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Swami Nammazhwar Vaibhavam

It gives me extreme pleasure to write about Swami Nammazhwar. Swami Madhurakavi azhwar exclaims, "naavinaal navitrinbam eydhinen" in his Kanninum Siruthambu. Though we can’t experience the Nammazhwar anubhavam that he had, we do get an iota of his anubhavam, just by the very name Nammazhwar. It spells something unique, refreshing and a feeling of comprehensiveness. It is no wonder that Swami Nammazhwar is considered the leader of the azhwar group for his sheer love toward Krishnar that manifested through his dhivya sookthis. Often times, He is referred as “Krishna Trishna Thathvam”, meaning he is the very embodiment of Krishna Bhakti or in other words, if you personify Krishna Bhakthi by giving eyes, ears, noses and body, you will get Swami Nammazhwar. Swami Nammazhwar was the representative of all the 12 azhwars put together. If someone says "Kovil" it refers to Srirangam. If someone says "Jayanthi" it refers to "Krishna Jayanthi" by default. If someone says "Perumal" it refers to "Namperumal". Likewise, if someone says "azhwar" it automatically refers to Swami Nammazhwar and no one else. If someone want to refer to any other azhwar they will have to specifically use their respective names like "Peiazhwar", "Thondaradipodi azhwar" "Thirumangai azhwar" so on and so forth. But for our azhwar (nam azhwar) there is no need for adding the given name. Let us unveil as to what made him one of the greatest azhwars.

Birth star of Swami Nammazhwar: Swami Nammazhwar was born in the month of Vaigaasi and in the star of Visaakam. Swami Manavaala Maamunigal in his Upadesa Rathina Maalai says:

"Eraar vaigaasi visaagathin etrathai

paaror ariya pagargindren

seeraarum vedham thamizh seydha

meyyan ezhil kurugai naadhan avadharitha naal"

"undO vaigaasi visaagathuku opporu naal

undO sadagoparku opporuvar

undO thiruvaaimozhikoppu

then kurugaikundo orupaar thanil okkumoor"

Azhwar was born to Kaari and Udaya Nangai in a place called "Thirukurgoor" located on the banks of Tamaraparani river in Thirunelveli district of Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. But before that, let us step back and go far behind in time during the much olden days of Sriraamayanam to know the reason of Azhwar’s birth in this world.

Avathaara Rahasyam of Swami Nammazhwar:

Just three days before the end of Lord Sriman Narayanan's incarnation as Lord Rama, Yamadharmaraajan (Yaman) made a visit to see Lord Rama. After Yamadharmaraajan left, Rama asked His brother Laskhmana not to let anyone inside from now on. Now, in came the famous (or rather infamous) Dhurvaasa Munivar who is known for his anger and saapam. He is an amsam of Lord Sivan who is chararacterized by thamogunam (anger). Lakshmana knew of Dhurvasa munivar's temperament and so he wanted to play it safe. He let Dhurvasa munivar inside to meet Rama. After Rama’s discussion with Dhurvasa munivar was over, the former called Lakshmana inside. Since Lakshamana did not obey Rama’s orders and let Dhurvasa munivar in, Rama gave him a curse that he shall be immobile and will be a tamarind tree. Lakshamana realized his mistake and surrendered to the lotus feet of his brother Lord Rama. He totally embraced Lakshmana and replied him “Oh! My dear Lakshmana! Don’t be afraid. I gave that curse deliberately. I have made my sweetheart Seethai to live in the forest. To wipe of that sin (paapam), I will have to be an immobile object for 16 years. During those 16 years, I will be sitting in your lap. That is the reason I gave you this saapam.

Lakshmana asked Rama “Where and when will I become a tamarind tree”? Rama explained “Kaasipa munivar and his wife Aathmavadhi who are living now, will be born as “Kaari” and “Udayanangai” later in kali yugam. Krishnavathaaram will be my next incarnation that will happen during Dwaapara yugam. I will be born as Sri Krishna to Vasudevar and Devaki. This couple will ask for moksham during that time. I will tell them that their wish shall get fulfilled only during the subsequent yugam namely the “kali” yugam. The same couple will be born as Kaari and Udayanangai. Kaari will be a ruler of that small kingdom on the banks of Thaamaraparani. He and his wife will come to Thirukurungudi and will request a child for them. I will myself be born as their child and will be immobile for 16 years. During those 16 years, I don’t want you to be separated from me”. Rama removed the “kanaiyaazhi” from His finger and told Lakshmana “Hey Lakshmana! Listen. Have this “Kanaiyaazhi” ring with you now. The place where it leaves you, you be there as a tamarind tree. I will come and join you then. I will incarnate there, write “Thiruvaaimozhi”, annihilate atheism and will pave way for the development of thamizh prabandham”.

Time passed. Ramavatharam was over that was followed by Krishnavatharam. Krishna went to His eternal abode Srivaikuntam after completing His Krishnavatharam too. After that, everything appeared very dark. After Krishna went to His Srivaikuntam, evil things started to prosper in this planet. Life was filled with hatred, enmity, war, jealousy, hostility, and what not. Perumal thought now is the appropriate time for an azhwar. As per his sankalpam, Kaari and Udaya nangai was born. They led a happy life in Thirukurugoor on the banks of Thamaraparani except that they did not have a child. They went to Thirukurungudi nambi and asked Him “Oh Our Lord Nambi!!! We would want to beget a son. We want your blessings for that”. Nambi replied “Well. What kind of a son do you want?”. The couple replied “We want a son like You”. Perumal thought for a while and said “Well. It is not possible to get a son like Me. So let Me be born as a son to You”. Thus, Perumal Himself was born as their son during vaigaasi visaakam”.

In womb, there is a vaayu called “Sata” that comes and engulfs the jeevathma when life is born. The result of this is that the jeevathma gets into an ignorant state and forgets its true nature. The same vaayu came to engulf our baby azhwar when he was in his mother’s womb. But azhwar was gave a furious look and the vaayu ran helter skelter. For this reason, he is referred to as “Satakoban” . “Kobam” refers to “anger” in thamizh. Azhwar was born with a divine grace in his face and everybody was rejoicing the birth of the new baby.

A different baby altogether:

The parents’ happiness was short lived. The reason was that the baby azhwar did not move, eat and did not do any activity that a normal baby would do. Since this baby azhwar was different from others, he was referred to as “Maaran” or “the one who is different”. Later people attached his father’s name and called him “Kaarimaaran”. Azhwar’s parents were grief struck and did not know what to do. So they took the baby in an emerald cradle and went straight to Aadhinaadhan Perumal temple in Thirukurugoor. The presiding deity in that place is “Aadhinaadhan”. The couple left the baby in the cradle under the tamarind tree and performed penance daily. One day, when they closed their eyes they fell asleep for a while. During this time, our baby azhwar crawled beautifully with his super small feet and sat under the tree in a chin mudrai pose. He started doing penance for 16 years. People all over the place came in large numbers to see this divine child with indescribable tejas. But even still, azhwar did not move a bit.

Swami Nammazhwar

Azhwar starts his work: Now someone has to come into the picture to set azhwar into motion. Unique are the ways of god. Who else could that someone be? Yes. Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was verily the person. He was born in a Brahmin family in a place called “Thirkolur” which is southeast of Thirukurugoor. The presiding deity in that place is “Vaithamaanidhi Perumal”.

One day, when Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was returning to his house after worshiping Perumal, he found an old cow grazing his paddy fields. He started to chase the cow with a long stick in his hand. The cow ran mad and since it was an old cow, it could not run anymore. It fell on its way and soon died. Madhurakavi azhwar realized that something is wrong or Perumal is giving some cues for something to happen. He realized his mistake and wanted to do praayaschitham. He started to go for a pilgrimage to North India, especially to places like Ayodhya, Mathura etc. One day , Swami Madhurakavi azhwar finished his poojas and was returning to his temporary home in Kaasi. In that night time, he saw a southern star shining brilliantly in the dark sky. He was amazed by the divine outlook and soon started to follow its path. It started moving south, further south. It reached Thirumala hills. Swami Madhurakavi azhwar thought it would stop there. It did not. It traveled more south. It reached Thiruvallikeni, Srirgangam but still would not stop. It still traveled more south. It reached Thirumaalirunjolamalai, Srivilliputhur. But still would not stop. Our Madhurakavi azhwar would not give up too. It proceeded further south towards Thirukurugoor where it finally stopped. Madhurakavi azhwar asked some of the inhabitants of that place “Is there something special in this place? People started telling about Swami Nammazhwar. Madhurakavi azhwar got interested in this but still wanted to test our azhwar.

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He went towards azhwar who meditating deeply with his legs crossed and hands in chin mudrai pose. Madhurakavi azhwar thought that azhwar was deaf and dumb. He took a small stone and threw it in the lotus pond nearby. Now that was the first time, azhwar would ever open his eyes. So it was confirmed that azhwar was not deaf. But Madhurakavi azhwar wanted to make sure that azhwar was not dumb. So he asked a question “Seththathin vayitril siru kutti pirandhaal etrai thindru enge kidakum? Azhwar replied “Atrai thindru ange kidakum”. We don’t understand what the question means, leave alone azhwars’ answer to the esoteric question. But our poorvaachaaryargal, fortunately for us have given us the vyaakyaanams through which we are able to relish every aspect of our sampradhaayam.

The peripheral meaning of the question: “If a small thing is born into a dead thing, what will it do and where will it be”? The meaning of azhwar’s reply was “It will eat that and stay there”. Nothing could be understood if not for our great aachaaryas who had provided us with the inner meaning. The inner meaning of the question: “Seththadhu” – body, “siru kutti” – soul. “vayiru” – stomach.

Madhurakavi azhwar asked “what will the soul do when it enters an inactive body / stomach?” The concept is that when a soul enters a body, the body gets life. The soul is able to enjoy as well as suffer everything through the body. When it enters the body, the soul forgets its true nature (swaroopam) and thinks that the body is everything. It eats and lives on whatever the body earns as paapams and punyams. Once the body is dead, the soul departs. Till the time the soul is present, it has to suffer and enjoy all the feelings of the body. But once the soul realizes its true nature that it is the servant of Sriman Narayanan and peforms saranaagathi, the soul gets liberated from the cycle of births and deaths. But until, that happens, it has to undergo all the pangs that a body has to undergo. This was Swami Madhurakavi azhwar’s intention in his question. Our azhwar’s answer was equally cryptic and brief. The inner meaning of our azhwar’s answer was “It will stay there. Eat whatever the body eats (i.e, enjoys the likes and dislikes of the body). It will be there till it leaves the body”. Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was amazed by azhwar’s knowledge and asked azhwar to accept him as his disciple. Azhwar readily agreed and asked him to help him in composing his works.

Swami Nammazhwar goes to Thirunaadu

Nammazhwar composed 4 works that encompasses a total of 1,196 paasurams out of the total 4,000 dhivya prabandham. The split of 1196 pasurams is as follows:

(1) Thiruvirutham : A collection of 100 paasurams that is the essence of Rig Veda.

(2) Thiruvaasiriyam: A collection of 7 paasurams that is the essence of Yajur Veda

(3) Periya Thiruvandhaadhi: A collection of 87 verses that is the essence of Atharvana Veda and lastly

(4) Thivaaimozhi: A collection of 1,102 verses that is the essence of Sama Veda.

Azhwar gave the essence of all the four Vedas in the language of the masses called “thamizh”. For this reason, he is called as “Vedam thamizh seydha maaran” or “Maaran who translated Vedam into thamizh”. Out of these four works, Thiruvaaimozhi stands out. It is a magnum opus that is simply unparalleled for its literary composition, musical language, vedic essence that is impregnated in it and much more. We shall dwell into this much later.

He sang 36 dhivya desa Perumals. All those Perumals sung by azhwar can still be found in the mural walls around the tamarind tree. Swami Nammazhwar left his mortal coils when he completed 35 years. His mortal body is under the tamarind tree where he lived. In that area, they have erected a shrine (sannidhi) for Nammazhwar inside the Aadhinaadhan sannidhi.

Swami Nammazhwar’s Thiruvigraham:

During the last moments of azhwar’s life, Swami Madhurakavi azhwar requested azhwar’s idol. Azhwar told “Oh! Madhurakavi. Please go to thamaraparni river, fetch some water and use that copper in it to get my idol”. Madhurakavi azhwar followed azhwar’s instructions. He took with him some great vedic scholars to thamaraparani river, fetched some water, performed penance and pooja for seven days continuously and boiled and distilled that water. At the end of this process, a statue emerged with his hands in a worshipping position (koopiya kaigaludan). But it was not azhwar’s statue but of somebody else’s. Madhurakavi azhwar was very befuddled as to who is this person who is in the statue form.

Swami Nammazhwar gives Bhavishyadacharyan to Swami Madhurakavi azhwar

He was very upset and prayed to Nammazhwar “Swami. What is this sport of yours? I wanted to have your idol and you have given me somebody else”. Azhwar replied smilingly “Do not worry madhurakavi. That idol is that of the jagadhaacharyan who is going to remove the darkness in this whole world, spread the knowledge about Srivaishnavism throughout. His name would be “Ramanuja. He will be the Bhavishyadaachaaryan. Poliga!! Poliga!! Poliga!!” “Poliga, Poliga, Poliga” is how azhwar blesses everybody. He uses this phrase in this thiruvaaimozhi and also uses this whenever he wants to bless anyone. Azhwar showed his right feet and made sure that Swami Ramanujar’s form is visible there. After that azhwar kept Swami Ramanuja’s idol near the tamarind tree and asked Swami Madhurakavi azhwar to start the process again. Swami Madhurakavi azhwar repeated the procedure and this time, a bright resplendent idol of our azhwar appeared before him. A powerful light from azhwar’s mortal body transformed to the idol. This is the idol that we see today in Thirukurugoor. In this dhivya desam, the importance is given to Swami Nammazhwar than to “Polindha nindra piraan” and “Aadhinaadhan”. Every year during vaigaasi visaakam, people celebrate azhwar’s thirunakshatram with so much pomp. “Undo vaaigaasi visaaagathirku opporu naal”.

Swami Nammazhwar and Thamizh Sangam:

Nammazhwar was under the care of his parents for his first 16 years. For the rest of his life, it was Swami Madhurakavi azhwar who took care of azhwar. At the completion of 35 years, azhwar attained moksham though the desire to go to moksham was there forever in him. But Perumal asked him to spread and educate about dhivya prabandham to all people in the world. Nammazhwar replied him that his sishya Madhurakavi will complete that task and was ready to go to Srivaikuntam. During that time, Madhurakavi azhwar asked him “Swami. Please do grant me moksham. Let me also accompany you and serve you there. I don’t want to get separated from you. Azhwar blessed Madhurakavi with his “Poliga!! Poliga!! Poliga!! He replied “Oh! My dear sishya!! It is only you who can do the task of spreading dhivya prabandham successfully to the masses in this world. You will have to impart the essence of that to everyone continuously. You will be blessed by Polindha nindra Piraan and I shall always be with you in your chitham”.

After azhwar departed this leela viboothi, Swami Madhurakai azhwar was very sad. He was always under the tamarind tree thinking about his dearest azhwar. He was always in the task of improving azhwar’s sannidhi and making sure each year the azhwar’s festival is being celebrated in a grand manner. Time passed by. Every year it was a gala time during vaigaaasi visaakam. One particular year, when Swami Madhurakavi azhwar was taking azhwar’s idol in a procession during the celebrations, some poets from Madurai Thamizh Sangam (Club) stopped Madhurakavi azhwar and questioned him “Oh! Madhurakavi!! What is that you are doing? You are worshipping Swami Nammazhwar. He is a just a bhakta not bhagavaan. Moreover, is he “sangam” certified? Has his works been certified by Madurai Thamizh Sangam as “authentic, original and of the highest quality”? Above all, is he qualified enough to translate the Vedas into thamizh”? Madhurakavi azhwar was not only taken aback but also was completely disappointed at these half baked cynics.

He went to azhwar’s sannidhi and pleaded “Azhweer!! Those guys will have to be taught a lesson. Please do something. Otherwise I will die without eating”. He went back to his house after crying for a long time. At that time, azhwar appeared before Madhurakavi azhwar in a disguised form. He came in the form of an old man and asked Madhurakavi azhwar about his reason for his grief. Madhurakavi repeated the story to the old man. The old man replied “Do not worry. “Kannan Kazhalinai” will support you always”. Madhurakavi azwar realized that the old man was none other than Swami Nammazhwar. He wrote the paasuram “kaNNan kazaliNai naNNum manamudaiyeer eNNum thiru_naamam thiNNam naaraNamE” and proceeded to Madurai to meet the sangam poets. He gave that two lined paasuram to the poets and asked them to read. The poets read and started ridiculing Madhurakavi azhwar. He asked all the poets to stand in sanga palagai (boat) in the Golden Temple Pond (Potraamarai Kulam) in Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple. After all the poets were in, Swami Madhurakavi azhwar just kept the one olai chuvadi (a small leaf in which people write in olden times) in the) in which he had written “Kannam Kazhalinai” of Thiruvaaimozhi. The whole boat topsided all the poets. They swam hardly and with much difficulty reached the shore. To their astonishment, they found that it retained only that olai chuvadi alone that had the “Kannan kazhilinai”. Their ego was brought down and they realized about Nammazhwar now. Each one of them wrote about Nammazhwar’s greatness separately. When they collectively published their works, to their surprise one more time, they found that everybody’s poems accepted Swami Nammazhwar as Sriman Naarayanan himself. If we join just the first words of all those poets this was what resulted in:

”semankurugaiyo saiya thiruparkadalo?

Namam parankusamo? naranamo? thaman

Thulavo? vagulamo? tholirando? nangu

Mulavo? perumanunakku”

Swami Nammazhwar and Sriranganathan: Swami Thirumangai azhwar finished the kainkaryam of erecting prakarams in Srirangam temple. Just immediately after finishing it, he sang “thirunedunthaandagam” in deva gaanam before Sriranganathan. Sriranganathan was immensely satisfied and asked Thirumangaiazhwar “Azhweer! That was wonderful. I am very happy for you. Please ask me anything. I shall give you”. Thirumangai azhwar replied “Emperumaane!! Ten days before the day when Swami Nammazhwar got moksham during Shukla paksha ekadesi in margazhi month (vaikunta ekadesi) and ten days after that day there should be festival in Srirangam. During that festival time, You should be the chief guest and listen to azhwar’s thiruvaaimozhi, and other azhwar’s paasuram as well”. Like as they say in thamizh “Karumbu thinna kooli ketpadhaa?”, Perumal did not even think for a while and readily nodded to Thirumangaiazhwar’s yields. This news was widespread and it reached Thirukurugoor. People came from Srirangam to take Nammazhwar (idol form). Madhurakavi and other adiyaars in Thirukurugoor received everyone who came from Srirangam. They took Swami Nammazhwar to Srirangam. Thirumangai azhwar received them royally and took care of them very well. Thirumangai azhwar conducted the session in Thirumaamani mandapam. Aranganaathan listend to dhivya prabandham happily during those twenty days. The ten days before vaikunta ekadesi is called “pagal pathu” and the ten days after vaikunta ekadesi is called as “Iraa pathu” and is celebrated even now with great enthusiasm. At the end of it, Perumal kept azhwar in a ekaasanam and offered flowers, kasthuri, thiruman kaapu and other paraphernalia as compliments to him and then bid good bye to azhwar who was taken back to Thirukurugoor. This happened every year without fail and with great pomp.

Nadhamuni retrieves Dhiyva Prabndham: After the end of Madhurakavi azhwar’s period, this festival stopped. Dhivya prabandham was lost too as time passed. From that period till Swami Nadhamunigal’s period, there is no record of what happened in our sampradhaayam. As of now, there is no document or sciptures that tell us what happened in between these two time periods. Nadhamunigal revived all the 4,000 dhivya prabandham from Swami Nammazhwar (we shall see that story too soon) and then made sure that the pagal pathu and iraapathu utsavam took place again with same festive celebrations. On the way from Thirukuruhoor to Srirangam, the ghoshti (a collection of people) who carried azhwar stopped at various places for resting purposes. For this purpose, there were a lot of mandapams were built all the way from Thirukurhoor and Srirangam.

After a number of years, the Pandya dynasty lost their foothold to Cholas who conquered them completely. So the process of taking azhwar from Thirukuruhoor to the Chola town of Srirangam was stopped completely for various reasons. In addition to this, there were large scale floods in Cauvery that created logistical problems to get azhwar from Thirukuruhoor. So inorder to overcome this, people erected a shrine for azhwar in Srirangam temple itself and conducted the pagal pathu and iraapathu utsavams. Similarly, back in Thirukuruhoor, people considered “Aadhinaadhan” as “Sriranganathan” and conducted the process and Perumaal happily listened to thiruvaaimozhi.

Swami Nammazhwar and Swami Naadhamunigal:

After the period of Madhurakavi azhwar and Thirumangai azhwar, Naalayira Dhivya praandham was lost. After a long time, there appeared a great acharya called “Naadhamunigal”. He was born in a kshetram called “Veeranaarayannapuram” a.k.a “Kaatu mannaar Kovil” that is very near to Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. When he went to Kumbakonam (Thirukudandhai), somebody was reciting the “Aaravaaamudhe” padhigam.

The actual text is

aaraa amuthE! adiyEn utalam ninpaal anpaayE

neeraay alaindhu karaiya urukkukinRa nedumaalE

seeraar senNnNel kavari veesum sezhunNeerth thirukkutandhai

Eraar kOlam thigazhak kitandhaay! kaNtEn emmaanE

When that person finished that padhigam with the following pasuram below, Swami Naadhamunigal was astonished. The pasuram is

uzhalai enpin pEychchi mulaiyoodu avaLai uyiruNtaan

kazhalkaL avaiyE saraNaaka koNta kurukoorch chatagOpan

kuzhalin maliyach sonna OraayiraththuL ippaththum

mazhalai theera vallaar kaamar maanEy nOkkiyarkkE

The last two ines in this pasuram meant “The readers of this particular 10 paasuram among the 1,000 others will be so dear and sweet to srivaishnava bhaagavathaas.

Swami Naadhamunigal was caught by the depth of the meaning, its musical tone. We have to remember that Swami Naadhamunigal was a great vidhwan in veda, music, yoga etc. He got so interested in this paasuram that he wanted to get the remaining 990 paasurams. So he asked that person who recited those pasurams , “Swami! Where are the other 990 pasuram”? The person replied “I don’t know. But if you go to Thirukolur dhivya desam you might get some clue about its whereabouts”. So Swami Naadhamunigal started his journey rightaway and proceeded south towards Thirukolur. When he reached the place, he got various clues from various people about the remaining 990 paasurams, about Madhurakavi azhwar and also something about Swami Nammazhwar.

One of the descendants of Madhurakavi azhwar’s clan told that they have “Kanninum Siruthaambu”, a collection of 11 paasurams that is a laudatory verse composed by Swami Madhurakavi azhwar on Swami Nammazhwar. He also added that if Swami Nadhamunigal can recite that “Kannin Siruthaambu” 12,000 times under the tamarind tree with focused attention, then Swami Nammazhwar would come and pave way for the remaining thiruvaaimozhi paasurams. Swami Naadhamunigal was so happy for this and he started performing a japam, reciting “Kanninum Siruthaambu” 12,000 times. At the end of it, an old man appeared before him and asked him “Hey! What do you need? Why are you doing these acts like reciting “kanninum siruthaambu” 12,000 times”? When Swami Naadhamunigal told that old person of his motive, the latter began to laugh loudly and told “Are you crazy? Do you think azhwar will come before you and give you the rest of the paasurams? And that too in this dark kali yugam? You better go to your town and do some other work”. But our Naadhamunigal did not get disappointed even a bit and replied “Adiyen is not going to my town until adiyen gets the paasurams”. The old person was very happy on seeing this and immediately showed his true identity. Yes. He was Swami Nammazhwar himself. He told Naadhamunigal “Very good! Why do you want only 1,000. Let you be blessed with all the 4,000. Come on, here it is”. Swami Naadhmaunigal was extremely happy and was surprised by the double bonanza that he had got. He got all the 4,000 paasurams. On the way back to Veeranaarayanapuram, he conducted a festival for azhwar by taking him to Srirangam. So it is only because of Swami Naadhamunigal that we are able to enjoy what we have today. It is his continuous dedication to get it back that made it possible. If not for him, we would not have got the dhivya prabandham. So he occupies a very high place in our sampradhaayam. Also, that “Kanninum Siruthaambu” is celebrated at a very high pedestal because it was the grantham that was the reason for the revival of Naalayira Dhivya Prabandham.

Swami Nammaazhwar and Thiruvaaimozhi pillai: Swami Thiruvaaimozhi pillai was born in 1307 A.D in a city called “Kunthi” that is around 10 miles east of Madurai. His parents gave him the name of “Thirumalai azhwaar”. He was a poorvasikha Brahmin. He got good education in his city and also had training in all the aspects of country administration. Thus, he went ahead and became the minister in the Pandya dynasty.

During his period, muslims attacked the city of Madurai very badly. In particular, there was a guy by name “Kushrukh Khan” who was raging Madurai city. After the death of the great Pandya king called “Sundhara Paandyan”, the whole city of Madurai was looted pathetically and they were almost dominating the city. After Sundhara Pandyan, his small boy “Paraakrama Pandya” went to the throne officially. But till he attained proper age and maturity, it was “Thirumalai azhwar” who was taking care of the governance of the already decaying city.

Meanwhile, Thirumalai azhwar also developed deep interest in Sri Vaishnavism and started to read more and accrue his knowledge base in a rapid manner. At one point of time, his interest got to a point that he left his job and everything and started to wander different places for achaaryas. Time passed by like this and one fine day, when he was sleeping, Perumal appeared in his dreams and told “Oh! My dear Thirumalai aazhwar. In the south direction, my temple is in a dilapidated condition. You will have to go there and rejuvenate it”. Perumal was referring to Thirukurugoor. Thirumalai azhwar understood it and started to proceed towards it. He saw Perumal sannidhi and Nammazhwar sannidhi. But he was not sure if he was at the right place. He also saw lot of barren and waste land nearby. He was confused thoroughly because he did not even expect the place to be in such a poor condition. He crossed that city through a forest and reached another city. He asked the inhabitants of the other city about azhwar and Perumal in the other city. But they told him that he reached the correct city and that they too are cognizant of the poor state of azhwar and Perumal sannidhi there because of the muslim raid in the whole of Pandya dynasty.

The inhabitants also added “Because of muslims’ invasion, the whole area became like a waste land due to repeated attacks. Keeping the security of Swami Nammazhwar in mind, the citizens of Thirukurugoor took Nammazhwar to a place in Kerala that was engulfed by forests. They kept azhwar’s vigraham in a cave in that forest”. After hearing this, Thirumalai azhwar went directly to Thiruvananthapuram (capital city of Kerala) and met the king there. Using his help, he was able to zero in on the place where Swami Nammazhwar was kept. The place was called “Thirukanaambi”. He took with him, the box in which Swami Nammazhwar’s vigraham and other jewels were kept and started to proceed towards Pandya kingdom again.

He reached Thirukurugoor and together with the help of its citizens, started to clear off the forest like area in which azhwar sannidhi was found. All of them work very hard to make the place same like before. On a pitch dark night, when he was roaming with just a small lamp in his hand, he saw the “Urangaapuli” tree and also the surrounding vimanam around it. He realized the importance of that place after talking to all the people and everyone had their task cut off. The mission was to make the place just like place it was during the heydays of Madhurakavi azhwar. And with the help of ahzwar’s and Polindha nindra piraan’s anugraham, they were able to succeed.

After this task was over, one fine day, Thirumalai azhwar recited Thiruvaaimozhi and also articulated its esoteric purports in front of Swami Nammahzwar himself. Swami Nammazhwar appeared before him and asked “What do you desire my beloved Thirumalai azhwar?”. Thirumalai azhwar replied “Adiyen wants kainkaryam to you and only you”. (Like Andal says “Utttrome yaavom ummake yaam aatcheyvom”). Swami Nammazhwar was extremely delighted at this. Fascinated by Thirumalai azhwar’s explanation of Thiruvaaimozhi, Swami Nammazhwar himself gave him the name of “Thiruvaaimozhi pillai”. Thiruvaaimozhi pillai was extremely happy too. He further cleared of the nearby forest area and construced a new place called “Raamanuja chaturvedhi mangalam” and erected a temple for Swami Raamanuja and worshipped him. From that day on, he started devoting his life for Swami Namamzhwar and started to revive all the lost traditions of the great place called “Thirukurugoor” a.k.a “Aazhwar Thirunagari”.

Azhwar gives Horses: Long long ago, when muslims were ruling this country, there was a king called “Mullan”. He had a minister called “Malairaayan” who was very pious. One fine day, Mullan called Malairaayan and told him “Oh! My minister Malairaayan! I am going to give you lots of gold and cash. You would have to take it and use that to buy me high-quality horses. I shall also give you a lot of soldiers to escort / help you in the journey. Please start the journey tomorrow”.

Malairaayan set on his mission to buy high quality horses. He saw many horses in many places but could not get quality ones. He started to proceed south towards Thirukurugoor. Malairaayan reached Thirukurugoor and relaxed for sometime in a place. He was so tired that he gradually dozed off to sleep. Swami Nammazhwar appeared in his dream and told “Malairaaya!! With the money that you have got now, please erect madhil (outer walls / prakaraam) in my temple. I will get you all the high quality horses that you have been hunting for a long time. You don’t have to search like this desperately. It will be available to you very easily”. The next day morning he woke up very early and wanted to share this dream with the citizens of Thirukurugoor. So he immediately started his day and had a get together of all the people in that kshetram. He described his dream to everyone out there and asked if they had any suggestion as to who might have been the person who came in his dream.Then, people told him about the significance of that place , the story about Swami Nammazhwar and Polindha nindra Piraan. After hearing this, he was very happy.

Malairaayan started to build madhil for the temple. He became a very disciplined devotee of Swami Nammazhwar. Mullan was waiting for horses from Malairaayan. But in vain. He came to know that Malairaayan is in Thirukurugoor. He became so furious at Malairayaan that he sent his chief commander to bring back Malairaayan immediately. The commander started towards Thirukurugoor and reached it after some days. He met with Malairaayan and informed him about the king’s orders. Malairaayan was feeling very sad. He went to azhwar sannidhi directly and pleaded him “Please give me horses”.

Nammazhwar immediately yielded to his request and told “Malairaayaa! You will witness all high – quality horses that you would never imagined in your life. It will be in chithirai street”. After saying this, he disappeared. The next day morning, Malairaayan saw a lot of horses standing majestically in the chithirai street. Those horses were of the highest quality and seeing this, he was feeling happy. He rode all the horses with his fleet until his place. He showed Mullan the great horses that azhwar had given him. Mullan was dumbstruck and he appreciated Malairaayan’s efforts. The horses were taken to stable immediately.

The next day morning, Mullan wanted to see his horses just for the sake of seeing it. But to his utter dismay, he found that all the horsed disappeared. He called for Malairaayan immediately. Malairaayan came running from his home. When Mullan told him that the horses disappered, Malairaayn informed him of what exactly happened and how did he managed to get those horses. Mullan got so angry at this and asked him about the place it happened and the name of the god that did this. Malairaayan told him “I am not able to even remember the place where it happened because the chief commander came there and threatened me with your orders”. Mullan thought for a while and said “That god had did this deliberately , just to insult me. So I am going to destroy all the temples”. He started off from his kingdom and proceeded. He demolished all the temples on his way. He reached Pandya desam. He did not find any gods or temples because it was already been plundered. He proceeded south to Thirukurugoor. He did not find azhwar there. Azhwar’s vigraham was safely transported to Kochi Raaja’s place by then. Hearing about this, he started to proceed towards Kerala desam.

In that place, there was a temple for Durga Devi. Knowing about Mullan, Durga Devi came in the form of a muslim lady and fought with him. She was so powerful that she blasted him to earth. Realizing the fact a mighty and powerful king is defeated by a lady, he thought that “may be this is the god that gave Malairaayan all the horses. I cannot fight with it. Let me go back”. He reached back to his place.

After a few years, he went to Srirangam. Even there, there was Durga Devi. Now she disguised herself as a lovely lady in the name of “Chelli” and conquered him with her beauty. Mullan began to forget his kingdom and spent time with Chelli. On a summer evening, Chelli took Mullan on the top of the gopuram under the pretext of enjoying the cool breeze on top of the tower. Mullan did not even ask a question and was happily enjoying the breeze. Realizing that this was the opportune moment, Chelli pushed Mullan from the top. Mullan fell down and died.

This story can be seen in the scriptures that descendants of Thiruvaaimozhi pillai in Thirukurugoor.

Swami Nammazhwar and Swami Ramanujar:

Let us look at the instances common to the two pillars of our sampradhaayam namely – Swami Nammazhwar and Swami Ramanujar. Our sampradhaayam is called as “Ramaanuja sampradhaayam”. It is not possible to describe about the greatness of Swami Ramanujar, nor azhwar nor our sampradhaayam. However, let us try to see the connection between with respect to some of the incidents happened in Thirukurgoor and its neighbouring divya desams.

On his way to Thirukurugoor, Swami Ramanujar stopped at a divya desam called “Thirupulingudi”. The presiding deity at that place is “Kaisina Vendhan” and “Malarmagal naachiaar”. When he was circumambulating the temple prakaarams, he stopped for a while and asked the daughter of the archakar “How far is Thirukurugoor divyadesam from here”? That lady described “koopidu tholai” just as azhwar described Perumal in this divya desam as “Mukaal endhi thuvarai aadai anindha moodharivaal koovudhal varudhal seydhidaa endru kurai kadal vannanandrallai mevi nangamarndhaviyan punal porunal vazhudhi naadan satakopan”. Hearing these words from that lady, Swami Ramanujar out of his extreme love for azhwar, fell before that lady , imagining her to be verily azhwar himself. When the archakar came to know of this, he made his daughter to recognize her mistake and asked her to apologize to Swami Ramanujar. After that, Swami Ramanujar continued his journey towards Thirukurugoor. He was mesmerized by the beauty and wealth of Thirukurugoor. He got reminded of azhwar’s paasuram when he uses the word “pozhil soozh kurugoor”. Immediately, out of sheer bewilderment, anxiety and joy, he exclaimed

“Idhuvo Thirunagari? Eeedho porunal? Idhuvo paramapadathellai? Idhuvo dhaan vedham thamizh seydhu mei porutu muporulaai odhum satakopanoor?

After that, he worhsipped azhwar and Polindha nindra piraan in Thirukurugoor and went to Thirukolur, the birthplace of Swami Madhurakavi azhwar. He was happily singing

“uNNum chORu parugunNeer* thinnum veRRilaiyum ellaam

kaNNan,* emperumaan enRenRE* kaNkaL neermalgi,*

maNNinuL avan_seer* vaLammikkavanoor vinavi,*

thiNNamen iLamaan pugumoor* thirukkOLoorE”

At that time he came across a lady who was exiting Thirukolur with her baggage packed. Seeing her Swami Ramaanujar was very anxious as to why is she leaving Thirukolur. He went straight to her and asked “Oh! Lady!! Adiyen tried hard to enter this dhivya desam and you are exiting it. What happened to you to take a decision to exit this place”? The lady replied, “Swami! Like Devaki, Yasodhai, Mandodhari, Thirusadai, Andal, Anusooyai, Draupadi, I wanted to do some good things (sath kaaryam). But I did not do anything. How does it matter if the waste material of a rabbit is in a field or road or somewhere else. After all it is waste product of the rabbit only. I am like that. I do not have any gyaanam”.

Seeing her humbleness and knowledge, through the grace of Perumal, he took her back to Thirukolur, had Vaithamaanidhi Perumal sevai. After finishing Perumal darisanam, they went to the lady’s house. Swami Ramanujar requested on his own to cook for him. The lady immediately yielded to his request and cooked for him. Swami Ramanujar ate happily. People like him never go about and ask somebody to cook etc. But Swami Ramanujar did this. This shows how much respect he had for that lady. The lady is referred to as “Thirukolur Pen Pillai”. The crux of what the lady told Swami Ramanujar when she was exiting Thirukolur is often times referred to as “Thirukolur Pen Pillai Ragasiyam”.

The connection between Swami Ramanujar and Swami Nammazhwar is a topic by itself. We can talk about it extensively in a different thread. Let us proceed to a few other connections.

Swami Nammazhwar and Kambanaataazhwar:

There is a link between Swami Nammazhwar and the great tamil poet “Kamban” who wrote “Raamayanam” in thamizh. It is called as “Kambaraamayanam”. Just before the arangetram of his magnum opus “Kambaraamayanam”, Sri Ranganaatha Perumal in Srirangam appeared before Kamban and asked him “Oh! Kamba! The great thamizh poet. Have you sung about our Satakopan”? He did not as of that point of time. But after Arangan’s request, he started to sing “Satakopar Andhaadhi” praising about Swami Nammaazhwar, his works and the benefit to srivaishnavam as a result of his avataaram. After singing this, the arangetram of “Kambharaamayanam” was performed at Srirangam temple before an elite crowd of scholars.

Later Kamban went to Thirukurugoor to worship Swami Nammazhwar. Just after entering Thirukurgoor, he saw lot of paady fields and people who were doing planting seeds, harvesting crops etc. Among those people there were some ladies who lost their husbands. All of them were singing some small thamizh poems that had deep meanings impregnated in them. Listening to those poems, he exclaimed “Like how a minmini poochi (fire fly) looks before the resplendent sun, I am like this before the educated masses of Thirukurugoor”.

Swami Nammazhwar and Swami Manavaala maamunigal:

Swami Manavaala Maamunigal was born in Thirukurugoor. His acharyan was Thiruvaaimozhi pillai about whose history we saw earlier. During his times, namboodhirigal from Kerala divya desam performed all the temple works for Perumaal in that kshetram. Manavaalamunigal replaced them with srivaishnava brahmana bhattars. Swami Manavaala Maamunigal had written a lot of works. Among them, his “Upadesa Rathina Maalai” stands out. During his final few days of his life, he wrote a grantham called “Aachaarya kruthaya vyaakyaanam”. At that time, he was way too old, his body lost all its strength. Even then, he strained himself very hard and completed that work. Seeing this, another bhagavatha called Kandhaadaiyannan asked him , “Swami!! Why are you straining so hard. What is it that you are trying to accomplish”? Swami Manavaalamaamunigal could not even talk. He just replied in a few word “for your future generation”. That “aachaarya kruthaya vyakyaaanam” was written with such a painstaking effort. Had it not been for that, we could not have understood Swami Nammazhwar’s thiruvullam (what azhwar had imagined and thought in his mind).

Swami Manavaala maamingal was too brilliant a scholar who had the capability to speak so fluently and impromptu. Even Sriranganathan wanted to listen the explanation of Thiruvaaimozhi through Maamunigal. Maamunigal too gave thiruvaimozhi vyaakyaanam to Perumaal for one year and gave the "Srisailesa" thaniyan to Swami Manavaala Maamnuigal. In our sampradhaayam, Swami Manavaala Maamunigal is considered as the acharyan for Perumal thus closing the acharya guru paramparai loop.

Swami Nammazhwar’s Thaniyan

Bhutham sarasya mahadhahvya bhatanatha

Shri bhakthisara kulasekara yogi vahan

Bhakthangrirenu parakala ytheendhra misran

Srimath parankusa munim pranathosmi nithyam’

This was sung by Shri Parasara Bhattar. When Bhattar visited Thirukoshtiyur, on Nanjeer’s request, he sang this thanian on all the azhvars and emperumanar for us all to recite everyday. Shri P.B.A.Swami says that our poorvachariyars sung slokas keeping Nammazhvar as main and all the other azhvars and emperumanar as parts of his ‘divyasariram’. And thus it goes,

Bhuthathazhvar as Nammazhvar’s ‘thirumudi’,

Poigayar and Peyar as his ‘thirukangal’ (eyes),

Periyazhvar as his ‘thirumukam’,

Thirumazhisai azhvar as his ‘thirukazhuthu’,

Kulasekaranar and Thirupanar as ‘thirukaigal’,

Thondaradippodi azhvar as ‘thirumarbu’,

Kaliyan(Thirumangai azhvar) as ‘thirunabhi’, and

Ethirasan as ‘thiruvadi’.

And we find Bhattar’s thanian in this order.

Swami Nammazhwar’s Vaazhi Thirunaamam

Let us sing mangalaasaasanam to this great azhwar

Aana virutham noorum arulinaan vaazhiye!!!

Aasiriyam ezhu paatum alithaan piran vaazhiye!!!

Eenamara andhaadhi enbathezhu eendhaan vaazhiye!!!

Ilagu thiruvaai mozhi aayirathu oru nootrirandu uraithaan vaazhiye!!!

Vaananiyum maamaada kurugai mannan vaazhiye!!!

Vaigaasi visaagathil vandhu udhithaan vaazhiyee!!!

Thirukurugai perumaan than thiruthaalgal vaazhiye!!!

Thiruvaana thirumugathu sevi ennum vaazhiye!!!

Irukum oli ennenjil thekinaan vaazhiye!!!

Endhai edhiraasarku iraivanaar vaazhiye!!!

Karu kuziyil pugaa vannam kaathu arulvon vaazhiye!!!

Kaasiniyil aariyanai kaatinaan vaazhiye!!!

Varuthamara vandhennai vaazhvithaan vaazhiye!!!

Madhurakavi thambiraan vaazhi vaazhi vaazhiye!!!

Medhiniyil vaigaasi visaagathon vaazhiye!!!

Vedathai chendhamizhaal virithuraithon vaazhiye!!!

Aadhi guruvaai puviyil avadarithon vaazhiye!!!

Anavaratham senaiyar Kone adi thozhuvon vaazhiye!!!

Naadhanuku Naalayiram uraithaan vaazhiye!!!

Nan Madhurakavi vanangum naaveeran vaazhiye!!!

Maadhavan Por Paadhugaiyai Valarndharulvon vaazhiye!!!

Magizh Maaran Satagopan Vaiyagathil vaazhiye!!!

#Thiruvaimozhi Pillai #Satakopar andadhi #Nammazhwar Vaibhavam #Nammazhwar