Thirumalisai Alvar


Thirumazhisai Alvar is a Tamil saint revered in the Srivaishnavism school of south India, in Tondai Nadu. He was born in 4203 BCE. The legend of this saint devotees of Srivaishnavism believe that he was the incarnation of Vishnu's disc, Sudarshana. He is believed to have been born at Jagannatha Perumal temple, Tirumazhisai by divine grace.
A childless tribal couple called Tiruvaalan and Pankaya Chelvi engaged in cutting canes found the child and took it home. The couple also had a son named Kanikannan who was a disciple of Thirumazhisai Alvar.
Thirumazhisai Alvar proclaimed that he didn't belonged to Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya & Shudra in one of his couplets as he was considered beyond caste bound person. He was the only azhwar saint who lived for 4500 Years.

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

The name of the Azhwar comes from his birthplace, Thirumazhisai, a suburb in modern day Chennai. He was born to Bhargava maharishi and his wife Kanakangi after an unusual 12 months stay in the womb. The fetus came out as just a lifeless lump of flesh with no arms and legs. The couple were terribly depressed and with unwillingness left it under a bamboo bush and proceeded with their spiritual journey. Vishnu appeared with his consort and blessed the "flesh" with their kataksham and it turned into an lively human being.
He was later picked up with both the arms affectionately by a tribal named Thiruvalan. A really blessed couple Thiruvalan and pankajavalli, was overwhelmed by the grace of god for this gift of a baby. The boy grew on to become Thirumazhisai azhwar. He also has an eye on his right leg. He lived up to 10 years of age in a hamlet near thirumazhisai village named as Pirayampathu. This Alwar was an incarnation of Sudarsana Chakra.
Thirumazhisai Alwar decided to learn about all other religions. He also got initiated into Vaishnavism by Pey Alwar. After visiting several temples, he reached Tiruvekka, the birthplace of Poigai Alwar.

Displeasing Pallava king

Legend also says that when Kanikannan, his disciple displeased the pallava king for not agreeing to restore the king's youth. Earlier on he granted youth to an old unmarried maid of the temple. The king married that woman but he himself was an old man and thus wanted to enjoy life as a youth with his new wife. Tirumalisai refused him and the king decided to banish him. Tirumalisai Alvar asked the God from the temple, Yathotkari, to leave with him.


Tamil
கணிகண்ணன் போகின்றான் காமரு பூங் கச்சி

மணிவண்ணா! நீ கிடக்க வேண்டா

செந்நாப் புலவனும் போகின்றேன் நீயும் உன்றன்

பை நாகப்பாயை சுருட்டிக் கொள்



Transliteration
KanikaNNan Poginraan Kaamaru poong Kachi
ManivaNNaa! Nee Kidakka Vendaa
Sennaap Pulavanum Poginren Neeyum Unran
Pai Naagappaayai Suruttik KoLL


Vishnu is said to have rolled up the snake Sesha like a mattress and left with him.

Mangalasasanam">Mangalasasanam by Divyadesam">Mangalasasanam

There are 216 of his paasurams in the 4000 Divya Prabhandham. His first Prabandham named Thiruchchanda Viruththam contains 120 hymns and starts from 752 paasuram and ends at 871 paasuram. The second Prabandham of Thirumazhisai Alvar is titled Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi and it contains 96 verses. The work of Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi starts from 2382 paasuram and ends at 2477 paasuram.
He has sung in praise of 20 temples.
S.No.Name of the templeLocationPhotoPresiding deityNotes/Beliefs
1Thiru Kapistalam/
2Thiru Anbil.Anbil
Tiruchirappalli district
Sundararaja Perumal
Azhagiya Nambi Perumal		The temple is located on the Northern bank of the river Kollidam, at a distance of from Trichy. King Sundara Chola who ruled the area was a devotee of the temple and during each of his innumerable victories in wars, he showered a lot of wealth on this temple. His prime minister Anirudha Brahmarayar is believed to be from Anbil, the village where the temple is located. The copper plates having the records from the Chola period from Anbil indicate generous contribution from the Medieval Cholas indicate various gifts to the temple.
3Thiruevvul.
4Thiru urakam.
5Thiruvallikeni.
6Thirupper Nagar.
7Thirukkurungudi.
8Tiruvekkaa.
9Tiruppatakam.
10Thirukoshtiyur.
11Thirukkudandhai.
12Thiruvenkadam.
13Tirupparkatal.
14Srirangam.Srirangam, Trichy district
Tamil Nadu
Ranganayagi
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.
15Azhagar Kovil.
16Appakkudathaan Perumal Temple.Koviladi, Trichy district
Tamil Nadu
Indravalli
Appala Ranganatha Perumal		The temple has inscriptions from the 18th year of the reign of Aditya Chola. The recorded inscriptions in this temple are numbered 283, 300, 301 and 303 of 1901. The temple is one of the five Pancharanga Kshetrams, a group of five Hindu temples on the banks of the Kaveri River dedicated to Ranganatha, a form of Vishnu.