Periyalvar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Periyalvar
Periazhwar.jpg
Personal
Born
Vishnuchitta

c. 9th century
Srivilliputhur
Died
Kallazhagar temple
ReligionHinduism
PhilosophyVaishnava Bhakti
Religious career
Literary worksTirupallandu, Periya Azhwar thirumozhi
HonorsAlvar saint

Periyalvar (c. 9th century), also known as Vishnuchittar is one of the twelve alvar saints of South India who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. His name is also transliterated as Periyalwar, Periyazhwar, or Periyazhvar. He is the foster father of Andal. Andal, also called as Kodhai, is the only female alvar and is considered to be the incarnation of Bhu Devi (Goddess Earth).

The verses of alvars are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham and the 108 temples revered are classified as Divya Desam. According to some accounts, Periyalvar is considered the first in the line of the twelve alvars, while other accounts place him as the eighth. His original name is Vishnuchittar. Since he blessed Lord Vishnu assuming he is elder to the Lord, he is called Periyalvar.

According to Hindu legend, Periyalvar was the foster father of Andal, the only female alvar. The works of Periyalvar contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. His contributions are and among the 4000 stanzas in the Nalayira Divya Prabandam.

In South-Indian Vishnu temples, Periyalvar has images and festivals associated with him. The Garudasevai festival in Srivilliputhur temple, where five Vishnu temples in the region participate, is an event dedicated to him. The verses of Periyalvar and other alvars are recited as a part of daily prayers and during festive occasions in most Vishnu temples in South India.

Date[]

A poem of Periyalvar names the ruling Pandya king as Netumaran, and states that the king extolled the lord of Thirumalirumsolai (that is, Vishnu). The Pandyan kings were generally staunch Shaivites: the only king described as a parama-vaishnava ("Great Vaishnavite") in the Pandyan inscriptions was Jatila Parantaka (r. c. 765-815), who was also known as Netun-jataiyan. His successor Shrimara Shrivallabha (r. c. 815-862) was known as Netumaran, although he is not known to be a Vaishnavite. Either of these kings can be identified as the "Netumaran" mentioned by Periyalvar. Thus, Periyalvar can be placed in the first half of the 9th century.[1]

According to the Vaishnavite tradition, Vishnucitta or Periyalvar incarnated on this earth in the 47th year after the beginning of the Kali Era (3102 BC).[2]

Alvars[]

Image of Rangamannar-Andal temple in Srivilliputhur showing the pyramidal temple tower
Image of Rangamannar-Andal temple in Srivilliputhur

The word alvar means the one who is immersed/dives deep into the nectar/ocean of the countless attributes of god. Alvars are considered the Twelve Supreme Devotees Of Supreme Lord Vishnu, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism. The religious works of these saints in Tamil, songs of love and devotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as Divya desam.[3][4] The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three azhwars, Poigai, Bhutha and Pey were born miraculously. Thirumazhisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi, Peria and Andal were from brahmin community, Kulasekhara from Kshatria community, Namm was from a cultivator family, Tirupana from panar community and Tirumangai from kazhwar community. Divya Suri Saritra by Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century AD), Guruparamparaprabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya tiru mudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara (lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the alvars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Poigai is considered an incarnation of Panchajanya (Krishna's conch), Bhoothath of Kaumodakee (Vishnu's Mace/Club), Pey of Nandaka (Vishnu's sword), Thirumalisai of Sudarshanam (Vishnu's discus), Namm of Vishvaksena (Vishnu's commander), Madhurakavi of Vainatheya (Vishnu's eagle, Garuda), Kulasekhara of Kaustubha (Vishnu's necklace), Periy of Garuda (Vishnu's eagle), Andal of Bhoodevi (Vishnu's wife, Lakshmi, in her form as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi of Vanamaalai (Vishnu's garland), Thiruppaan of Srivatsa (An auspicious mark on Vishnu's chest) and Thirumangai of Saranga (Rama's bow). The songs of Prabandam are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.[4][5]

Early life[]

Periyalvar was born into a Brahmin family in Srivilliputhur, near Madurai and was named Vishnuchittar meaning "one who has Vishnu in his mind". Since his childhood, he had very strong devotion to Lord Vishnu. He renounced many aspects of common life of a man i.e., getting educated , getting married and have children, earning money, but instead focus on Bhakti (devotion), especially on doing simple tasks for god. He would make garlands of flowers for the deity of the Vadapadrasayi temple. Once during random rounds around the city, the pandyan king Vallabhadeva thought to take rest in a nearby temple. There, a man who renounced his life was singing a song related to liberation or moksha. The king heard this, turned very emotional and the song had a very strong influence in him. Next morning, he declined his kingship, and held a competition between scholars to find out the path to liberation. The prize is 1,00,000 gold coins, tied to a large pillar, which will definitely fall if god is convinced about the answer whoever tells. All tries, but the bag doesn't fall down. On the other side, Vishnuchitta was gardening his Tulasi plants at the moment. Lord Vishnu, informed about this event to Vishnuchitta who was unaware what was going on in the city. Vishnuchitta despite repeated convince, declined Lord Vishnu's advise to go and win the competition, stating that he had no education, and how can he win the competition that too which has to be explained according to the vedas. Lord Vishnu, took his conch, and placed it on Vishnuchitta's head and mouth, immediately Vishnuchitta became very fluent in Vedas and all other education, just by simple touch by a powerful Panchajanya on his head. He went to the competition ground. Seeing the participants, he was afraid and nervous. But boldly, he placed his anxiety on Lord Vishnu, automatically, he put forward the necessary points and proofs that Lord Vishnu is the ultimate destiny to all, and the bag fell at Vishnuchitta's feet. The king was very happy, and placed Vishnuchitta on an elephant taking him in procession around the streets of Madurai. Lord Vishnu gave his appearance to all the sky of Madurai and blessed Vishnuchitta. Vishnuchitta didn't have a minute pride, and cried to the lord, why is he taken into precession, even though it is the lord who was actual reason for all that is happening. Immediately, he wrote the famous Thirupallandu on the elephant.

Vishnuchitta gave away all the money to charity and he started to do his job again. The Lord was moved by this for a very simple character of his devotee. Lord Vishnu was thinking, that he has given everything to Vishnuchitta. he have education, money, but Vishnuchitta accepts nothing except devotion. The final thing Lord Vishnu could do is, he can't give anything to Vishnuchitta, but he can give himself to him. Immediately, he sees Bhudevi who was massaging his feet. Bhudevi understood, and on Earth, when Vishnuchitta was offering water to the Tulasi plants, he found a baby crying. He takes her on his shoulder and gets a very unusual happiness and feels her like her own daughter. He also enquired about it to everyone, but all says it's not their daughter. So, he plans to take care of her on his own. Vishnuchitta names her Kodhai. Vishnuchitta introduced Lord

tf Andal Temple, is originally believed to have been buil. from religious debates in the court of Vallaba Pandya in Madurai.[3]

Vishnuchittar composed a couplet called "pallandu"(பல்லாண்டு) (also called Thirup-Palandu(திருப்பல்லாண்டு) out of respect) translating to "Long live for many years, Long live for many years for Hundreds of thousands of years!" to God. This is a very important prayer in Srivaishnava liturgy today. Vishnuchittar composed some pasurams in the 4000 Divya Prabhandham called Perialvar Tirumozhi where he explores a devotee's love for God through the metaphor of Yashoda's motherly love for Krishna. He was the adopted father of Kodhai or Andal, the only woman alvar.

Periyalvar was fascinated by the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna and developed devotion and love for God, incarnated as Krishna. And he sang of Krishna, the Child Deity, with maternal love. He was more concerned about the welfare of child Krishna than his own. Because of his love and devotion, he was named Perialwar or great alvar.[6] Apart from his native Srivilliputhur, he visited Thirukoshtiyur, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tiruvellarai and Azhagar Kovil.

Culture[]

The devotees of Srivaishnva sect of Hinduism pay respect to the alvars in a similar vein to their worship of Vishnu. The verses of alvars are recited as a part of daily prayers and during festive occasions in most Vishnu temples in South India. There are shrines dedicated to the alvars in most of the Vishnu temples in South India.[7] The Periyalvar Mangalasasanam festival (also called Aani Utsavam) is celebrated every year during the Tamil month of Aadi (July - August) in the Vadapadrasayi temple in Srivilliputhur. The image of Periyalvar receives each of the five Vishnu images for Mangalasasanam. Vadapatrasayee Periya Perumal, festival image of Srivilliputhur Divyadesam, Sundararaja Perumal of Kaatazhagar Temple, Srinivasa Perumal of Tiruvannamalai and Thiru Thangal Appan are received by Periyalvar with different verses from Nalayira Divya Prabandam. In the evening, Garuda Sevai festival is celebrated where all of the festival deities are carried around the streets of Srivilliputhur.[8]

Thousands of people from the state participate in the "Aadi Pooram" festival celebrated in the Andal Temple. After early morning special pujas, the presiding deities, Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in decorated palanquins to the car. The festival marks the adoption of presiding deity, Andal, by Periyalvar after he found her near a Tulsi plant in the garden of Vadabadrasai Temple at Srivilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Adi.[9][10]

Periyalvar's unconditional love towards Sri Krishna[]

Periyalvar imagined the temple town of Tirukkoshtiyur in Tamil Nadu to be Gokul, the place where Lord Krishna grew up. The infant Krishna is brought to Gokul and left beside Yasoda. Yasoda wakes up and thinks the child is hers. The news of the baby’s birth brings the Gopas and Gopikas to Yasoda’s house, to have a look at the baby. Those who see him once are not satisfied with just one visit, and they dance with joy. Periyalvar gave all these descriptions in his Tirukkoshtiyur verses. Periyalvar celebrated almost every stage of Lord Krishna’s childhood through verses, imagining himself to be Yasoda, coaxing Krishna to eat, to bathe etc. Periyalvar admires infant Krishna sticking his big toe in his mouth.[11]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Vidya Dehejia (1990). Antal and Her Path of Love. SUNY Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-7914-0395-2.
  2. ^ M. Srinivasachariar (1974). History of Classical Sanskrit Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 278–. ISBN 978-81-208-0284-1.
  3. ^ a b Rao, P.V.L. Narasimha (2008). Kanchipuram – Land of Legends, Saints & Temples. New Delhi: Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd. p. 27. ISBN 978-93-5018-104-1.
  4. ^ a b Dalal 2011, pp. 20-21
  5. ^ Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007). Historical Dictionary of the Tamils. Scarecrow Press. p. 211. ISBN 9780810864450.
  6. ^ V.K., Subramanian (2006). 101 Mystics of India. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-471-4.
  7. ^ Ul Hassan, Syed Siraj (1920). The Castes and Tribes of H.E.H. the Nizam's Dominions, Volume 1. Asian Educational Services. pp. 130–131. ISBN 9788120604889.
  8. ^ S., Prabhu (26 July 2012). "Garuda accorded special status here". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Thousands of devotees likely to throng Srivilliputtur today". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Hundreds participate in Andal Temple car festival". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 30 July 2006. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  11. ^ Interesting interpretations

References[]

Retrieved from ""