Налайира Дивья Прабандхам: Тамил әдебиетінің қасиетті жинағы

Work of Tamil Hindu literature

The Naalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars. It was compiled in its present form by Nathamuni during the 9th–10th centuries. The work, an important liturgical compilation of the Tamil Alvars who lived between 5th and 8th Century CE, marks the beginning of the canonisation of 12 Vaishnava poet saints, and these hymns are still sung extensively today. The works were lost before they were collected and organised in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.

The Divya Prabandham sings the praises of Narayana (Vishnu) and his many forms. The Alvars sang these songs at various sacred shrines known as the Divya Desams. The Tamil Vaishnavites, also known as Ubhaya Vedanti follow both the Sanskrit Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda) as well as the Tamil language Tiruvaymoli, a work which devotees of Sri Vaishnavism regard as the Tamil Veda. In many temples — Srirangam, for example — the chanting of the Divya Prabandham forms a major part of the daily service. It is also recited in some North Indian Vaishnavite temples, such as Badrinath. The Divya Prabandham is recited along with the Vedas, and it is given equal status to the Vedas in the Tenkalai denomination of Sri Vaishnavism, largely due to the efforts of Ramanuja who enshrined the Divya Prabandham on the same pedestal as the Vedas. Prominent among its 4,000 verses are the over 1,100 verses known as the Tiruvaymoli ("verses of the sacred mouth"), composed by Nammalvar (Kaari Maaran, Sadagopan of Alvarthirunagari Temple) and which forms the third portion of the overall Divya Prabandham. Nammalvar self identifies as a lovelorn gopi pining for Krishna.

The hymns or songs sung by the Alvars dedicated to Vishnu are specifically designated the term pasuram in Tamil.

The works that make up the Naalayira Divya Prabandham are usually preceded by a taniyan. A taniyan refers to a stray verse, also referred to as a laudatory verse, that offers a brief synopsis of the life of the Alvar poet, a summary of the themes of the hymns, and emphasises the merit gained from the recitation, listening, or reading of the given text. It serves to glorify both the hymns as well as the composer of the hymns. Six taniyans precede the Tiruvaymoli, the most of any text in the compendium.

Following the customary recitation of the hymns of the work, a vāḻi tirunamam is chanted. This refers to a hymn that serves to commemorate or exalt the poet saint who composed a given work. For instance, such a verse may hope for the poet saint to live long, or for their names to be remembered for a millennium.

The collection, once thought to have been lost, was organised in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni. Nathamuni was born in Veera Naarayanapuram (Veeranam) or present day Kaattu Mannaar Koil. There is a long time gap between Tirumangai Alvar (the last Alvar) and Nathamuni. In this dark period, nobody knew what happened to the 4,000 verses of the text. Legend has it that once Nathamuni heard some people reciting the cantos of Āravāmude of Nammalvar at Kumbakonam. Captivated by these pasurams (hymns), he wanted to know more about them. One of the verses also mentioned Āyiraththul 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 Nammalvar's 1,000 verses. The people did not know the 1,000 verses that Nathamuni wanted, but they told him about 11 pasurams (hymns) of Madhurakavi Alvar, a disciple of Nammalvar, and the Kanninun Cirutampu. They asked him to go to Thiruppulialvar, the place where Nammalvar lived, and recite these 11 pasurams 12,000 times. Nathamuni did as advised, and pleased with his penance, Nammalvar granted him not only his 1,000 pasurams, but the entire 4,000 pasuram collection of all the Alvars.

The following table shows the details of the 4,000 pasurams (hymns). No. Name Starting hymn Ending hymn Number of hymns PoetN/ATirupallantuN/AN/A12Periyalvar1Periyalvar Tirumoli 1 473 473Periyalvar2Tiruppavai 474 503 30Andal3Nachiyar Tirumoli 504 646 143Andal4Perumal Tirumoli 647 751 105Kulasekhara Alvar5Tiruchanda Viruttam 752 871 120Tirumalisai Alvar6Tirumālai 872 916 45Tondaradippodi Alvar7Tirupalliyeḻuchi 917 926 10Tondaradippodi Alvar8Amalanatipiran 927 936 10Tiruppan Alvar9Kanninun Cirutampu 937 947 11Madhurakavi Alvar10Periya Tirumoli 948 2031 1084Tirumangai Alvar11Tirukkuruntantakam 2032 2051 20Tirumangai Alvar12Tirunetuntantakam 2052 2081 30Tirumangai Alvar13Mutal Tiruvantati 2082 2181 100Poigai Alvar14Irantam Tiruvantati 2182 2281 100Bhutath Alvar15Munram Tiruvantati 2282 2381 100Peyalvar16Nanmukan Tiruvantati 2382 2477 96Tirumalisai Alvar17Tiruviruttam 2478 2577 100Nammalvar18Tiruvaciriyam 2578 2584 7Nammalvar19Periya Tiruvantati 2585 2671 87Nammalvar20Tiruvelukkutrirukkai 2672 2672 1Tirumangai Alvar21Ciriya Tirumatal 2673 2712 40Tirumangai Alvar22Periya Tirumatal 2713 2790 78Tirumangai Alvar23Tiruvaymoli 2791 3892 1102Nammalvar24Ramanuja Nutrantati 3893 4000 108Periya Koil NambiTotal 4000 4000 4000