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To a generation that is always short of time (and sometimes money!), time spent on God is probably a quick prayer chanted on the way to work or a temple visit during festivals. I am reminded of Kabir’s doha (couplet) that I learnt at school –
“Dukh me sumiran sab kare, sukh me kare na koy.
Jo sukh me sumiran kare, to dukh kahe ko hoy!”
“Everyone prays when they are in sorrow, but they never do so when happy. Those who remember Him when they are happy, never do they have to face sorrow!”
The Divya Prabandham in many ways is a commentary on the way of life in those times. You could even consider the Prabandham to be a series of blog posts by 12 bloggers (like you all!) on God and all things.
No one has been able to accurately date the Prabandham. What we do know is that it was composed by Alwars at various points in time who lived atleast 1200 years back. For a few hundred years, these verses went missing. It is said that in the 9th century AD, a Vaishnavite scholar by name Nathamuni accidently heard a few verses of the Prabandham chanted by some priests in Kumbakonam. He was spellbound by these verses and then researched and located the entire set of 4000 verses. The rest, as they say, is history. To some of the Chennai vasis, Nathamuni is famous as theatre in Villivakkam. Now, you know the rather divine origin of the theatre’s name!
The temples featured in the Divya Prabandham are called as Divya Desams. These temples are especially dear to Vaishanavites, as their mention in the Divya Prabandham is like a ‘Lonely Planet Guide’ endorsement that these temples existed for several hundred years and have holy origins. Srirangam Ranganathar Temple, Kumbakonam Oppiliappan Temple, Tirumala Tirupati and Chennai Parthasarathy Temple are the more famous ones.
But do note that many of these temples are not on the typical pilgrimage circuit and they attract visitors only during weekends and festival holidays. I will never forget my trip to Tirukoshtiyur Sowmya Narayana Perumal Temple. My wife & I were the only visitors then. The priest took me up the gopuram (temple spire) and I peeped out of the very top where Sri Ramanuja called out the Ashtakshara Mantra (‘Om Namo Narayana!’) to people of all caste and creed. I was there in the same place as Sri Ramanuja several hundred years later, but the effect on me was the same! My kids getting blessed by the Oppiliappan temple elephant, my younger one petting a calf in Srivilliputtur Andal temple and promptly smearing herself with cow dung, me gulping down the laddu prasadam at Tirumala, truly, there is a family story and a happy memory in each of these Divya Desams!
The 12 Alwars are – Poigai Alwar, Boodhath Alwar, Pei Alwar, Tirumazhisai Alwar, Tirumangai Alwar, Thondaradipodi Alwar, Thiruppaan Alwar, Periyalwar, Andal, Nammalwar, Madhurakavi Alwar and Kulasekara Alwar. No amount of blog space is sufficient if I try to chronicle what is known about their life and times. Suffice to say that, they have written about Lord Vishnu and his forms, sometimes as a friend, as a lover, as a devotee & as a servant.
Some of us think, we need to step away from our daily grind to pursue our interests in arts and literature. Krishnadeva Raya (who ruled much of present day Karnataka & Andhra in the 16th century) wrote – ‘Amuktamalyada’ (‘Giver of the worn garland’) on Andal. This is considered a Telugu classic which I unfortunately cannot read or understand. But, the best part is, he composed this while on war with Kalinga . If this is not a fine example of work-life balance, tell me what is? 🙂