R.J. Kalpana comes up with the English translation of the Divya Prabandham verses
Author R.J. Kalpana has released a new English translation series of the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham, a collection of ancient Tamil hymns dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The series aims to make these complex, centuries-old devotional verses accessible to a wider audience through transliteration and English explanations.
Why it matters
Preserving and translating classical religious literature is essential for maintaining cultural heritage and making it accessible to non-native speakers.
While there are some verses we grow up listening to without understanding their meanings, there are others that linger in our hearts due to their rhythm and melody. But we do not go beyond the sound to delve deeper into them. The Naalaayira Divya Prabandham is one such work, that is known for its lyrical richness and complex poetry.
Composed in Tamil by the 12 azhwars, in praise of lord Vishnu, these verses convey the myriad shades of bhakti ranging from longing and yearning to joy and total surrender to the divine. Over the centuries, however, the hymns gradually began to lose their prominence. It was through the relentless efforts of the ninth-century Vaishnavite scholar Nathamuni that they were recovered and organised into four major sections — Mudhalaaiyiram (containing 947 verses); Periya Thirumozhi with 1,134 verses; Iyarpa (with 817 verses); and Tiruvoimozhi , with 1,102 verses.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in