RELG 356 Lecture Notes - Srirangam, Thiruppavai, Sari
8 Jul 2014
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Document Summary
Nalayira divya prabandham (four thousand sacred compositions) - 10th ce. The only female alvar (c. 9th century) Author of two major poems in the nalayira divya prabandham: tiruppavai (sacred vow, nacciyar tirumoli (sacred words of our respected lady) She is said to have been found as an infant under a basil or tulsi plant by her father, who worked as a gardener for the local vishnu temple. From a young age she was devoted to vishnu, and would make and then wear the garlands meant for him before they were placed around his neck. Taking that garland herself she is positing herself as/equal to deity = problematic. Offerings to deities should never be those that were previously used by humans. When this was discovered by her father (the saint periyalvar) he discareded the flowers and forbade her from wearing them again.
