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

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, nati ...

verses composed by the 12

Alvars The Alvars ( ta, ஆழ்வார், Āḻvār, translit-std=ISO, lit=The Immersed) were the Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused ''bhakti'' (devotion) to the Hindu preserver deity Vishnu, in their songs of longing, ecstasy, and ...

. It was compiled in its present form by

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

during the 9th–10th centuries. The work, an important liturgical compilation of the Tamil

, marks the beginning of the canonisation of 12 ''

Vaishnava Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...

'' poet saints, and these hymns are still sung extensively today. The works were lost before they were collected and organised in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.

Description

The ''Divya Prabandham'' sings the praises of

Narayana Narayana (Sanskrit: नारायण, IAST: ''Nārāyaṇa'') is one of the forms and names of Vishnu, who is in yogic slumber under the celestial waters, referring to the masculine principle. He is also known as Purushottama, and is co ...

(

Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...

) and his many forms. The Alvars sang these songs at various sacred shrines known as the

Divya Desams A Divya Desam or Vaishnava Divya Desam is one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples that is mentioned in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, works of the Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnavism, Sri Vaishnava tradition. Of the 108 temples, 10 ...

. The

Vaishnavite Vaishnavism ( sa, वैष्णवसम्प्रदायः, Vaiṣṇavasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu denominations along with Shaivism, Shaktism, and Smartism. It is also called Vishnuism since it considers Vishnu as the ...

s'' are also known as ''Ubhaya Vedanti'' (those that follow both Vedas, that is, the Sanskrit

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' ( ', from ' "praise" and ' "knowledge") is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canonical Hindu texts (''śruti'') known as the Vedas. Only one Sh ...

Yajurveda The ''Yajurveda'' ( sa, यजुर्वेद, ', from ' meaning "worship", and ''veda'' meaning "knowledge") is the Veda primarily of prose mantras for worship rituals.Michael Witzel (2003), "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in ''The Blackwell C ...

Samaveda The Samaveda (, from ' "song" and ' "knowledge"), is the Veda of melodies and chants. It is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text, and part of the scriptures of Hinduism. One of the four Vedas, it is a liturgical text which consists of 1,875 verses. A ...

, and

Atharvaveda The Atharva Veda (, ' from ' and ''veda'', meaning "knowledge") is the "knowledge storehouse of ''atharvāṇas'', the procedures for everyday life".Laurie Patton (2004), Veda and Upanishad, in ''The Hindu World'' (Editors: Sushil Mittal and G ...

, as well as the Tamil-language ''

Tiruvaymoli The ''Tiruvaymoli'' ( ta, திருவாய்மொழி; ) is a 1102-verse Tamil poem, composed in the ninth century by the Hindu poet-saint Nammalvar, who is regarded as the foremost of the Alvar saints of South India. It is the most promi ...

,'' a work which devotees of Sri Vaishnavism regard as the Tamil Veda. In many temples —

Srirangam Srirangam, is a neighbourhood in the city of Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. A river island, Srirangam is bounded by the Kaveri River on one side and its distributary Kollidam on the other side. Considered as the first amon ...

, for example — the chanting of the Divya Prabandham forms a major part of the daily service. It is also recited in some North Indian Vaishnavite temples, such as Badrinath. The Divya Prabandham is recited along with the Vedas, and it is given equal status to the Vedas in the Tenkalai denomination of

Sri Vaishnavism 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 ...

, largely due to the efforts of

Ramanuja Ramanuja (Middle Tamil: Rāmāṉujam; Classical Sanskrit: Rāmanuja; 1017 CE – 1137 CE; ; ), also known as Ramanujacharya, was an Indian Hindu philosopher, guru and a social reformer. He is noted to be one of the most important exponents o ...

who enshrined the Divya Prabandham on the same pedestal as the Vedas. Prominent among its 4,000 verses are the over 1,100 verses known as the ''

'' ("verses of the sacred mouth"), composed by

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 ...

(Kaari Maaran, Sadagopan of Alvarthirunagari Temple) and which forms the third portion of the overall ''Divya Prabandham''. Nammalvar self-identifies as a lovelorn ''

gopi Gopi ( sa, गोपी, ) or Gopika in Hinduism are worshipped as the consorts and devotees of Krishna within the Vaishnavism and Krishnaism traditions for their unconditional love and devotion ('' Bhakti'') to god Krishna as described in the ...

'' pining for

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 ...

Nomenclature

Pasuram

The hymns or songs sung by the Alvars dedicated to Vishnu are specifically designated the term pasuram in Tamil.

Taniyan

The works that make up the Naalayira Divya Prabandham are usually preceded by a taniyan. A taniyan refers to a stray verse, also referred to as a laudatory verse, that offers a brief synopsis of the life of the Alvar poet, a summary of the themes of the hymns, and emphasises the

merit Merit may refer to: Religion * Merit (Christianity) * Merit (Buddhism) * Punya (Hinduism) * Imputed righteousness in Reformed Christianity Companies and brands * Merit (cigarette), a brand of cigarettes made by Altria * Merit Energy Company, a ...

gained from the recitation, listening, or reading of the given text. It serves to glorify both the hymns as well as the composer of the hymns. Six taniyans precede the Tiruvaymoli, the most of any text in the compendium.

Vāḻi Tirunamam

Following the customary recitation of the hymns of the work, a vāḻi tirunamam is chanted. This refers to a hymn that serves to commemorate or exalt the poet-saint who composed a given work. For instance, such a verse may hope for the poet-saint to live long, or for their names to be remembered for a millennium.

Compilation

The collection, once thought to have been lost, was organised in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.

was born in Veera Naarayanapuram (Veeranam) or present-day Kaattu Mannaar Koil. There is a long time gap between

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 ...

(the last Alvar) and Nathamuni. In this dark period, nobody knew what happened to the 4,000 verses of the text. Legend has it that once Nathamuni heard some people reciting the cantos of ''Āravāmude'' of Nammalvar at

Kumbakonam Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...

. 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. 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 templ ...

, a disciple of Nammalvar, and the ''

Kanninun Cirutampu Kanninun Cirutampu (), also rendered Kaṇṇinuṇ Siṟuttāmbu, refers to a Tamil work of Hindu literature composed by Madhurakavi Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Comprising eleven ''pasurams'' ( ...

''. 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.

List of Pasurams

The following table shows the details of the 4,000 ''pasurams'' (hymns).

References

External links

;Naalayiram Text in different formats and languages
4000 divya prabandham in Tamil and English - index for downloading full books as well as every ten pasurams individually along with Telugu version for key pasurams. Other key supplementary texts for Divya Prabandham such as Thiruvoi mozhi nootrandhadi, Yethiraja vimsadhi, Mumukshupadi , Guru Paramapara and rare texts, articles, vyakhyanams, discourses available.
* ttp://www.vedics.org/ Divyaprabandham in Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit. Thiruvomozhi availabale in convenient 100 song size. Click on downloads/ free downloadsbr>4000 Divya Prabandham In Roman text, pdf formats.Download complete 4000 Divya prabandham as a convenient single 2.16 MB pdf file. Only downside is dhanians are not complete.
* ttp://www.epubbud.com/read.php?g=Y9A98RW2&p=1 Entire 4000 and supplementary texts and other mantras as a single epub file in Tamil fontbr>Nalayiram in English/ Roman text. Useful to quote, copy, pastePrabandham in English Text. Quite useful to cut and paste relevant pasurams.Divya Prabandham by DivyaDesam - extremely relevant for pilgrims travelling to 108 Divya DesamLists pasurams numbers relevant to individual Divya Desam from all Alvar's compositionNalayiram pasurams in Tamil unicode under four convenient links easy to copy pasteNalayira Divyaprabandham ANDROID APP with Pasurangal - Divyadesam wise
;Nalayiram with Meaning or Vyakyanam (detailed commentary)
Entire 4000 Divya Prabhandam verses with PBA Swamy's meaning in Tamil and Araiyar Swami Sri Rama Bharathi's translation in English. Very useful for reference purposes.
* ttps://ramanuja.org/sv/prabandham/index.html English text , Tamil Document and English meaning for Periya Thiromozhi.br>Thiruvoimozhi in Roman text and meaning.
;Nalayiram Pasurangal – Audio
Araiyar Sevai, Listen to pasurams rendered in carnatic musicMp3 format
;Sites Relevant to Nalayiram Divya Prabandham
Articles on Divya Prabandham, Azhvars, Divya Desams and more

A comprehensive translation of Naalayira (4000) Divya Prabandham
*Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend () by Anna Dallapiccola
Best collection of Pictures of Shriman Nathamunigal (who regained the 4000 Divya Prabandham) and Sri Alavandar at their birthplace Chaturvedimangalam also known as Kuppankuzhi.
{{Authority control Tamil Hindu literature Medieval literature Alvars *