Azhwars : Thirumangai Azhwar

Thirumangai Azhwar (திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார்)

Thirumangai Azhwar was born to Aalinaadudaiyaar and Vallithiru in the month of Karthigai, pournami thithi, krithigai star, Thursday. He was the Saarngam amsam of Mahavishnu. He was named Nilanirathar by his parents. He grew up and became a commander in the army of Chozha king. He brought about many victories for the Chozha kingdom and made the king very happy. The king gave him a small kingdom of Aalinaadu with its capital Thirumangai and also gave him the title “Parakalan”

Sumangalai, a damsel from the Devaloka when on rounds near the Himalayas saw Kabilar teaching his disciples. Sumangalai laughed at Kabilar’s ugly form. Angered, Kabilar cursed that Sumangalai be born on the Earth and get married to a human being. Repenting, Sumangalai asked the rishi for saabavimochanam and he told her that she will get married to Parakalar, serve the Lord along with him and reach Devaloka.

Sumangalai was born as a baby in a kumudam flower. A medical practitioner saw the baby and brought her up, naming her Kumudavalli as she was found in a kumudam flower.

Parakalar came to know of Kumudavalli and requested her father for her hand in marriage. Kumudavalli said that she will not look at a person who does not have the symbols of Vaishnavam on him. Immediately Parakalar burnt the Vaishnava symbols on his body and came back. She said that if he serves food to 1008 Vaishnavas every day for one year, she will get married to him. He did this also for a year and then Kumudhavalli married him. Thirumangai Azhwar continued the service of providing food for 1008 Vaishnavas everyday. The King heard about this and was surprised. When he checked, he realised that Thirumangai Azhwar was not paying his tax to the kingdom properly and sent his messenger to enquire on this. Thirumangai Azhwar sent back the messenger saying that he will arrange for the money shortly. Time passed and as no money came from Thirumangai Azhwar, the king sent a small army to fight with him. The army came back defeated by the Azhwar. The king again sent an army and again they were defeated. Pleased by the Azhwar’s bravery, the king said he will forgive him and asked him to come to his palace. In the palace the king told Azhwar to give part of the taxes and until the taxes were paid, he was imprisoned in a temple. Azhwar stayed in the temple without food for three days and on the third day Perumal came in his dream, promised to give the money due to the king and asked him to come to Kanchipuram to collect it. Azhwar requested the king to let him go to Kanchipuram saying that money is hidden there. The king sent the Azhwar to Kanchipuram with one of his ministers. Azhwar found the money near the Vegavathi river, gave the money due to the king, to his minister and kept the balance safe for feeding the vaishnavas.

The minister informed the king how the Lord provided the money to Azhwar and the king repented for imprisoning and starving the Azhwar for three days. He gave back the tax money also to Azhwar. Thirumangai Azhwar continued his service of feeding 1008 vaishnavas everyday and again his treasury was depleted. To further continue this service, he started robbery. He used to wait on the road and rob the passersby. One day he was hiding behind a tree and Mahavishnu and Mahalakshmi came as a newly wedded couple with a lot of jewellery. Thirumangai Azhwar robbed all their clothes and jewellery and tied them into bundles. When he tried to lift the bundles, they did not budge. He accused Mahavishnu that he had done magic and asked him to teach the mantra. Mahavishnu asked the Azhwar to come close and taught him the eight letter mantra of Mahavishnu. Thirumangai azhwar realised the Lord and had darshan of both the God and the Goddess there. He came to be called “Arulmaari” after this.

Thirumangai Azhwar started singing the Lord’s praise and travelled to various temples.

குலந்தருஞ் செல்வந் தந்திடு மடியார்

படுதுய ராயின வெல்லாம்

நிலந்தரஞ் செய்யும் நீள்விசும் பருளும்

அருளோடு பெருநில மளிக்கும்

வளந்தரும் மற்றுந் தந்திடும் பெற்ற

தாயினு மாயின செய்யும்

நலந்தருஞ் சொல்லை நான்கண்டு கொண்டேன்

நாராய ணாவென்னும் நாமம்

     

I understood that the Namam of Narayana gives one good birth, wealth, destroys all sorrows, gives heaven and earth with His blessings, does more than a mother does for a child!

He has sung hymns on the following temples

* Thiruashtabuyagaram *Thiruarimeyavinnagaram * Thiru anbil * Thiru aadhanur *Thiru indhalur
* Uraiyur * Thiruvooragam * Thirukandiyur * Thirukkarambanur * Thirukkaragam * Thirukkarvanam
*Thirukkavalampaadi * Thirukaazhi seeramavinnagaram * Thirukoodalur * Thirusalakramam
* Thiruchingavelkundram * Thiruchitrakoodam *Thirusirupuliyur *Thirusemponseikoil *Thiruthanjai maamanikoil *Thiruthalai sanga naanmadhiyam * Mahabalipuram *Thirukkadigai *Thirukannakudi
*Thirukannapuram *Thirukannamangai *Thirukalvanur *Kumbakonam *Thirukurungudi *Thirukoodal
* Thirukotiyur *Thirukovilur * Thiruneermalai * Srirangam *Triplicane *Thiruvadavendhai

This completes the series on Azhwars. It was a dream come true and a great blessing to be able to write about the lives of the Azhwars even though my notes were not very long. No amount of writing will be enough to bring into words the grandeur of these great souls.

I am very grateful to all the readers who have called and commented on this series with a special mention about my sister Sundari thanks to whom I started blogging and Mr K Parathasarathi who has been not only commenting on the blogs, but also adding a paasuram of each of the azhwars. Thank you!

Azhwars : Thirupaanazhwar

Thirupaanazhwar (திருப்பாணாழ்வார்)

Thirupaanazhwar was born in a paddy field on a Wednesday in the month of Karthigai, theipirai, dvidiyai thithi, rohini star as Srivatsam amsam of Mahavishnu.

A bard (பாணர்) found the baby in the paddy field and brought it to his house. He and his wife brought up the child as their own as they did not have any. As he was brought up in a bard’s house, he was named Thirupaanar. True to his family tradition, he learnt singing and playing the instrument Yaazh (யாழ்) as well.

Thirupaanar was keen to serve the Lord of Srirangam by singing and playing the Yaazh for him, but as Baanar was considered a low caste in those days, he did not dare to enter Srirangam and stood on the opposite bank of The Cauvery singing in praise of the Lord. His singing and playing were very pleasing to one’s ears and made Perumal very happy. Everyday at dawn, Thirupaanar sang for the Lord with so much of Bhakti that he was unaware of what was happening around him.

One day Lokasaranga Rishi, a bhakta of Aranganathan, bathed in The Cauvery. He had also brought a golden pot to carry water for the Lord’s abhishekam. He saw Thirupaanar standing in his way, singing with his eyes closed. The Rishi clapped his hands and ordered him to move aside, but Thirupaanar, lost in his devotion, did not hear him. Angered by this, the Rishi threw a stone at Thirupaanar and it hit him on the forehead and blood started oozing out. Thirupaanar opened his eyes, noticed the Rishi, apologised to him and moved aside.

Lokasaranga Rishi collected water in the pot and proceeded to the temple. Once he went near the Lord, he noticed that blood was oozing out of the Lord’s forehead. Puzzled by this, he informed the temple Bhattars and other officers who in turn informed the King. Unable to understand the reason, the King requested the Lord for clarification. That night the Lord came in Lokasaranga Rishi’s dream and instructed him to bring Thirupaanar to the temple carrying him on his shoulders. Waking up, the Rishi was surprised by the dream but decided to follow the Lord’s instruction.

He reached Thirupaanar, with his hands above his head perambulated (pradakshinam) Thirupaanar thrice, fell at his feet and conveyed the Lord’s message that the Rishi had to bring Thirupaanar to the temple. Shocked by this, Thirupaanar refused saying that he belonged to a lower caste and cannot step inside the temple. To this the Rishi replied that Thirupaanar need not step inside and he will carry him on his shoulders. Thirupaanar objected to this but the Rishi insisted that it was the Lord’s orders and carried Thirupaanar on his shoulders upto Aranganathan’s sannidhi.

Once he reached the sannidhi, Thirupaanar studied the Lord in detail and sang ten songs in ecstasy. This collection is called Amalanaathipiran. (அமலனாதிபிரான்)

கொண்டல் வண்ணனைக்
கோவல  னாய்வெண்ணை
உண்ட வாயன் என்னுள்ளம் கவர்ந்தானை
அண்டர்கோன் அணிஅரங்கன் என் அமுதினைக்
கண்ட கண்கள் மற்றோன்றினைக் காணாவே

"After seeing the Lord whose  colour is that of  stormy clouds, who has  butter smeared  around his  mouth, who  has stolen my  heart, also The  Lord of The  Devas, The Aranganathan, my love, my eyes refuse to see anything else."

In front of everybody’s eyes, Thirupaanaazhwar became one with the Lord. The Lord blessed Lokasaranga Rishi also for bringing Thirupaanazhwar on his shoulders.
Thirupaanazhwar has sung hymns on the following temples
Srirangam
Tirupathi

Paramapadham

Azhwars : Thondaradipodi Azhwar

Thondaradipodi Azhwar  (தொண்டரடிப்பொடி ஆழ்வார்)

Thondaradipodi Azhwar was born in Thirumandankudi on a Saturday under the star Kettai, Chaturdasi thithi, Margazhi month theipirai. He is the Vanamala amsam of Mahavishnu. His parents named him Vipranarayanar.

Not interested in family life, Vipranarayanar wished to go on a pilgrimage to many temples and began his journey with Srirangam. Once he saw the Aranganathan in Srirangam he wanted to stay there and serve Him. Like Periyaazhwar, he also started making garlands out of flowers for Aranganathan. He created a garden full of flowering plants and trees and stayed in a kudil (a thatched home) there.

There lived a devadasi by name Devadevi in Uthamarkoil, north of Srirangam. Devadevi and her sister went to Uyriyor for a dance performance in the court of the Chozha king and on the way back, Devadevi saw Vipranarayanar’s garden and was so impressed by it that she wanted to meet the owner. Her sister advised her that Vipranarayanar was only interested in serving the Lord and it is not possible to make him hers. Devadevi challenged her sister that if she is not able to make Vipranarayanar hers in six months time, she will become her sister’s slave.

She dresses in a simple saffron saree and falls at the feet of Vipranarayanar. When Vipranarayanar enquires, Devadevi says that due to her sins in the previous births she was born as a Devadasi, but does not want to be one any more. She also tells Vipranarayanar that she wished to help him in his service to the Lord. Taking pity on her, Vipranarayanar lets her water the plants, pluck the flowers, make the garlands and generally take care of the garden. She does all these jobs to make him trust her. She was given to stay outside his kudil.

 

After some months, one day when it rained very heavily, Devadevi was drenched and taking pity on her Vipranarayanar allows her inside his kudil. Once she gets, she makes him hers. Successful in her mission, she leaves him.

Vipranarayanar yearns for her and goes to her house and stands hesitantly at the front door. Mahavishnu decides that it was time to make Vipranarayanar His and taking a human form, picks up a golden utensil from the temple vessels, brought it to Devadevi and said that he was Manavaladasan, sent by Vipranarayanar and passed the message that Vipranarayanar was waiting outside. Devadevi instructs Vipranarayanar to come inside her house. Next day morning, when the temple was opened, it was found that a golden utensil is missing and it was reported to the King. The king sets up an enquiry with the Bhattar and other people in charge. Finally he finds that the vessel is at Devadevi’s place and calls her for enquiry. She admits that Vipraranarayanar’s servant Manavaladasan brought it to her and then Vipranarayanar is called for enquiry. The king instructs Devadevi to return the vessel to the temple and puts Vipranarayanar in prison.

Mahavishnu comes in the king’s dream and makes him understand that Vipranarayanar was not the thief and He had only come as Manavaladasan. The Lord asks the king to release Vipranarayanar. The King released Vipranarayanar, apologises and sents him home.

Realising his mistakes, Vipranarayanar goes in search of the learned. He understood that to the best way to cleanse himself from his sins was to drink the water with which the Vaishnava Bhagavathas feet were washed and did just that. As he continued to serve the Vaishnava Bhagavathas, he was called “Thondaradipodi Azhwar”

Thondaradipodi Azhwar continued his floral service to Aranganathan and sang hymns in his praise.

Devadevi also gave all her property to the Lord and did service like cleaning, drawing kolams, etc at the temple

Here is an audio file of Thondaradipodi Azhwar's paasuram - Pachai ma malaipol meni sung by Unnikrishnan

Thondaradipodi Azhwar has sung hymns on the following temples

Srirangam
Ayodya
Thirupparkadal

Azhwars : Andal

Andal (ஆண்டாள்)

Andal is the most popular among the Azhwars. All of us know the story of Andal well. All the Tamizh women would have sung her Tiruppavai sometime or the other in their lives.

In Periyaazhwar’s garden, in a Tulsi plant, in the Tamil month of Aadi, valarpirai, chathurdasi thithi, Tuesday, Pooram star, Andal was born. Andal is the amsam of Bhoomidevi.

Periyaazhwar saw the baby in his garden, named her Kothai and brought her up as his own daughter. Kothai grew up hearing the stories of Mahavishnu everyday from Periyaazhwar and her love for Him grew day by day. She was always thinking of the Lord and dreamt of getting married to him.

Periyaazhwar was doing his service of making floral garlands for the Lord of Srivilliputhur. Kothai loved to imagine the Lord as the one who would marry her. Hence, she used to take the garland prepared by her father and wear it everyday and admire herself in the mirror before removing it and placing it in the basket to be taken to the temple.

Periyaazhwar was quite unaware of this daily exercise and used to take the same garland to the temple and decorate the Lord there. It was always accepted by God. One day, quite by chance, Periyaazhwar saw Kothai wearing the garland and was angry. He scolded her for the same and refused to take the used garland to God.

The Lord came in Periyaazhwar’s dream and made him understand that He liked the garland worn by Kothai. Periyaazhwar understood that Kothai was an avatar and named her “Andal” and “Soodikodutha Nachiaar”

Some more years passed and Andal yearned for the Lord and sang Thiruppavai and Nachiaar Thirumozhi in his praise. In Thiruppavai she explained the vrathams to be followed to attain the Lord. To this day reciting Thiruppavai in the month of Margazhi is said to get a girl a good husband.

As a father, Periyaazhwar tried talking to Andal about marriage and Andal made it clear that she will not get married to an ordinary man as she belonged to the Lord. She asked Periayaazhwar detail on the Lords in the 108 divya desams. She was thrilled to hear about the Lord of Mathura, smiled when she heard about Tirupathi Perumal, happy to hear about the beauty of the Lord in Thirumaliruncholai, but she was ecstatic when she heard about Thiruvarangan. She chose Thiruvarangan as her husband and was always thinking about him.

She sang as follows on Thiruvarangan:

கற்பூரம்  நாறுமோ கமலப்பூ நாறுமோ

திருப்பவளச்   செவ்வாய்தான் தித்தி திருக்குமோ 

மருப்பொசித்த மாதவன்றன் வாய்சுவையும் நாற்றமும்  

விருப்புற்றுக்  கேட்கின்றேன் சொல்லாழி வெண்சங்கே  

  

Periyaazhwar wondered how Andal can get married to Perumal and Thiruvarangan came in his dream and instructed him to bring Andal to his temple so that he can accept her. Thiruvarangan also came in the dream of the temple priest and instructed him to go to Srivilliputhur with all the things needed to welcome a bride and bring Kothai. He also came in the dream of the Pandya king Vallabadevan and instructed him to bring Kothai in a pearl palanquin to Srirangam.

Kothai also had many dreams on the Lord that night and she sang thus to her friends:

மத்தளம் கொட்ட வரிசங்கம் நின்றூத

முத்துடைத் தாமம் நிரைதாழ்ந்த பந்தற்கீழ்  

மைத்துனன் நம்பி மதுசூதனன் வந்தென்னைக்

கைத்தலம் பற்றக் கனாக்கண்டேன்   தோழீநான்

  

Pandya king arranged to decorate the path from Srivilliputhur to Srirangam and met Periyaazhwar to explain about his dream. Delighted by the Lord’s karunai, Periyaazhwar arranged for sacred water to be brought from different rivers and Kothai was bathed with this water, dressed up in new clothes and was made to sit in the pearl palanquin. The whole town followed the palanquin on foot. As the procession moved, people praised Andal. The palanquin reached the Srirangam temple entrance, then the front mandapam and then Kothai reached the Lord’s sannidhi. She was drawn to him like a magnet. She went near the Lord, climbed on the serpent bed and became one with Him.

As Periyaazhwar, Pandya King and others were amazed by this, the Lord said to Periyaazhwar that he had become his father-in-law like Samudrarajan and blessed him. He also instructed him to continue his service at Srivilliputhur.

Andal has sung on the following temples:

Ë    Srirangam

Ë    Thirukkanapuram

Ë    Thirumaliruncholai

Ë    Srivilliputhur

Ë    Tirupathi

Ë    Dwaraka

Ë    Mathura

Ë    Aayarpaadi

Ë    Thirupparkadal

Azhwars : Periyaazhwar

Periyaazhwar (பெரியாழ்வார்)

There was a hunter in the forest area near Puthur in Pandya naadu. He had two sons - Villi and Kandan. One day Villi and Kandan went hunting. Kandan followed a tiger and tried to kill it. The tiger attacked Kandan and killed him. Villi became upset seeing this. By the grace of Mahavishnu, Kandan came back alive and Villi also found a treasure. With the treasure, Villi built a temple for Mahavishnu. He also created a town around the temple. Villi made people of Puthur shift to the new town. He named the town Villi- puthur and made arrangements for regular pujas at the temple he had built. This is how Srivilliputhur got its name.

In this town, to a couple Muguntha Bhattar and Padumavalli, Periyaazhwar was born on a Sunday, Ekadasi Thithi, Aani month valarpirai under the star Swathi. He is Garudan’s amsam. He was named Vishnuchithan.

After completing his studies, Vishnuchithar realised that he was keen on serving the Lord. He chose a good fertile part of the land his ancestors had provided and made a flower garden with many flowering trees and plants there. His service was to make lovely garlands out of the flowers from his garden for the Lord of the Srivilliputhur temple.

The Pandya kingdom was then ruled by Vallabadevan. He was well-versed in the arts and also ruled the kingdom well. He was keen to know how to reach God and get endless happiness and put this question to his ministry. All suggested that the question be put to the learned. The king agreed, and tied a bundle of gold in a cloth and hung it on a pillar near his throne. He announced that the gold will belong to the person who makes the cloth bundle tear and fall with his answer to the king’s quest.

Mahavishnu came in Vishnuchithar’s dream and gave him the answer to the king’s question. Next day, Vishnuchithar went to the king and answered his question. The bundle of gold tore and fell from the pillar. The king was very happy with Vishnuchithar’s explanation and gave him the name “Bhattarpiran”, made him sit on an elephant and took him in procession. Pleased by this action, Mahavishnu gave darshan to Vishnuchithar and the King. Seeing the beauty of Mahavishnu on Garudan with the Devas around, Vishnuchithar sang “Pallandu” on the Lord

பல்லாண்டு பல்லாண்டு பல்லாயி ரத்தாண்டு

பலகோடி நூறாயிரம்

மல்லாண்ட திண்தோள் மணிவண் ணாஉன்

செவ்வடி செவ்விதிருக் காப்பு

He came to be called “Periayaazhwar” as he sang Pallandu on the Lord

After this Vishnuchithar came back to Srivilliputhur and with the gold he renovated the Srivilliputhur temple and continued singing in praise of the Lord. He has sung in praise of Lord Krishna’s avatharam in detail.

Periyaazhwar has sung hymns on the following temples:

- Srirangam

- Thiruvellarai

- Thiruppernagar

- Kumbakonam

- Thirukkannapuram

- Thiruchitrakoodam

- Thirumaliruncholai

- Thirukotiyur

- Srivilliputhur

- Ayodya

- Salagramam

- Badhrinath

- Thirugangaikaraikkandam

- Dwaraka

- Mathura

- Ayarpaadi

- Thirupparkadal

- Paramapadham