. Along with the Vaiṣṇava Ᾱḻvārs, the Nāyaṉārs were among the first saints of a regional, vernacular bhakti (devotional) tradition in Hinduism.

Preeminent among the Nāyaṉārs are Ñāṉacampantar (also called Tiruñāṉacampantar or Campantar; c. 650), Tirunāvukkaracar (also called Appar; c. 580–670) and Cuntaramūrtti (also called Nampi Ᾱrūrar; seventh to eighth century), authors of the Tamil hymns of the Tēvāram, which form the first seven books of the Tamil Śaiva canon, and are sung during temple rituals. Māṇikkavācakar, author...