Thiruppavai

Dating back to the 7th century, the Bhakti movement in India brought forth a wave of saintly singers and spiritual guides. Among them, the Shaivite and Vaishnavite saints, known as Nayanmars and Alwars, sang hymns called Tevarams and Divya Prabhandas in Tamil. Among the revered 10 Azhwars, Andal stood as a singular female force, considered an incarnation of Mother Earth, discovered beneath a Tulsi plant in Periyaazhwar's garden. A devotee of Lord Vishnu and a mystic poet, Andal's verses in the Thiruppavai and Nachiyar Thirumozhi rank among the finest in Tamil literature. Thiruppavai offers a delightful way to learn ancient Tamil musically. These eight-line verses are structured with a raga introduction in the first four lines, repeated in the next four. Learning 30 Thiruppavais provides a foundation in 30 ragas, enriching your appreciation of both lyrics and language.