 Some modern scholars suggest that they lived during 5th - 8th century, although such estimates lack evidence.But it is widely accepted by tradition and historians that the trio are the earliest among the twelve "azhwars".Along with the three Saiva nayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings, creating a Bhakti movement that resulted in changing the religious geography from Buddhism and Jainism to these two sects of Hinduism in the region.