Among the twelve Alwars, Tirumangai Alwar is chronologically placed last by historians. Among the girls whom Andal wakes up daily early morning by chanting the verses of Tiruppavai, Tirumangai Alwar is often compared to the girl who is woken up last by Andal!
It is perhaps to make up for this delay, that Tirumangai Alwars has left behind for us a torrent of verses about the Lord and his temples.
Periya Thirumozhi – The Fifty Seventh Set of Ten
1508. With his fiery arrows, the Lord smashed the heads & arms of the wicked Asuras to tiny pieces. He poses standing in Tirunaraiyur where the men resemble Kama & Muruga and the women have Vel shaped eyes and where festivals are celebrated daily in the streets. He has accepted my devotion and he is our only refuge.
1509. With his battle-axe, as Parasurama, the Lord fought twenty-one times to kill the wicked rulers. He wears the garland of victory. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where the girls have teeth shaped like flower-buds and whose faces resemble beautifully blossomed Lotus flowers. He is our only refuge.
1510. He slumbers on the Ananta snake in the ocean of milk. He brought an end to the enchanted deer with his arrow. Mahabali lost his land to him. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where birds flock across the water-bodies and women adorn themselves with precious ornaments & glance across with their red-lotus shaped faces.
1511. As Krishna, he was tied to a mortar by Yashoda who was angry with him for thieving and eating butter. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where bees partake nectar from flowers, where the gentle breeze scatters the fragrant flowers everywhere and where the jasmine flowers blossom just like girls with their shy smiles.
1512. As Krishna, he visited Mathura to participate in the wrestling competitions. There he defeated Chanura & Malla and then killed the broad-shouldered Kansa who was as strong as a rock. He is the one who jumped on to Kaliya’s hood. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where Brahmins chant the pure words of the Vedas.
1513. Muruga who wed Valli and the three-eyed Shiva themselves were not able to face the Lord in battle. As Krishna (along with Arjuna) he set fire to the massive forest. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where the male crab gets trapped in the flowers while trying to gather nectar while the female crab retreats fearfully into the paddy fields.
1514. He steered the chariot of Vijaya (Arjuna) skillfully amid Vel-bearing warrior kings. He lifted the mountain to protect the cowherd folk. He wields the fiery discus. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where Brahmins pursue the four Vedas, five quests, six divisions and the seven kinds of music.
1515. With gentle fingers that were used to play with balls of flowers, Panchali was able to braid her hair after the fiery Mahabharata war. Krishna blew the Panchajanya conch that terrified warrior kings who had gathered to make war. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where with the blessing of Brahma who rises from the Lord’s navel and Shiva, brahmins are known for their generosity.
1516. Shiva who smeared himself in sacred ash and carried the crescent moon & Ganga in his matted hair rode on his bull (Nandi) to take the Lord’s help in getting rid of the skull attached to his arm. The Lord then helped redeem Shiva from his curse by filling the skull with the sweat that rose from his arms. He resides in Tirunaraiyur where there are abundant flower gardens all around.
1517. These verses about the Lord who resides in Tirumangai where Brahmins whose sole purpose in life is to serve the Lord, are composed by Tirumangai. Those who chant these verses will be spared from the burden of their past sins and they will find place in the heavens.
Wake up, Loyal Reader. 😊
4000 Divya Prabandham 