Bhoothath Azhwar


Bhoothath Azhwar is one of the twelve azhwar saints of South India, who are known for their affiliation to Vaishnava tradition of Hinduism. The verses of azhwars are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham and the 108 temples revered are classified as Divya desam. Bhoothath is considered second in the list of the three principal azhwars, with the other two being Poigai Azhwar and Pey Azhwar, collectively called Muthalamazhwargal who are known to be born out of divinity. Bhoothath composed hundred verses that are classified as Irandam Tiruvandadhi and his composition is set in the Andhadhi style in which the ending syllable is the starting one for the next verse.
As per Hindu legend, Bhoothath was found in a liquorice flower in Thirukadalmallai. In Tamil, Bhootham refers to one who is possessed and since the saint was madly attracted to Hindu god Vishnu, he got the name.
As per legend, the three azhwars were once were confined in a small dark enclosure during a rain in Thirukovilur and they experienced a fourth individual among them. They found out that it was god Vishnu and Poigai wished to see his face continuously but could view only from the simmering light of the lightning. With a view to maintain the continuity of light, Poigai instantly composed hundred songs wishing light to emerge. Pey and Bhoothath continued composing hundred songs each on Vishnu.
The works of these earliest saints contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. Along with the three Saiva nayanmars, they influenced the ruling Pallava kings of the South Indian region, resulting in changing the religious geography from Buddhism and Jainism to the two sects of Hinduism.

Azhwars

The word azhwar means the one who dives deep into the ocean of the countless attributes of god. Azhwars are considered the twelve supreme devotees of Vishnu, who were instrumental in popularising Vaishnavism. The religious works of these saints in Tamil, songs of love and devotion, are compiled as Nalayira Divya Prabandham containing 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified as Divya desam. The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first three azhwars, Poigai, Bhutha and Pey were born miraculously. Tirumizhisai was the son of a sage, Thondaradi, Mathurakavi, Peria and Andal were from brahmin community, Kulasekhara from Kshatria community, Namm was from a cultivator family, Tirupana from panar community and Tirumangai from kazhwar community. Divya Suri Saritra by Garuda-Vahana Pandita, Guruparamparaprabavam by Pinbaragiya Perumal Jiyar, Periya tiru mudi adaivu by Anbillai Kandadiappan, Yatindra Pranava Prabavam by Pillai Lokacharya, commentaries on Divya Prabandam, Guru Parampara texts, temple records and inscriptions give a detailed account of the azhwars and their works. According to these texts, the saints were considered incarnations of some form of Vishnu. Poigai is considered an incarnation of Panchajanya, Bhoothath of Kaumodakee, Pey of Nandaka, Thirumalisai of Sudarshanam, Namm of Vishvaksena, Madhurakavi of Vainatheya, Kulasekhara of Kaustubha, Periy of Garuda, Andal of Bhoodevi, Thondaradippodi of Vanamaalai, Thiruppaan of Srivatsa and Thirumangai of Saranga. The songs of Prabandam are regularly sung in all the Vishnu temples of South India daily and also during festivals.

Early life

Since the saint had intuitive knowledge about god Vishnu, he got the name Bhoothath. As per Hindu legend, Bhoothath was found in a liquorice flower in Thirukadalmallai. His knowledge on Vishnu is inferred by his description of Vishnu in five different forms as para, vyuha, vibhava, antaryamin and archa.

Composition

As per Hindu legend, Vishnu appeared to the muthalam azhwars at Thirukkoilur. It was day time, but it darkened and started raining heavily. The wandering Poigai found out a small hide out, which has a space for one person to lie down. Bhoothath arrived there looking for a hiding place and Poigai accommodated him, with both sitting together. In the meanwhile, Pey also came to the same place as all the three preferred to stand because of lack of space. The darkness became dense and inside the small room, they were not able to see each other. In the meanwhile, they felt a fourth person also forced his way among them. The three azhwars realised from the light of the lightning that the fourth one had a charming face that was sublime and divine. The trio could immediately realize that it was Vishnu who was huddling among them. Poigai wished to see Vishnu's face continuously but could view only from the simmering light of the lightning. With a view to maintain the continuity of light, he instantly composed hundred songs wishing the earth to be a big pot full of ghee like an ocean where the Sun could be the burning wick.


Tamil
அன்பே தகளிய ஆர்வமே நெய்யாக

இன்புருகு சிந்தை இடுதிரியா - நன்புருகி

ஞானச் சுடர் விளக்கேற்றினேன் நாரணற்கு

ஞானச் தமிழ் புரிந்த நான்



Transliteration
Anbe Thagliyaa Aarvame Neyyaaga

Inburugu Chintai Idu Thiriyaa

Nanpurugi Gnaana Chudar Vilakku Etrinen

Naaranarku Gnaana Thamizh Purindha Naan


Bhoothathazhwar also sang 100 songs imagining to light the lamp constantly through ardent love for Him. Peyazhwar sang another 100 songs where he described the enchanting charm of the divine face and the association of Narayana equipped with chakra and sankha, and his divine consort goddess Lakshmi.
Bhoothath composed hundred verses that are classified as Irandam Tiruvandadhi. Bhoothath’s composition was set in the Andhadhi style. The word Andha means end and Adi means beginning. Andhadhi style has ending word or the syllable of each verse as the beginning word of the succeeding verse and the last word of the hundredth verse becomes the beginning of the first verse, making the hundred verses a true garland of verses. The works of these earliest saints contributed to the philosophical and theological ideas of Vaishnavism. The verses of the trio speak of Narayana as the supreme deity and they refer frequently to Trivikrama and Krishna, the avatars of Vishnu.

Mangalasasanam">Mangalasasanam by Divyadesam">Mangalasasanam

There are 30 of his paasurams in the 4000 Divya Prabhandham. He has sung in praise of thirteen temples.
S.No.Name of the templeLocationPhotoNumber of PasuramsPresiding deityNotes/Beliefs
1Tirupathi9Alamelumanga
Venkateswara		Venkateswara Temple is a landmark Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga. Hence the place has also got the name Kaliyuga Vaikuntham and Lord here is referred to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple. Lord Venkateswara is known by many other names: Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivasa. Tirumala Hills are part of Seshachalam Hills range. The hills are above sea level. The Temple is constructed in Dravidian architecture and is believed to be constructed over a period of time starting from 300 AD. The Garbagriha is called AnandaNilayam. It is the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth. The temple is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily, while on special occasions and festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000, making it the most-visited holy place in the world.
2Srirangam.Srirangam, Trichy district
Tamil Nadu
4Ranganayagi
Ranganathar 		Srirangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, the still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing temple. The temple occupies an area of 156 acres with a perimeter of 4,116m making it the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The annual 21-day festival conducted during the Tamil month of Margazhi attracts 1 million visitors.
3ThirumaliruncholaiAlagar Koyil,
Madurai district,
Tamil Nadu		3Sri Sundaravalli sametha Sri Kallazhagar PerumalKallazhagar was worshiped by Yama, the Hindu god of death. He requested Vishnu to stay in the place and built a temple with the help of Vishwakarma, the divine architect. Kallazhagar is believed to have appeared to redeem sage Suthapava off his curse from sage Durvasa. The temple houses some rare Vijayanagara sculptures.
4ThiruparkadalHeavenly|130px2Lakshmi
Vishnu		In Hindu cosmology, Thiruparkadal is the fifth from the center of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. According to Hindu mythology, the devas and asuras worked together for a millennium to churn the ocean and release Amrita the nectar of immortal life. It is spoken of in the Samudra manthana chapter of the Puranas, a body of ancient Hindu legends. It is also the place where Vishnu reclines over Shesha Naga, along with his consort Lakshmi.
5ThirukudanthaiKumbakonam, Thanjavur district,
Tamil Nadu
2Sri Komalavalli sametha Sri Aravamuda PerumalThe temple is called Ubaya Pradhana Kshetram as the Moolavar and utsavar enjoy the same importance.It is believed that the presiding deity asked Nathamuni to compile the four thousand verses of Nalayira Divya Prabandham at this place. The twin temple chariots weigh each and are next only in size to the ones in Thygaraja temple in Thiruvarur and Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur. This temple is along Kaveri and is one of the Pancharanga Kshetrams.
6ThirukkoshtiyurThirukoshtiyur,
Sivaganga district,
Tamil Nadu		2Sri Mahalakshmi sametha Sri Uraga Mellanayaan PerumalThe temple is known as the place where Ramanuja, the expounder of Vaishnavadatta philosophy preached the holy syllable "Ohm Namo Narayana" to all people irrespective of their caste. Sowmyanarayana Perumal is believed to have appeared as Narasimha avatar to the Devas, the celestial deities.
7Thirukkachi - AtthigiriKanchipuram,
Kanchipuram district,
Tamil Nadu		2Sri Perundevi sametha Sri Devadiraja PerumalOne of the greatest Hindu scholars of Vaishnava VisishtAdvaita philosophy, Ramanuja is believed to have resided in this temple. The temple along with Ekambareswarar Temple and Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram is popularly known as Mumurtivasam, while Srirangam is referred to as ‘ The Koil’ and Tirupati as the ‘Malai’.
8ThiruppadagamKanchipuram,
Kanchipuram district,
Tamil Nadu		1Sri Rukmani sametha Sri Pandavadootha PerumalThe temple is considered one of three oldest temples in Kanchipuram and is believed to have been built by the Pallavas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings. The temple is associated with a chapter in Mahabharata when Krishna went to the Kauravas as a missive to the Pandavas.
9ThirukkovalurThirukoyilur,
Tiruvannamalai district,
Tamil Nadu		1Sri Pushpavalli sametha Sri Trivikrama PerumalThe temple is believed to be the place where the first three Azhwars, the Vaishnava saints, namely, Poigai Alvar, Bhoothathalvar and Peyalvar attained salvation. The temple is one of the Panchakanna Kshetrams, the five holy temples associated with Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu.
10Thiruthanjai MamanikoilThanjavur,
Thanjavur district,
Tamil Nadu
1Sri Raktapankajavalli
sametha Sri Neelamegha Perumal		Unlike other Divyadesams where a single shrine is referred, this set of temples is referred together in all the paasurams. During the Treta Yuga, there were three demons by name Tanchakan, Tantakan and Kacamukan who were blessed by Shiva became very powerful. They grew arrogant and troubled sage Parashara who was doing penance at this place. Vishnu killed Thanjakan after whom Thanjavur was named, with his Chakra, Kachamukan by taking the form of a yali, a mythical creature and took the form of Varaha the boar to kill the third demon Tantakan, who feld to Srimushnam.
11ThiruneermalaiKanchipuram,
Kanchipuram district,
Tamil Nadu		1Sri Animamalar Mangai sametha Sri Neervanna PerumalBrahmanda Purana refers this place Toyatri, meaning a mountain surrounded by water. Thiruneermalai, the modern Tamil name also means a sacred mountain surrounded by water. Among the eight sacred Vishnu temples where he manifested himself called "Ashtaswayamvaka Kshetra".
12ThirukkadalmallaiMahabalipuram, Kanchipuram district,
Tamil Nadu		1Sri Boosthalamangadevi sametha Sri Sthalasayana PerumalThe temple is believed to be the birthplace of the Vaishnava Azhwar saint Bhoothathalvar. Sthalasayana Perumal is believed to have appeared to sage Pundarika. The temple is one of the 32 Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram that are declared as UN world heritage sites, but unlike others that are maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India, the temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
13ThiruthangalThiruthankal
Virudhunagar district,
Tamil Nadu		Sri Sengamala thaayar sametha Sri Narayana PerumalThe temple in its present form was believed to have been built by Devendra Vallabha, a Pandya king. The temple has three inscriptions in its two rock-cut caves, two dating from the period of 8th century. Ninra Narayana is believed to have appeared to Sridevi and Bhoomadevi. Ranganatha from Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple was enamoured by the devotion of Andal. He started a journey to Srivilliputhur Divya Desam to seek her hand for marriage. While reaching the place, it became dark and he decided to spend the night in the place. Since he stayed at this place, it came to be known as Thiruthangal and the hillock came to be known as Thalagiri.