The Temples of Divya Prabandham

The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses[Naalayiram 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.

The Tamil Vaishnavites are also known as Ubhaya Vedanti [those that follow both vedas]. 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 [Kaari Maaran, Sadagopan of Thiruk Kurugoor].

The Tiruvaymozhi ["words of the sacred mouth"] is one of the Divya Prabandham, an important liturgical compilation of the Tamil Alvar Bhaktas, collected in the 9th century by Nammalvar. The author self-identifies as a lovelorn Gopi pining for Krishna

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 [hymns], 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 azhwar [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 [hymns] of Madhurakavi Alvar, who was the disciple of Nammazhwar Kanninun Siruthaambu. They asked him to go to Thiruppuliaazhwar, the place where Nammazhwar lived, and recite these 11 pasurams [hymns] for 12000 times. Nathamuni did as advised, and pleased with his penance, Nammazhwar granted him not only his 1000 pasurams [hymns], but the entire 4000 pasurams [hymns] of all the alvars.

Details of Pasurams

The following table shows the details of the 4000 pasurams [hymns]:

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	2673	1	Thirumangai alvar
22	Peria Thirumadal	2674	2674	1	Thirumangai alvar
23	Thiruvay Mozhi	2674	3776	1102	Nammalvar
	Total number of pasurams			3776

[ Courtesy: Wikipedia]