10/06/2019
Nammazhwar: The greatest mystic of Srivaishnavism
Nammazhwar is one of the twelve azhwar saints of Srivaishnavism. Nammazhwar is considered the fifth in the line of the twelve azhwars. He is highly regarded as a great mystic of the Vaishnava tradition and one of the top three Hindu mystics in India. He is also considered the foremost among the twelve azhwars and his contributions amount to 1296 among the 4000 stanzas in the Nalayira Divya Prabandam. Nammazhwar was born in azhwarthirunagari and is considered to be a form (amsam) of Vishvaksenar.
He contributed four works to the Divya Prabhandham. These works consisted of 1,296 poems, making him the most prolific contributor to the 4,000 hymns written by the Azhwars. These works are:
Thiruvaymoli (1102 verses)
Thiruviruttam (100 verses)
Thiru Vaasiriam (7 verses)
Periya Thiruvanthadi (87 verses)
Nammazhwar has done Mangalasaasanam of 39 Divya Desams.
The works of Nammazhwar were compiled by Madhurakavi. The works of Nammazhwar contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism.
Madhurakavi Alvar was his first disciple. Swami Madhurakavi Alvar composed 11 pasurams in praise of his Acharya, Swami Nammazhwar known as Kanninun Shiruthambu, which are included among the 4000 Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
It is believed that in the Kali yuga, the doors of Vaikuntam were first opened for Nammazhwar by Sriman Narayana Himself granting him moksha.
Nammazhwar is known by different names:
Bhavaroga Pandithan
Dheiva Gyana Semmal
Dheivagyana Kavi
Gyana Piran
Gyana Desigan
Gyanathamizh Kadal
Gyanathamizukku Arasu
Kaarimaaran
Kumari Thuraivan
Kurugaipiran
Kurugoor Nambi
Kuzhanthai muni
Maaran
Manivalli
Meygyana Kavi
Munivendhu
Naavalan Perumal
Naavalar Perumal
Naaveerar
Paavalar thambiran
Parabramha Yogial
Parangusan
Periyan
Perunal Thuraivan
Prapanna Jana Kootasthar
Sadagopan
Sri Vaishnava Kulapathi
Thirunaaveeraudaya Piran
Thiruvaimozhi Perumal
Thondar Piran
Udhaya Bhaskarar
Vakula Booshana Bhaskarar
Vakulabharanan
Vinvaadhu Unarndha Viragar
