Meeting of the first three Azhwars

Meeting of the first three Azhwars

The first three azhwars viz., Poigai Azhwar, Boothathazhwar and Peyaazhwar belonged to the same period. All of them were visiting different temples singing the praise of the Lord. The Lord decided that they meet each other. The three of them were in Thirukovilur and had visited the temple during the day. Dusk fell and it was raining heavily. Poigai Ahzwar reached a house nearby and requested for shelter. He was offered a room to rest. Next Boothathazhwar came to the same house and asked for shelter. He was informed that there was space for one person to lie down and two persons to sit and was asked to stay in the same room as Poigai Azhwar. It was so dark that the Azhwars could not see each other. A little later, Peyaazhwar came in and the house owner said the three people will have space to stand and allowed him inside. As the three of them were standing together and discussing about the darshan of Trivikraman they had had earlier, they could feel a fourth person between them.

With their wisdom, the Azhwars realised that it was the Lord who had come to stand between them and sang his praise.

Poigai Azhwar sang thus:

வையம் தகளியா வார்கடலே நெய்யாக
வெய்ய  கதிரோன்  விளக்காக   செய்ய 
சுடராழி  யானடிக்கே  சூட்டினேன்  சொன்மாலை
இடராழி  நீக்குகவே   என்று

“With this world as lamp, the ocean as ghee, the sun as fire, I light this lamp and  sing this garland of verses in HIS praise.”

Boothathazhwar

அன்பே தகளியா ஆர்வமே நெய்யாக
இன்புருகு   சிந்தை இடுதிரியா நன்புருகி  
ஞான சுடர்விளக்கு ஏற்றினேன் நாரணற்கு
ஞான தமிழ்புரிந்த நான்     

“With love as lamp, passion as ghee, my intelligence as wick, I light this gnana lamp (lamp of wisdom) for Narayanan and dedicate myself to the service of the Lord by singing HIS praise.”

Peyaazhwar

திருக்கண்டேன் பொன்மேனி கண்டேன் திகழும்
அருக்கன் அணிநிறமும் கண்டேன் செருக்கிளரும்
பொன்னாழி கண்டேன் புரிசங்கம் கைக்கண்டேன்
என்னாழி வண்ணன்பால் இன்று

Peyaazhwar describes the Lord as he sees him in the light of the lamps lit by Poigai Azhwar and Boothathazhwar.

“I see the golden form of the Lord  along  with  Mahalakshmi , the magnificent Lord is here in the colour of the blue sea, with the sangu (conch) in one hand and chakra (discus) in the other."

Thus the Lord made the three azhwars meet , gave darshan to them and made them sing    the first three thiruvandhadhis.

Azhwars : Boothathazhwar

Boothathazhwar (பூதத்தாழ்வார்)

Boothathazhwar was born in Neelothbala flower in a Jasmine shrub in Mahabalipuram in the 7th century.

Star: Avittam
Day: Wednesday
Thithi: Navami
Month: Ipasi valarpirai
Amsam: Gadhayudham

Boothathazhwar’s mind was always on Mahavishnu’s feet. He was never interested in the worldly things and was always doing puja to Mahavishnu in his heart. In his hymns on the Lord he says that “even if I am offered the chance to rule the world, I will decline it and just wish to do prayers to my Lord every day!” Such was his Bhakti.

Boothathazhwar has sung hymns on the following temples:

→ Srirangam
→Thanjavur
→Kumbakonam
→Thirumaliruncholai
→Thirukotiyur
→Thiruthangal
→Thirukovilur
→Mahabalipuram
→Tirupathi
→Thirupparkadal