idaikazhiyil kaNdEnO mudhalAzhvArgaLaip pOlE
Mudhal Azhwargal are the first three Azhwars to appear in this world. They are Poigai Azhwar, Bhoodhathazhwar and Peyazhwar. One time the Lord decided to bring them together in the divyadesam of Thirukkovilur. The three azhwars decided to seek the blessings of the Lord, “Ulagalandha Perumal” and travelled from their place to Thirukkovilur and reached the temple. Unknowingly, the three of them were in the same place, at the same time but stayed unnoticed! It was a dark and stormy night and the rainfall was getting heavier every minute, making it tough for the three Azhwars to proceed with their own plans.
Poigaiyazhwar took shelter in a small hut of Mrugandu Maharishi. The room was so small that only one person could sleep with his legs stretched. Tired of the walking he lied down on the floor and slept. Time passed and there was a knock at the door! Wondering who it could be at this time, Poigaiazhwar opened the door and saw Bhoodhathazhwar standing outside, drenched in the rain. Even though the room is small, Poigaiazhwar gave shelter to Bhoodhathazhwar, saying, “Inside, there is place for one man to lie down but two can sit! Please come in!!”
Introducing formally, they both sat on the floor and knowing that they both are two separate water drops on a journey with a mission looking for the same ocean, they started discussing about the Lord’s lilas and shared stories and their experiences on the knowledge they have gained, forgetting about their tiredness and sleep.
While they were discussing about their Lord, forgetting about the passing time, there was a knock on the door, again! When they opened the door, they noticed Peyazhwar standing outside, looking for accommodation. Smiling at each other, the two azhwars said – “Please come in! There is enough space inside for three people to stand! We can stand and accommodate you also!”
Time went by. With introductions and knowing that they are not two but three water drops looking for the same ocean, they all got excited and forgetting all their pain, sleep and exhaustion, they shared their feelings towards the Lord and their experiences with the Lord. Suddenly, the three Azhwars realized that there seemed to be a fourth person in the room and was pushing against all of them. They felt that the room was getting crowded and they were being squeezed in the dark!
Wondering what could be the reason for the sudden crowd in the dark when the door is locked, Poigaiyazhwar lit a lamp through a verse - "vaiyam thagaLiyA vArkadalE neyyAga veyya kadhirOn viLAkkAga" - this became the first verse of Mudhal Thiruvandhadhi. In this verse, Azhwar lit a lamp using this world as the cup, the ocean as the ghee and the Sun as the light. With that light, they noticed that Lord Sriman Narayana is standing with them, along with his consorts and even Garuda and Adhisesha!
Bhoodhathazhwar lit another lamp through a verse - "anbE thagaLiyA ArvamE neyyAga inburugu sindhai iduthiriyA" - this became the first verse of Irandam Thiruvandhadhi. In this verse, Azhwar lit a lamp using his love for the Lord as the cup, his passion as the ghee and his thought as the light.
In this light, Peyazhwar saw the Lord with His divine consorts! With tears rolling down his cheeks out of happiness, he sang "thirukkaNdEn pon mEni kaNdEn". This became the first verse of Moonram Thiruvandhadhi. In this verse, Azhwar is saying that with the light given by the two azhwars, he got the dharshan of the Lord along with his consorts!
All three Azhwars thus saw the Lord and each sang 100 verses which came out like a stream of river flowing down the hill! From that moment on, all the three azhwars went together to different places and temples!
Thirukkolur Ammal is asking "Did I receive the grace of the Lord to see Him like the first three Azhwars?"
