ராதே கிருஷ்ணா 20-08-2013

Dravida Vedham - Nalayira Divya Prabandham and its composers - 12 Azhwars

This article is about Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which is also known as Dravida Vedham or Tamil Vedham and its composers, who are the famous twelve Azhwars. The life history and the works of all the Azhwars are given here.

Dravida Vedham - Nalayira Divya Prabandham Nalayira Divya Prabandham, 4000 tamil pasurams (divine hymns) in praise of Lord Mahavishnu, is popularly known as Dravida vedham. It is composed by twelve great devotees of Lord Mahavishnu, called as Azhwars. Because of their deep immersion (Azhinthu in Tamil) in Vishnubakthi (devotion to Lord Vishnu), they are called as Azhwars.. The places which are praised by Azhwars are called Divya desams and are 108 in number. They are also known as 108 tirupathis. All the pasurams composed by 12 Azhwars were missed and it was Shri Nadamunigal who compiled the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. He searched hard for them and got only ten songs starting with Kanninun siruthambu, composed by Madhurakaviazhwar on Nammazhwar. Shri Nadamunigal rendered that songs for 12000 times with great devotion before Nammazhwar's idol. Then Nammazhwar appeared before him and told him all the songs composed by 12 azhwars. Thus we have Nalayira Divya Prabandham today. Twelve Azhwars - Composers of Nalayira Divya Prabandham The period of twelve Azhwars is considered to be around 7th century to 9th century. The history of the Azhwars are given below. The first three Azhwars are collectively called as Mudhal Azhwargal. They were not born as normal human beings, instead they appeared in flowers as divine incarnations. They met at one place named Thirukoviloor, where Lord Mahavishnu gave his presence and made them to compose divine hymns. Their compositions are known as first, second and third Thiruvandhathis. Andhadhi means the last word of a song becomes the first word of the next song. Poigaiazhwar Poigaiazhwar was an incarnation of Panchajanya (divine conch) of Lord Vishnu. He appeared in a lotus flower at a pond in Thiruvekha, near Kancheepuram. His work in Nalayira divya Prabandham is called as Muthal(first) Thiruvandhadhi. He stated in his first pasuram that with the earth as a vessel, the ocean as the ghee and the sun rays as the light, he lighted a lamp to see the Lord. Boothathazhwar Boothathazhwar was an incarnation of Gowmodhaki (divine mace) of Lord Vishnu. He appeared in a flower inMahabalipuram. His work in Nalayira Divya Prabandham is called as Irandaam (second) Thiruvanthathi. In his first pasuram, he stated that he lighted a lamp with pure love as a vessel, his intention as the ghee and his mind as the light, to see the Lord. Peyazhwar Peyazhwar appeared as an incarnation of Nandhaki (divine sword) of Lord Vishnu, in a lily flower blossomed in a well at Mylapore in Chennai. His work in Nalayira Divya Prabandham is called as Moondram(third) Thiruvandhadhi. Being the lamps were lighted by the first two Azhwars, Peyazhwar said in his first pasuram, that he had the divine darshan of Lord Vishnu. Thirumazhisaiazhwar Thirumazhisaiazhwar was born as a son of Bargava Maharishi. He was an incarnation of Sudarsanam (divine wheel) of Lord Vishnu. He followed many religious ways. At first, he was a devotee of Lord Siva. Later, he was turned into a Vishnu devotee by Peyazhwar. The Lord in the temple of Thiruvekha gave up His reclining posture and followed this Azhwar, out of the city as per his words. Later according to this Azhwar's request, He returned alongwith the Azhwar and reclined in His Adisesha in the temple. As He followed the azhwar's words, the Lord here is called as Sonna vannam seidha Perumal. In Kumbakonam also, Lord Sarangapani got up from His Adisesha as per this Azhwar's words and is still in that position. Other names for Thirumazhisai Azhwar are • Thirumazhisaipiran • Bakthisarar • Uraiyilidathavar His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are • Nanmugan Thiruvandhadhi • Thiruchandha virutham. Nammazhwar Nammazhwar was born to a divine couple in Thirukurugoor (Azhwar Thirunagari). He was an incarnation of Vishvaksenar (commander-in-chief) of Lord Vishnu. From birth, he never opened his eyes nor intook any food. He lived in a hole under a seven trunked Tamarind tree, whose leaves never close in the night and is named as Urangapuli. Madhurakavi Azhwar came here attracted by the divine light coming from Nammazhwar's place. At first, Nammazhwar opened his mouth to answer the question of Madhurakavi azhwar, who then became his disciple and served him. Other names of Nammazhwar are • Parangusar • Karimaran Vedham tamizh seidha maran His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are known as • Thiruvirutham • Thiruvasiriyam • Periya Thriuvandhadhi • Thiruvaimozhi which are all equal to the four Vedas. Madhurakaviazhwar Madhurakaviazhwar was an incarnation of Garudan (divine bird) of Lord Vishnu and born in Thirukoloor. When he was visiting Vishnu temples in North India, he saw a divine light coming from South India and follwed it. It brought him to the place where Nammazhwar was residing. He became the disciple of Nammazhwar and served him. He composed ten poems on his Acharya, Nammazhwar which is called as Kanninun siruthambu in Nalayira Divya Prabandham. Kulasekarazhwar Kulasekara azhwar was born as a prince in Vanchikalam in Kerala. He was an incarnation of Kausthubam (divine jewel) of Lord Vishnu. He was such a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu that when he was hearing Sri Rama's story, he ordered and prepared his army to help Rama in his battle. He expressed his wish to became a crane, fish, flower, step or anything in Tirumala. Even today, in all Vishnu temples, the step at the door of the sanctum sanctorum is called as Kulasekaran padi, in praise of this Azhwar. His daughter was married to Lord Ranganathar inSrirangam and she is worshipped as Kulasekaravalli Thayar. His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham is called as Perumal Thirumozhi. Due to his devotion, he is called as Kulasekara Perumal. Periyazhwar Periyazhwar born at Srivilliputtur in Tamilnadu. He was an incarnation of Garuda (Divine bird). He maintained a garden and offered floral garland daily to the Lord Vadabadrasayee in Srivilliputtur temple. As per the order of Lord Vishnu, he participated in the competition for declaring the Ultimate God, conducted by the Pandiyan king, Sri Vallaban. Periyazhwar won by declaring Lord Vishnu as the Ultimate God. At that time, Lord Vishnu gave darshan to him and Periyazhwar greeted Him by composing Thirupallandu. He composed many poems on Lord Vishnu, mainly on His Krishna form, by considering him as His mother. His daughter named Sri Andal was the only one female among the twelve Azhwars and was married to Lord Ranganathar in Srirangam temple. Other names of Periazhwar are • Pattarbiran • Vishnu Chittar His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are • Thirupallandu • Periyazhwar Thirumozhi Sri Andal Sri Andal was an incarnation of Bhoomi devi (consort of Lord Vishnu). He appeared as a child near a Tulasi plant in Periyazhwar's garden and was brought up by him as his daughter. From childhood, she had deep devotion to Lord Vishnu. She used to wear at first the garland prepared by her father for the Lord. When her father found it, he was much worried. But the Lord told him that he was happy to wear only the garland first put on by Sri Andal. She conducted Paavai Nonbu to achieve her aim of marrying Lord Vishnu. As per her wish, Lord Ranganathar married her. Sri Andal's other names are • Kothai • Soodi kodutha Natchiyar Her works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are • Thirupavai • Natchiyar Thirumozhi Thondaradipodiazhwar Thondaradipodiazhwar born as an incarnation of Vaijayanthi (divine garland) of Lord Vishnu, at Thirumandangudi. He maintained a garden at Srirangam and offered floral garlands alongwith the garland of poems to Lord Ranganathar with great devotion.He was punished by the Chola king, as he was wrongly accused for the theft of a golden vessel of the temple. Lord Mahavishnu made the king to realise the truth that the Azhwar was an innocent. Other name of Thondaradipodi azhwar is Vipra Narayanar. His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are • Thirumalai • Thirupalliezhuchi Thirupanazhwar Thirupanazhwar was born as an incarnation of Srivathsam (divine mole on the chest of Lord Vishnu) at Uraiyoor in Tiruchi. As he belonged to the caste of Panar(musician playing with a muscial instrument), which was considered as a low class at that time, the temple priests of Srirangam temple had thrown stones at him so as to move away him from the place of bathing in the river Cauvery. When they entered the temple, they were shocked to see the bleeding on the idol of Sri Ranganathar. As per Lord's order, they seeked pardon from Thriupanazhwar and brought him over their shoulders to the temple. Thirupanazhwar sang ten pasurams about the divine beauty of the Lord and merged with Him. His work in Nalayira Divya Prabandahm is called as Amalanathipiran. Thirumangaiazhwar Thirumangaiazhwar was born as incarnation of Sarangam (divine bow) of Lord Vishnu. Being the son of the commander-in-chief of the chola king, he was very brave. Pleased by his bravery, the king made him as a ruler for a small kingdom called Thirumangai. As per his wife's wish, the Azhwar took the services of feeding 1000 Vishnu devotees everyday and building walls around the Srirangam temple. As he was out of his wealth soon, he indulged in robbery to continue his services. Lord Vishnu and Goddess Mahalakshmi came as a newly wedded couple to bless the Azhwar. When he tried to rob them, he realised that He was the Lord Vishnu and prayed him. Lord provided him with the wealth to fulfil his services. Other names of Thirumangaiazhwar are •Parakalan •Kaliyan •Mangaivendhan •Aalinadan His works in Nalayira Divya Prabandham are •Periya Thirumozhi •Thirukurunthandakam •Thirunedunthandakam •Thiruvezhukkootrirukai •Siriya Thirumadal •Periya Thirumadal