The event
We had a fabulous event celebrating the Vaibhavam of Thondaradippodi and Thirumazhisai Azhwar at Sri. Venkatesh, Smt. Aishwarya’s Thirumaligai.
The Bhagavathas recited the Prabandhams of both the Azhwars. Andals and Rockers sang the whole Thirumalai Prabandham.
All the bhagavathas enthusiastically participated in sambhashanai about the vaibhavam and itihyams of Thondaradippodi and Thirumazhisai Azhwar, Periya Nambi and Embar. Dhanyosmi to Sri. Sunil swami for his song.
Finally, the bhagavathas relished divine and sumptuous prasadam. Dhanyosmi to Sri. Venkatesh, Smt. Aishwarya and their family for organising this memorable event, and to all the bhagavathas who participated.
About Swami Thondaradippodi Azhwar
Swami Thondaradippodi Azhwar is one of the twelve azhwars, the saint-poets of the Sri Vaishnava tradition, known for their deep love and devotion to Lord Vishnu. His original name was Vipra Narayana, and he lived during the 7th-8th century CE.
He was born in Thirumandangudi, near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. He chose a life of simple service and dedicated himself entirely to worshipping Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam. His devotion was so intense that he would make flower garlands every day for the deity and lived humbly in service.
The name “Thondaraduppodi” literally means “dust at the feet of the Lord’s devotees”, and he believed that serving bhagavathas of the Lord was even greater than serving the Lord himself.
He composed 2 important words in Tamil, part of the Divya Prabandham:
- Tiruppalliyezhuchi: A beautiful set of 10 verses that serve as a morning wake-up hymn (Suprabhatam) for Lord Ranganatha
- Tirumaalai: A set of 45 verses expressing his deep love and surrender to Lord Ranganatha
About Swami Thirumazhisai Azhwar
Swami Thirumazhisai Azhwar was another one of the twelve azhwars who lived a little before Swami Thondaradippodi Azhwar, around the 6th-7th century CE. He is known for his powerful transformation from a seeker of various paths to a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu.
He was born in Thirumazhisai, near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. His birth was mystical, where he was born to Bhargava maharishi and an apsara, Kanakangi, after an unusual 12 months gestation period. He was born as a stillborn baby and later revived by divine grace. He was later adopted by a couple, Thiruvalan and Pankajavalli. From a young age, he decided to learn about all other religions and ultimately found complete fulfilment in the path of Vaishnavism.
Thirumazhisai Alwar composed two major works in Tamil:
- Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi: A collection of 96 verses, primarily emphasising the supremacy of Lord Narayana over Brahma, Shiva, and other deities.
- Thiruchanda Virutham: 120 powerful and poetic verses filled with philosophical insights and unwavering devotion.
These works are part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the sacred collection of 4,000 Tamil verses.
Many of his philosophies were aligned with the core principles of Sri. Ramanuja’s Visishtadvaita philosophy, even though he lived centuries before Sri. Ramanuja. He was fiercely independent in his devotion, rejected social hierarchies and emphasised sincere bhakti over birth or status. He was known for his firm stance on truth and dharma. He once walked away from a temple when the Lord’s devotee was disrespected, prompting the Lord Himself (in Kumbakonam) to leave the temple with His serpent bed to follow him. He also strongly believed that the grace of God can be earned through devotion alone, regardless of caste or background.
Good reads
Thondaradippodi Alvar: His Great Mystical Life – A quick article on the background of Thondaradippodi Azhwar
History of Sri Vaishnava Saint – Thirumazhisai Alvar and His Disciple Kanikannan – A quick article on the background of Thirumazhisai Azhwar
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