Friday, September 5, 2008

Naalayira Divya Prabandham...


The Nalayira Divya Prabandha (or Nalayira Divya Prabhandham) is a collection of 4,000 verses (Naalayira in Tamil means 'four thousand') composed before 8th century AD, by the 12 Alvars, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th – 10th centuries. The work is the beginning of the canonization of the 12 Vaishnava poet saints, and these hymns are still sung extensively even today. The works were lost before they were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.

The Prabandha sings the praise of Narayana (or Vishnu) and his many forms. The Alvars sung these songs at various sacred shrines. These shrines are known as the Divya Desams.

In South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, the Divya Prabhandha is considered as equal to the Vedas, hence the epithet Dravida Veda.[citation needed] In many temples, Srirangam, for example, the chanting of the Divya Prabhandham forms a major part of the daily service. Prominent among the 4,000 verses are the 1,100+ verses known as the Thiru Vaaymozhi, composed by Nammalvar (Kaaril Maaran Sadagopan) of Thiruk Kurugoor.

Compilation

These once thought of being lost were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.

Nathamuni was born in Veera Naarayanapuram (Veeranam) or present day Kaattu Mannaar Koil. There is a lot of gap in time between Thirumangai Alvar(the last alvar) and Nathamuni. In this dark period, nobody knew what happened to the 4000 verses.

Legend has it that once Nathamuni heard some people reciting the decad of 'Aaraavamude' of Nammaazhvaar at Kumbakonam. Captivated by these paasurams,he wanted to know more about them. One of the verses also mentioned 'aayiraththul ippaththu' (Tamil: these 10 out of the 1000). When Nathamuni enquired about the remaining 990, the people who sang the 10 did not know anything about the other verses. But as the song mentioned the name and place of the alvar (kurugoor satakopan), Nathamuni proceeded to Thirukurugoor and asked the people there about Swami Nammazhwar's 1000 verses.

The people did not know the 1000 that Nathamuni wanted, but they told him about 11 pasurams of Madhurakavi Alvar, who was the disciple of Nammaazhvaar (Kanninun Siruthaambu. They asked him to go to Thiruppuliaazhwar, the place were Nammaazhvaar lived, and recite these 11 pasurams for 12000 times. Nathamuni did as advised, and pleased with his penance, Nammaazhvaar granted him not only his 1000 pasurams, but the entire 4000 parsurams of all the alvars.

Details of Pasurams

The following table shows the details of the 4000 pasurams.

Sl no Name of the prabandham Starting from Ending with Number of pasurams
Sung by
1 periazhvar thirumozhi 1 473 473
Periyalvar
2 thiruppavai 474 503 30
Aandaal
3 Nachiar Tirumozhi 504 646 143
Aandaal
4 perumal thirumozhi 647 751 105
Kulasekara Alvar
5 thiruchchanda viruththam 752 871 120
Thirumalisai Alvar
6 thirumalai 872 916 45
Thondaradippodi Alvar
7 thiruppalliyezhuchchi 917 926 10
Thondaradippodi Alvar
8 amalanadhi piran 927 936 10
Thiruppaan Alvar
9 kanni nun siruththambu 937 947 11
Madhurakavi Alvar
10 peria thirumozhi 948 2031 1084
Thirumangai Alvar
11 kurun thandagam 2032 2051 20
Thirumangai Alvar
12 nedum thandagam 2052 2081 30
Thirumangai Alvar
13 mudhal thiruvandhadhi 2082 2181 100
Poigai Alvar
14 irandam thiruvandhadhi 2182 2281 100
Bhoothathalvar
15 moonram thiruvandhadhi 2282 2381 100
Peyalvar
16 naanmugan thiruvandhadhi 2382 2477 96
Thirumalisai Alvar
17 thiruviruththam 2478 2577 100
Nammalvar
18 thiruvasiriyam 2578 2584 7
Nammalvar
19 peria thiruvandhadhi 2585 2671 87
Nammalvar
20 thiruvezhukkurrirukkai 2672 2672 1
Thirumangai Alvar
21 siriya thirumadal 2673 2712 40
Thirumangai Alvar
22 peria thiru madal 2713 2790 78
Thirumangai Alvar
23 thiruvay mozhi 2791 3892 1102
Nammalvar
24 ramanusa noorandhadhi 3893 4000 108
Thiruvarangathamudhanar








total number of pasurams


4000



















for further links :
  • http://www.srivaishnavam.com/prabandham.htm
  • http://www.munitrayam.org/andavanashram/gurupara.htm

























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