Mudalayiram (Composition of the Last Three Azwars)

Recently I brought out a book on Periazwar's Thirumozhi which is a part of 'Mudalayiram' comprising 473 verses. The present publication encompasses three azwars (also from Mudhalayiram) each great in his own way. While Thondarippodi azwar's Thirumalai' is a master piece in bhakthi being narrated in a simple language, his Thiruppalli yezucchhi has the distinction of being recited daily in houses and temples for waking up the Lord (revellie). This forms a part of Nithyanusandhanam along with Thirupallandu and Thiruppavai.

Thiruppan azwar's Amalanadhipiraan was one of Vedantha Desika's favourite prabhandhams. His work is a mere 10 verses but the outpouring is so bhakthi-filled, one's heart simply melts. The azwar, a person of the fifth varna, was carried by Srirangam temple's 'adhikaari' on his shoulders as per Lord's instruction and the magnificent scene of the Lord he got in the sanctum sanctorium is poetically (yet oozing bhakthi and love towards the Lord) described by the azwar. In response to his wish in the last stanza viz. "yen amudhanai kanda kanhal matthonriyum kaanave" the azwar gets merged with the Lord ; shades of Andal's disappearance to join Her consort in Srirangam temple.

Madhurakavi Azwar represents what is known as 'charamaparva nishtai', an ultimate state of 'bhagavatha seshathvam' ; supreme loyalty to an acharya who is devoted to God. His eleven verses, in fact, brought back into this world, the 4000 Divya Prabhandham, as Naathamuni recited his 'Kanninum Shirutthambhu' 12,000 times in order to retrieve it. 'Kanninum Shirutthambhu is a prerequisite, that is, it is recited before one starts 'parayanam' of Nammazwar's Thiruvoimozhi'. It is indeed in a way the entry pass !

I have provided the 'Moolam' (text) in three languages, Tamil, Kannada and English with explanations for each stanza (pasuram in two languages, Kannada and English. Each azwar's life and works as also a summary of each work is given. The three azwars together account for a total of 76 verses appearing last in Mudalayiram.

It is hoped that the readers will find this book comprising the works of three azwars useful and interesting.