Sri Nalayira Divya Prabhandham

● The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses composed by the 12 Alvars who were the celebrated Vaishnava saints and poets of South India. The term “Nalayira” means “four thousand,” and “Divya Prabandham” means “divine composition” in Tamil, and was compiled in its present form by Nathamunigal during the 9th - 10th centuries.
● The Nalayira Divya Prabandham is also known as the Dravida Veda, meaning the Veda of the South, because of its importance in the religious and cultural traditions of the Tamil-speaking region of India.
● These were sung by the Alwars in devotional estacy in various shrines of Vishnu, made famous as Magalashasana sthalas.
● The hymns are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his various incarnations, such as Rama and Krishna. They are written in Tamil, and are known for their beautiful poetry, devotional fervor, and profound philosophical insights.
● The Nalayira Divya Prabandham has played a central role in the devotional practices of Sri Vaishnavites for centuries, and continues to be recited and sung in temples and households throughout South India.
● This set contains 4 volumes of all the 4000 verses and also in addition to these has the short life history of the 12 Alvars, the important Acharyas of Srivaishnavism and several ancillary texts composed by Vedanta Desika and Manavala Mamunigal.