4000?

[Guest guest]

SrI:

NamO NarayanA:

 

Dear Sri Vaishnavas:

 

AdiyEn would like to share a brief thought

on the Divya Prabhandham - particularly on

the Naalayiram.

 

We all know there are different theories

On arriving at the total of 4000 of the

Azhwar's Sacred hymns.

 

However, if Poorvachariyars have named it

as Naalayira Divya Prabhandham, then there

should be some meaning to it.

 

In AdiyEn's view, the title Naalayiram

May NOT refer to the number 4000. AdiyEn

feels that Naalayiram could mean:

 

1. Nangaiyum aarayum

[it is our general practice that we always

ask "Naalu per", or see "Naalu pakkam"....

In this context, Naalayiram could have been

named to state that the Azhwar's Sri Sookthies

have been penned - after a research on various

aspects of defining Paramatma, Jivatma ....

 

2. Nangaiyum aarayum

Another reason could be, as Azhwar's Sri Sookthies

are also referred as Tamizh Marai, Naalayiram could

mean that Nangu Vedhangalai Aarayum. It is a fact

that Azhwars have given the meanings of 4 Vedas

in Tamil and hence could be named as Naalayiram

 

3. Nangaiyum Aarayum

AdiyEn also feels that since Azhwar's Sri Sookthies

establishes Visistadvaitha - as against other Mathams

at that time, this could also mean to say that

Nangaiyum aaraindhu [meaning, after checking on other

samayams].

 

We have the lives of Thirumazhisai Azhwar who has

studied the other samayams and then established

the supremacy of Visistadvaitha. Similarly, other

Azhwars speak of Buddha, Samanam etc., in their

paasurams.

 

To sum this up, AdiyEn feels that the term "Naalayiram" vis-à-vis

the title in Naalayira Divya Prabhandam may only mean that these

great paasurams are here after a thorough research and to establish

the supremacy of Sriya:Pathi Sriman Narayanan.

 

AdiyEn would like to have feedback from Sri Vaishnavas

and my humble apologies if there is any error in my

views.

 

dAsan

Anand

4th December 2001

 

Srimad Azhagia Singar Thiruvadigale Saranam

Shrimate Shri Seetha Ramachandra Parabrahmane Nama

 

___________

chant NAMO Narayana

___________

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dear Sri Anand,

 

it is interesting to see your lateral analysis calling naangaiyum + aaraayum.

the "ra" and "ya" have been interchanged :-)

However, the fact is: it is the number 4000, though AzhwAr's Sri Sookthis as

compiled by Sri Nathamuni does not add to 4000. It is still called 4000

just like Thiruvaymozhi is called 1000 (though it has 1102 pAsurams.)

 

Sriman Nathamuni's compiling naturally could not have included Thiruvarangatthu

amudhanaar's Iraamaanusa nooRRanthAthi (108 pAsurams).

Swamy Desikan includes this 108 PAsurams to count 4000 precisely. He takes into

account of siRiya Thirumadal and Periya Thirumadal of

Thirumangai AzhwAr's as 40 and 78 PAsurams respectively in his calculations to

add up to 4000. (Refer Prabhandha saaram of Swamy Desikan)

 

Whereas, Sri Appillai, disciple of Sri Manavala mamunigal, considers as 77.5 and

148.5 couplets and does not include 108 pAsurams of

Iraamaanusa nooRRanthAthi for calculation of 4000.

 

Today, all srivaishnavas, however do recite Iraamaanusa nooRRanthAthi in iyaRpaa

and equate them to AzhwArs' srisUkthis with reverence and

utmost respect.

 

Just for your information

Regards

Namo Narayana

aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan