Thiruppan Alwar

Alvars were saints who played a major role in developing Vaishnavism between the 5th and 8th centuries AD. Thiruppaan Alvar or Thirupaanazhwar, was one of the alvars introduced as the 12th alvar. He was known to be born to a couple who belonged to the panaar community in a Perumal temple.

All the alvars wrote songs called Nalayira Divya Prabandham, which contains 4000 verses in total. These songs are cherished in 108 temples, and then they classified these temples as "Divya desam" of Lord Vishnu.

Thiruppaan Alvar has contributed 10 verses that were named Amalanaathipiran in the Nalayira Divya Prabandam. All these verses explain the theological and philosophical ideas of Vaishnavism that praise Lord Vishnu.

In South India, there are many temple cities, and one of them is Srirangam, where Thirupaanazhwar Avathara Utsavam is celebrated in the remembrance of thiruppan alvar. This function is celebrated for ten full-day in the Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Temple, which indicates the celebration of thiruppan alvar's avatharam (his incarnation). During this function, all the people recite all the verses of alvars while praying for the world's wellness.

Planar Community

Thiruppan alvar was born in the paanar community in Azhagiya Manavala Perumal temple located in a tiny village called Alagapuri of Srirangam. Originally paanar community members were musicians used to perform traditional music across the states. Later they were treated as outcasts or untouchables by the traditional legends. Historically, in the literature, it is stated that paanar community people were untouchables. Still, according to the statement of Palaniappan, it is said they were artists who were dancers and singers.

Another interesting data is that, in the traditional status, they have not given any real data stating that people belonging to the paanar community lived in Tamil Nadu before the emergence of Thiruppan alvar.

Early Life

From his early age as a child, he was known as a divine child who always spoke about Lord Perumal. After few years, he started singing divine music while carrying his veena in his hand, leaving behind all the attractions that other teens acquired. He sang the glories of Vishnu and soon became famous in the southern part of India.

He was well known for his "bakthi songs" (songs that explain God's divine power), which mesmerized all the audience. All his songs were very powerful in that it easily attracts various audiences from many parts of the states. In the later period, he was named the "Paanar Perumal" and became a great treasure for the people who belonged to the paanar community.

The Perumal temple in Srirangam was present near one of the shores of the river Cauvery. Since planar Perumal belonged to the paanar community and they were addressed as untouchables, he was not allowed to step on the shores of Cauvery.

People believed that Cauvery is one of the rivers of purity, and they did not allow any outcaste people near it. Hence to obey the restrictions, he used to stand alongside the bank to face the Srirangam temple and sang songs praising the divinity of Lord Vishnu. He believed that his spirituality lies in his moral conduct and not by steeping into the temple to prove it.

In the later period, he became one of the alvars as he was the chosen child by God. He was the incarnation of the small mark on the Vishnu's chest called the Srivatsan.

Works

When you pray, we are always said to look at the feet of God first; similarly, his first pasuram (hymn) was about the thiruvadi (feet) of the lord Narayana (Vishnu).

It says:

Neel madhil Arangathamman thirukkamal padham vandhu en Kanninullana okkinrathe.

He looked at the body of Sri Ranganathan (Vishnu) and wrote 10 pasurams (hymns) that described the pure beauty of Lord Emperumaan. He started from the thiruvadi (foot) till his thirumudi (head) in all ten hymns.

He states in his hymns about the saffron cloth on the body of Lord Ranganathar. The sain-poet was all mesmerized by the jewels of the Lord and described his immense beauty in his verses.

Then he describes the broad chest of the Lord and red lips; he focuses on his face and admires his wide eyes.