PERIYA AZHWAR
|
Place |
Other Names |
Month | Star | Sign |
| Sri Villiputhur | Vishnu-chitthar, Patta-naadan, Battar-piran, Sri-Villiputhooraar, Sriranganaatha- Svaoorar | Aani | Swathi (Swathee) |
Garuda (Chariot) |
Mukunda Bhattar a VaishNava GnAni and his wife Padmavalli, a GuNavathi and a perfect match for Mukunda Bhattar. Both of them were parama bhaktAs of VadabhatrasAyee. On an auspicious day they were blessed with a male child and they named the child as VishNu chittar; means the one who thinks of VishNu always in his mind. The kid lived upto his name fully and always was contemplating on ways and means to achieve the Lord's DayA. He did not wish to spend and waste his time on education (vEdAs and SasthrAs) and concentrated only on praising the Lord. (PoiginRa Gnanamum pollA ozhkkamum... ). He knew that when Lord KrishNa appeared he had a liking for wearing Garlands made from variety of flowers. He chose that kainkaryam to pluck flowers in the early morning and make an excellent garland out of it to adorn the idol of Sri VadabhatrasAyee.
He composed periaazhvaar thirumozhi (473)
He even sold some of his property and bought a small place near his home (and the temple) and converted that into a beautiful Nandavanam (a Garden). He grew all kinds of creepers and plants for various flowers and the Holy Thulasi. The place also housed a small beautiful pond where there was a clear crystal like water as pure as VishNuchittar's heart and mind. His time was wholly spent on cultivating this garden only and beatify them in order to get more and more and flowers for the Lord. (What a superb life! What a great Bhakti!) The flowers bloomed; Tulasi plant became bigger and bigger; The entire Garden looked divinely beautiful and had an exquisite sugandham (smell) due to jasmine, rose, lotus, pArijAtham, alli, Thulasi, etc,. Every morning, before the Sun rises VishNu chitthar took bath completed his NityakarmAnushtAnangal, went to his garden and plucked all kinds of flowers to prepare garlands and garlands of various types for the Lord, while he sang songs in praise of the Lord. He used to take them to the temple and enjoy the scene of Lord wearing all his garlands. He got an immense satisfaction and great amount of blissful happiness in that.
This Azhvaar won a cache gold coins by showing to the
pAndiyan king that the supreme Lord revealed in the vEdhaas is Lord Vishnu. Entire Madurai came out
celebrating this event. It is said that the Lord and Lakshmi appeared in their
Garuda vaahanam in the sky
over Madurai. Upon seeing this remarkable sight the Azhvaar started singing the now famous
pallaaNdu, pallaaNdu, pallaayiratthaaNdu, .. which is the very first paasuram of the 4000 dhivya
prabhandam, as ordered by sriman naadhamuni. His adopted daughter, ANdaaL is much revered in her own right. As described
ANdaaL married the Lord and thus gave Periaazhvaar the status of father-in-law to the Lord!
|Poigai-Azhwar||Bhoodath-Azhwar||Pey Azhwar||Thirumahishai-Azhwar| |NammAzhwar||Madhurakavi-Azhwar||Kulasekhara-Azhwar||Periya-Azhwar|
|Andal||Thondaradippodi-Azhwar||Thiruppan Azhwar||Thirumangai Azhwar|