Nanmukan Tiruvantati | |
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Information | |
Religion | Hinduism |
Author | Tirumalisai Alvar |
Language | Tamil |
Period | 9th–10th century CE |
Verses | 100 |
The Nanmukan Tiruvantati ( Tamil: நான்முகன் திருவந்தாதி, romanized: Nāṇmukan Tiruvant̬āt̬ī, lit. 'The sacred hymn of the four-faced one') [1] is a Tamil Hindu work of literature composed by Tirumalisai Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars of Sri Vaishnavism. [2] Comprising 100 verses [3] in the form of a poetic device known as the antati, it is part of the compendium of hymns called the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. [4] It is dedicated to the preserver deity, Vishnu. [5]
Scholars have posited that the primary purpose of the Nanmukan Tiruvantati was to establish the supremacy of Narayana ( Vishnu) over Nanmukan ( Brahma) and Shankaran ( Shiva). [6]
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Vaishnavism |
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The first hymn of the Nanmukan Tiruvantati describes the poet-saint's assertion of Vishnu's supremacy: [7]
Narayana created the four-faced one (Brahma), and the four-faced one created Shankaran (Shiva) in his own image.
They say the Ultimate Reality is one. He is Vishnu. Nobody knows the glories of the Lord.— Nanmukan Tiruvantati, Hymn 1
The author also references Vishnu's incarnation of Narasimha and his slaying of Hiranyakashipu in this work: [8]
O Lord who destroyed the boon-intoxicated Hiranya’s mighty chest with curved nails and strong arms! You destroy everything, then you create everything, and become the four Yugas as well, I know it!
— Nanmukan Tiruvantati, Hymn 5
Topics in Tamil literature | ||
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Sangam Literature | ||
Five Great Epics | ||
Silappatikaram | Manimekalai | |
Civaka Cintamani | Valayapathi | |
Kundalakesi | ||
The Five Minor Epics | ||
Neelakesi | Culamani | |
Naga Kumara Kaviyam | Udayana Kumara Kaviyam | |
Yashodhara Kaviyam | ||
Bhakti Literature | ||
Naalayira Divya Prabandham | Kamba Ramayanam | |
Tevaram | Tirumurai | |
Tamil people | ||
Sangam | Sangam landscape | |
Tamil history from Sangam literature | Ancient Tamil music | |
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