Madhurakavi was born before Nammalvar, in a Brahmin family, in the month of
Chittirai and in
chitra star in Thirukkolur near
Alwarthirunagari. The presiding deity in the temple is called
Vaitha Maanidhi, meaning the storage of great wealth. He is believed to be the divine form of Kumudha Ganesa, the disciple of
Vishvaksena, a servant of Vishnu. He is also believed to be the incarnation of
Garuda, the sacred eagle vehicle of Vishnu. Though some believe that he is an incarnation of Garuda, some accounts show that he is the incarnation of Kumuda, Vishvaksena's disciple, while Nammalvar himself is the incarnation of Vishvaksena (Vishvaksena is the commander in chief of
Vishnu's army). Madhurakavi Alvar lived during the lifetime of
Nammalvar (Vishvaksena's incarnation). Madhurakavi is believed to have learnt the
Vedas and considered well-versed in both
Tamil and
Sanskrit. He used to compose poems in the praise of Vishnu. At one stage in his life, he decided to abandon all the chains of livelihood and strive towards
moksha. In this pursuit he undertook a pilgrimage to the
Divya Desam located in northern India like Ayodhya and Mathura.
Meeting Nammalvar In popular tradition, when Madhurakavi Alvar, after long tour, had reached Ayodhya and completed the
mangalasasanam of the enchanting forms of
Rama,
Sita,
Lakshmana,
Hanuman and others, he noticed a glowing ball of fire in the sky. However much he tried, he could not understand the reason for this phenomenon. He also noticed that the ball of fire started moving southwards. He decided to follow the light which led him to Alwarthirunagari, and finally disappeared. Madhurakavi already heard about a sixteen-year-old youth (Nammalvar) who spent his life since birth under a Tamarind tree without eating anything and emitting a divine glow. Madhurakavi proceeded straight to the seat of Nammalvar who was in a trance. In order to test Nammalvar, Madhurakavi dropped a stone. Unable to elicit any reaction from the child, he asked him a riddle: "
செத்ததன் வயிற்றில் சிறியது பிறந்தால் எத்தைத்தின்று எங்கே கிடக்கும்?" "If an infant is born in the womb of the dead, on what will it subsist and where will it stay?" (philosophically; if the subtle soul is embodied in the gross body, what are its actions and thoughts?) Nammalvar broke his lifelong silence and responded, "
அத்தைத் தின்று அங்கே கிடக்கும்" Translation: "On that it will subsist, in that it will stay!" (meaning that if the soul identifies with the body, it will be the body but if it serves the divine, it will stay in
Vaikuntha and eat(think) of God).
Story of the idols When
Nammalvar was ready to go to Vaikuntha (depart earthly existence), a teary-eyed Madhurakavi asked
Nammalvar what to do next.
Nammalvar advised Madhurakavi to boil the waters of Tamraparni and stated that an idol will form during boiling of the water. Madhurakavi did as per
Nammalvar's advice. When he had boiled the waters of Tamraparni, he gained an idol of Bhagavad
Ramanuja. He was surprised to see that the idol was different from what he had expected. He went to
Nammalvar with the idol and the latter told him that this idol was Bhavishyadhacharya (future guru) and that he would be born 4000 years from then. He again advised to boil the waters of Tamraparni. Madhurakavi once again boiled the waters of Tamraparni and finally got the idol of
Nammalvar. ==Works==