Teṉkalai — The Southern Stream of Śrī Vaiṣṇavism
Teṉkalai ('southern tradition') is the Śrī Vaiṣṇava stream historically centred especially in Śrīraṅgam and shaped by the teachings of Piḷḷai Lokācārya, Aḻagiya Maṇavāḷa Perumāḷ Nāyanār, Tiruvāimoḻi Piḷḷai, Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ, and their lineages. Its central sources include the Sanskrit Veda and Vedānta, the Tamil Divya Prabandham, Rāmānuja's works, the Rahasya granthas, and the inherited vyākhyāna tradition.
Dependence on Bhagavān and Āchārya: Teṉkalai exposition gives special prominence to Bhagavān as the effective upāya, His nirhetuka-kṛpā, the soul's ākiñcanya and ananya-gatitva, and the saving importance of Āchārya-sambandha and Āchārya-abhimāna. The mārjāla-kiśora or kitten analogy illustrates the Lord's bearing of the burden of protection. It should not be expanded into the inaccurate claim that the prapanna has no knowledge, intention, consent, kainkaryam, or post-prapatti conduct; rather, none of these is treated as an independent price or co-upāya that produces mokṣa.
Divya Prabandham and Ubhaya Vedānta: The Nālāyira Divya Prabandham consists of approximately 4,000 Tamil pāsurams of the Āzhvārs, not Maṇipravāḷa compositions. Teṉkalai tradition gives these pāsurams and their pūrvācārya commentaries exceptional liturgical and theological prominence while accepting the Sanskrit Veda, Smṛti, Itihāsa, Purāṇa, and Āgama within Ubhaya Vedānta.
Grace: Teṉkalai Āchāryas emphasize that Bhagavān's saving compassion cannot be earned or compelled by the jīva. Even the favourable turn of the soul is understood within the prior operation of divine and Āchārya grace. This teaching deepens humility and dependence; it does not authorize indifference to Bhagavad-Bhāgavata-Āchārya kainkaryam or to the conduct appropriate to a prapanna.
Liturgical forms, institutional lineages, and the shape and colour of ūrdhva-puṇḍra follow inherited Teṉkalai practice, with legitimate local variation.