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Periyalvar

Periyalvar(Tamil:பெரியாழ்வார்) (c. 9th century), also known asVishnuchittar(Sanskrit:विष्णुचित्तः), was one of the twelveAlvarsaints of SouthIndiawho are known for their affiliation to theVaishnavatradition ofHinduism.He was the foster father ofAndal.Andal, also called asKodhai,is the only female Alvar, and is considered to be the incarnation ofBhudeviaccording toSri Vaishnavism.[1]

Periyalvar
Personal
Born
Vishnuchitta

c. 9th century
Srivilliputhur
Died
Kallazhagar temple
ReligionHinduism
Organization
PhilosophyVishishtadvaita
Religious career
Literary worksTirupallantu,Periyalvar Tirumoli

The verses ofAlvarsare compiled as theNaalayira Divya Prabandhamand the 108 temples revered are classified asDivya 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 was Vishnuchittar. Since he blessedVishnuas though assuming he were an elder to the deity, 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, the proponent behind theBhakti movement.[2]His contributions are theTirupallantuandPeriyalvar Tirumoli,which are among the 4000 stanzas in theNaalayira Divya Prabandam.

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

Dating

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A poem of Periyalvar names the rulingPandyaking as Netumaran, and states that the king extolled the lord of Thirumalirumsolai (that is, Vishnu). The Pandyan kings were generally staunchShaivites:the only king described as aparama-vaishnava( "GreatVaishnavite") 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.[3]

According to the Vaishnavite tradition, Vishnucitta or Periyalvar incarnated on this earth in the 47th year after the beginning of the Kali Era (3102 BCE).[4]

Alvars

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Image ofRangamannar-Andal templeinSrivilliputhur

The wordAlvarmeans the 'immersed', referring to the poet-saints's deep devotion to their supreme deity,Vishnu.TheAlvarsare considered the twelve supreme devotees ofVishnuinSri Vaishnavism,who were instrumental in popularisingVaishnavismduring the 5th to 8th centuries CE. The religious works of these saints inTamil,songs of love and devotion, are compiled asNaalayira Divya Prabandham,containing 4000 verses, with each of the 108 temples revered in their songs is classified as aDivya Desam.[5][6]The saints had different origins, and belonged to different classes. According to tradition, the first threeAlvars,Poigai, Bhoothath, and Pei, were born miraculously. Thirumalisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi, Periya, and Andal were fromBrahminvarna,Kulasekhara from theKshatriyavarna, Namm from a cultivator family, Tirupana from theTamil Panarcommunity, and Tirumangai from theKalvarcommunity.

Divya Suri Saritraby Garuda-Vahana Pandita (11th century CE),Guruparamparaprabavamby Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar,Periya tiru mudi adaivuby Anbillai Kandadiappan,Yatindra Pranava PrabavambyPillai Lokacharya,commentaries onDivya Prabandam,GuruParampara(lineage of Gurus) texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of theAlvarsand their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Poigai is considered an incarnation ofPanchajanya(Krishna's conch), Bhoothath ofKaumodaki(Vishnu's mace), Pey ofNandaka(Vishnu's sword), Thirumalisai ofSudarshanam(Vishnu's discus), Namm ofVishvaksena(Vishnu's commander), Madhurakavi ofVainatheya(Vishnu's eagle,Garuda), Kulasekhara ofKaustubha(Vishnu's necklace), Periya of Garuda (Vishnu's eagle), Andal ofBhudevi(Vishnu's wife,Lakshmi,in her aspect as Bhudevi), Thondaradippodi ofVaijayanti/Vanamalai(Vishnu's garland), Thiruppaan ofSrivatsa(An auspicious mark on Vishnu's chest) and Thirumangai ofSharanga(Rama's bow). The songs ofPrabandamare regularly sung in several the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.[6][7]

Early life

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Periyalvar was born into aBrahminfamily inSrivilliputhur,nearMaduraiand was named Vishnuchittar meaning "one who hasVishnuin his mind ". Since his childhood, he had very strong devotion to 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 onBhakti(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, thePandyanking 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. According to tradition, 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. 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 Vishnu, automatically, he put forward the necessary points and proofs that 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. 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 famousTirupallantuon the elephant.

Vishnuchitta gave away all the money to charity and he started to do his job again. Vishnu was moved by this for a very simple character of his devotee. Vishnu was thinking, that he has given everything to Vishnuchitta. he have education, money, but Vishnuchitta accepts nothing except devotion. The final thing 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.

Vishnuchittar composed a couplet called "pallandu" (பல்லாண்டு) (also calledTirup-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 4000Divya PrabhandhamcalledPeriyalvar Tirumoliwhere he explores a devotee's love for God through the metaphor ofYashoda's motherly love forKrishna.He was the adopted father of Kodhai orAndal,the only woman Alvar.

Periyalvar was fascinated by the childhood exploits ofKrishnaand developed devotion and love for God, incarnated as Krishna. And he sang ofKrishna,the Child Deity, with maternal love. He was more concerned about the welfare of childKrishnathan his own. Because of his love and devotion, he was named Periyalvar, or the greatAlvar.[8]Apart from his nativeSrivilliputhur,he visitedThirukoshtiyur,Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam,TiruvellaraiandAlagar Kovil.

Significance

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The devotees of theSri Vaishnavasect of Hinduism pay respect to the Alvars in addition 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.[9]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 fromNaalayira Divya Prabandam.In the evening,Garuda Sevaifestival is celebrated where all of the festival deities are carried around the streets of Srivilliputhur.[10]

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 ofAdi.[11][12]

Notes

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  1. ^Subrahmanian, N.; Jeyapragasam, S. (1976).Homage to a Historian: A Festschrift.Dr. N. Subrahmanian 60th Birthday Celebration Committee.
  2. ^Lalrinawma, V. S. (2007).Major Faith Traditions of India.ISPCK. p. 206.ISBN978-81-7214-961-1.
  3. ^Vidya Dehejia (1990).Antal and Her Path of Love.SUNY Press. p. 2.ISBN978-0-7914-0395-2.
  4. ^M. Srinivasachariar (1974).History of Classical Sanskrit Literature.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 278–.ISBN978-81-208-0284-1.
  5. ^Rao, P.V.L. Narasimha (2008).Kanchipuram – Land of Legends, Saints & Temples.New Delhi: Readworthy Publications (P) Ltd. p. 27.ISBN978-93-5018-104-1.
  6. ^abDalal2011, pp. 20-21
  7. ^Ramaswamy, Vijaya (2007).Historical Dictionary of the Tamils.Scarecrow Press. p. 211.ISBN9780810864450.
  8. ^V.K., Subramanian (2006).101 Mystics of India.Abhinav Publications.ISBN978-81-7017-471-4.
  9. ^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.ISBN9788120604889.
  10. ^S., Prabhu (26 July 2012)."Garuda accorded special status here".The Hindu.Retrieved7 July2013.
  11. ^"Thousands of devotees likely to throng Srivilliputtur today".The Hindu.Chennai, India. 25 July 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 28 July 2009.Retrieved19 February2013.
  12. ^"Hundreds participate in Andal Temple car festival".The Hindu.Chennai, India. 30 July 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 25 August 2011.Retrieved19 February2013.

References

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