Kanninun Cirutampu
The Kanninun Cirutampu (Tamil: கண்ணிநுண் சிறுத்தாம்பு, romanized: Kaṇṇinuṇ Ciṟutāmpu, lit. 'a rope of small knots'), also rendered the Kanninun Siruttambu,[1] is a work of Tamil Hindu literature composed by Madhurakavi Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars, the poet-saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.[2] Comprising eleven pasurams (hymns), the Kanninun Cirutampu is a tribute to Madhurakavi's acharya, Nammalvar.[3] These hymns are part of the Sri Vaishnava canon, the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.[4]
| Kanninun Cirutampu | |
|---|---|
 Painting of Krishna tied to a mortar. Page from a Bilvamangalastava, Metropolitan Museum of Art. | |
| Information | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Author | Madhurakavi Alvar |
| Language | Tamil |
| Period | 9th–10th century CE |
| Verses | 11 |
Legend
| Part of a series on |
| Vaishnavism |
|---|
 |
| Topics in Tamil literature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sangam Literature | ||
| Five Great Epics | ||
| Silappatikaram | Manimekalai | |
| Civaka Cintamani | Valayapathi | |
| Kundalakesi | ||
| The Five Minor Epics | ||
| Neelakesi | Culamani | |
| Naga Kumara Kaviyam | Udayana Kumara Kaviyam | |
| Yashodhara Kaviyam | ||
| Bhakti Literature | ||
| Naalayira Divya Prabandham | Kamba Ramayanam | |
| Tevaram | Tirumurai | |
| Tamil people | ||
| Sangam | Sangam landscape | |
| Tamil history from Sangam literature | Ancient Tamil music | |
The Kanninun Cirutampu is associated with the origin of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. According to legend, the theologian Nathamuni once heard some people reciting the cantos of Āravāmude of Nammalvar at Kumbakonam. Captivated by these pasurams (hymns), he wanted to know more about them. One of the verses also mentioned Āyirattul Ippattu (lit. '10 out of the 1000'). When Nathamuni enquired about the remaining 990, the people who sang the 10 did not know anything about the other verses. But as the song mentioned the name and place of the Alvar (Kurukur Satakopan), Nathamuni proceeded to Kurukur and asked the people there about Nammalvar's 1,000 verses.[8]
The people did not know the 1,000 verses that Nathamuni wanted, but they told him about 11 pasurams (hymns) of Madhurakavi Alvar, a disciple of Nammalvar, and the Kanninun Cirutampu. They asked him to go to Tiruppulialvar, the place where Nammalvar lived, and recite these 11 pasurams 12,000 times. Nathamuni did as advised, and pleased with his penance, Nammalvar granted him not only his 1,000 pasurams, but the entire 4,000-pasuram compendium of all the Alvars.[9]
Hymns
The work is named after the opening two words of the first hymn. This is likely a metaphor that compares the knots that were tied by Yashoda to bound the baby Krishna to prevent him from stealing butter,[5] and the poet's own strong ties with his preceptor, Nammalvar. He lauds his preceptor as the lord of Kurukur, the town where the latter resides.[6]
The first hymn of the work is translated as follows:[7]
In place of my father, the great marvellous one
who had himself tied with the knotted, slender cord,
I now draw near and speak of the lord of southern Kurkukur,
and it flows as amrtam, my tongue's delight— Kanninun Cirutampu, Hymn 1
References
- Ramakrishnananda, Swami (2022-04-07). Life of Sri Ramanuja. Sri Ramakrishna Math.
- Jayaraman, Dr P. (2019). A Brief History of Vaishnava Saint Poets : The Alwars. Vani Book Company. p. 72. ISBN 978-93-89012-69-9.
- Seeing through Texts: Doing Theology among the Srivaisnavas of South India. State University of New York Press. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7914-9929-0.
- Nandakumar, Prema (1994). Tirumazhisai Alwar. T.T. Devasthanams. p. 4.
- Ph.D, Lavanya Vemsani (2016-06-13). Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names. ABC-CLIO. p. 305. ISBN 978-1-61069-211-3.
- Hudson, D. Dennis (2008-09-25). The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram. Oxford University Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-19-045140-0.
- Seeing through Texts: Doing Theology among the Srivaisnavas of South India. State University of New York Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7914-9929-0.