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AzhwArs- chronolgical order and 4000 sequence

From the Bhakti List Archives

Madhavakkannan V • March 27, 2002 


SrI:
SrImathE Ramanujaya namah:
Dearest srivaishnavas,
AzhwArs  - the four thousand Tamil devotional hymns (pAsurams) sung by the 
Divine Ten AzhwArs, Sri Andal and Sri Madhurakavi AzhwAr and Sri 
Thiruvarangatthu Amudhanaar are reverentially praised as 4000 and Tamil 
Vedas. They are called Vedas because they reflect the relevant protions of 
Vedas in unambiguous terms and they do not speak of anything other than 
Vedas, directly or indirectly. The PAsurams of the AzhwArs and Sri Andal 
praise the Lord with His Divine consort in his varied incarnations, 
expressing the depth of devotion in which they were immersed, their divine 
experiences and also praying for the eternal bliss of association with Him 
and service to Him.

Sri Madhurakavi AzhwAr¡¦s 11 pAsurams were in praise of his Acharya Sri 
NammAzhwAr and Sri Thiruvarangatthu Amudhanaar¡¦s 108 pAsurams on Sri 
Ramanuja¡¦s glories are also in 4000. (this 108 Pasurams of Amudhanaar were 
added later into this 4000). Owing to the great esteem in which Sri 
NammAzhwAr and Sri Ramanujar are held in the tradition of Acharyas, the 
PAsurams extolling them are also included in the four thousand devotional 
hymns worshipping the Lord.

Before we outline their number of pAsurams (as to how it gets added to 
4000), let us see their origin and dates of birth. Tradition assigns high 
antiquity to the AzhwArs taking them to 4200 BCE to 2700 BCE and also 
regards them as Divine incarnations (as amsaas of the Lord¡¦s 
paraphernalia). According to guru paramparas, the first four AzhwArs namely  
Poigai AzhwAr, BhUtatthAzhwAr, PEyAzhwAr and Thirumazhisai AzhwAr were born 
at the end of Dwapara yuga, which corresponds to 4200 BCE. Madhurakavi also 
is belived to be born in Dwapara yuga corresponding to 3200 BCE. NammAzhwAr, 
KulasekarAzhwAr, PeriyAzhwAr and ANdAL were born during the first century of 
Kaliyuga which approximates to 3103 BCE to 3003 BCE. The remaining three 
AzhwArs ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr, ThiruppAN AzhwAr and Thirumangai AzhwAr took 
birth in the years of 298, 343 and 399 respectively in the Kaliyuga which 
corresponds to 2803, 2758 and 2702 BCE. (From A Govindacharya, the Holy 
lives of Alwars).

However, the modern scholars have questioned these dates and assigned a 
period ranging from 5th to the 9th centuries CE on the basis of a few 
historical evidences, though there is no unanimity among them on the dates.
Whatever it is the order in which they would have appeared is:

Mudhal AzhwArs (First three AzhwArs- Poigai, PhUtha, PEy AzhwArs);
Thirumazhisai AzhwAr,
Madhurakavi AzhwAr
NammAzhwAr
PeriyAzhwAr
AndAL
KulasekaraAzhwAr
ThoNdaradipodi AzhwAr
ThiruppAN AzhwAr and
Thirumangai AzhwAr

Further, the reference sis there in Srimath Bhagawatham to the birth of 
these AzhwArs:
¡§In the beginning of Kaliyuga, persons exclusively devoted to Narayana and 
endowed with spiritual knowledge will be born here and there but in large 
numbers in the land of the Draavidas where the flow of rivers 
ThaamaraparaNi, Krtamaalaa (Vaigai), Payasvini (Paalaar), the holy river 
cauveri, and the MahaanadhI (PeriyaaRu), which runs westwards.

kalau khalu Bhavishyanthi nArAyaNa parAyaNa:
kvachin kvachi mahAbhAga drAmidEsu cha bhUrisa:
thAmaraparaNi nadI yatra krtamaalaa payasvinI:
kAvErI cha mahAbhAgA prathIchI cha mahAnadhI  (Srimad Bhagawatham- XI-5- 
38-39)

It is to be noted that NammAzhwAr and Madhurakavi AzhwAr were born in the 
banks of ThamaraparaNi; PeriyAzhwAr and ANDAL in a place close to Vaigai 
(madurai); Poigai AzhwAr, PhUthathAzhwAr, PeyAzhwAr, and Thirumazhisai 
AzhwAr near the Paalaar and ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr, ThiruppANAzhwAr, 
Thirumangai AzhwAr on the banks of the river Cauveri.
The dates are not however relevant for enjoyment of their divine pAsurams of 
course. The important point is that they were all born before Sri Nathamuni 
(823 CE) and Ramanuja (1017 CE) who were greatly influenced by their 
pAsurams and teachings and after period of Agamas, the epics and Puranas, as 
their PAsurams reflect the deep knowledge of these Agamas, epics and 
puranas.

Let us look at the count:
A composer wise count of 4000 given by Swamy Sri Vedantha Desikan: from 
Prabhandha saaram- 15 and 16).
(I am not going to transliterate those prabandhams ¡V just the meanings. 
Should some one need, I will send them) :
(meaning of the 15 and 16 prbandhams of Prabandha saaram, of Swamy desikan)

If we keep a count of the 4000 Divya prabandhams:
1. Mudhal AzhwArs (Poigai, PudhathAzhwAr, and PeyAzhwAr) sang 300; (mudhal, 
irandaam and moonRaam nooranthaadhi- 100 each)
2. Thirumazhisai AzhwAr sang 216 (120- Thirucchandha viruttham; 96- 
Naanmukhan Thiruvandhaathi)
3. MaaRan (Sri NaamAzhwAr) sang 1296 as the essence of Vedas containing true 
spiritual teachings-[ Thiruviruttham- 100; Thiruvaaasiriyam- 7; Periya 
ThiruvandhAthi- 87; Thiruvaaymozhi- 1102; ]
4. MadhurakavigaL (who showed the path of devotion to Aacharya) sang 11 
(Kanninun chRrutthambu);
5. Kulasekara AzhwAr (king of Vanji land) sang 105 (PerumAL Thirumozhi)
6. PeriyAzhwAr (Bhatta nAthan) sang 473 pAsurams which shines as the 
literature for music.
7. Kodhai (Sri Andal) who was an incarnation of Sri BhUmi PiraaTTi Herself) 
sang 173 (ThiruppAvai-30; Naacchiyaar Thirumozhi- 143)
8. ThoNdaradippodi AzhwAr- (Patthar adippodi) sang fifty five 
(Thiruppalliyezhiucchi- 10; Thirumaalai- 45)
9. PaaNar (ThiruppANAzhwAr) sang 10 (Amalanaadhipiraan)
10. Parakalan (Thirumangai AzhwAr) sang 1253 in all praising the glorious 
Lord of Thirumalai Sri Srinivasan, the father of the world, [Periya 
Thirumozhi- 1084; ThirukkuRunthANDakam- 20; ThirunedunthANdakam- 30; 
ThiruvezhukkuRRirukkai- 1; SiRiya Thirumadal- 40; Periya Thirumadal- 78]

11. Sri Thiruvarangatthu Amudhanaar- (during Sri Ramanuja¡¦s time) sang 108 
pAsurams praising the beautiful Lotus Feet of YathirAjar (Sri Ramanuja) who 
showed us the path to mOksham (Salvation).

Add the above:- You get 4000. These four thousand hymns sung and left by 
these saints for the welfare of all in all directions of the world are the 
source of prosperity for the lives of ours -who are servants of the Lord and 
His devotees.

The Naalaayiram (4000) is organized as follows:
1. FIRST 1000- PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi; ThiruppAvai; Naacchiyaar Thirumozhi; 
PerumAL Thirumozhi; Thirucchandha Viruttham; Thirumaalai; 
Thiruppalliyezhucchi; Amalanadhipiran; KaNNinunchIrutthaambhu; - nine works. 
(Total- 947 pAsurams)
2. Second 1000- Periya Thirumozhi; ThirukkuRunthANdakam; 
ThirunedunthANdakam; - three works (Total- 1134 pAsurams)
3. Third 1000- Thiruvaymozhi alone- (1102 pAsurams)
4. Fourth 1000- mudhal, iraNdaam and mooNraam nooRanthAdhi; Thirumazhisai 
AzhwAr¡¦s naanmukhan ThiruvanthAdhi; Thiruviruttham; Thiruvaasiriyam; Periya 
ThiruvanthAthi; ThiruvezhukkuRRirukkai; SiRiya Thirumadal; Periya 
Thirumadal; Iraamaanusa NooRanthAthi (11 works- Total- 817 pAsurams)

TOTAL- 4000.

Now- if we notice; PeriyAzhwAr comes in the 6th chronologically; But still 
his prabandhams are the first to be taken in 4000. WHY?

1.PeriyAzhwAr saw the PerumAL and Thaayar first, before reciting the 
pAsurams- Even Pey AzhwAr saw. ThirupPANAhwAr saw. NammAzwAr is in the 
Acharya lineage. It is He who blessed us with all 4000. He is also reported 
to be the angi while all other AzhwArs as parts of His ThirumEni (Body) His 
work should have been taken as the first. But, it is PeriyAzhwAr who sang 
PallAndu for PerumAL.

2. Sri ANDAL is the incarnation of PiraaTTi (BhUmi PiraaTTI). Hence, 
PiraaTTi should be given top preference. Hence, ThirupPAvai and Nacchiyaar 
Thirumozhi to be taken as the first in 4000. But AndAl would not have been 
happy to receive that special treatment. She would not be pleased because 
her Acharya (as claimed by her in each of her works- as Bhattar Piraan 
kodhai) PeriyAzhwAr should be given higher position than Hers. That¡¦s why 
first PeriyAzhwAr PAsurams and then immediately followed by AndAL¡¦s works.

3.Who else can have the rarest distinction of being called Father in law of 
PerumAL? He needs to be TOP position and the first position.

4.PeriyAzhwAr¡¦s ThiruppallANDu is the meaning of PraNavam enshrined most 
beautifully. And the 4000 is the Tamil Vedas; hence, the praNavam 
(Thiruppallandu) is the beginning of 4000.

Due to the above the PeriyAzhwAr¡¦s works have been taken first in 4000.
The first Ayiram (first 1000) is also considered as PraNavam; while second 
1000 is considered as ¡§nama¡¨ sabhdham;
The Third 1000- is considered as Narayana sabhdham and the last is 
considered as the ¡§Aya¡¨ sabhdham, thereby the whole 4000 is the 
elaboration of ThiruashtAksharam manthram.

Let us not enjoy the podhu thaniyans. (in next postļ
PeriyAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo Narayana
aDiyEn dAsan


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