THE ALWARS
From AD 700 to 800 tweve Vaishnavate saints called ALWARS started
propagating VISHNU CULT. The 12 Alwar saints are (1) POIGAI ALWAR
(2)POOTHATHALWAAR (3) PEYAALWAR (4) THIRUMAALISAI ALWAR (5) NAMMALWAAR (6)
MADHURA KAVI ALWAAR (7) KULA SEKHARA VARMA ALWAAR (8) PERIA ALWAAR (9)
ANDALL (10) THONDARADIPPODI ALWAAR (11) THIRUPPAN ALWAR and (12)
THIRUMANGAI ALWAR. I am of the opinion that Vaishnavate Bhakthi Cult started
after the Shaiva Bhakthi Cult. The Alwars praised LORD VISHNU in ANTATIS
"According to Vaishnavas, MAHA VISHNU is the Supreme Lord, and is the only
entity primarily praised in all true scriptures. Vishnu is the Lord, is the
Cause, the Protector, and the Destroyer of all Creation known and unknown,
and is responsible for all bondage and liberation. He is beyond the scope
of all that is destructible and indestructible, and His worship is the
purpose of one's existence; He is free of all flaw, and has an infinite
number of good attributes".
The First three Alwars Viz. POIKAI ALWAR, POOTHATHAALWAAR, and PEYAALWAR are responsible for writing the first three ANTHATHIS in VENPA STYLE.They share a comman legend in Srree Vaishnava Tradition . The ANTATIS the first three created have about 100 verses each.In fact they lived in three different places and never knew each other's existence . They are considered as divine personalities in the tradition.
Peyalwar the third Alwar, who was believed to be born in the 7th century
AD. As he was mad on Lord Vishnu, he probably got the name 'Pei' Alwar (Pei
means ghost in Tamil language). Peyalwar was believed to be born on a
red allilly flower (sevvalli) in a well. The birthplace of Peyalwar, who was
believed to be the incarnation of Nandakam – the divine sword of Vishnu, is
located near Madhava Perumal temple in Arundale street at Mylapore
localitiy in Chennai city, South India.
It is widely known that HH. Thirumal Isai Alwaar was a Shiva BHAKTHA. He
was converted as a VISHNU BHAKTHA by PEY ALWAAR. "It is associated
with Shri Thirumazhisai alwar who was ordained by Sri.Peyyalwar and there is
a sanidhi here for him with the third eye like Siva on his left toe." "
Lord Jagannath temple in Thirumazhisai is one of the three important
Jagannath temples in the world. Jagnnath is a name given to Lord Krishna.
Puri is considered as Uttara Jagannath Kshetra (North Jagannath), and
Tiruppullani is considered as the Dakshina Jagannath Kshetra (South
Jagannath), and Thirumazhisai Nagar is considered as the Madhya Jagannath
Kshetra (the middle Jagannath site). "
Friends,
It will be endless if I start writing about all the Alwars, Siddas,
Nayanmars etc. Hence I shall give a short description on NAM ALAWAAR and
ANDAAL ALWAR and then continue with BUDDISM AND JAINISM in South India.
NAM ALWAAR : His real name was SATAKOPAN. He is said to be the
incarnation of VISHWARKSENAR. While those belong to ADI SHANKARA's group of
Brahmins called say that VISHWAKSENAR is elephant faced and is
MAHAGANAPATHY and point out the opening verses " yasya dwirada vakrAdyA:
pArishadyA: parashathaM, vignaM nighnanthi sathathaM vikshvaksEnaM tham
AshrayE " but the Vaishnavates will not agree to this and say that
vikshwasenar is the senadhipadhi of Lord Shriman Narayana. Further they
say it does not start with this verse but with " Shuklambhatadharam
Vishnum……..sarva vigna upashaanthaye". This is not within the purview of
my essay and hence I leave it to settle between VAISHNAVATES and SHAIVATES.
THIRVAAIMOZHAI which consists of 1102 four lined verses is one of his
greatest work Some of his other works are (1) Thiru-Viruttam, (2) Thiru-Asiriyam
and PeriaThiruvandadi.
ANDAL ALWAAAR : Friends she is the only FEMALE ALWAAR AMONG THE 12
ALWAARS given above.
Life story of Sri Andal:
The life story of Sri Andal is very well known in South India and to a few
people in the north. However, a brief narrative is given here for the
fresher. The Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that Sri Andal was found in the
flower garden in kali yuga 98, Adi (Ashata month), Shukla Chathurthi,
Tuesday with Puram star in SRIVILLPUTHUR<http://www.divyadesam.com/hindu/temples/virudhunagar/srivilliputoor-temple.shtmlin the Pandiya dynasty. Accordingly, her date of birth is 8th of June 3004
B.C. But modern historians fix a date the first half of the 8th century A.D.
Be that as it may, our account follows the "Guru Parampara" tradition.
Upbringing of Sri Andal by Periyaazhvaar/Vishnuchithan:
As Sita was found by king Janaka, while tilling the land for doing yagna,
Vishnuchitha (a great vedic scholar, poet, Vishnu devotee also known as
Periyazhvar found the divine child under a tulasi plant while he was tending
his nandavana(garden) in Srivilliputhur. He brought her up in simple and
godly surroundings natural to a pious, vedic, dhwaija. The child prodigy
thus fostered lovingly grew into a beautiful maiden and became an embodiment
of love for Sri Krishna.
Sri Andal's love for Krishna/Sri Vatabhadrasayee:
Being a devotee of "Sri Vadabhatrasayee", the presiding deity of
srivilliputhur, Vishnuchitha would weave a garland of tulasi leaves daily
and keep it sacredly rolled in a flower basket so that he may, after
attending to his other course, take the garland later to the temple for
offering to the lord. The child "kodai"(Andal) in her profound innocence
would take out the garland daily without her father's knowledge, adorn
herself and look into the mirror to satisfy herself whether she was suitable
bride to the lord and then would remove the garland and replace it in the
basket in its original form. This was going on for days and without actually
knowing that her daughter had adorned the garland around herself,
Vishnuchitha would offer this to the deity who wore it beatifically.
One day to his surprise, Vishnucitha saw the child wearing the garland
before he could take it to the temple. He was shocked for he considered this
as a great defilement. He remonstrated her for this act. He fasted that day
and did not offer the garland and was all repentant. But lo! What a
surprise? At night, the lord appearing in dreams asked Vishnuchitha, why you
did not offer me the tulasi wreath today? I am ever eager to have the things
touched by my devotee. Think not Andal kodai to be a mere mortal."
To his wonder Vishnuchitha found that tulasi wreath worn on the previous
day by Andal had not faded. But, was fresher than a freshly made garland.
Thereafter, he offered the garland to the deity after being worn by Andal.
The lord continued to give his the bliss of ineffable "darshan". (Even
today, this practice is being observed at the temple of Srivilliputhur.)
When Andal attained her marriageable age, her father was worried to find a
suitable match for her. But, the divine child would not marry anyone except
lord Krishna.
Therefore, Vishnuchitha narrated all the KALYANA GUNAS of all the
Archa-Murthis of the one hundred and eight Sri Vaishnava Kshetras in India,
so that she may for herself choose the deity. When she heard of the
Soundarya of lord Sriranganatha, tears of joy came over her and her heart
prayed to HIM to come and accept her in wedlock.
Wedlock of Sri Andal with Sri Ranganatha:
At this, Vishnuchitha, knowing not what to do, meditated. Sri ranganatha
spoke to him in a dream: "Do not hesitate to offer your daughter to Me, for
she is Bhudevi herself." Simultaneously the lord bade the
sthanikas(officials in charge) of Srirangam to go to Srivilliputhur and
bring Andal in a palanquin in all royalty.
King Vallabhadeva along with his retinue joined the procession from
Srivilliputhur to Srirangam with Sri Andal in a palanquin.
The whole route was decorated on either sides with flowers and wreaths of
finely weaved green saplings (called thoranam). As sri Andal entered the
inner shrine of Sri Ranganatha, the magnetic beauty of the lord instantly
attracted her. She boldly mounted up His serpent couch and joined the
eternal lustrous light of Sri Ranganatha in the presence of the gathering.
Sri Andal's works:
To posterity, Sri Andal gave two gems as masterpieces:-
1. TIRUPPAVAI (30 verses)<http://www.divyadesam.com/hindu/religion/thiru-paavai/index.shtml
2. NAACHIYAAR THIRUMOZHI (143 verses).
--
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God
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