Azhwar Vaibhavam-1

Poigai Azhwar

Thondai Naadu, which is said to be the land full of brightness and nature's beauty, has a number of cities in it. Likewise, Kanchipuram is one of the cities, which is said to be gifted by Nature in its wealth and beauty. Thiru Atthiyoor (Chinna Kanchipuram) is one of the small parts of Kanchipuram, which is surrounded by numerous Vishnu temples and this Kanchi is called "Vishnu Kanchi". Big Kanchipuram is full of Shiva Perumal temple and it is named as "Shiva Kanchi".

Thiru vekka, also called as "Yadhothakaari Sannadhi" which is found in Vishnu Kanchi, has its own specialty and Sriman Narayanan's Anugraha (Blessings). Nearer to the Yadhothakaari temple, is found a Poigai (small pond), which is full of beautiful, fresh lotus flowers are found. Sonna Vannam Seitha Perumal is found close to this pond and giving his seva to the entire world.

The Pond, which is found in the Great Ksthetram, in spite of having the nourishing smell and beauty, it has another specialty to be said. In Siddhartha year, Iyppasi Month, Suklashtami Tuesday in Tiruvona Natshatram, as an Hamsam of one of the Panchaayudham (5 Weapons) of Emperumaan - Thiru Shankam, Poigai Alwar was born in this world. Since he was born in this poigai (Pond), he is called as "Poigai Alwar".

From the Childhood, his thinking was always on the almighty, Sriman Narayanan and made up his mind that he should follow him and want to spread his fame to the world. He learned all the Vaishnava's speech and acted according to it and led his life as how a Vaishnava should be.

Knowing the greatness of Thirumalai devotion and thought him fame has to be spread to all the humans in the whole world, he left all of his general human characters like Love, Angry and having the mind to earn wealth. 

Bhoothalwar

In Thondai Naadu, a city, which is found on the shore of the sea, which is called as "Kadal Mallai" is found. The Adiyaars (or) the bhaktas who praise the Emperumaan is found in a large number in this Kadal Malai Kshetram.

This Kadal Mallai Kshetram is also popularly called as "Mamallapuram" and as the years passed, this sthalam is now called as "Mahabalipuram". Since this sthalam was ruled by Maamallan, a great of Pallava King, the sthalam is named as "Mamallapuram". This sthalam is also called as "Mahabalipuram" because of Mahabali Chakaravarthy, who ruled this sthalam, as asked by Sriman Narayanan who came as "Vamana" (Dwarf) asked for 3 feet of land. Since he could not give him the 3rd feet, he surrendered his head as the 3rd one. As a complete surrender towards the Emperumaan, Mahabali was sanctified him to attain Moksha. Because of this, the sthalam is also known as "Mahabalipuram".

Emperumaan Sriman Narayanan is found in some sthalams in Nindra Kolam and in some sthalam as "Veetrirundha thirukkolam" and in "Kidantha Kolam" in some sthalam. Likewise, this is one of the greatest sthalam where the Emperumaan, "Sthala Sayana Perumal" is found in Kidantha Thirukkolam.

Having these kinds of specialties, this sthalam has another specialty to say.

In Siddhartha year, Iyppasi month, Navami, Avitta Natshatram, Bhoodhathalwar was born, who is considered to be the Hamsam of one amongst them Panchaayudham of Emperumaan, the Koumothagi, the Gadha, in a small Madhavi flower.

From childhood, his heart and all of his thinking are towards Sriman Narayanan and spent his life by praising the fame of him. 

Pei Alwar

As per Hindu legend, Pey Azhwar was found in the lily flower in the pond of the Adi Kesava Perumal Temple in Mylapore. In Tamil, pey refers to one who is possessed and since the saint was madly attracted to Hindu god Vishnu, he got the name.

Sri Aadhi Kesava Perumal temple is one of the famous temple found in Mylapore, has a small pond (where lots of different kinds of flowers are found). Likewise on Siddhartha year, Iyppasi month, Dhasami, Thursday in Sadhaya Natshatram (Star), Pei Alwar was born as a small child in one of the Alli flower, which is found in the pond. He is the Hamsam of one of the Panchaayudham of Sriman Narayanan, the Sword (weapon of Sri Vishnu) which is called as "Nandhagam" in 7 A.D century. 

Legend

The first three of the Azhvaars- Poigai Azhvaar, Bhoothath Azhvaar, and Pey Azhvaar- came to ThiruKovilur on a rainy night. First to reach was Poigai Azhvaar, of Kanchipuram, who sought refuge for the night at the ashram of Mrugandu Rishi, who told him there was a place for just one person to sleep and that he was welcome to sleep here for the night.

BhoothathAzhvaar, from Mamallapuram, followed shortly and he too requested that he stay at the ashram for the night. PoigaiAzhvaar welcomed him saying there is a place for one to sleep and two to sit and took him inside.

PeyAzhvaar, from Mylapore, too reached the ashram. He was told that there is a place for one to sleep, two to sit and three to stand. It is explained as a slogan by

"Oruvar Padukka - Iruvar Irukka - Moovar Nirkalam".

The three of them stood there through the night sharing their experiences.

A little later the three Azhvaars felt the presence of a fourth person and with space only for three to stand, the Azhvaars felt uncomfortable. Through their special vision, the three Azhvaars realized that the fourth person was Lord Vishnu himself. Delighted at this, they showered praises on the Lord.

This is the first temple where the first three Azhvaars sang praise (Paasurams) of Lord Vishnu, the composition of which later came to be called the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

It is believed that this ashram where the 3 Azhvaars stayed that rainy night is the one where one, today, finds the sanctum. The first of the three Azhvaars also find a place inside the Sanctum.