Periyalvar Tirumoli

Periyalvar Tirumoli
Painting of Krishna lifting the Govardhana hill.
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorPeriyalvar
LanguageTamil
Period9th–10th century CE
Verses473

The Periyalvar Tirumoli (Tamil: பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழி, romanized: Periyāḻvār Tirumoḻi, lit. 'Sacred verses of Periyalvar') is a Tamil Hindu work of literature written by Periyalvar, one of the twelve Alvars, the poet-saints of Sri Vaishnavism.[1] Comprising 473 verses,[2] it is part of the compendium of hymns called the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, dating back to the 9th century CE.[3]

Hymns

A hymn of the Periyalvar Tirumoli describes the temple of Srirangam as the home of the Dashavatara, as translated by Vasudha Narayanan:[4]

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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

This is the temple of him who became
the divine fish, tortoise, boar, lion, and dwarf.
He became Rama in three forms, he became Kanna,
and as Kalki, he will end [these worlds].

— Periyalvar Tirumoli, Hymn 4.9.9

Periyalvar also extols Krishna's act of lifting the mountain, Govardhana:[5]

Like the king of the serpents opening his many hoods
and supporting the vast worlds on it,
The five fingers of Damodara's hand opened
like the petals of a flower
and held aloft Govardhana.

— Periyalvar Tirumoli, Hymn 3.5.7

See also

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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References

  1. ^ Rosen, Steven (1996). Vaiṣṇavī: Women and the Worship of Krishna. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 219. ISBN 978-81-208-1437-0.
  2. ^ Raghavan, V. K. S. N. (1983). A Brief Study on the Tiruppallandu of Sri Periyalvar, the Tiruppalliyeluchi of Sri Tondaradippodiyalvar, and the Kanninunsiruttambu of Sri Madhurakaviyalvar. Sri Visishtadvaita Pracharini Sabha. p. 62.
  3. ^ Venkatesan, Archana (2016-01-10). The Secret Garland: Andal's Tiruppavai and Nacciyar Tirumoli. Harper Perennial India. ISBN 978-93-5177-577-5.
  4. ^ Narayanan, Vasudha (2009-08-15). Hinduism. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. p. 74. ISBN 978-1-61531-194-1.
  5. ^ Bryant, Edwin F. (2007-06-18). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-19-028756-6.