Baby Krishna tied to a mortar which is caught in between two Wellcome V0045043

Kanninun Cirutampu (), also rendered Kaṇṇinuṇ Siṟuttāmbu, refers to a

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...

work of

Hindu literature Hindu texts are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. A few of these texts are shared across these traditions and they are broadly considered Hindu scriptures. These ...

composed by

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 tem ...

, one of the twelve Alvars, the poet-saints of the

Sri Vaishnava Sri Vaishnavism, or the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya, is a denomination within the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism. The name refers to goddess Lakshmi (also known as Sri), as well as a prefix that means "sacred, revered", and the god Vishnu, who ...

tradition. Comprising eleven ''pasurams'' (hymns), the Kanninun Cirutampu is a tribute to Madhurakavi's

acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a ...

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 ...

. These hymns are part of the Sri Vaishnava canon, the

Naalayira Divya Prabandham The Naalayira Divya Prabandham ( ta, நாலாயிரத் திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம், lit=Four Thousand Divine Hymns, translit=Nālāyira Divya Prabandham) is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by ...

Legend

The Kanninun Cirutampu is associated with the origin of the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. According to legend, the theologian

Nathamuni Nathamuni, also known as Sri Ranganathamuni, (823 CE – 951 CE), was a Sri Vaishnava, Vaishnava theologian who collected and compiled the Divya Prabandha, Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (1994). Vaiṣṇavism, p.22-24. Mot ...

once heard some people reciting the cantos of ''Āravāmude'' of Nammalvar at Kumbakonam. Captivated by these ''pasurams'' (hymns), he wanted to know more about them. One of the verses also mentioned ''Āyiraththul Ippaththu'' (

: these 10 out of the 1000). When Nathamuni enquired about the remaining 990, the people who sang the 10 did not know anything about the other verses. But as the song mentioned the name and place of the ''Alvar'' (Kurugoor Satakopan), Nathamuni proceeded to Thirukurugoor and asked the people there about

's 1,000 verses.^{/sup>

The people did not know the 1,000 verses that Nathamuni wanted, but they told him about 11 ''pasurams'' (hymns) of 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 tem ...
, a disciple of Nammalvar, and the Kanninun Cirutampu. They asked him to go to Thiruppulialvar, the place where Nammalvar lived, and recite these 11 ''pasurams'' 12,000 times. Nathamuni did as advised, and pleased with his penance, Nammalvar granted him not only his 1,000 ''pasurams'', but the entire 4,000-''pasuram'' collection of all the Alvars.^{/sup>
Hymns

The work is named after the opening two words of the first hymn. This is likely a metaphor that compares the knots that were tied by Yashoda to bound the baby Krishna

Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
to prevent him from stealing butter, and the poet's own strong ties with his preceptor, Nammalvar. He lauds his preceptor as the lord of Kurukur, the town where the latter resides.

The first hymn of the work is translated as follows:
{{Blockquote, text=In place of my father, the great marvellous one
who had himself tied with the knotted, slender cord,
I now draw near and speak of the lord of southern Kurkukur,
and it flows as amrtam, my tongue's delight, author=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 tem ...
, title=Kanninun Cirutampu, source=Hymn 1

See also

* Periyalvar Tirumoli

The Periyalvar Tirumoli () is a Tamil Hindu work of literature penned by Periyalvar, one of the twelve Alvars of Sri Vaishnavism. Composed of 473 verses, it is part of the compendium of hymns called the Naalayira Divya Prabandham, and has been ...

* Tiruchanda Viruttam
* Nachiyar Tirumoli

References

Naalayira Divya Prabandham

External links

Mudalayiram - K. R. KrishnaSwami
Vaishnava texts
Tamil Hindu literature}}