The story of origin of Nalayira Divya Prabandham is
associated with the Mudal Azhwars. It is a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses
(Nalayiram in Tamil means 'four thousand') composed by the 12 Azhwars. Mudal
Azhwars are divine beings as they were not born in a womb.
Once, Poigai Azhwar was going on a pilgrimage to Tirukkovalur.
It was night time and it started raining profusely. He took shelter at the
Ashram of Mrigandu Maharishi. The shelter he found was very small.
A couple of hours later the second of the Mudal Azhwars,
Bhutatt Azhwar also arrived there seeking shelter from heavy rain.
Soon the third Alwar, Peyazhwar also came and stood with the
other two Alwars. The small space could only hardly accommodate the three of
them.
Suddenly they felt the presence of someone else.
In order to see the fourth invisible person, Poigai Azhwar
lit a light by singing his divine song (prabandham) starting with ‘Vaiyam
Thagalia’.
The second Azhwar lit second light by singing his divine
song starting with “Anbe Thagaliya”.
The third Azhwar lit the third light by singing his divine
song starting with “Tirukkanden”.
The three Azhwar witnessed the Lord Vishnu with His divine
consort in all splendor.
The Nalayira Divya Prabandham had its origin from these
three verses.