thaThirumazhishai Alvar is named after the place where he hails from. Thirumazhisai is a place near Chennai. In Sanskrit it is called MAHISAARAPURAM It is said that Alvar was born of an Apsara called Kanakangi and a sage.
The child was abandoned by the parents and was brought up by poor childless couple who eked out their living by bamboo basket weaving.
Alvar is famous as he followed other philosophical schools like Shaiva, Jainism and finally he found Vaishanava school as more truthful by philosophic reasoning and spiritual inquiry So he developed unshakeable faith in Supremacy of Lord Narayana. Alvar is well known for his faith in single God and fervour as also yogic powers.
Many are the incidents in his life that are known, though not chronologically. Alvar had Yogic powers it seems and he took pity on elderly woman in temple service who used to clean temple premises daily and put rangoli. So Alvar blessed her to take the form of a beautiful maiden in blooming youth. It is said that the King who happened to visit the temple saw her and fell in love and married her.
Once Alvar was passing through an agrahara or colony of Scholarly Brahmins . The scholars who were chanting from Vedas, stopped as they saw Alvar coming in the street. While trying to resume, they forgot where exactly they had broken. As they were trying to recollect, Alvar took pity on their predicament and with a gesture made them pick up the lost thread. As he knew the meaning in Sanskrit of lines to be chanted, Alvar gestured by taking a black coloured paddy grain and breaking it by his fingernail. The clue was sufficient to remind the grateful brahmins who prostrated before alvar.
Alvar’s power of composing beautiful hymns in praise of The Lord reached the ears of the State’s King. The king wanted a Poetry composed by Alvar praising him. So he sent words to Alvar to meet him in Royal Court. Alvar sent his favourite disciple to the King. When King expressed his desire, disciple informed the king that Alvar would not sing in praise of mortals. Alvar’s songs are only for praising the Lord. King tempted him with all the riches imaginable. When there was constant refusal, he got enraged and ordered banishment of disciple out of his kingdom. Alvar on learning this was very sad to be parted with his disciple and he prayed to the Lord Vishnu lying on the couch of Adisesha in local temple, Alvar’s favourite deity of daily worship. Alvar told Him that he himself was leaving the kingdom as he coud not tolerate the separation from his disciple. Of what interest was the life for the Lord there without His Bhaktas ? So he commanded that the Lord should roll his Adisesha couch and walk out with His devotees! The Lord followed the order of His devotee, Alvar. The three were seen at the city gates by guards going out of city, capital. Astonished that God should accompany the two devotees, they promptly reported the matter to the king. Equally surprised, King realised his folly and pardoned the Disciple saying he could stay on. Order of banishment earlier passed was withdrawn. Alvar and his disciple came back to their living place and Alvar said that as disciple was allowed to stay on, he too returned to his abode. Accordingly, Lord also should return to His place. Lord in a hurry, changed direction of His earlier Headstead in couch of Adisesha and put His feet in Earlier Head Position ! Lord is even now in the temple near Kanchipuram, in a temple called SHONNA VANNAM SHAIDA PERUMAL KOIL ( LORD WHO DID AS HE WAS TOLD ) OR YATHOKTHAKAARI in Sanskrit giving same meaning.
Alvar worshipped Lord Aravamuthan ( meaning Lord who is as sweet as Amrutham/ Ambrosia that does not satiate one’s thirst even taking in long draughts ) at Thirukkudanthai - Present day Kumbhakonam - on banks of Kaveri. He was enamoured by the Lord reclining on AdiSesha. He asks the Lord, Are you lying on Adisesha because you are tired of walking in forest (Ref Rama’s Avathar ) or are you tired after reclaiming the Mother Earth from under water after killing the demon ( Ref Lord Varaha avathar ) ? Please get up and answer. Lord started getting up, Alvar was overwhelmed and said it is enough. So Lord at Kumbhakonam can be seen in a pose with his head in a raised position ! He gives darshan as if inviting devotees coming for Darshan ! </p> Alvar was given darshan by Lord Shiva, who voluntarily asked Alvar to ask a boon of Him. Alvar refused anything from Him, saying he was not interested in anything less than Moksham ( Liberation From Cycle Of Births and Death ) This moksham can only be granted by Lord Vishnu and no one else. </p>
Alvar was present in Aravamudan’s sannidhi while the Lord was being offered food offerings in temple. Other devotees are not allowed in during this offering. So they usually close the Sanctum by means of a clothe curtain. Only the priest is officiating offering food to the Lord. While they began the ritual of offering food to Lord chanting appropriate mantras, Lord roared Stop ! He wanted Alvar to be fed first and He was satisfied to eat after His Devotee ! Priests offered food first to Alvar in line with Lord’s command and then to The Lord. So Lord Aravamudan was called ARAVAMUDHAALVAAN ( DEVOTEE ) and Alvar as THIRUMAZHISAIPIRAAN (LORD HIMSELF ! ) after this incident.</p>
Alvar has embellished Nalayiram by his compositions ( 1 ) Thirucchandavruttam – 120 Pasurams ( Hymns) and (2 ) Nanmuhan Thiruvandhadhi – 96 pasurams ( Hymns ).
ALVAR EMPERUMANAR DESHIKAR THIRUVADIGALE SHARANAM.
SRIMATHE LAKSHMINRISIMHA DIVYAPADUKASEVAKA SRI NARAYANA YATHINDRA MAHADESHIKAYA NAMAHA.
