In this world, Lord Renganatha (Lord Vishnu) created so many humans to do Kainkaryam (Service) to Lord's Lotus Feet, and to spread the awareness of Sri Vaishnava Samrudhayam. Lord Renganatha mainly created twelve peoples as his incarnation to spread Sri Vaishnavism, and Lord Vishnu named them Alwars.
Birth of Thirumazhisai Alwar:
Saint Thirumazhisai Alwar was born as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu's Sudharshana Chakra. Thirumazhisai Alwar was born in the place called Thirumazhisai near Kanchipuram, Thirumazhisai Alwar was born to Saint Baargava and his wife Kanakangi in the tamil month of Thai and in Magam Nakshathiram. Thirumazhisai Alwar is the fourth Alwar among the twelve Vaishnava alwars.
When Saint Thirumazhisai Alwar was born he looked like a Muscle Ball, he didn't have the body parts and just looks like a Muscle Ball, so Thirumazhisai Alwar's parents left this child in the Bamboo Forest. After a while, Lord Jagannatha Perumal and Thirumaamgal Thayar of Thirumazhisai Temple has appeared in front of the muscle ball and showered their blessings, and it becomes a beautiful child and become an Orphan and nobody looks at the child while people crossing the Bamboo Forest.
Growth of Thirumazhisai Alwar:
The Child started to cry loudly, after a while, A hunting couple called Thiruvaalan and Pangayachelvi has heard the crying sound and took the beautiful child in the bamboo bush. From childhood, he learned the Dhiyana Krama and Thirumazhisai Alwar always concentrated on Penance. At the age of seven, Thirumazhisai Alwar had given a boon to an old couple which results in a birth of a baby called Kanikannan, who becomes a disciple of Thirumazhisai Alwar later.
In the Teenage period, Thirumazhisai Alwar has learned Ashtanga Yogam and concentrated on penance, after some years Thirumazhisai Alwar was in search of the true meaning of life and soul, Thirumazhisai Alwar practised Buddhism, Jainism, and Saivism but Thirumazhisai Alwar was not satisfied with these philosophies. Thirumazhisai Alwar learned so many Saivism Books and become a Savisit named himself Sivakkiyar.
Thirumazhisai Alwar And Vaishnavism:
One day, Boothalwar a vaishnavite and one among the twelve alwars had seen Thirumazhisai Alwar. Boothalwar came to know that Sivakkiyar (Thirumazhisai Alwar) History and also Thirumazhisai Alwar is in search of the true meaning of life and soul, so Boothalwar decided to direct him to the path of Vaishnavism.
The Next day Boothalwar had built a hut near the house of Thirumazhisai Alwar, In the early morning, Boothalwar planted many Thulasi Plant (Holy Basil) in front of his house. When Thirumazhisai Alwar saw this, he become so confused by the way Boothalwar planted the Thulasi Plant, because He Planted the Thulasi Plant in an inverse manner which the root of the plant faced towards the sky and the leaves of the plant were buried in the ground and poured water to the plants with a broken mud pot.
Thirumazhisai Alwar asked Boothalwar why he is planting the thulasi in an inverse manner, the plant will grow only if the root is buried in the ground but you're planting in the wrong manner and it is useless to work. Boothalwar replied to Thirumazhisai Alwar that If my planting method is wrong then your way of searching for the real truth of God and life is also waste and you are also on the wrong path. Thirumazhisai Alwar realized that Boothalwar has come to show us the right path, then Thirumazhisai Alwar asked Boothalwar that should He should be his Guru (Teacher) and show him a good path.
Thirumazhisai Alwar has learned that Sri Vaishnavism is the right philosophy in the world and Lord Vishnu is the one and one only God who will give you the place in Sri Vaikuntha. Thirumazhisai Alwar had learned so many Sri Vaishnava books and concentrated and did Dhyana on the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and developed his knowledge on Sri Vaishnava Shidhantha and renamed his from Sivakkiyar to Thirumazhisai Alwar.
Thirumazhisai Alwar and His Disciple KaniKannan:
After some days, Thirumazhisai Alwar has reached Thiruvekka Perumal Temple which is located near Kanchipuram, and built a Hut and started to live in Thiruvekka. After hearing this news, the child which was born as the result of Thirumazhisai Alwar's boon called Kanikannan has now become a disciple of Thirumazhisai Alwar. Kanikannan started to do services to him and learned many Vaishnava Rahasya Arthas (secret meanings) from Thirumazhisai Alwar. One day Thirumazhisai Alwar has given a boon to an old lady who did service in his house, Alwar gave boon to that old lady that she got back her young age and beauty. The Old Lady turned into a Beautiful Young Lady.
The King of Kanchipuram has attracted by that beautiful young lady and married her, later the King knows about her beauty secret and ordered his soldiers to bring Thirumazhisai Alwar to his court. When soldiers went to his Thirumazhisai Alwar as not in the house, so Thirumazhisai Alwar's disciple Kanikannan decided to honour the King's so Kanikannan ent to the court of the King. King enquired about Thirumazhisai Alwar and his powers and the boon given to the old lady. The King requested Kanikannan to bring his Aacharya (Teacher) to court and to sing a song about him and the King wanted Thirumazhisai Alwar to give a boon to get back and retain at his young age.
But Kanikannan denied the King's request and told to the King that Thirumazhisai Alwar will never sing a song on humans. Thirumazhisai Alwar will only sing the songs on Lord Vishnu. After hearing these words the King ordered Kannikannan to sing a song on him but Kannikannan also denied his request and clearly said that He will only sing-song on his Aacharya and Lord Vishnu. The King become so angry with Kanikannan and ordered him to leave his territory. Kanikannan also obeyed the King's order and inform Thirumazhisai Alwar that he is going to leave the country. Thirumazhisai Alwar asked his disciple Kanikannan why he is leaving the country then Kanikannan explained the whole story that happened in the King's court.
Thirumazhisai Alwar become so angry decided to move out of this city with his disciple Kanikannan, when Thirumazhisai Alwar is about to leave the city he suddenly had an Idea, Thirumazhisai Alwar along with Kanikannan went to Yathothkari Perumal Temple and Thirumazhisai Alwar ordered the Yathothkari Perumal with a song to come along with them with his snake bed (Aadhi Shesha) to leave the city.
kanikannan Pogindran Kamuru Punkachi
Manivanna Ni kidaka Vendi Thunivudaya
Chennapulaven Naanum Poogindren Neeyum
Undan Pinaga Payeyi Churuttikoll…..
Yathothkari Perumal Temple also decided to honour his devotee Thirumazhisai Alwar's words and As like a Student Perumal also got ready to leave the city with his snake bed and all the three of them left the city. In the evening they stopped their journey and took a rest in the place called OorRikkai. After Yathothkari Perumal left the city the city faced drought, famine, many water bodies were disappeared, the sky becomes dark, and many Inauspicious things happened in the city after hearing this news The King become so scared and confused and called his minister for a meeting and asked them for the reasons why the bad things happening in the city.
The Minister replied to King that Yathothkari Perumal left the city with Thirumazhisai Alwar and Kanikannan so only all the bad things happening in the city, Minister advised the King to seek apology to Yathothkari Perumal. The King along with the people arrived at OorRikkai. The King surrendered under the feet of Yathothkari Perumal and seek an apology from him but Perumal refused it and said that I just followed the instructions of Thirumazhisai Alwar so I can't accept your apology so seek apology to Thirumazhisai Alwar.
The King seeks an apology to Thirumazhisai Alwar but Alwar also refused it said that I just followed with my disciple Kanikannan so You seek an apology to Kanikannan. The King seek an apology for his wrong actions and requested Kanikannan to return to the city with them. After a few moments, Kanikannan decided to accept the King's request and along with Thiumazhisai Alwar and Yathothkari Perumal returned to the city and The City have been restored as it is before they leave the city.
Kannikannan Pokoindan Kamaru Punkachi
Manivanna Ni kidaka Vendi Thunivudaya
Chennapulavan Nanuum Pokoindan Neeyum
Undan Pinaga Payeyi Virithu Koll…..
Thirumazhisai Alwar requested Yathothkari Perumal with a song to recline his snake bed and give blessings to the devotees as it is like before. Perumal also accepted the request of Thirumazhisai Alwar and Perumal had spread his snake bed in the temple and got back into Shayana Thirukkolam. This incident proved that the Perumal will do anything for his devotees in any situation and help them in any circumstances.
Thirumazhisai Alwars has sung many songs on Lord Vishnu which will come in Nalayira DivyaPrapandham verses. They are Thiruchchanda Viruththam (120 hymns) The second Prabandham of Thirumazhisai Alwar is titled Naanmugan Thiruvandhadhi (96 verses)
Thirumazhisai Alwar has sung in praise of 20 Vaishnava Vishnu Temples.
Thirumazhisai Alwar Thaiyan:
Taruccantappoḻiltaḻuvu tāraṇiyiṉtuyartīra*
Tiruccantaviruttamcey tirumaḻicaipparaṉvarumūr*
Karuccantumkārakilum kamaḻkōṅkum'maṇanāṟum*
Tiruccantattuṭaṉmaruvu tirumaḻicaivaḷampatiyē.
Ulakum'maḻicaiyum uḷḷuṇarntu* tam'mil
Pulavarpukaḻkkōlāltūkka* ulakutaṉṉai
Vaitteṭuttapakkattum* mānīrmaḻicaiyē
Vaitteṭuttapakkamvalitu.
- Thirukkachi Nambigal
Thirumazhisai Alwar VaaliThirunaamam:
Tirumazhisai Aḻwār (Thai – Magam)
Aṉpuṭaṉantāti toṇṇūṟṟāṟuraittāṉ vāḻiyē Aḻakārun tirumaḻicaiyamarnta celvaṉ vāḻiyē Iṉpamiku taiyil makattiṅkutittāṉ vāḻiyē Eḻiṟcantaviruttam nūṟṟirupatīntāṉ vāḻiyē Muṉpukattil vantutitta muṉivaṉār vāḻiyē Muḻupperukkil poṉṉiyetir mitantacollōṉ vāḻiyē Naṉpuviyil nālāyiratteḻunūṟṟāṉ vāḻiyē Naṅkaḷ patticāraṉ irunaṟpataṅkaḷ vāḻiyē
Sri Renganaathaya Namha:
Sri Renganayakiye Namha:
Sri Mathe Ramanujaya Namaha:
Jai Sriman Naraya