Nanmukan Tiruvantati

Nanmukan Tiruvantati
Painting of Narasimha. Sri Appan Venkatachalapati Temple, Cheranmahadevi.
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorTirumalisai Alvar
LanguageTamil
Period9th–10th century CE
Verses100

The Nanmukan Tiruvantati (Tamil: நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதி, romanized: Nāṇmukan Tiruvant̬āt̬ī, lit. 'The sacred hymn of the four-faced one')[1] is a Tamil Hindu work of literature composed by Tirumalisai Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars of Sri Vaishnavism.[2] Comprising 100 verses[3] in the form of a poetic device known as the antati, it is part of the compendium of hymns called the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.[4] It is dedicated to the preserver deity, Vishnu.[5]

Scholars have posited that the primary purpose of the Nanmukan Tiruvantati was to establish the supremacy of Narayana (Vishnu) over Nanmukan (Brahma) and Shankaran (Shiva).[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 Nanmukan Tiruvantati describes the poet-saint's assertion of Vishnu's supremacy:[7]

Narayana created the four-faced one (Brahma), and the four-faced one created Shankaran (Shiva) in his own image.

They say the Ultimate Reality is one. He is Vishnu. Nobody knows the glories of the Lord.

— Nanmukan Tiruvantati, Hymn 1

The author also references Vishnu's incarnation of Narasimha and his slaying of Hiranyakashipu in this work:[8]

O Lord who destroyed the boon-intoxicated Hiranya’s mighty chest with curved nails and strong arms! You destroy everything, then you create everything, and become the four Yugas as well, I know it!

— Nanmukan Tiruvantati, Hymn 5

See also

References

  1. ^ Kumar, P. Pratap (1997). The Goddess Lakṣmī: The Divine Consort in South Indian Vaiṣṇava Tradition. Scholars Press. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7885-0199-9.
  2. ^ Biernacki, Loriliai; Clayton, Philip (2014). Panentheism Across the World's Traditions. Oxford University Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-19-998990-4.
  3. ^ Ramanujan, S. R. Venkatachala Nilayam. Notion Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-68538-347-3.
  4. ^ Division, Publications (2017-06-21). Cultural Leaders of India - Devotional Poets and Mystics : Part - 1. Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. p. 33. ISBN 978-81-230-2482-0.
  5. ^ Padmaja, T. (2002). Temples of Kr̥ṣṇa in South India: History, Art, and Traditions in Tamilnāḍu. Abhinav Publications. p. 48. ISBN 978-81-7017-398-4.
  6. ^ Pope, Stephen J.; Hefling, Charles (2002). Sic Et Non: Encountering Dominus Iesus. Orbis Books. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-57075-424-1.
  7. ^ History of People and Their Environs: Essays in Honour of Prof. B.S. Chandrababu. Bharathi Puthakalayam. 2011. p. 182. ISBN 978-93-80325-91-0.
  8. ^ Makarand Joshi. The Sacred Book Of Four Thousand 01 Nalayira Divya Prabandham Sri Rama Bharati 2000. p. 668.
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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