பெரியாழ்வார் உணர்த்தும் ஐவகை இறை நிலைகள் / Five Levels of Divinity Evinced by Periyazhwar

Abstract

Theology has been around since ancient times in human history. Vaishnavism is unique in the times when it blossomed in that sense. Vaishnavism is the religion in which Tirumal is the absolute deity. Servants who nurtured Vaishnavism were called ‘Azhwars’. Twelve Azhwars received the blessings of Tirumal who immersed the people in the Vaishnava faith. The collection of hymns they bestowed is called Nalayira Dhiviya Prabandham. Vaishnava philosophies developed through philosophical discourses and commentaries. The rhymes of the Azhwars embody the concept of philosophy. One of the peculiarities of Vaishnavism is that the Lord has five stages. These stages are the state of transcendence (vastness), the state of the ocean (strategy), the state of birth (vipavam), the state of karandurai (interdependence) and the hierarchy (archai). These five types are glorified in the hymns of Periyarwar. In that sense, this article explains the levels of divinity and other related concepts found in the Periyazhwar poems.

Keywords

• periyazhwar
• five stages
• divinity
• pasuras
• nalayira dhiviya prabandham