Tirumālai

Tirumālai
Murti of Ranganatha adorned with garlands.
Information
ReligionHinduism
AuthorTondaradippodi Alvar
LanguageTamil
Period9th–10th century CE
Verses45

The Tirumālai (Tamil: திருமாலை, lit.'sacred garland') is a work of Tamil Hindu literature written by Tondaradippodi Alvar, comprising 45 verses.[1][2] Each of these verses is regarded in popular tradition to be a flower, woven together to produce a garland for Ranganatha, a form of the deity Vishnu. It is part of the compendium of the hymns of the Alvars, the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.[3] The verses of this work are often existential and indicative of regret, reflecting the sorrow of the author for not having spent more of time in the veneration of his deity, wondering if salvation lies ahead of him.[4][5]

Hymns[edit]

The first two hymns of this work extol the deity and his abode of Srirangam:[6]

You, the very cause of this world who creates and swallows the Universe, the Lord of Srirangam. We have overcome the sins from beginningless time and heralding the same, we walk freely on the heads of Yama's henchmen.

— Tirumālai, Hymn 1

O Lord of Srirangam resembling a massive green mountain, with coral lips, red eyes - if I were to be given in exchange of praising you thus the kingdom of Indra, I shall not take it.

— Tirumālai, Hymn 2

See also[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ Jayaraman, Dr P. (2019). A Brief History of Vaishnava Saint Poets : The Alwars. Vani Book Company. p. 76. ISBN 978-93-89012-69-9.
  2. ^ Pillai, P. Govinda (2022-10-04). The Bhakti Movement: Renaissance or Revivalism?. Taylor & Francis. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-000-78039-0.
  3. ^ Cuppaiyā, Pon̲ (2003). முதுநிலைத் தமிழ்ப் பாடநூல் : தமிழரல்லாதார் தமிழை இரண்டாம் மொழியாகக் கற்பதற்கு (in Tamil). Intiya Mol̲ikaḷin̲ Naṭuvaṇ Nir̲uvan̲am. p. 13. ISBN 978-81-7342-097-9.
  4. ^ "Mudalayiram" - K. R. KrishnaSwami [4000 Divya Prabandham Series, Vol. 4, 1st edition, July 2009, A & K Prakashana].
  5. ^ Makarand Joshi. The Sacred Book Of Four Thousand 01 Nalayira Divya Prabandham Sri Rama Bharati 2000. p. 175.
  6. ^ "Mudalayiram" - K. R. KrishnaSwami [4000 Divya Prabandham Series, Vol. 4, 1st edition, July 2009, A & K Prakashana]. pp. 6–7.