Periyalvar
Encyclopedia
Periyalwar or Periazhwar (6-7th century AD) is the first of the 12 Alvar
saints of South India
, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism
. The temples reverred by these azhwars are termed Divya desam.
, near Madurai
in the 6th or 9th century(conflicting reports) CE and was named Vishnuchittar meaning 'one who has Vishnu
in his mind'. Legend says he rejected the vedic philosophical debates
of his upbringing to focus on Bhakti
, especially on doing simple tasks for God. He would make garlands of flowers for the deity of the temple.
One day the Pandyan king of the land had a competition between scholars to find one who would explain philosophical principles. Vishnuchittar won the competition by explaining that the path to moksha
is by service to God. Legend goes that the king honored Vishnuchittar and God himself came down to earth to see this. Vishnuchittar composed a couplet called "pallandu"(பல்லாண்டு) (also called Thirup-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 4000 Divya Prabhandham called Perialvar Tirumozhi where he explores a devotee's love for God through the metaphor of Yashoda's motherly love for Krishna
. He was the adopted father of Kodhai or Andal
, the only woman alvar.
, the Child Deity, with maternal love. He was more concerned about the welfare of child Krishna
than his own. Because of his love and devotion, he was named Perialwar or great azhwar.
, he visited Thirukoshtiyur
, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tiruvellarai and Azhagar Kovil.
Alvars
The alwar or azhwars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between the sixth and ninth centuries A.D. and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Sri Vaishnava orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are...
saints of South India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. The temples reverred by these azhwars are termed Divya desam.
Early life
Periyalvar was born into a Brahmin family in SrivilliputhurSrivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
, near Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
in the 6th or 9th century(conflicting reports) CE and was named Vishnuchittar meaning 'one who has Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
in his mind'. Legend says he rejected the vedic philosophical debates
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
of his upbringing to focus on Bhakti
Bhakti
In Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
, especially on doing simple tasks for God. He would make garlands of flowers for the deity of the temple.
One day the Pandyan king of the land had a competition between scholars to find one who would explain philosophical principles. Vishnuchittar won the competition by explaining that the path to moksha
Moksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
is by service to God. Legend goes that the king honored Vishnuchittar and God himself came down to earth to see this. Vishnuchittar composed a couplet called "pallandu"(பல்லாண்டு) (also called Thirup-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 4000 Divya Prabhandham called Perialvar Tirumozhi where he explores a devotee's love for God through the metaphor of Yashoda's motherly love for Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. He was the adopted father of Kodhai or Andal
Andal
Andal is the the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. She is credited with the great Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of...
, the only woman alvar.
Lord Krishna
Periyalwar was fascinated by the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna and developed devotion and love for God, incarnated as Krishna. And he sang of KrishnaKrishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, the Child Deity, with maternal love. He was more concerned about the welfare of child Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
than his own. Because of his love and devotion, he was named Perialwar or great azhwar.
Temples Reverred
Apart from his native SrivilliputhurSrivilliputhur
Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu....
, he visited Thirukoshtiyur
Thirukoshtiyur
-Thirukoshtiyur:Thirukoshtiyur is a village located near Tirupathur on the way to Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu. It is 9 km from Thirupathur....
, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, Tiruvellarai and Azhagar Kovil.