THONDAR ADI PPODI ALWAR - Incarnation of VANA MALA of Lord Vishnu
The ALWAR’s original name was VIPRANARAYANA. He took birth in ThiruMandangudi to Vedic scholar and brahmin Vedavisaradhar. He was a great scholar but has no pride of any kind. He called himself Thondar-adi-ppodi - in Tamil meaning the dust particles at the feet of SRI RANGANATHA’s Bhakta. He became a devotee of SRIMANNARAYANA and took a vow not to marry, so that he can spend fulltime on LORD's Kainkaryam. Like PERIYALWAR he chose MALA KAINKARYAM to RANGANATHA. He built a garden in SRIRANGAM with all flowers. It used to allure anyone with the fragrance, serene and divine experience. Not only that he used to sing PASURAMS on Ranganatha with Sruthi as natural as humming bees and birds of nature.

01 Poigai Alwar
02 Boothat Alwar
03 Pey Alwar
04 Bhakthisar Alwar
05 Namm Alwar
06 Madhurakavi Alw
07 Kulasekhara Alwar
08 Periya Alwar
09 Andal
10 Tondaridippodi Alw
11 Tiruppann Alwar
12 Tirumangai Alwar
 

VIPRANARAYANA and DEVADEVI -----
One day two sisters (dancers) were coming from Chola King’s court and were attracted by the beauty of the ALWAR's garden. When they saw the ALWAR with closed eyes and meditating on Lord Ranganatha, they were just charmed by his TEJAS. The younger sister Devadevi, who is very beautiful, was offended as the Alwar did not notice them. She went in negative stance and wanted to make the ALWAR as her slave with her beauty. She disguised as sanyasini (saint) and joined him as a disciple. Soon she conquered him and the ALWAR felt the lady is SRI RANGANATHA himself in her form and was deeply attached to her. However Devadevi left him with pride of conquering him.

The ALWAR left all kainkaryams to RANGANATHA and went to the place of Devadevi as he could not bear her separation. But Devadevi's mother demanded money for seeing her. Unable to do anything the ALWAR was isolated. Then Lord RANGANATHA himself disguised as ALIGIYA MANAVALA DASA gave him one of his golden Vatti (dish) and asked VIPRA NARAYANA to meet Devadevi. Obviously this Golden Vatti was missing from temple of RANGANATHA.

Soon temple priests and king found the missing ornament from temple and discovered it at Devadevi's house. They stamped the ALWAR as thief and sentenced him for punishment. The ALWAR and Devadevi realized their mistakes of not performing the Lord's Kainkaryams and giving priority to earthly pleasures. However the Lord is never wrong in His deeds. He appeared in open court and clarified the purity of souls.

 
 
VIPRANARAYANA - THONDAR ADI PPODI ALWAR - BHAKTHANGHRIRENU - composed TIRUPPALI YELUCHCHI - the pasurams for waking up LORD RANGANATHA of SRIRANGAM every day. Even today his Pasurams are the first for the Lord at Srirangam. He is the person who never wrote on any other Lord other than SRI RANGANATHA. He, such a great scholar and devoted person, believed himself as equal to dust particles of DEVOTEEs of SRI RANGANATHA and lived a simple life. His story with Devadevi is very popular and is refered in many literary works.
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