108 Divyadesams -
Divyadesam means a group of 108 Lord Maha Vishnu Temples on which all the 11 Azhwars except Madhurakavi Alwar, the Incarnations of the Sreeman Narayanan, worshipped and praised the Presiding Deitiy, Perumal and Thayar with their hymns in Tamil called "Pasurams".
Mangalasasanam -
This traditional form of worshipping Perumal and Thayar with the hymns is known as "Mangalasasanam".
Nalayira Divya Prabandham -
These hymns were later compiled by the great Sree Vaishna Acharya Sree Naadha Munigal, who is collectively praised as "Nalayira Divya Prabandham". These verses are in simple Tamil, explaining the extracts of the Vedas, Upanishads, Bramma Sutra, etc.
Alwars Who Composed Pasurams on 108 Divayadesams -
Among the 12 Alwars, only the 11 Alwars except Mathurakavi Azhwa praised the Lord Maha Vishnu and the Goddess with their hymns in various divyadesams, whereas Mathurakavi Alwar made all his mangalasasnams only on his Guru Nammalwar and never sang any hymns on the Lord Maha Vishnu or Thayar in any of the 108 divyadesams.
The Foremost among 108 Divyadesams -
Srirangam Divyadesam, the First and Foremost Divyadesam and the One and Only, on which all the 11 Alwars praised the Lord Maha Vishnu with their 247 Mangalasasanams.
Tirumala Tirupati Divyadesam in Andrapradesh is the second Divyadesam sung by 9 Azhwars, and Thirukkudanthai Divyadesam, Sarangapani Temple is the third and was sung by 7 Azhwars. With------- Pasurams.
Where are 108 Divyadesams located? -
Among the 108 Divyadesams, 105 are in India, 1 in Nepal, and the remaining 2 are in the celestial world. Among the 105 Divyadesams, 9 Vada Nadu Divyadesams are in North India, and the remaining 97 Divyadesams are in South India. A total of 84 Divyadesams are located in Tamil Nadu; 2 Divyadesams are in Andrapradesh (Tirumala, Tirupati, and Ahobilam); and 11 Divyadesams are in Kerala.
How 108 Divyadesams are Grouped? -
They are grouped as Chozhanadu Divyadesams 40 (in and around Trichy and Kumbakonam ), Nadunadu Divyadesams 2 (in Cuddalore and Villuppuram ), Pandiyanadu Divyadesams 18 (in and around Madurai and Tirunelveli ), Thondainadu Divyadesams 22 (in and around Kanchipuram and Chennai), and Malainadu Divyadesams 13 (inadu and Kerala).
The Period of Azhwars - Azhwars are worshipped as the Hamsams of Lord Maha Vishnu.
Some evidence, like the references they made and the words and vocabulary they used in their pasurams, which are worshipped as "Nalayira Divya Prabandham," advocates that they lived in the period between the 6th and 9th centuries AD.
“Muthal Alwarkal" -
Poigai Alwar is the Hamsam of Panchajanyam, the Conch of the Lord Maha Vishnu.
Boothathalwar is the Hamsam of Kaumathagi, the Mace.
Peyalwar is the Hamsam of Nandhakam, the Sword of the Lord Maha Vishnu.
These three Alwars are collectively worshipped as “Muthal Alwarkal".
Azhwars are the Incarnations of Lord Maha Vishnu ( Tha Hamsams ) - Thirumazhisai Alwar is the hamsam of Sudharshana Chakra.
Nammalwar is the Hamsam of Senai Mudhalvar.
Madhurakvi Alwar is the Hamsam of Vainatheya.
Kulasekara Alwar is the hamsam of Kausthubam, one of the ornaments of the Lord Maha Vishnu.
Periyalwar is the Hamsam of Periya Thiruvadi Garudan.
Sree Andal is the hamsam of Goddess Bhoomi Devi. Thondaradipodi Alwar is the Hamsam of Vanamalai, the Crown of Lord Maha Vishnu. Thiruppan Alwar is the Hamsam of Sreevalsam, a mole on Lord Maha Vishnu's chest. Thirumangai Alwar is the Hamsam of Sarngam, the bow of Lord Maha Vishnu.
Nalayira Divyaprabandham - A Tamil Vedha for Sree Vaishnavites -
Sri Vaishnavites worship "Nalaayira Divyaprabandham" as holy as the Vedas. They call it the Tamil Veda.
Nadhamunigal and the Compilation of "Nalayira Divyaprabandham" -
Over a period of time, all the hymns sung by all the Azhwars were lost. One fine day, when Sree Nadhamunigal was worshipping the Lord Maha Vishnu at Thirukkudanthai Divyadesam-SSarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam, he had a chance to hear some of the pasurams starting with “Aaraa Amudhe“ by some devotees .
He was much attracted by those pasurams and asked that devotee about the rest of the hymns. But unfortunately, he had no idea about and knew only a few of the pasurams, not even in order.
Kanninum Sirithambu - Nadhamunigal had the thrust to collect all those hymns. He started searching, and finally he came to know that some of the descendants of Madhurakvi Alwar were singing some hymns. He went all the way to Thirukkolur and collected those hymns, starting with “Kanninum Sirithambu”.
Nammalwar and Nadhamunigal -
At that time, Nammalwar appeared before Nadhamuni. Tested him vigorously. Finally, Alwar got pleased about his devotion and gave him all the pasurams, which were compiled as "Nalayira Divyap Pabandham, Tamil Veda for Sree Vaishnavites ", in which Alwars praised, described, and worshipped Perumal as a baby, friend, servant, and even as a consort. |
