Compilation of the Periya tirumozhi

[Guest guest]

This is a request for info from the point of view of literature.

 

While looking at the individual works within the Divya prabandham,

one questiojn comes to mind regarding the composition/compilation of

the periya tirumozhi and other works within the divya prabandham.

 

While there is some evidence in the case of the tEvAram and paripATal

that they were organized around the the melodies in which they were

rendered (paNmuRai), similar data esp on how the Divyaprabandham was

compiled seems to be lacking in the traditional literature (6000

GPP).

 

While for tiruvAymozhi the antAdi structure does give some necessary

clues, the case of periya tirumozhi does not seem to be so self-

evident. For example, the organization of the verses in the sequence

of approx north to south (of divyadesam's) appears elegant but

artificial. For example, why would a native of tiruvAli sing about

naimicAraNyam before so many decads on tirukkaNNapuram, evidently one

of the favorite stalams for the AzvAr, assuming the periyatirumozhi

was intended as a single poem.

 

In other words, is there any evidence within periyatirumozhi itself

that the currently available sequence is basically a product of the

compilation exercise?

 

Thanks and Warm Regards,

 

LS

[Guest guest]

Your questions are intriguing. I have come to some conclusions

as to why the Prabandham was arranged in the way it was.

 

The first thousand or 'mudal Ayiram' appears to contain poems

of an easy to understand, popular nature, and those which can

be easily applied to daily worship. Hence we have the tiruppallANDu

and periyazvar tirumozi, tiruppAvai, tiruppaLLiyezucci, etc., all of

which are not very esoteric at first glance, which have immediate

emotional appeal, and which can be used in daily household and temple

worship.

 

The second thousand contains the collected works of tirumangai AzvAr

set to music (isai). With respect to the arrangement of the patikams

themselves, there is the viewpoint that the AzvAr, after first declaring

the glory of the the nArAyaNa mantra wished to go to the place of

origin of the mantra, i.e., northern India. I have not studied

the entire tirumozi in enough detail to conclude whether it is

an artificial arrangement or not. Even if compiled afterward, I

do not think it unreasonable that the AzvAr himself took his

tirumozi patikams and rearranged them in a pradakshiNa manner.

 

Getting back to the arrangement of the Prabandham as a whole,

we know that nAthamunigaL separated the works into isai (music)

and iyal (chants). This explains why random compositions of

varous AzvArs are thrown together in the iyaRpa. The only conceivable

reason is that this was done to separate the musical from the non-musical

portions. Logically then, the third thousand should contain the

tiruvAymozi, with the iyaRpa considered the fourth and final collection.

 

We see this order being followed in the adhyayanOtsavam as well, with

the first three thousand including the tiruvAymozi recited first,

and the iyaRpa hurriedly chanted in a single day on the final day.

 

These days of course almost none of the original music of the

isai section survives, and even in Srirangam tiruvAymozi is essentially

recited by the araiyars. Interestingly, the iyaRpa, which was originally

only prosaically recited, is chanted in much more musical tune than

the isai!

 

Mani

> While looking at the individual works within the Divya prabandham,

> one questiojn comes to mind regarding the composition/compilation of

> the periya tirumozhi and other works within the divya prabandham.

>

> While there is some evidence in the case of the tEvAram and paripATal

> that they were organized around the the melodies in which they were

> rendered (paNmuRai), similar data esp on how the Divyaprabandham was

> compiled seems to be lacking in the traditional literature (6000

> GPP).

>

> While for tiruvAymozhi the antAdi structure does give some necessary

> clues, the case of periya tirumozhi does not seem to be so self-

> evident. For example, the organization of the verses in the sequence

> of approx north to south (of divyadesam's) appears elegant but

> artificial. For example, why would a native of tiruvAli sing about

> naimicAraNyam before so many decads on tirukkaNNapuram, evidently one

> of the favorite stalams for the AzvAr, assuming the periyatirumozhi

> was intended as a single poem.

>

> In other words, is there any evidence within periyatirumozhi itself

> that the currently available sequence is basically a product of the

> compilation exercise?

>

> Thanks and Warm Regards,

>

> LS

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE rAmAnujAya namah:

 

Dearest all,

 

Sri UttamUr SwAmy mentions in his "prabandha rakshai" on PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi,

that since GodhA PiraaTTi is BhUmi PiraaTTi's incarnation, she is the first one

to be given importance and her PAsurams need to be recited first. Sicne GodhA

PiraaTTi (Sri Andal) considers herself as none othan the disciple (sishya) of

Bhattar Piraan, VishNu chitthan, PeriYAzhwAr, her AchArya's pAsurams need to be

recited first. Thus, PeriyAzhwAr Thirumozhi comes first. Also Sri UttamUr Swamy

says that, the 4000 is Tamil Vedas, and the entire ThiruppallANdu is the

praNavam, where the essence of 4000 is housed.

 

Sri ANdAL's ThiruppAvai is the seed of all Vedas; PeriyAzhwAr's ThiruppallANdu

is the praNavam itself. After all, the father in law gets top priority; and he

is one other than the Periya Thiruvadi (GarudA- VainathEyar).

 

adiyEn's two cents worth.

 

Regards

PeriAzhwAr ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Narayana Narayana

adiyEn

=========

Sri Mani wrote:

>>

The first thousand or 'mudal Ayiram' appears to contain poems

of an easy to understand, popular nature, and those which can

be easily applied to daily worship. Hence we have the tiruppallANDu

and periyazvar tirumozi, tiruppAvai, tiruppaLLiyezucci, etc., all of

which are not very esoteric at first glance, which have immediate

emotional appeal, and which can be used in daily household and temple

worship.

>>

Rest deleted though excellent in content..