Azhwar Thirunakshatram

[Guest guest]

Yesterday was Bhoota AzhwAr's Thirunakshatram and today is Peyi

AzhwAr's Thirunakshatram. The only episode in the lives of these

three AzhwArs that I am aware of is when Peyi AzhwAr was caught in a

thunderstorm, He lost whatever little clothing he had left to the

forces of nature and found a shelter from the rain which had just

enough room for Him to lie down and take rest. A short while later

he heard a knock and Bhuta AzhwAr requested shelter. There was not

enough room for both of them to lie down but they could both sit

comfortably. A while later there was one more knock and this time

Poigai AzhwAr was wating outside. There was not enough room for all

three of them to sit but all three could stand comfortably and get

protection from the rain. A short while later there was one more

knock and a person from outside wanted to get in. There was

absolutely no room in the shack and the three AzhwArs decided to come

out and stand in the rain rather than turn away a guest. The fourth

individual happened to be NarAyana.

 

Can anybody throw more light on the life of these AzhwArs besides

this one incident?

 

For anybody who would like to observe but does not have the

information tomorrow is Ekadashi.

 

Jaganath.

[Guest guest]

Jaganath said:

>>Can anybody throw more light on the life

>>of these AzhwArs besides

>>this one incident?

Thanks for reminding about the thirunakshatrams.

I have found the following book a good resource in

the English language: The primary focus in this

book is on the Life of Alvars

Reference:

Alvars of South India, by K.C. Varadachari

Published by Bhavans Book University,

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay.

I purchased this book in 1992, from:

Vedanta Society of Northern California

2323 Vallejo Street

San Francisco, CA 94123

415-922-2323

I don't see it listed in their catalog . But they

may still have it.

 

Here is some info on the birth of these Alvars:

The three Alvars, Poygai, Putattar,

and Pey were born miraculously of

flowers. In other words, they are

Ayonijas!

Poygai was born of a golden lotus in tank

called Poygai ner Yathoktakari Temple in

Kanchi. He was also known as Saroyogi.

 

Putattar was born of Kurukatti flower

at Mahabalipuram

 

Pey was born of the red lotus in Mylapore, Madaras.

 

>>A short while later there was one more

>>knock and a person from outside wanted

>>to get in. There was

absolutely no room in the shack and the

>. three AzhwArs decided to come

>out and stand in the rain rather than turn

>away a guest. The fourth

>individual happened to be NarAyana.

 

The version, I have read says that the Three alvars

felt the presence of a fourth person, who was

invisible. This invisible person they described as the

supreme Being by which everything lives and

moves and has its being. It is said that they

experienced intutively the presence of Narayana

through three different channels as follows:

 

Poygai through transcedent knowledge (Parajnanam)

Putattar through parabhakti

Pey through Paramajnanam (Knowledge)

K. Sreekrishna