Vaishnavism in Ancient Tamilakam

Vaishnavism (Tamil: வைணவம், வைணவ சமயம்) in Tamil Nadu is documented in ancient Tamil Sangam literature dating back to the 5th century BCE. Perumal, traditionally considered a form of Vishnu, is the most frequently mentioned deity in Sangam Literature. Some of the earliest known mentions of Perumal and the Tamil devotional poems ascribed to him are found in the Paripāṭal – a Sangam era poetic anthology.

Source: Wikipedia — Vaishnavism in Ancient Tamilakam (CC BY-SA 4.0)