SRIVAISHNAVISM - SOME INTRESTING FACTS (Source : Calendar from Vedics )

The DivyaDesam sung by both Nammazhwar as well as Kaliyan at the end of their hymns ThiruvoyMozhi and Periya Tirumozhi - Thirukudanthai (KumbaKonam)

The Unique Divyadesam sung in all the Six Hymns of Thirumangai Azhwar – Thirukudanthai (KumbaKonam)

The unique Divyadesam that was given by Kaliyan a separate Divyaprabandha(Thiru-Ezhu-Kootriukkai) - Thirukkudanthai (Kumbakonam)

Maximum number of Divyadesams sung in a single decad (Periya Thirumozhi 10-1 of Kaliyan) - 18 Divyadesams

The Seven Divyadesams situated on seacoast - Thiruvallikkeni- Thiruvidavendhai- Thirukkadalmallai- Dwarka- Thirunagai- Thiruppullani- Thiruvananthapuram

The Six Divyadesams situated on cliff- Thirukkachchi (Hastigiri)- Thiruvellarai (Swetagiri)- Thirunaraiyur (Sugandagiri)- Thirupper Nagar (Indragiri)- Thirukoshtiyur- Thiruvaattaaru

The Thirteen Divyadesams situated on Top of/at the foothills of Mountains- Thirukkadigai (Sholinghur)- Kandam Kadi Nagar (Himalayas)- Thirkkurungudi- Saalagramam- Ahobilam (Singavel Kundram)- Thiruthankal- Thirunermalai- Naimisaranya- Thiruppiridhi- Thirumaliruncholai- Thirumeyyam- Badarikashrama

- Thiruvenkatam The Twelve Divyadesams situated on the Banks of River Kaveri

- Srirangam- Anbil- Thiruvindalur- Thirukkandiyur- Thirukkarambanur- Kapisthalam- Thirukkudandhai- Koodalur- Uraiyur- Thalaichanga Naanmadiyam- Pullamboodangudi- Thirupper Nagar

Eight Swayam-Vyakta Kshetras- Srirangam- Thiruvenkatam - Srimushnam- Vanamamalai (Nanguneri)- Pushkaram- Naimisaranya- Badarikashrama- Saalagraman

Seven Kshetras that grant Moksha (Salvation)- Ayodhya- Mathura- Maya (Puri-Jagannath)- Kasi (Varnasi)- Kanchi- Avantika- Dwaraka

Count of Divyadesams sung by each Azhwar - Pogai Azhwar 6 Divyadesams - Bhoodhathazhwar 13 Divyadesams - Peyazhwar 15 Divyadesams - Thirumazhisaipiraan 16 Divyadesams - Nammazhwar 38 Divyadesams - Kulasekaraperumal 10 Divyadesams - Periyazhwar 19 Divyadesams - Andal 11 Divyadesams - Thondaradipodigal 4 Divyadesams - Thiruppanazhwar 3 Divyadesams - Thirumangai Azhwar 86 Divyadesams

Count of verses in Divya prabandham for DivyaDesams- Above 200 verses : 2 Divyadesams (Thiruvarangam and Thiruvenkatam)- Between 100 and 200 verses : Thirukkannapuram, Thirunaraiyur and

Thirumaliruncholai- Between 11 and 100 verses : 49 Divyadesams- 10 verses : 24 Divyadesams- Between 2 and 9 verses: 15 Divyadesams- Only one verse: 15 Divyadesams

Different postures in the manifest Deities of 108 Divyadesams- Perumal in standing posture at 60 Divyadesams- Perumal in Sitting posture at 21 Divyadesams- Perumal in reclining posture at 27 Divyadesams

Direction wise classification of Divyadesams- North-facing shrines 3 Divyadesams- South-facing shrines 7 Divyadesams- West-facing Shrines 19 Divyadesams- East-facing shrines 79 Divyadesams

Nomenclature for some Divyadesams (offered by Azhagiya Manavalaperumal Nayanar in “Acharya Hrudayam” )

DIVYADESAM UniqueName- Thiruvarangam Thiruvaalan Thirupathi- Thirukurugoor Urai Koil- Thiruvallavaazh Thennagar- Thiruvinnagar Nannagar- Thirukkollor Pugumoor- Thenthirupperai Maanagar- Thiruvaaranvilai Neenagar- Thiruvannparisaaram Aay Cheri- Thirupper Nagar Peru Nagar

The ONLY DIVYADESA sung by ALL the Azhwars and Andal – SRIRANGAM Divyadesams sung by all except Thondardipodi Azhwar – TIRUVENKADAM and

TIRUPPAARKADAL Divyadesa sung by Eight Azhwars - PARAMAPADAM Divyadesa sung by Seven Azhwars – Thirukkudanthai Divyadesa sung by Six Azhwars – Thirumaliruncholai Divyadesa sung by Five Azhwars – 6 Divyadesams Divyadesa sung by Four Azhwars – 3 Divyadesams Divyadesa sung by Three Azhwars – 5 Divyadesams Divyadesa sung by Two Azhwars – 20 Divyadesams Divyadesa sung by One Azhwar – 68 DivyaDesams

Decads sung by Namazhwar in Nayaki Bhava – 27 Thiruvoymozhis- As a damsel 17 Tiruvoymozhis- As a mother of the damsel 7 Tiruvoymozhis- As a maiden – Friend (to the damsel) 3 Tiruvoymozhis

Nammazhwar’s Ode (Bringing his woes to the public) – Thiruvoymozhi (5-3) Thirumangai Azhwar’s ode - Siriya/Periya Thirumadals Nammazhwar’s /Azhwar’s pangs of Separation(love-driven anger) –

Thiruvoymozhi(6-2) Kulasekara Azhwar’s pangs of separation – Perumal Thirumozhi(6) Thirumangai Azhwar’s pangs of separation – Periya Thirumozhi (10-8) Kaliyan’s pangs of separation AS A MALE – Periya Thirumozhi (4-9)

Place where SrimanNarayann listens to Samaveda - Paramapadam Place where he listens to the woes of Devas – Thirupparkadal Place where he incarnates – Vibhavam Place where he surrounds for his devoted souls – Srirangam and other Divyadesams,

Purana/Abhimana Stalas/ at Mutts / houses Place where he nourishes as in-dweller - Antaryami

Messages sent by Azhwars to the Lordo Nammazhwar’s message :

‘anchiraiya’(TVM 1-4) ‘vaikal poonkazhivaai’ (TVM 6-1) ‘ponnulakaaliiro’ (TVM 6-8) ‘enkaanal’ (TVM 9-7)

o Thirumangai Azhwar’s message (to Vayalali Mavavala: ‘thooviriya’ (Periya Thirumozhi 3-6)

o Andal’s message: ‘vinniila melaappu’ (Nachiyar Thirumozhi 8)

Azhwar’s who sang after having a love-quarrel with the Lord, the songs they sang and their significance

o Nammazhwar : “minnidai TVM 6-2 / Signficance – Serious nature of love-quarrel

o Kaliyan : “kaadirkadippittu (PeriyaTirumozhi 10-8 ) / Significance – Mild nature of love-quarrel

o Kulasekara Azhwar : “ermalarppoonkuzhal’ (Perumal Thirumozhi 6) / Significance – Royal Glory reflected in the love-quarrel

Azhwar’s assumption of someone’s role and attaining calmnesso Nammazhwar : kadal jnaanam (TVM 5-6) / Significance – Imitation of the

Lord’s assuming the form of the universeo Kaliyan: vadavarai (PeriyaTirumozhi 8.2.6) / Significance – Imitation of the

Lord in his Archavatara (becoming the consecrated image)

Andal : Thiruppavai Significance – Imitation of a young cowherdess

Divya Prabhandas bearing the name of the Azhwar who sang them:o Periyazhwar Thirumozhi (Greatness acquired due to the effervescent

emotional attachment)o Nacchiyaar Thirumozhi (Nacchiyar is another name of Andal)o Perumal Thirumozhi (Kulasekara perumal is another name of Kulasekara

Azhwar)

Divya Prabhandas which got their name after the opening word/words of the songo Thiruppallaandu - Divyaprabhanda opening with the word ‘pallaandu’o Amalanaadipiraan – Divyaprabhanda opening with the word

‘amalanadipiraan’o Kaninunciruthaambu – Divyaprabhanda opening with the word

‘kaninunciruthaambu’

Work of an azhwar which is names after the opening word/words and also after the Antadi format

o Naanmugan Thiruvanthaadhi sung by Thirumazhisaippiraan

Work (of Azhwars) which is named after the Antadi formato Mudal Thiruvantadio Irandaam Thiruvantadio Moondraam Thiruvantadio Periya Thiruvantadi

Divyaprabanda which got it’s name from Numeralo Thiruvezhukootrirukkai

Divyaprabhandas that are named after the meter (i.e. after the name of the particular pattern in which the songs are composed)

o In aasiriyappaa (Thiruvaasiriyam)o In viruththappan (Thiruviruththam, Tiruchandaviruttham)o In thaandakam ( Thirukkurnthaandakam, Thirunedunthaandakam)

Divyaprabhanda which got their name from the service of function they highlighto Thirupaavai – Due to the act of observing the vow of Maidenso Thiruppalliyezhuchchi – Due to the act of singing the song to awaken (the

sleeping deity)o Siriya Thirumadal, Periya Thirumadal – Due to the act of the aggressive

display of one’s love with someone

Particulars of the names of the Divya Prabhandas:o Thirumaalai – Because it is seen to be more of the nature of eulogyo Periya Thirumozhi – Because of the large number of songso Thiruvaimozhi – Vaymozhi(or word of the mouth) is the name for veda.

Nammazhwar rendered the same scripture in Tamil. This is called Thiruvaimozhi by prefixing the adjective ‘Thiru’ to it.

Azhwar’s who sang in the Antadi format, the name of the Divyaprabhanda and the number of songs (Nine Prabhandas and two thirumozhis)

o Poigaiyaaazhwar Mudal Thiruvantaadi - 100o Bhootataazhwar Irandaam Thiruvantaadi - 100o PeyAzhwar Moondram Thiruvantaadi -100o Thirumazhisai Naanmugan Tiruvantaadi -96o Nammazhwar Thiruviruththam -100o Thiruvaasiriyam -7o Periya Thiruvantaadi -87o Thiruvaaymozhi -1102o MadhurakaviAzhwar Kannin Siruththaambu - 11o Periyazhwar Periyazhwar Thirumozhio “poippaadu’ Thirumozhi - 13o ThirumangaiAzhwar Periya Thirumozhi (11-3) – 10

Songs Sung by Thirumangai Azhwar by assuming the role of mother (of the bride)o ‘thivalum’ (Periya Thirumozhi 2-7)o ‘kalvankol’ (Periya Thirumozhi 3-7)o ‘kavalayaanaikkombu’ (Periya Thirumozhi 4-8)o ‘veruvaadaal’ (Periya Thirumozhi 5-5)o ‘Silaiyilangu ponnaazhi’ (Periya Thirumozhi 8-1)o ‘thelliyiir’ (Periya Thirumozhi 8-2)o ‘moovaril mun mudhalvan’ (Periya Thirumozhi 9-9)o ‘pulluruvaagi nallirulvandha’ (Periya Thirumozhi 10-9)o Thirundunthaandakam songs 11 to 20

Songs sung by Thirumangai Azhwar by assuming the role of the daughter (bride)o ‘thiripuram moondru’ (Periya Thirumozhi 2-8)o ‘thooviriya malaruzhakki’ (PT 3-6)o ‘thanthai kaalil peruvilangu’ (PT 7-5)o ‘karaiyeduththa surisangum’ (PT 8-3)o ‘vinnavar thangal perumaan’ (PT 8-4)o ‘thanthai kaalil vilangara’ (PT 8-5)o ‘ponnivar meni’ (PT 9-2)o ‘thannai naivikkil en’ (PT 9-3)o ‘kaavaar madarpennai’ (PT 9-4)o ‘thavalavilampirai thullum’ (PT 9-5)o ‘kaadir kadippittu’ (PT 10-8)o ‘thiruththaai sembotthe’ (PT 10-10)o ‘kundramondru edutthu’ (PT 11-1)o ‘mannilangu baaradhaththu’ (PT 11-3)o ‘maanamarum mennokki’ (PT 11-5)o Thirunedunthaandakam songs 21 to 30o Siriya Thirumadal and Periya Thirumadal

Paratvaadipanchakam (Five aspects of the Lord)

o PARAMA PADA (The Para or Highest aspect)o Paramapada, known as Sri Vaikuntha; this holy region is devoid of

punya(merit) and papa(demerit)o So the powers and Jnana (knowledge) of those who live here shine without

any diminutiono This is the 108th Divyadesa glorified by the Azhwarso Everything here such as the gem studded hall, towers etc is full of

Suddhasattva (pure sattva without the admixture of Rajas and Tamas)o Those who attain this place will never returno The path leading to Srivaikuntha (Parama Pada) is known as Archir-aadi

or the path commencing with Fire. The following regions are found in this path:

Archis (Fire) Ahas (Daytime) Sukla Paksha (Bright Fortnight) Uttaraayana (the summer solistice) Samvatsara (Year) Marut (Wind) Soorya (Sun) Chandra (Moon) Vaidyuta (Lightning) Varuna (Lord of Waters) Indra (King of Gods) Brahmaa (the four-faced God)

o River Viraja flows between the Leelaa Vibhooti (this world of ours) and Nitya Vibhooti (Sri Vaikunta)

o Details about the Parama Pada (Sri Vaikuntha) can be found in the Chandogya Upanishad (V.10), Sri Nammazhwar’s Tiruvaaymozhi (10.9) and the SriVaikunta Gadya of Bhagavad Ramanuja

o All the ten Azhwars except Bhootattaazhwar and Madhurakavi Azhwar have rendered Mangalasasanam to the Sacred Abode (Parama Pada or Sri Vaikuntha) in 73 Pasurams (Songs)

o VYOOHA (The auspicious ocean of milk)o The earth is divided into seven islands. These are surrounded by seven

oceans. They are: Islands The encircling Ocean Jamboo Dveepa (where we live) Salty Ocean Plaksha Dveepa Ocean of Sugarcane Juice Shaalmalee Dveepa Ocean of Honey Kusha Dveepa Ocean of Ghee Krauncha Dveepa Ocean of curds Shaaka Dveeepa Ocean of Milk Pushkara Dveepa Ocean of Pure Water

o Details about the names of the Vyooha forms (Emanations) Vaasudeva : He dwells everywhere and every living being entity

dwells in him Sankarshana: He attracts(pulls) to himself the sentient and

insentient entities at the time of cosmic dissolution Pradyumna: He is self-manifest (He shines forth at the time of

creation) Aniruddha: He does not face any impediment in the act of

protecting the universeo Of the 108 Divyadesas, the 107th Divyadesa is the auspicious Ocean of

Milk. Excepting Madhurakavi Azhwar and Tiruppanazhwar, all the remaining 10 Azhwars have rendered Mangalasasanam to this Divyadesa in 147 pasurams (songs)

o Garuda picked up a chunk of white clay out of the Shveta Dveepa which is present in the auspicious Milky ocean and strewed it over a few places in our country. That clay is the “tiruman” (sacred earth) we are now wearing on forehead (and other parts of the body)

o The Twelve Forms, which are further Expansions of Vyoohas(Vyoohaantaras) – The twelve parts of our body where the Oordhva pundras are to be applied, along with their specific order:

Forehead Middle portion of the stomach Chest Front portion of the neck Right side of the Stomach Right Upper arm Right shoulder Left side of the stomach Left Upper arm Left Shoulder Middle portion of the back Back side of the neck

o The mantras which we have to chant after applying the twelve Oordhva Pundras (Tiruman and Sri Choornam)

Tiruman Sri Choornam Om Kesavaaya Namah Om Sriyai Namah Om Naarayanaaya Namah Om Amritodbhavaayai

Namah Om Maadhavaaya Namah Om Kamalaayai Namah Om Govindaaya Namah Om Chandra Shobhinyai

Namah Om Vishnave Namah Om VishuPatnyai Namah Om Madhusoodhanaaye Namah Om Vaishnvyai Namah Om Trivikramaaya Namah Om Varaarohaayai Namah Om Vaamanaaya Namah Om Harivallabhaayai Namah Om Sreedharaaya Namah Om Shaarnginyai Namah Om Hrisheekeshaaya Namah Om DevadeviKaayai Namah Om Padmanaabhaaya Namah Om Mahaalkshmiyai Namah Om Daamodaraaya Namah Om Lokasundaryai Namah

o o VIBHAVA (Avataara)o Innumerable are the avataaras (manifestations) of the Lord. Given below

is a list of seventeen Avataaras mentioned in Sri Pancharatra Agamas, which are in addition to those mentioned in the Bhaagavata Purana.

Padmanaabha Ananta Shaktyaatmaa Madhusoodana Vishvaroopa Vihangama Krodaatmaa Badabaa Vaktra Dharma Amritaaharana Raahujit Kaalanemighna Paarijaatahara Vatapatrashaayee Naarada Vrishabha Paataala Shayana

o The auspicious names found in Srivishnusahasranama stotra, which refer to the ten manifestations of the Lord:

Avataara The Auspicious name Matsya 211-225 Koorma 323-333, 520-521 Varaaha 538-543 Narasimha 200-210 Vaamana(Trivikrama) 153-164 Parashuraama 315-322 Raama 391-421, 503-513 Balaraama 565-568 Krishna 697-770, 989-992 Kalkin 422-436

o The auspicious names found in SrivishnuSahasranama which refer to the sacred shrines where the Archavataara of the Lord are enshrined, and also the sacred shrines:

Auspicious Names Sacred Shrines Kaalaneminihaa Vasubhaanda Shauri Tirukkannapuram Shoora Chitrakoota Trilokaatmaa Mahaabodha Trilokesha Praagjyotishapura Keshava Mathura, Vaarnaasi Hari Govardhana Kaamadeva Himalaya