Ñ 7 fold path.

 Nammalwar (also spelled Nammazhwar) was one of the most revered saints among the twelve Alvars in the Vaishnava tradition of South India. His teachings, encapsulated in his hymns, form a cornerstone of the devotional (bhakti) philosophy of Sri Vaishnavism. The essence of his teachings can be summarized as follows:

1. Supremacy of Lord Vishnu (Narayana):

Nammalwar emphasized that Lord Vishnu is the supreme deity, the ultimate source, sustainer, and goal of all creation. He portrayed Vishnu as both immanent and transcendent, accessible through loving devotion.

2. Path of Bhakti (Devotion):

He advocated for total surrender (prapatti) and intense devotion (bhakti) as the means to attain liberation (moksha). For Nammalwar, bhakti was not just a ritual or a practice but a heartfelt, all-encompassing surrender to God's will.

3. Accessibility of the Divine:

Nammalwar's hymns illustrate that Lord Vishnu is accessible to everyone, irrespective of caste, gender, or social status. He highlighted the personal and loving relationship between the devotee and the Lord, making spirituality inclusive.

4. Soul's Relationship with God:

He described the soul (jiva) as an eternal servant of the Lord, dependent on Him for everything. The ultimate purpose of life is to reunite with the divine, shedding the ego and worldly attachments.

5. Azhwar's Emotional Devotion:

Nammalwar's compositions reflect various moods of devotion, including love, longing, and ecstasy. His poetic expressions convey the intimate bond between the devotee and the divine, often in the form of allegories of a lover yearning for their beloved.

6. Divine Grace (Kripa):

He emphasized that liberation is not achieved by human effort alone but is ultimately a gift of God's grace. The devotee's role is to surrender wholeheartedly, trusting in God's mercy.

7. Philosophical Depth:

While deeply devotional, Nammalwar's works also delve into profound metaphysical concepts about the nature of God, the soul, and creation. His hymns often describe the Lord's cosmic form and divine qualities.

Nammalwar's Contributions:

Tiruvaymoli: His magnum opus, often referred to as the Tamil Veda, consists of 1,102 verses and is part of the Divya Prabandham, a collection of 4,000 Tamil hymns. It is a comprehensive treatise on devotion, theology, and divine love.

Other Works: He also composed three other shorter works: Tiruviruttam, Tiruvaciriyam, and Periya Tiruvandadi, each offering unique insights into devotion and spirituality.

Nammalwar's teachings continue to inspire millions of devotees and serve as the philosophical and devotional foundation of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. His hymns bridge the gap between the divine and the human, bringing God's love and grace into the realm of everyday life.

Nammalwar's works are filled with verses that beautifully encapsulate each of his teachings. Below, I have selected key verses from his works and provided their meanings in relation to each theme:

1. Supremacy of Lord Vishnu

Verse:

"நீண்ட ஞாலம் உண்டாகி நீளும் கருமத் தலைவனே!"

(Nīṇḍa ñālam uṇḍāgi nīḷum karumat talaivanē!)

(Tiruvaymoli 1.1.1)

Meaning:

This opening verse of Tiruvaymoli proclaims Vishnu as the supreme deity who sustains and governs the entire cosmos. "He created the vast universe and remains the eternal lord." It emphasizes Vishnu’s omnipotence and role as the ultimate ruler of creation.

2. Path of Bhakti (Devotion)

Verse:

"மெய்யன் என் மெய்ப்பொருள் தானே!"

(Meiyan en meipporuḷ tānē!)

(Tiruvaymoli 1.1.4)

Meaning:

Here, Nammalwar declares that Lord Vishnu is the sole truth and the ultimate reality. For him, nothing else matters except complete devotion to the Lord. This verse highlights the importance of unwavering bhakti as the means to attain God.

3. Accessibility of the Divine

Verse:

"வந்த மேகத்தால் சூரியன் மறைந்ததுபோலே

அந்தம் இல்லாதான் ஆதியை மறந்துளமே!"

(Vanda mēkattāl sūriyan maṟaintatu pōlē

Antam illātān ādiyai maṟantuḷamē!)

(Tiruvaymoli 1.3.4)

Meaning:

Nammalwar laments how people fail to recognize Vishnu, who is ever-present and infinite, like the sun momentarily hidden by clouds. This metaphor underscores that the Lord is accessible to all but often overlooked due to worldly distractions.

4. Soul's Relationship with God

Verse:

"உளம் தான் பெருமை இரக்கம் உண்ணும்

உயிர் எல்லாம் தொழும் அமரர்கள் ஆர் இறைவா!"

(Uḷam tāṉ perumai irakkam uṇṇum

Uyiṟ ellām toṟum amararkaḷ ār iṟaivā!)

(Tiruvaymoli 3.9.1)

Meaning:

This verse describes the soul's dependency on God, portraying Him as the refuge of all beings. The Lord’s compassion and grace bind the soul to Him in an eternal relationship of servitude and love.

5. Azhwar's Emotional Devotion

Verse:

"கண் சூரியனும் சந்திரனும் ஆய் நிற்கின்ற

உன் சாயலே என் சாகும் மருந்து."

(Kaṇ sūriyanum candiranum āy niṟkiṉṟa

Un cāyalē en cākum maruntu.)

(Tiruvaymoli 6.9.3)

Meaning:

Here, Nammalwar expresses his longing and emotional devotion, stating that Vishnu’s divine form, which encompasses the sun and moon, is the elixir of his life. This verse reveals the depth of the devotee's love and yearning for union with the divine.

6. Divine Grace (Kripa)

Verse:

"ஆர்கின்றேன் அருளே உனதருளால் அருளும் பரமானே!"

(Ārkiṉṟēṉ aruḷē unataruḷāl aruḷum paramānē!)

(Tiruvaymoli 6.10.10)

Meaning:

In this heartfelt plea, Nammalwar confesses his inability to attain salvation through his own efforts and prays for divine grace. He acknowledges that liberation can only be granted by Vishnu's mercy, not by human endeavor.

7. Philosophical Depth

Verse:

"உலகங்கள் எல்லாம் உந்தனுள் தானே!"

(Ulagankaḷ ellām undan uḷ tānē!)

(Tiruvaymoli 8.1.8)

Meaning:

This verse reflects on Vishnu's cosmic nature, stating that all worlds and beings exist within Him. It articulates a profound understanding of the unity of existence and the inseparability of creation from the divine.

Kley Contributions and Poetic Depth

Nammalwar's verses, such as those above, blend philosophical profundity with devotional fervor. His Tiruvaymoli is often regarded as a spiritual manual, offering devotees guidance in understanding their relationship with the divine and the means to liberation. His works, written in Tamil, made spirituality accessible to the common people, transcending linguistic and cultural barriers.

These verses and their meanings illuminate Nammalwar's vision of a universe where love and surrender to Vishnu are the ultimate paths to spiritual fulfillment.