Dear Fellow-Bhagavathas,

Swami Desika was a Master of Everything as summed up by the title ‘Sarva Thanthra Swathanthra’ conferred on him by none-less-than Periya Piraatti. His Ingenuity was to the fore in whatever he did. Numerous examples can be cited from his illustrious life/works to prove the point. Composing Prabandha Saaram, a Prabandham which enumerates each Azhwar’s Avathara details such as Star and month of birth, place of birth, their other names, their great works in the order of chronology and their number, etc.

It was only Swami Desika who categorically came up with the perfect tally of the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham, which includes Raamaanusa Nootranthaadhi composed by Thiruvarngath-Amudhanaar. Sri Desika himself announces the purpose of penning Prabandha Saaram in the first Paasuram itself. He then proceeds to dedicate one Paasuram each to the 12 Azhwars and Amudhanaar. In Paasuram Nos. 15 and 16, the Azhwar-wise summary of Paasurams is given. The penultimate Paasuram is a recap of all the names that contributed to the great work of 4,000 Paasurams. The 18th and final verse carries the author’s signature and Phala Sruti.

This logical account of Azhwars, their Prabandhams and number of Paasurams in each of them take the aggregate to the magic number of 4,000 in the most authentic manner. Thus, Prabandha Saaram of the great Acharya serves as a masterful ready-reckoner for Azhwars and Divya Prabandham.

The following tables provide the gist of Prabandha Saaram with the addition of a few more details.

Hope you find this useful.

Meet you in the next Note.

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