(30/01/2017)-A Devotional Hymn on Sri Ramanuja (Ethirajar-Emperumanar) - -Vaazhi Ethirajan E

ADivya Desam(Tamil: திவ்ய தேசம்) is one of the 108Vishnutemples that are mentioned in the works of theTamilAzhvars(saints).Divyameans "premium" andDesamindicates "place" (temple). Of the 108 temples, 105 are inIndia, one is inNepal, and last two are outside the Earthly realms.The last two are Thirupalkadal and Paramapadam.Tirupalkaddal is the ocean of milk and paramapadam is the Srivaikuntam where lord Narayana presides. The Divya Desams are revered bythe 12 Azhvars in theDivya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. While most Divya Desams follow Thenkalai modeof worship, some follow Vadakalai too among others.[1]AzhwarsImage of Rangamannar-Andal temple inSrivilliputhurThe wordazhwarmeans the one who dives deep into the ocean of the countlessattributes of god.Azhwarsare considered the twelve supreme devotees ofVishnu, who were instrumental in popularisingVaishnavismduring the 5th-8th centuries A.D. The religious works of these saints inTamil, songs of love and devotion, are compiled asNalayira Divya Prabandhamcontaining 4000 verses and the 108 temples revered in their songs are classified asDivya desam.[2][3]The saints had different origins and belonged to different castes. As per tradition, the first threeazhwars,Poigai,BhuthaandPeywere born miraculously.Tirumizhisaiwas the son of a sage,Thondaradi,Mathurakavi,PeriaandAndalwere frombrahmincommunity,KulasekharafromKshatriacommunity, Namm was from a cultivator family,Tirupanafrompanarcommunity andTirumangaifromkazhwarc