Hinduism: Details about 'Divya Prabandham'
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The Naalayira Divyap Prabhandham is one of the most sacred texts in Hinduism, especially in South India. It is a collection of 4000 verses (Naalayira in Tamil means 'four thousand') composed sometime around the 8th and 12th century AD, by the 12 Alwars (also aazhvaars), the Tamil mystic poets. It is also known as the Divya Prabhandham The works were lost in the flood of time before they were collected and organized in the form of an anthology by Nathamunigal. The Prabhandham sings the praise of Sriman Narayana (or Vishnu) and his many forms. The Alwars sung these songs at various sacred shrines, which are known as Divya Desams. There are 108 Divya Desams, 2 of which are not in this world, and the rest mostly in South India. In South India, especially in Tamil Nadu, the Divya Prabhandham is considered as equal to the Vedas. Hence the epithet Dravida Veda. In many temples, Srirangam for example, the chanting of the Divya Prabhandham forms a major part of the daily service. Prominent among the 4000 verses are the 1100+ verses, known as the Thiru Vaaymozhi composed by Nammaazhvaar (Kaaril Maaran Sadagopan) of Thiruk Kurugoor.
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