HOME
*



picture info

Mangalasasanam By Divyadesam
Mangalasasanam () refers to a Vaishnava concept in Hinduism, where a devotee offers their salutations and felicitations upon God due to a profound sense of concern for the latter, and also as an exercise of forgetting their sense of self. Hymns The concept of mangalasasanam is often associated with the ''pasurams'' (verses) of the Alvars, who during the early medieval period of Tamil history (between the 7th and 10th centuries CE), worshipped Vishnu and his avatars through their hymns. This collection of their hymns is known as the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham. The Sri Vaishnava shrines that were extolled by the Alvars are called the Divya Desams, where a number of these poet-saints offered their mangalasasanam. Classification The below table provides a classification for the mangalasananams offered by the Alvars: Gallery Some of the famous Divya Desams the mangalasanams were uttered include the following temples: File:Srirangam rajagopuram.jpg, Srirangam Temple File:Varadha ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Kulasekhara Alvar
Kulasekhara (Tamil: ''குலசேகரர்'') (''fl.'' 9th century CE), one of the twelve Vaishnavite alvars, was a bhakti theologian and devotional poet from medieval south India (Kerala). He was the author of Perumal Tirumoli in Tamil and " Mukundamala" in Sanskrit. The Perumal Tirumoli, whose second decade is known as "Tetrarum Tiral", is compiled as a part of Nalayira Divya Prabandham. The Trikkulasekharapuram Temple in Kodungallur was founded by the Alvar. Vaishnavite traditions describe the Alvar as a king of the Chera royal family of the western coast (Kerala). Scholars identify Kulasekhara with royal Chera playwright Kulasekhara Varma and Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara (ruled 844/45 – c. 870/71 AD), the earliest known Chera Perumal king of Kerala. Sources Scholars generally identify Kulasekhara with Sthanu Ravi Kulasekhara, the earliest known Chera Perumal king of Kerala. *It is known that "Perumal Tirumoli" was recited in Srirangam Temple in 11th century AD. An i ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Nammalvar
Nammalvar (Tamil: நம்மாழ்வார், lit. 'Our Alvar') was one of the twelve Alvar saints of Tamil Nadu, India, who are known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of the Alvars are compiled as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, where praises are sung of 108 temples that are classified as divine realms, called the Divya Desams. Nammalvar is considered to be the fifth in the line of the twelve Alvars. He was born in a Shudra family, but his pursuit of knowledge accorded him the respect of a Brahmin. He is highly regarded as a great mystic of the Vaishnava tradition. He is also considered to be the foremost among the twelve Alvars, and his contributions amount to 1352 among the 4000 stanzas in the ''Naalayira Divya Prabandam''. According to traditional scriptures, Nammalvar was born in 3059 BCE in Alwarthirunagiri; historically he flourished in 8th century CE. In Hindu legends, Nammalvar remained speechless from the moment of his b ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Tiruviruttam
The Tiruviruttam () is a hundred-verse poem composed by Nammalvar, a poet-saint of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It is one of the many works present in the compilation known as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. According to tradition, it is said to contain the quintessence of the Rigveda. Structure The Tiruviruttam is framed as a love story that unfolds between an anonymous heroine (''talaivi'') and her beloved hero (''talaivan''), while friends, fortune tellers, bees, birds, and the poet’s own heart play important supporting roles, acting as messengers, lamenters, and audiences in the style of a story. According to some interpretations, this poem is regarded to take the form of a dramatic sequence, in which a few characters discuss the love of God, which is portrayed as the earthly love between a man and a woman. In this regard, the poet Nammalvar's yearning for God expresses itself through a woman's love-tossed heart pining for her omnipotent lover. Secular love for a man by a wo ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Peyalvar
Pey Alvar (also spelt Peyalvar, Peialvar, Pey Azhwar, or Pei Azhwar) is one of the twelve ''Alvar'' saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of '' Alvars'' are compiled as ''Nalayira Divya Prabandham'' and the 108 temples revered are classified as ''Divya Desams''. Pey Alvar is considered third in the list of the three principal ''Alvars'', with the other two being Poigai Alvar and Bhoothath Alvar, collectively called ''Mutalamalvargal'' who are known to be born out of divinity. Pey Alvar composed hundred verses that are classified as ''Munram Tiruvantati'' and his composition is set in the ''antati'' style in which the ending syllable is the starting one for the next verse. As per Hindu legend, Pey Alvar was found in the lily flower in the pond of the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple in Mylapore. The site can be found in Arundale Street, Mylapore, Chennai. In Tamil, ''pey'' refers to one who is possessed and since the s ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Bhoothathalvar
Bhoothath Alvar () was one of the twelve ''Alvar'' saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of '' alvars'' are compiled as ''Naalayira Divya Prabandham'' and the 108 temples revered are classified as ''Divya Desam''. Bhoothath is considered second in the list of the three principal ''alvars'', with the other two being Poigai Alvar and Pey Alvar, collectively called ''Mutalamalvargal'' who are known to be born out of divinity. Bhoothath composed hundred verses that are classified as ''Irantam Tiruvantati'' and his composition is set in the ''antati'' style in which the ending syllable is the starting one for the next verse. As per Hindu legend, Bhoothath was found in a liquorice flower in Thirukadalmallai (modern-day Mahabalipuram). In Tamil, ''Bhootham'' refers to one who is possessed and since the saint was madly attracted to Hindu god Vishnu, he got the name. As per legend, the three ''alvars'' were once were c ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Poigai Alvar
Poigai Alvar was one of the twelve ''Alvar'' saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of '' Alvars'' are compiled as ''Nalayira Divya Prabandham'' and the 108 temples revered are classified as ''Divya Desam''. Poigai is one of the three principal ''Alvars'', with the other two being Bhoothath Alvar and Peyalvar, collectively called ''Mutalamalvargal,'' who are regarded to be born out of divinity. Poigai composed hundred verses that are classified as '' Mutal Tiruvantati,'' and his composition is set in the ''antati'' style, in which the ending syllable is the starting one for the next verse. According to traditional account, the first three ''Alvars'' belong to ''Dvapara Yuga'' (before 4200 BCE). As per Hindu legend, Poigai was found in a small pond near the Yadhotakaari temple at Tiruvekkaa. In Tamil, small pond is called ''poigai'', and since he was found in a pond, he got the name Poigai. As per legend, the th ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Thirumangai Alvar
Thirumangai Alvar (IAST: ), also referred to as Thirumangai Mannan is the last of the 12 Alvar saints of south India, who are known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. He is considered one of the most learned Alvars, and the most superior Alvar in the context of composition of verses. Pillai 1994, pp. 192–4 He holds the title ''Narkavi Perumal'', the mark of an excellent poet, and ''Parakala'' (Beyond Time). Though he is respected as a Vaishnava saint-poet, he initially worked as a military commander, a chieftain, and then a robber. After his conversion to Vaishnavism, he confronted practitioners the sect of Shaivism, as well as Buddhism and Jainism. Dating and hagiography The traditional date attributed to Thirumangai is year 399 of ''Kali Yuga'', that is 2702 or 2706 BCE, making him traditionally the last of the Alvar saints.Chari 1997, p. 10 Modern scholars have placed the Alvars in between 5th to 9th centuries based on few historical evidence. ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Periya Tirumoli
The Periya Tirumoli () is a Tamil work of Vaishnava literature, consisting of 1,084 hymns. It was written by one of the poet-saints offered the designation of Alvar, Tirumangai. It is a piece of literature that is a part of the compilation of the Alvars' hymns, the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Description According to Sri Vaishnava tradition, Tirumangai Alvar converted to Vaishnavism due to the influence of his wife, Kumudavalli. He resorted to robbing the rich in order to feed and assist all those who shared his faith. Once, he attempted to rob a wedding party, not knowing that the bride and groom were Andal and Ranganatha. Unable to remove the beautiful toe-ring from the feet of the groom, he placed his head down, intending to bite it off the feet. He immediately realised that the feet were divine, and belonged to Vishnu himself. He gave up robbery, and composed the Periya Tirumoli to extol the deity after the latter taught him the Narayana mantra. The opening ten verses of ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Madhurakavi Alvar
Madhurakavi Alvar was one of the twelve ''Alvars'' saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of the ''Alvars'' are compiled as the ''Naalayira Divya Prabandham'' and the 108 temples revered are classified as ''Divya Desams''. Madhurakavi is considered to be the sixth in the line of the twelve Alvars. He was the disciple of Nammalvar, considered to be the greatest among the twelve Alvars, his contributions amounting to 11 among the 4000 stanzas in the ''Naalayira Divya Prabandam''. Madhurakavi is believed to have recorded and compiled the works of Nammalvar, the ''Tiruvaymoli'' (1102 verses). The 11 verses of '' Kanninun Cirutampu'' composed by Madhurakavi Alvar may be considered to be the inspiration for the 4000 verses of ''Naalayira Divya Prabandham''. These verses were chanted by Nathamuni 12,000 times to propitiate Nammalvar and re-obtain the lost Naalayira Divya Prabandham from Nammalvar. As per Hindu legend, ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Thiruppaan Alvar
Tiruppan Alvar () was one of the twelve '' Alvars'' saints of South India, who were poet-saints known for their affiliation to the Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of the '' Alvars'' are compiled as the ''Naalayira Divya Prabandham'' and the 108 temples revered are classified as ''divya desams''. Tiruppan Alvar is considered the eleventh in the line of the twelve Alvars. As per local traditions, he was born to a couple from the ''Panar'' community. Tiruppan Alvar is known for his affiliation to Ranganatha of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple and is traditionally believed to have merged with the deity upon his demise. The ten verses of Tiruppan Alvar are called the '' Amalanadhipiran'', and his contributions amount to ten verses among the 4000 stanzas in the '' Naalayira Divya Prabandam''. The works of Tiruppan Alvar contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. In South Indian Vishnu temples, Tiruppan Alvar has images and festivals asso ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Amalanadhipiran
The Amalanadhipiran () is work of Tamil Vaishnava literature written by Tiruppan Alvar, comprising ten hymns called ''pasurams''. The title of this work is a reference to the unblemished and flawless nature of Vishnu. The work is part of the compendium of the hymns of the Alvars, known as the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Legend According to Sri Vaishnava tradition, Tiruppan Alvar was once singing the praises of Vishnu along the ghats of the river Kaveri, in front of the Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. He was immersed in his chants of ecstasy to such an extent that he fell unconscious, alongside his veena. A temple-priest named Lokasaranga came across the poet-saint, returning to the temple with some water in a vessel, for the service of his temple's deity, Ranganatha. Finding the unconscious and presumably a man of a lower varna blocking his path, Lokasaranga called out to him thrice or four times, but the former did not stir. Losing his patience, the priest hurled a stone a ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]