This lesson talks about the famous poetic work of the Alwars, the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham. This is one of the most important works of Vainava literature. It is a collection of the Prabandham sung by different alwars. During this age Thirumal worship was widely prevalent among the people.

     A few of the Alwars are Poigaialwar Boodathaalwar, Peialwar, Thirumalisaialwar, Nammalwar and Kulasekaraalwar. In total there are twelve poets who form the Alwar group. The name Naalayira Divya Prabhandham derives from the fact that it was a collection of four thousand poems. Arulicheyal was the original title of the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham.

     Naadhamunigal classified the poems based on the types of music involved. Each classification had a collection of approximately one thousand poems. Isaipaa and Eyarpaa are the two classifications. Isaipaakal were further classified into three parts. Nammalwar and Thirumangaialwar were two alwars who have composed more than one thousand poems. The poems have not been arranged according to their period. A few parts of Naalayiram Divya Prabhandham are also referred to by different names. For instance, Periyaalwar Thirumoli, Naachiar Thirumoli and Perumal Thirumoli.

     During the time of Thirumangaialwar, there was a custom of singing the Naalayiram Divya Prabhandham in temples. During the Thirukaarthikai festival at Thiruvarangam, Thirumangaialwar sang his Thirunedunthaandagam. In Vainava temples there still exists a custom known as Araiyar Sevai. Even though the Divya Prabhandham is exclusively a book of Vainava thoughts, it has transcended religious boundaries and is appreciated by one and all.

     From this lesson we have learnt about the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham. One can say that the Naalayira Divya Prabhandham is an important work that blossomed during the Bhakti movement.