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The Naalayira Divya Prabandham (Tamil: நாலாயிரத் திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம், romanized: Nālāyira Divya Prabandham, lit. 'Four Thousand Divine Hymns') is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed^[1] 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,^[2] 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.

Description

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.^[3] 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.^[4] 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.^[5] The Divya Prabandham is recited along with the Vedas,^[6] 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.^[7]

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.^[4]

The compendium begins with the Tirupallantu, a benedictory hymn written by Periyalvar, wishing long life to Vishnu.^[8]

Nomenclature

Pasuram

The hymns or songs sung by the Alvars dedicated to Vishnu are specifically designated the term pasuram in Tamil.^[9]

Taniyan

The works that make up the Naalayira Divya Prabandham are usually preceded by a taniyan. A taniyan refers to a stray verse,^[10] 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.^[11] Six taniyans precede the Tiruvaymoli, the most of any text in the compendium.^[12]

Vāḻi Tirunamam

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.^[13]^[14]

Compilation

The collection, once thought to have been lost, was organised in the form of an anthology by Nathamuni.^[15]

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.^[16]

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.^[17]

Hymns

Topics in Tamil literature
Sangam Literature
Five Great Epics
Silappatikaram	Manimekalai
Civaka Cintamani	Valayapathi
Kundalakesi
The Five Minor Epics
Neelakesi	Culamani
Naga Kumara Kaviyam	Udayana Kumara Kaviyam
Yashodhara Kaviyam
Bhakti Literature
Naalayira Divya Prabandham	Kamba Ramayanam
Tevaram	Tirumurai
Tamil people
Sangam	Sangam landscape
Tamil history from Sangam literature	Ancient Tamil music
edit

The following table shows the details of the 4,000 pasurams (hymns).^[18]

No.	Name	Starting hymn	Ending hymn	Number of hymns	Poet
N/A	Tirupallantu	1	12	12	Periyalvar
1	Periyalvar Tirumoli	13	473	460	Periyalvar
2	Tiruppavai	474	503	30	Andal
3	Nachiyar Tirumoli	504	646	143	Andal
4	Perumal Tirumoli	647	751	105	Kulasekhara Alvar
5	Tiruchanda Viruttam	752	871	120	Tirumalisai Alvar
6	Tirumālai	872	916	45	Tondaradippodi Alvar
7	Tirupalliyeḻuchi	917	926	10	Tondaradippodi Alvar
8	Amalanatipiran	927	936	10	Tiruppan Alvar
9	Kanninun Cirutampu	937	947	11	Madhurakavi Alvar
10	Periya Tirumoli	948	2031	1084	Tirumangai Alvar
11	Tirukkuruntantakam	2032	2051	20	Tirumangai Alvar
12	Tirunetuntantakam	2052	2081	30	Tirumangai Alvar
13	Mutal Tiruvantati	2082	2181	100	Poigai Alvar
14	Irantam Tiruvantati	2182	2281	100	Bhutath Alvar
15	Munram Tiruvantati	2282	2381	100	Peyalvar
16	Nanmukan Tiruvantati	2382	2477	96	Tirumalisai Alvar
17	Tiruviruttam	2478	2577	100	Nammalvar
18	Tiruvaciriyam	2578	2584	7	Nammalvar
19	Periya Tiruvantati	2585	2671	87	Nammalvar
20	Tiruvelukkutrirukkai	2672	2672	1	Tirumangai Alvar
21	Ciriya Tirumatal	2673	2712	40	Tirumangai Alvar
22	Periya Tirumatal	2713	2790	78	Tirumangai Alvar
23	Tiruvaymoli	2791	3892	1102	Nammalvar
24	Ramanuja Nutrantati	3893	4000	108	Periya Koil Nambi
	Total			4000

References

^ "Divya Prabandham – An introduction". Srivaishnavam.com. Retrieved 20 June 2007.
^ Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (6 October 1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120813427.
^ Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2013). "Historical sequence of the Vaiṣṇava Divyadeśas. Sacred venues of Viṣṇism". Acta Orientalia, Societates Orientales Danica Fennica Norvegia Svecia. 74: 37–90.
^ ^a ^b Carman, John (1989). The Tamil Veda: Pillan's Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 4.
^ Prabhu, S. (8 August 2013). "Dance of Devotion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
^ Ramesh, M. S. (1992). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Chola Nadu. T.T. Devasthanams. p. 42.
^ Gupta, Sonika; Padmanabhan, Sudarsan (19 September 2017). Politics and Cosmopolitanism in a Global Age. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-34132-1.
^ Venkatacharya, T. (1999). Śrīveṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam. Adyar Library and Research Centre. p. 66. ISBN 978-81-85141-28-2.
^ Pārttacārati, Intirā (2008). Ramanujar: The Life and Ideas of Ramanuja. Oxford University Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-19-569161-0.
^ Nayar, Nancy Ann (1992). Poetry as Theology: The Śrīvaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Rāmānuja. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 95. ISBN 978-3-447-03255-1.
^ Venkatesan, Archana (10 January 2016). The Secret Garland: Andal's Tiruppavai and Nacciyar Tirumoli. Harper Perennial India. p. 5. ISBN 978-93-5177-577-5.
^ Nammalvar (17 February 2020). Endless Song. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 297. ISBN 978-93-5305-779-4.
^ Viraraghavacharya, T. K. T. (1979). History of Tirupati: The Thiruvengadam Temple. Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams. p. 65.
^ MPS2G2Db4xAC. p. 196.
^ Bruce M. Sullivan (1997). Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. Scarecrow Press. p. 217. ISBN 9780810833272.
^ "thoo nilA mutRam". Retrieved 20 June 2007.
^ "Tribute to Sriman Naatha Muni". Retrieved 20 June 2007.
^ "Table showing details of 4000 pasurams". srivaishnavam.com. Retrieved 20 June 2007.

External links

Naalayiram Text in different formats and languages

Nalayiram with Meaning or Vyakyanam (detailed commentary)

Nalayiram Pasurangal – Audio

Sites Relevant to Nalayiram Divya Prabandham

Articles on Divya Prabandham, Azhvars, Divya Desams and more
A comprehensive translation of Naalayira (4000) Divya Prabandham
Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola
Hymns of the Alvars
Best collection of Pictures of Shriman Nathamunigal (who regained the 4000 Divya Prabandham) and Sri Alavandar at their birthplace Chaturvedimangalam also known as Kuppankuzhi.

[srivaishnavam-1] "Divya Prabandham – An introduction". Srivaishnavam.com. Retrieved 20 June 2007.

[2] Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (6 October 1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 9788120813427.

[3] Rajarajan, R.K.K. (2013). "Historical sequence of the Vaiṣṇava Divyadeśas. Sacred venues of Viṣṇism". Acta Orientalia, Societates Orientales Danica Fennica Norvegia Svecia. 74: 37–90.

[tveda-4] Carman, John (1989). The Tamil Veda: Pillan's Interpretation of the Tiruvaymoli. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 4.

[5] Prabhu, S. (8 August 2013). "Dance of Devotion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 6 March 2021.

[6] Ramesh, M. S. (1992). 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams: Divya desams in Chola Nadu. T.T. Devasthanams. p. 42.

[7] Gupta, Sonika; Padmanabhan, Sudarsan (19 September 2017). Politics and Cosmopolitanism in a Global Age. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-34132-1.

[8] Venkatacharya, T. (1999). Śrīveṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam. Adyar Library and Research Centre. p. 66. ISBN 978-81-85141-28-2.

[9] Pārttacārati, Intirā (2008). Ramanujar: The Life and Ideas of Ramanuja. Oxford University Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-19-569161-0.

[10] Nayar, Nancy Ann (1992). Poetry as Theology: The Śrīvaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Rāmānuja. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 95. ISBN 978-3-447-03255-1.

[11] Venkatesan, Archana (10 January 2016). The Secret Garland: Andal's Tiruppavai and Nacciyar Tirumoli. Harper Perennial India. p. 5. ISBN 978-93-5177-577-5.

[12] Nammalvar (17 February 2020). Endless Song. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 297. ISBN 978-93-5305-779-4.

[13] Viraraghavacharya, T. K. T. (1979). History of Tirupati: The Thiruvengadam Temple. Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams. p. 65.

[14] MPS2G2Db4xAC. p. 196.

[15] Bruce M. Sullivan (1997). Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. Scarecrow Press. p. 217. ISBN 9780810833272.

[Ramanuja1-16] "thoo nilA mutRam". Retrieved 20 June 2007.

[Ramanuja2-17] "Tribute to Sriman Naatha Muni". Retrieved 20 June 2007.

[Ramanuja-18] "Table showing details of 4000 pasurams". srivaishnavam.com. Retrieved 20 June 2007.

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