திருவாலவாய்த் திருத்தலமும் விருத்த இலக்கியங்களும்

Abstract

Thirualavay is the ancient name of Madurai, a renowned city that has made significant contributions to the growth and development of Tamil literature. Lord Somasundarar and Goddess Meenakshi, the presiding deities of Madurai, are believed to remove the three impurities of living beings and bestow the ultimate liberation of Mukti. Inspired by the divine grace of these deities, Tamil scholars have composed numerous literary works that uphold the principles and doctrines of Saivism. Among these works are Virutham compositions, which belong to the Prabandham literary tradition and are characterised by four metrical lines of equal measure. Adhering to established grammatical structures and literary conventions, these compositions predominantly express the devotees’ prayers for divine grace, relief from poverty, and the attainment of a prosperous and spiritually elevated life. These works also elucidate the supreme power of the divine, divine plays (Thiruvilaiyadal), divine attributes, religious truths, Saiva Siddhanta principles, and the ethical values essential for righteous living. In composing Virutham literature, poets have also incorporated innovative literary forms, such as Adimada kku, alongside descriptions of divine greatness. This study aims to establish that these literary works not only celebrate divine grace and the spiritual fulfilment attained by devotees but also contribute to the emergence and development of new literary forms within Tamil literature.

Keywords: Thiruvalavai, Virutham, Meenakshiammai, literary form, Adi Madakku, Aasiriya Virutham, Tamil poetry, Madurai literature