The Nayanars were from various backgrounds, including Channars, Vellalas, oilmongers, Brahmins, and nobles.Along with the twelve Vaishnava Alvars, they are regarded the important saints from Tamil Nadu.

The list of the Nayanars was initially compiled by Sundarar (Sundararmurthi). In his poem, Tiruthonda Thogai, he sings, in eleven verses, the names of the Nayanar saints up to Karaikkal Ammeiyar, and refers to himself as "the servant of servants". The list did not go into the detail of the lives of the saints, which were described in detail in works such as Thevaram.