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First three Azhwars

CHENNAI : The Srivaishnava philosophy is known as Ubhaya Vedanta because it is based on the Vedas and the hymns of the Azhwars — the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. `Divya', meaning bliss, connotes the Supreme Being. Thus the different abodes of the Lord glorified by the Azhwars are called Divyadesas, the Azhwars are hailed as Divyasuris and the hymns they composed in His praise as the Divya Prabandham. These mystics were envoys of God who appeared in the world like the Sun to dispel man's ignorance of his spiritual nature, and their lives and works attest to their divine mission.

In his discourse, Sri K.B.Devarajan said the first three Azhwars, Poygai, Bhutam and Pei, were contemporaries born on consecutive days. Their birth was unique in that they sprang from flowers at Kancheepuram, Mahabalipuram and Tirumayilai (Chennai) respectively. Though born at different places their lives intertwined in order to fulfil the divine mission when in the course of their pilgrimages they happened to take refuge on a rainy night in the porch of a house at Tirukkovilur. According to hagiological tradition, the meeting of the Azhwars was ordained and the Lord did not want this opportunity to be lost for the good of mankind. So He joined their company and the three mystics felt another presence amidst them and ventured to find out who it was.

Poygai Azhwar made the Sun the flame of his lamp and Bhutatazhwar lit the lamp of wisdom, and in the light of these lamps Peyazhwar beheld the Lord with His consort. The other two also envisioned the Divine couple and they all articulated their mystic experiences in hundred verses each, known as the Mudal (Poygai), Irandam (Bhutam) and the Munram (Pey) Tiruvandadis.

The Lord enabled them to behold His Trivikrama form and there are references to Him residing as Vamana in this divine abode (Tirukkovilur) till He graced the Azhwars. In his opening verse, Poygai Azhwar establishes that the Supreme Being is the cause of this universe, the references to the Earth, ocean and the Sun in the verse highlighting what is apparent to experience. The Almighty is not only the material cause (the source) but also the intelligent cause (the Creator) and He has a transcendental form.

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