TeṉkalaiTenkalaione of two Hindu subsects of the ŚrīvaiṣṇavaShrivaishnava, the other being the VaḍakalaiVadakalai. Though the two sects use both Sanskrit and Tamil scriptures and centre their worship on Vishnu, the Teṉkalai Tenkalai places greater reliance on the Tamil language and the Nālāyira Nalayira Prabandham, a collection of hymns by the ĀḻvārsAzhvars, a group of South Indian mystics. The Teṉkalai Tenkalai grew apart from the Vaḍakalai Vadakalai in the 14th century.

The main doctrinal difference between the two sects centres on the question of Vishnu’s grace. The Teṉkalai Tenkalai believes that the process of final deliverance begins with Vishnu and that the devotee need not make any effort beyond surrendering himself to Vishnu’s will. It uses as an illustration the helplessness and complete dependence of a kitten being carried by its mother; hence, its doctrine is known as mārjāramarjara-nyāyanyaya (the analogy of the cat). The two schools also differ in their views concerning Vishnu’s consort, Śrī Shri (LakṣmīLakshmi). The Teṉkalai Tenkalai holds that she is finite, though divine, and can act only as a mediator between the devotee and Lord Vishnu.

Piḷḷai Lokācārya Pillai Lokacharya is commonly regarded as the founder of the Teṉkalai Tenkalai sect, and Manavala, or Varavara Muni (1370–1443), as its most important leader. The sect’s main centre is at Nanganur, near Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu state), and the Teṉkalai Tenkalai are referred to as the southern school of the ŚrīvaiṣṇavaShrivaishnava. Compare Vaḍakalai.