Divya Desams of South India in the Pasurams of Periazhwar
Between the 6th and the 9th centuries, there was an emergence of a deeply religious and devotional movement called the Bhakthi movement. This movement became one of the most important religious movements in the Indian subcontinent which focused on the deities Shiva and Vishnu. The Shaivam tradition revers the sixty-three saints known as Naayanmaars while Vaishnavam worships the twelve Azhwars. Many of the Naayanmaars were great devotees of Shiva but not all of them have composed hymns on the Lord.
The twelve Azhwars of Vaishnavam have all composed divine hymns or Pasurams on Vishnu. The Vaishnava community revers the Azhwars as Saints and devotees par excellence. The twelve Azhwars are Poigai Azhwar, Bhoothathazhwar, Peyazhwar, Thirumazhisaiazhwar, Nammazhwar, Kulasekhara Azhwar, Periazhwar, Andal, Thondaradipodi Azhwar, Thiruppannazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar.
The verses of the Azhwars, known as Pasurams have been compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham or 4000 divine hymns. The 108 temples worshipped in these Pasurams are called as the Divya Desams. The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is considered as a very sacred text by the Vaishnavas and is called as the Tamizh Vedam or Dravida Vedam. The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a great contribution to Tamiz Isai and it excels in both literature (Iyal) as well as music (Isai). The Divya Desams are classified as Chozha Nattu Divya Desam, Pandya Nattu Divya Desam, Nadu Nattu Divya Desam, Chera Nattu Divya Desam, Thondu Nattu Divya Desam, Vada Nattu Divya Desam and Vinnulaga Divya Desam. In this article, the South Indian Divya Desams found in Periazhwar Pasurams is briefly discussed.
According to Vaishnavism, Periazhwar is considered the seventh in the line of twelve Azhwars. He is supposed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu’s vehicle, Garuda. He was born as Vishnuchittha. His Pasurams give us insight into the fact that, Periazhwar was utmost concerned about the welfare and well being of the Lord and due to this extreme love and affection for the Lord, he was called Periazhwar. According to Hindu legend, Periazhwar was the foster father of Andal, the only female Azhwar, His contributions to the 4000 hymns are the Thiruppallandu and Periazhwar Thirumozhi. He has composed a total of 473 Pasurams, 12 hymns in Thiruppallandu and 461 Pasurams in the remaining Periazhwar Thirumozhi. He has sung on the 19 Divya Desams including the Vinnulaga or Heavenly Divya desams. He has composed a total of 177 Pasurams on the Divya Desams out of the 473 Pasurams. He has sung on the 10 Divya Desams in South India.
Thiruvarangam:
Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 4–8–1 to 10, 4–9–1 to 11, 4–10–1 to 10 are on Divya Desam Srirangam. This is a Chozha Naattu Divya Desam near Trichy, Tamilnadu. The presiding deity is Sri Ranganathaswami, a reclining form of Lord Vishnu. In all these Pasurams, Periazhwar praises the Lord and the greatness of the Divya Desam.
Periazhwar says “Madhavatthon Putthiranpoi….. Punal Arangam Enpaduve. (4–8–1)”
wherein he mentions the legend of Sandeepani Maharishi. Arangam denoting the Thiruvaranga Divya Desam.
Thiruvellarai:
Thiruvellarai Pundareekakshan temple is a Chozha Naattu Divya Desam and is in the outskirts of Trichy, Tamilnadu. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–6–8, 2–8–1 to 10 are on this Divya Desam. These set of Pasurams describe the “Kaappidal” of child Krishna. Kaappidal denotes the removal of drishti dosham or the evil eye. Periazhwar’s extreme affection for the Lord is seen in these Pasurams.
He says “Indiranodu Brahman….Vellarai Ninrai…”(2–8–1). Vellarai here denotes the Divya Desam, Thiruvellarai.
Thirupper nagar:
Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple or Thirupper Nagar, is located in Koviladi, a village 10 miles from Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. This temple is located along the banks of the Cauvery River and is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams located on the banks of the Cauvery River. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 2–5–1, 2–6–2, 2–9–4 are on this Divya Desam. This is a Choza Naattu Divya Desam. These three Pasurams describe the childhood stage of Lord Krishna.
Periazhwar says “Pinnal Manaalanai Perir Kidanthanai….” (2–5–1). Perir means in Thirupper, Divya Desam denoted here.
Thirukkudanthai:
This Divya Desam is the Sarangapani temple located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. This is a Chozha Naattu Divya Desam. This temple is along the river Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–7–4, 2–6–2, 2–6–6 are on this Divya Desam. These Pasurams denotes the different childhood stages of child Krishna.
Periazhwar says “Aalathilaiyaan…. Kudanthai Kidantharkor kol konduva” (2–6–6). Kudanthai is mentioned in this Pasuram denoting this Divya Desam.
Thirukkannapuram:
Neela Megha Perumal Temple or Sowriraja Perumal Temple in Thirukannapuram, a village, is located in the outskirts of Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu. This is a Chozha Naattu Divya Desam. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–6–8 is on this Divya Desam. This Pasuram is one of the Pasurams describing the “Chenkeerai” stage of Child Krishna.
Periazhwar says “unnaiyum okkalaiyil…. Kannapuratthu amudhe…” (1–6–8). Kannapurathu Amudhe denotes the Divya Desam Thirukkannapuram.
Thirukkurungudi:
Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar Temple in Thirukkurungudi, is located in Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu. This is a Pandya Naattu Divya Desam. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–6–8 is on this Divya Desam. This Pasuram is one of the Pasurams describing the “Chenkeerai” stage of Child Krishna
Periazhwar says “unnaiyum okkalaiyil…. Mannu kurungudiyaai…” (1–6–8). Kurungudiyaai denotes the Divya Desam Thirukkurungudi.
Thirumaalirumcholai:
Thirumaalirumcholai is the Kallazhagar Temple in Azhagar Koyil near Madurai, Tamilnadu. This is a Pandya Naattu Divya Desam. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–6–8, 3–4–5, 4–2–1 to 11, 4–3–1 to 11, 5–3–1 to 10 are on this Divya Desam.
Periazhwar says “chutri ninru…. maaliruncholai…” (3–4–5). Maaliruncholai denotes the Divya Desam Thirumaalirumcholai. In this Pasuram, a Gopika’s love for Lord Krishna is described wherein she says she will marry none other than the Lord himself.
Thirugoshtiyur:
Sowmyanarayana Perumal Temple in Thirugoshtiyur is near Sivaganga in Madurai district, Tamilnadu. This is a Pandya Naatu Divya Desam. Periyazhwar Thirumozhi 1–2–1 to 10, 4–4–1 to 11, 2–6–2 have been composed on this Divya Desam. The Pasurams 1–2–1 to 10 describe the birth of Lord Krishna and Periazhwar gives a beautiful depiction of Lord Krishna being born in Thirugoshtiyur.
He says “Vanna Maadangal Soozh Thirugoshtiyur Kannan Keshavan Nambi Pirandhinil.”(1–2–1).
Thirugoshtiyur denoting the Divya Desam.
Thiruvilliputtur
Thiruvilliputtur or Srivilliputtur is in Virudhunagar district of Tamilnadu. The presiding deity of this temple is Vata Patra Shaayi. This is a Pandya Naattu Divya Desam. This place is believed to be the birth place of Periazhwar and Andal. Periazhwar lived in Srivilliputtur and used to string garlands for the deity Vata Patra Shaayi. There is one Pasuram of Periazhwar on this Divya Desam.
The Pasuram “Minnanaya….innisaikkum villiputtur…”(2–2–6) wherein Villiputtur denotes the Divya Desam and this Pasuram describes “mulai unnal”, the feeding of Lord Krishna by Yashoda.
Thiruvengadam
Thiruvengadam or Thirumalai Venkateshwara temple as it is popularly known is in Chittoor district of the state of Andhra Pradesh. This is a Vada Naattu Divya Desam. Periazhwar Thirumozhi 1–5–3, 1–9–8, 2.6.9, 2.7.3, 2.9.6, 3.3.4, 5.4.1 denote the Divya Desam, Thiruvengadam.
The Pasuram “Chhuttrum Olivattam…vitthakan Venkatavaanan…”(1–5–3) describes the “Ambuli Paruvam” of child Krishna where Yashodha beckons the moon to come. Venkatavaanan denotes the deity of this Divya Desam.
References:
1. Sri Nalayira Divya Prabandham, Prema Parisuram, 2010.
2. Ramasubramanya Sharma & R. Ponnammal, Sri Nalayira Divya Prabandham with commentary, Gangai Puthaka Nilayam, 2017.
3. C.R. Srinivasa Iyengar Swami, Azhwargal Charithiram, Sudesa Mitan Press, 1922.
4. P.B. Annangachariar Swami, Thiruppallandum Periazhwar Thirumozhitum, Presidency Press, 1914.
5. Periyavachaan Pillai & Periya Jeeyar, Periazhwar Thirumozhi Vyakhyanam, Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya Sanjeevini Sabha, 1909.
6. https://naliyeram.blogspot.com/2014/11/pasurams-at-different-divya-desams.html
