ஆழ்வார்திருநகரி - நவதிருப்பதி - நம்மாழ்வார் - Nammalwar

NAMMALWAR

The Alwar was born to vellala parents of Tirukkurugoor, who were devotees of Lord Adhinatha. They were childless for a long time. Lord Adhinatha assured them that His amsam (incarnation) would be born to them. Subsequently Vishvaksena took birth with divya tejas. However the parents' joy was short lived, as the child would not take any food, not even cry, move nor open his eyes, but grows normally. The parents used to take Alwar to the Lord Adhinatha temple and swing him in a cradle under the TAMARIND tree.

This tamarind tree has Adishesha amsam. Even today unlike other tamarind trees the leaves of this tree do not close at nights. They say like Lakshmana in Ramayana who did not sleep, protecting RAMA, the tree is much the same - never sleeping. After few days Nammalwar crawled and sat below the tree with his legs crossed. From then he grew to SIXTEEN years in same posture, without words or seeing.

Later a brahmin saint MADHURAKAVI came there on pilgrimage and was immensely pleased at the sight of NAMMALAWAR. He threw a small stone into a nearby pond. To that splash sound NAMMALWAR opened his Lotus eyes. Madhurakavi queried a philosophical point. NAMMALWAR spoke for first time and replied. Highly satisfied Madhurakavi became desciple of NAMMALWAR.

NAMMALWAR stayed under the tamarind tree for 35 years. His paasurams are comparable to all the vedas namely RIG, YAJUR, SAMA and ADHARVAN vedas. After the years he wished to reach his abode and so did the Lord too. Madhurakavi was in tears when he saw his Alwar became one with the Lord and simultaneously Madhurakavi was blessed with a golden statue of NAMMALWAR, which he consecrated under the tamarind tree. Subsequently MADHURAKAVI was worshipping only this ALWAR and even ignored Lord Srimannarayana.

NAMALWAR composed Tiruvirittam (100 Pasurams) - the essence of Rigveda, Tiruvasiriyam (7 Pasurams) - the essence of Yajurveda, Periya Thiruvandadhi (87 Pasurams) - the essence of Adhrvana Veda, THIRUVAIMOLI (1002 Pasurams)- the essence of Sama Veda. All the works are excellent