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MadhuraKavi Azhwar
MadhuraKavi Azhwar
AD
Place Thirukollur
Other Names Inkaviyaar, Azhwaarukku Adiyaan
Month Chitthirai
Star (Natshatram) Chitthirai (Chithra)
Hamsam Vainatheya (Garuda)
In Paandiya Nadu, lots of temples are found. All the temples are rich in
Spirituality and divine followers are seen. Inspite of lots of Vishnu temples are
found, Thirukkoloor is one of special sthalam is seen. This sthalam is found two
miles on the eastern side away from Azhwar Thirunagari.
Lots of Brahmins who spread the fame of Sriman Narayanan lived here. In one of
those families, in Easwara year, Chittirai month, Sukla Chaturdasi Friday,
Chittirai Natshatram (star) Madhurakavi Alwar was born. His birth is referred to
as the rays of the sun, which comes out before the sun completely comes out. Here
the rays are referred to "Nammalwar", since Madhurakavi born before Nammalwar.
He was taught with all
him with songs. He was
also. He had talent of
of all the persons who
to ming with those who
inside it, how does it leads his life on eating what and where does ir resides?
For this, Nammalwar answers him as:
"Atthai Thindru Angae Kidakkum".
This means that the small Jeevathma resides in the soul (the Paramathma) and
enjoys the place which it lives. The answer also explains how all of our human
souls are tied up with ordinary life by doing good and evil things to all the
persons around them. If a person does these kinds of things, he will experience
the same and could not attain the Moksha, the destiny.
On hearing this, Madhurakavi Alwar realised that the Nammalwar is not only either
deaf nor dumb but is a person of erudite philosophical knowledge. He felt
Nammalwar must be a Gyani at whose feet he can learn much. Straightaway he decided
to take Nammalwar as his Spiritual Guru and fell at his feet.
Thus Madhurakavi Alwar was the student to learn the Veda from Nammalwar, which
explains the link between Sriman Narayanan and ordinary human and how to attain
his thiruvadi.
In return Madhurakavi Alwar wrote his Pasurams in praise of Sriman Narayanan and
this is known as "Kanni Nunn Siruthambhu" containing 11 paasurams.
He made a statue of Nammalwar and placed in the temple and did daily poojas for
him and led his life by praising and singing the greatness of his spiritual guru
"Nammalwar".
Oh my mind meditate on this day about the great Madurakavi Alwar. The other alwars
showed the feet of emperuman which is very difficult for the jeevatmas filled with
paavam to attain but shri Madurakavigal showed the feet of shri Nammazhvar
(aacharya) who is full of mercy and forgives our mistakes and leads us to the feet
of the Emperuman.
In our sampradayam, we regard aacharyas more important than the bhagavan himself
since our acharyas lead us to the bhagavan's feet whereas Emperuman stops with
saying Mam ekam charanam vraja. When we are confused, how to do saranagathi in the
feet of Emperuman our aacharyas come to our help and like guiding a kid they
guide us to the Emperuman's feet .
In the next paasuram Shri Mamunigal continues to say about the divine work of Shri
Madurakavigal(kanninun siruthambhu)
Vaaitha Thirumandiraththin madhimamam padam pol
seertha madurakavi seikalayai ? Aarthapugazh
Aariyargal thangal arulichchayal naduve
Saerviththar tharpariyum therindu?
Like the middle word in the Thirumandiram Shri madurakavigal's Kanninun
Chiruthambhu has been added in between the arulichayal of the alwars due to the
importance of the meaning in these paasurams.
Now that we have seen the magimai of shri Madurakavigal and his work from the
words of Shri Mamunigal let us see some interesting explanations regarding
Kanninun Chiruthambu.
In the 8th paasuram Madurakavigal says
"Arul kondadum adiyavar enbura arulinan avvarumarain porul arul kondu
Aayiram entamizh paadinan arul kandeer evvvuladinil mikkadhe"
Here there are 2 explanations given by our aacharyas. One is, in this paasuram
there is reference only to Nammazhvar who by his krupai gave the meaning of the
Vedas for the benefit of the adiyars in the form of sweet 1000 paasurams . But
then the second explanation shows Madurakavigal's Aacharya bhakthi to the maximum
according to which the first arulinan avvarumarain porul refers to the
Geethaacharyan who gave the essence of the Vedas in his Bhagavat Geetha and the
second aayiram entamizh refers to Sri Nammazhvar's Thiruvaimozhi. Here Shri
Madurakavigal questions the readers whose arul is more the geethacharya's, who
gave the geetha in Sanskrit which is tough for many people to understand or shri
Nammazhvar's, who gave the same in a simplified form in sentamizh understood by
all?
Again in the following paasuram shri Madurakavigal says
"mikka vediyar vedathtin enporul nirka paadi
ennenjul niruthinan"
Here our aacharyas again show the greatness of Shri Nammazhvar as a teacher. Shri
Krishna taught the essence of the Vedas through his bhagavat geetha to Arjuna.
After completing Krishna asked arjuna if he understood what all he has told
till now. Arjuna replied you have told a lot of things in very high standard but
much of it didn't stay in my mind but now I am clear in one thing that what ever
you say I am ready to follow. That was reply by the shisya(Arjuna) to his
Aacharya(Krishna). But here the disciple of Nammazhvar Shri Madurakavigal says
Madhura Kavi was born before Swamy NammAzhwAr , when Lord had
incarnated as KrishNaBhagavAn and He was ruling from DhvArakai.
This was at the end of dhvApara Yugam. Swamy NammazhwAr
was born on the 43rd day of Kali Yugam that follows dhvApara
yugam. While the Lord was in this world , Madhura Kavi did
not elect to seek Him out , but waited and sought refuge later
at Swamy NammAzhwAr's Thiruvadi deliberately.He sought all
the ten anugrahams normally granted by the Lord from
his AchAryan Swamy NammAzhwAr , since AchAryan was every
thing for Madhura Kavi and he restricted all his sambhandhams
to his AchAryan. The aasrayaNam of his AchAryan was the only
thing that mattered to Madhura Kavi.He performed upadesam
for us that without AchArya Sambhandham and AaasrayaNam ,
Bhakthi and Prapathti would not become fruitful. As a tathtva
Jn~Ani , Madhura Kavi practised the truism , " AchAryavatthayA
mukthou" (because of having a SadAchArya sambhandham alone ,
one gains mOksha Siddhi).
Of the two Tamil verses in his Guru Parampara Saaram of the Rahasya Traya Saaram
dedicated to Alwars, Swami Sri Vedanta Desika grouped together all other Alwars
(including Nammalwar!) in one verse and dedicated the whole of the 2nd verse
exclusively to Madhurakavi Alwar whom he calls as "Thunbatra Madhurakavi"
(Blemishless)
This obviously shows how he considered Acharya Bhakti to be of utmost
importance as exemplified by Madhura Kavi Alwar who composed paeans of praise of
the Prapanna Jana koodasthar, Nammalwar (who is known as "Vedam Tamizh Seitha
Maaran")
It is the "Sishta Aachaaram" of the devout Srivaishnavas customarily to study
this Prabandham first before commencing the study of Tiruvoimozhi, because it
was Madhurakavi Alwar, the first Sishya of Satakopan. who introduced us into
the great Tamizh Vedam of Nammalwar.
Swami Desika's Pasuram from adhikAra sangraham runs as follows:
"Inbathil - Irainjuthalil - Isaiyum Petril
Igazhaatha Palluravil - Iraagam maatril
Madhura Kavi was born before Swamy NammAzhwAr , when Lord had
incarnated as KrishNaBhagavAn and He was ruling from DhvArakai.
This was at the end of dhvApara Yugam. Swamy NammazhwAr
was born on the 43rd day of Kali Yugam that follows dhvApara
yugam. While the Lord was in this world , Madhura Kavi did
not elect to seek Him out , but waited and sought refuge later
at Swamy NammAzhwAr's Thiruvadi deliberately.He sought all
the ten anugrahams normally granted by the Lord from
his AchAryan Swamy NammAzhwAr , since AchAryan was every
thing for Madhura Kavi and he restricted all his sambhandhams
to his AchAryan. The aasrayaNam of his AchAryan was the only
thing that mattered to Madhura Kavi.He performed upadesam
for us that without AchArya Sambhandham and AaasrayaNam ,
Bhakthi and Prapathti would not become fruitful. As a tathtva
Jn~Ani , Madhura Kavi practised the truism , " AchAryavatthayA
mukthou" (because of having a SadAchArya sambhandham alone ,
one gains mOksha Siddhi).
Of the two Tamil verses in his Guru Parampara Saaram of the Rahasya Traya
Saaram dedicated to Alwars, Swami Sri Vedanta Desika grouped together all other
Alwars (including Nammalwar!) in one verse and dedicated the whole of the 2nd
verse exclusively to Madhurakavi Alwar whom he calls as "Thunbatra Madhurakavi"
(Blemishless)
This obviously shows how he considered Acharya Bhakti to be of utmost
importance as exemplified by Madhura Kavi Alwar who composed paeans of praise
of the Prapanna Jana koodasthar, Nammalwar (who is known as "Vedam Tamizh
Seitha Maaran")
It is the "Sishta Aachaaram" of the devout Srivaishnavas customarily to study
this Prabandham first before commencing the study of Tiruvoimozhi, because it
was Madhurakavi Alwar, the first Sishya of Satakopan. who introduced us into
the great Tamizh Vedam of Nammalwar.
Swami Desika's Pasuram from adhikAra sangraham runs as follows:
"Inbathil - Irainjuthalil - Isaiyum Petril
Igazhaatha Palluravil - Iraagam maatril
Than Patril -Vinai Vilakkil - Thagavokkathil
Tattuvathai Unarthuthathil - Thanmaiyaakkil
Anbarke Avatharikkum Maayan Nirka
Arumaraigal Tamizh Seithaan Thaale Kondu
Madhurakavi (Sweet poet), the incarnation of Vainatheya (the divine bird) was born
in the year Easwara, Chitrai month, Sukla Paksha, Chaturdasi day (a Friday) in the
constellation of Chitrai at Tirukkolur in the Pandya kingdom. He was well versed
in Tamil and Sanskrit, was of excellent conduct and absolutely devoted to Lord
Narayana.
Madhurakavi and Nammalwar:
During Madhurakavi's pilgrimage to North India while he was bathing in the River
Saraya, he found a bright start in the sky. He was dragged uncontrollably by the
light / star all the way South until he reached Thirunagari. He heard about the
child Nammalwar who didn't open his eyes or ears for almost 16 years and couldn't
believe that a child could be in deep meditation for so long. He drew his
attention with the profound question
"Senthin Vayitril Siriyadhu Pirandhal Eatthai Thindru Engae Kidakkum?" - "If the
small is born in a dead's body(or stomach), what will it eat and where will it
stay?" meaning, if the subtle soul is embodied in the gross body, what are its
actions and thoughts?
Nammalwar broke his lifelong silence and responded
"Atthai Thindru Angae Kidakkum" - "If the soul identifies with the body, it will
be the body but if it merges with the divine, it will stay in vaikunta and eat
(think) of God.
On hearing this, Madhurakavi realized that this was no ordinary boy and
immediately accepted Nammalwar as his spiritual guru. Madhurakavi became the boy's
student and helped compile the outpourings of Nammalwar and set them to music.
Kanninun Siruthambu
He sang 11 andhadhi style pasurams starting with 'Kanninun Siruthambu' which do
not have any parallel to any other pasuram/sloka for Acharya Bhakti. He emphasizes
that Acharya Bhakti is more important than even Bhakti towards the Lord and claims
that one can attain moksha merely by reciting these 11 pasurams. It is also said
that Nathamuni, who compiled 4000 pasurams of alwars, was blessed with a darshan
of nammalwar and was given a set of all 12 alwars' pasurams (by Nammalwar himself)
after he recited 'Kanninum Siruthambu' 12000 times.
It may be truly said that if there were no 'Kanninun Siruthambu', there would be
no 4000 Divya Prabandhams at all. Thus, Madhurakavi was responsible for literally
the rebirth and publicity of the Prabandhams. It is, therefore, customarily
incumbent in 'Anusanthaanam' to first recite 'Kanninun Siruthambu' before
beginning the other Pasurams, especially Nammalwar's Tiruvoimozhi.
A question arose as to how this work exclusively devoted to the Alwar could be
counted as part of the 4000 Divya Prabandham- the whole of which is claimed to be
dedicated to the Lord. Manavaala Maamunigal has answered this question as follows:
Vaitha Thiru Manthirathin Maddhimam Padham Pol /
Seertha Madhura Kavi Sei Kalaiyai- Aartha Pugazh /
Aariyarkal Thangal Aruli Cheyal Naduve /
Servithaar Taathparyam Therindhu /
The greatness of its contents raises it to be the central gem that sheds luster on
the other gems of the garland. That is why it was counted in the midst of the 4000
Divya Prabandhams.
Of the two verses dedicated to Alwars, Swami Sri Vedanta Desikan has grouped
together all other Alwars in his first verse and has dedicated the whole of his
second verse exclusively to Madhurakavi Alwar in Guruparampara Saaram of his
Rahasya Traya Saaram.
Divya Desams consecrated by Madhurakavi Alwar are the 'Punya Kshetras' of Ayodhya,
Mathura, Gaya, Kasi, Kanchi, Avanti and Dwaraka.