An Overview Of Thooppul Pillai’s Tamil Prabandhams - 7
Dear Fellow-Bhagavathas,
11. Panniru Naamam
Yet another Prabandham dedicated to the Lord of Hasthigiri, ‘Panniru Naamam’ tells us the hue, weapon(s), direction and place of Thiruman of each of the 12 Vyuha forms of Lord Vishnu. Fittingly, the Thaniyan says that the Dwadasa Pundra (12 Thirumans) are the forms of the feet of Perarulaala. It concludes averring that glorifying this wonderful work of Swami Desika, who belongs to the feet of Sri Ramanuja, will fetch the Lord’s feet.
The author, it would seem that, has composed this Prabandham on the lines of ‘Dwaadasa Naama Panjara Sthothram’, incorporating place of Thiruman also. Thiruman, by convention, includes Srichoornam also, unless stated otherwise.
We have, earlier in these columns (Note No. 50), discussed the imperativeness of wearing Dwadasa Pundra, drawing extensively from Swami Desika’s ‘Sachcharitha Rakshai’. The most important questions — the five ‘W’s and the ‘H’ (What, Who, Why, When, Where and How) — that might arise about Thiruman have been covered in it.
Each of the 12 Thirumans represents a Vyuha form of the Lord (from Kesava to Damodara). We must chant the respective Dwaadasa Naama at the time of wearing Dwaadasa Pundra and also recite this Prabandham, every day.
The following table brings out the substance of ‘Panniru Naamam’.
| Dwadasa Naama | Hue | Weapon | Direction | Place of Thiruman |
| Kesava | Golden | Quadruple Discus | East | Forehead |
| Narayana | Cloud Blue | Quadruple Conch | West | Stomach |
| Madhava | Gem Blue | Quadruple Mace | Upward | Chest |
| Govinda | Moon White | Quadruple Bow | South | Front Neck |
| Vishnu | Pollen of Lotus | Quadruple Plough | North | Right Stomach |
| Madhusudhana | Lotus | Quadruple Pestle | South-East | Right Arm |
| Thrivikrama | Fire | Quadruple Knife | South-West | Right Neck |
| Vamana | Rising Sun | Quadruple Thunderbolt | North-West | Left Stomach |
| Sridhara | White Lotus | Quadruple Sword | North-East | Left Arm |
| Hrishikesa | Lightning | Quadruple Hammer | Downward | Left Neck |
| Padmanabha | Sun | Panchaayudha | Mind | Bottom of the Back |
| Damodara | Rising Sun | Quadruple Noose | In and Out of body | Back Neck |
In Phala Sruti, Swami Desika says that these 12 Paasurams, which are the root of deliverance, will delight the devotees of Lord Varadaraja who intently learn the Prabandham.
Meet you in the next Note.
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