Thiruppanalvar was born in Uraiyur, near Thiruchirapalli. He was born in Panchama caste. He got his name by the fact of his singing hymns in praise of the Lord of Srirangam to the accompaniment of Pann, a stringed musical instrument. Playing this, he used to be immersed in Divine love singing praises of Lord Sriranganatha.
His contribution on record for Nalayiram is ten immortal songs. He praises God as the Holy, the Pure and The Perfect . He says that he does not want to see any other ” God “ having seen Lord of Srirangam. A Mahatma by name Shri D. Ramaswami Iyengar has written a booklet rendering English translation, soaking with devotion as much equal to Alvar’s himself. Swami Deshikan has written a commentary titled Munivahana Bhogam.
The chain of events that lead to his having darshan of the Lord goes like this : He used to sing glories of the Lord from afar on the banks of Cauvery in Srirangam looking at the temple spires of the Lord. Once it so happened that Lord’s priest went to fetch water for Abhishekam from the River and encountered Alvar in the way, totally oblivious to the surroundings immersed as he was in Divine Love, singing his heart out to the tune of his instrument. Unaware of his greatness, the priest whose name was LOKASAARANGA MUNI, accosted the Alvar asking him to give way so he can collect the water. Alvar was lost in Devotion and hence could not listen and respond. Muni called him many times without effect and so he threw a small stone at him to draw his attention. The stone hit Alvar on head and he realised the situation on coming out from the trance and hastened to make way. Muni collected the water and went back to his duties in the Temple. On entering the Sanctum, he was shocked to see the Lord Ranga Natha hurt and bleeding at the same place on head as Alwar His devotee and dearest to His heart. He spoke to Muni letting know His displeasure at the act of Muni and ordered that muni bring the Alvar to Him immediately. Repenting, Muni went to Alvar and told him of Lord’s edict and that alvar should accompany Muni to the temple. Afraid that he would violate the social customs which denied him entry to the temple, he refused. Muni wanted to obey the Lord’s edict and so forcibly carried Alvar over his shoulders to the temple. Alvar was pleased to drink in the beauty of the Lord from Holy Feet to His lotus like Eyes, lips etc His mind rested in each of the parts of Sri Ranga’s body which beauty he sang in ten paasurams called AMALANAADIPIRAN. While concluding the verses Alvar sang that he does not wish to see any other God after drinking in the nectar of Lord’s beauty. With this alvar Merged into the Lord. Alvar got the name Munivahanan due to the carriage on Muni’s shoulders.
Amalanadipiran speaks of Lord’s beauty beginning with HOLY LOTUS FEET, HIS RED SILK ROBE IN HIS WAIST, THE NAVEL JUST ABOVE RED PITHAMBARAM WHICH BROUGHT FORTH LORD BRAHMA, HIS WAIST BELT THAT IS AN ORNAMENT NAMED UDARABANDHAM, HIS CHEST THAT IS THE ABODE OF SRI LAKSHMI AND GARLAND OF PEARL ADORNING IT, HIS THROAT THAT SWALLOWED THE WHOLE OF HIS CREATION AND GUARDED DURING PRALAYA OR DELUGE, HIS BEAUTIFUL EYES THAT ARE WIDE, RED TINGED AND BEAUTIFUL, HIS SPLENDOROUS BODY OF BLUE HUE, Such a Lord he has seen and does not want to see anything other than this.
