The Divinely Wise
Divya Sūri (Sanskrit: divya = divine + sūri = wise one/sage; 'the divinely wise') is a term used for the Āzhvārs and the greatest Ācāryas — those whose wisdom was not learned from books but granted directly by Bhagavān's grace (divya-jñāna).
Distinguished from Ordinary Scholars
The tradition distinguishes between learning obtained through study (śāstrajña) and knowledge obtained through divine grace (divya-jñāna). The Āzhvārs were not Sanskrit scholars who pieced together the tradition from texts — they received direct vision (sākṣātkāra) of Bhagavān's form, qualities, and will. This makes them divya sūris — sages of divine, not merely human, knowledge.
Nitya-Sūri vs. Divya-Sūri
The distinction:
- Nitya-sūris — eternally liberated souls in Vaikuṇṭha who have never been in saṃsāra
- Divya-sūris — souls who were in saṃsāra but were specially graced by Bhagavān with divine vision (the Āzhvārs)
Some texts use divya-sūri to include both categories; others use it specifically for the Āzhvārs as graced souls within saṃsāra. In common usage it refers to the Āzhvārs.