Drowning in the Beauty of the Lord: A Glimpse at the Medieval Śrīvaiṣṇava Commentators’ Interpretation of the pādādi-keśa-varṇana of Tiruppāṇ Āḻvār’s Amalaṉātipirān

Abstract

This article explores how three medieval Śrīvaiṣṇava commentators— Periyavāccāṉ Piḷḷai (13th c.), Aḻakiya Maṇavāḷa Perumāḷ Nāyaṉār (14th c.) and Vedānta Deśikaṉ (14th c.)—deal with the passages that describe the different body parts of Raṅganātha, the main Deity in Śrīraṅgam, in Tiruppāṇ Āḻvār’s (9th c.) set of ten verses. Known as Amalaṉātipirāṉ (AAP),1 this decade, now part of the Nālāyira Tivviyap Pirapantam (or Nālāyira Divya Prabandham), follows the eyes of the poet, as they gradually move from the Deity’s foot to His head. The commentators make the most of these descriptions in order to emphasize the importance of beauty, which is visible, hence accessible, to everyone in His arcā (‘sacred icon’2) form and which is inextricably linked to His other attributes like sovereignty.