Irantam Tiruvantati

Irantam Tiruvantati
A Vision of Vishnu (Vaikuntha Darshana). circa 1710 and circa 1715, Brooklyn Museum.
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorBhutath Alvar
LanguageTamil
Period9th–10th century CE
Verses100

The Irantam Tiruvantati (Tamil: இரண்டாம் திருவந்தாதி, romanized: Iraṇțam Tiruvant̬āt̬ī, lit. 'Second and sacred hymn')[1] is a Tamil Hindu work of literature composed by Bhutath Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars of Sri Vaishnavism.[2] Comprising 100 verses[3] in the poetic meter called the antati, it is part of the compendium of hymns called the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.[4] It is dedicated to the preserver deity, Vishnu.

Legend

According to Sri Vaishnava legend, Poigai Alvar once travelled to offer his veneration to Vishnu at the Ulagalantha Perumal temple at Tirukoilur. He met other two Alvars, Pey, and Bhutath, whom he did not know, but who had also chosen to coincidentally visit the temple during the same period. During an ensuing rainstorm, Poigai found some accommodation at a mandapam, and was asked by Pey if he could share some space in his room. Observing that there was a single bed present in the mandapam, Poigai remarked that it would be most convenient for an individual to lie down upon the bed, but two to be seated. During this very moment, Bhutath arrived, and expressed the desire to share the mandapam with the other two poet-saints. The trio decided that it would be most proper for an individual to lie down, two people to be seated, but the fact that there were three of them meant that it would be most suitable for all of them to stand. Thus, the three poet-saints stood all night, and during the dawn, they felt the presence of a fourth entity in their midst. The force collided against them, and overwhelmed them so much that each of them composed hymns regarding their experience, in the form of an antati. The entity is proclaimed to be Perumal. The Irantam Tiruvantati is stated to be the hymns composed by Bhutath Alvar, using his love for the deity as his lamp.[5][6]

Hymns

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Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

The first hymn of the Irantam Tiruvantati describes the poet-saint's thoughts when Perumal overwhelmed him with his presence:[7][8]

With love as the lamp,
passion as the ghee,
a mind melting with joy
as the wick,
with my soul dissolving
I lit the blazing flame of wisdom
for Narayana.
I, who desire the wisdom of Tamil.

— Irantam Tiruvantati, Hymn 1

The author also references Vishnu and Lakshmi residing in their celestial abode, Vaikuntha, in this work:[9]

The lord of gods in heaven is light-effulgent. Those who worship his ocean- reclining form, strewing fresh flowers at his feet will be counted as devotees, worthy of entering his fabled celestial city.

In that city, under a canopy of pearls, gems and diamonds, and strings of fresh flowers, the lord is seated with the lotus-dame Lakshmi, borne on his right. I worship his feet.

— Irantam Tirumatal, Hymns 3-4

See also

References

  1. ^ Nair, Shantha (2014-01-07). Sri Venkateshwara. Jaico Publishing House. p. 70. ISBN 978-81-8495-445-6.
  2. ^ Rosen, Steven (1996). Vaiṣṇavī: Women and the Worship of Krishna. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 219. ISBN 978-81-208-1437-0.
  3. ^ Pārttacārati, Intirā (2002). Vaisnavisam in Tamil Literature Between the 7th and 9th Centuries. International Institute of Tamil Studies. p. 37.
  4. ^ Kasturi, Geeta; N.V, Kasturi (2013-02-06). Understanding The Elemental Hindu Works. Lulu.com. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-291-31296-6.
  5. ^ Pillai, M. S. Purnalingam (1994). Tamil Literature. Asian Educational Services. p. 185. ISBN 978-81-206-0955-6.
  6. ^ Nammalwar (2014-05-15). A Hundred Measures of Time: Tiruviruttam. Penguin UK. p. 133. ISBN 978-93-5118-714-1.
  7. ^ Young, Katherine (2018-03-13). Her Voice, Her Faith: Women Speak On World Religions. Routledge. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-429-97965-1.
  8. ^ Bryant, Edwin F. (2007-06-18). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-19-028756-6.
  9. ^ Makarand Joshi. The Sacred Book Of Four Thousand 01 Nalayira Divya Prabandham Sri Rama Bharati 2000. p. 637.
Topics in Tamil literature
Sangam Literature
Five Great Epics
Silappatikaram Manimekalai
Civaka Cintamani Valayapathi
Kundalakesi
The Five Minor Epics
Neelakesi Culamani
Naga Kumara Kaviyam Udayana Kumara Kaviyam
Yashodhara Kaviyam
Bhakti Literature
Naalayira Divya Prabandham Kamba Ramayanam
Tevaram Tirumurai
Tamil people
Sangam Sangam landscape
Tamil history from Sangam literature Ancient Tamil music
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Irantam Tiruvantati text and commentary (Tamil and English) - N. Rajagopalan