a day ago
A garland of verses
The term Thirumaalai consists of two words. Usually, Thiru is used as a prefix to express respect and reverence. Maalai refers to a garland. With Bhakti as the thread, verses as flowers, and tears of joy as water to touch and ease the making, Thondaradippodi Azhwar strung together beautiful, melodious, and melting verses on Lord Ranganatha, and titled them Thirumaalai. The Azhwar is the incarnation of 'Vaijayanthi Mala', a garland that adorns the chest of Lord Vishnu. His actual name is Vipranarayanan. He wanted to be the dust in the feet of devotees and renamed himself as Thondaradippodi.
Thirukkudandhai Dr. Venkatesh said in a discourse that the Azhwar composed exclusively about Lord Ranganatha. Thirumaalai is the translation of the Sanskrit text Vishnu Dharmam into pure Tamil. Nama Sankeerthanam, or chanting the divine names of God, is the essence of Vishnu dharmam. Thondaradippodi Azhwar taught us the importance of chanting the names of God through Thirumaalai. It is written in a clear and concise style, making it easy to understand. It contains 45 verses. The great Acharya Sri Periavachan Pillai has divided Thirumaalai into eight parts for his commentary. The Azhwar says the bliss of chanting is more than the bliss of Srivaikuntam. He wanted neither Bhuloka (the Earth) nor Srivaikuntam (the heaven), but wished to be in Srirangam (Bhuloka Vaikuntam), existing in Bhuloka and experiencing Vaikuntam. The Azhwar says chanting mechanically the names of the Lord, even without deep devotion, a serene mind or self-control will remove all our sins.
Just as Vibhishana befriended Rama to conquer Ravana, the Azhwar befriended God's names to conquer Yama, the Lord of Death.
Undertaking penance is the most important in the Krita Yuga. The performance of Yagnas is predominant in the Treta Yuga. Rendering Archanas is essential in the Dwapara yuga. Chanting the names of God is considered the most effective and easiest medium in the Kali Yuga to derive God's blessings.
