Classifications of 4000 hymns

 Now we all know that “Nathamuni”, retrieved all the 4000 hymns.

NAMMAZHWAR revealed to Nathamuni the 4000 hymns including “Thiruvaimozhi”, Rahasyatraya and it’s meanings over three consecutive nights.

Nathamuni attached apt musical meters to these hymns, consolidated and codified them into 4 categories.

Let us see them one by one 

FIRST THOUSAND 

MUDHAL AYIRAM

Mudhal Ayiram is comprised of

Periazhwar 

1.Pallandu

2.Periazhwar thirumozhi

Andal

1.ThiruppAvai

2-NAchyAr thirumozhi

Kulasekara Azhwar 

1.Perumal thiru mozhi 

Thirumazhisai Azhwar 

1.Thiruchanda virutham

THONDARADIPODI Azhwar 

1.Thirumaalai

2.Thiruppalli yezhuchi

ThiruppAn Azhwar 

1.AmalanAdhi puran

Madhurakavi Azhwar 

1.Kanninun siruthAmbu

SECOND THOUSANDS 

IRANDAM AYIRAM

Irandam Ayiram is comprised of 

THIRUMANGAI AZHWAR

1.Periya Thirumozhi 

2.Thirukkurunthandagam

3.ThiruNedunthandagam

Thirumangai azhwar wrote a total of 6 Prabandams.

Out of which the above 3 were added as the second thousand 

THIRD THOUSANDS 

EYARPAA

EYARPAA is comprised of 

Poigai Azhwar

1.Muthal Thiruvandhadhi 

Boothath Azhwar

1.Irandaam Thiruvandhadhi 

Peyazhwar

1.Moondram Thiruvandhadhi 

Thirumazhisai Azhwar 

1.Naan Mugan Thiruvandhadhi 

Nammazhwar 

1.Thiruvirutham

2.ThiruvAsirium

3.Periya Thiruvandhadhi 

Thirumangai Azhwar 

1.Thiruvezhukootrirukkai

2.Siriya Thirumadal

3.Periya Thirumadal

Thiruvarangathamudhanar

1.Ramanusa Nootrandhadhi

FOURTH THOUSANDS 

Nammazhwar 

Thiruvaimozhi 

A total of 1102 hymns constitutes Thiruvaimozhi and this is codified completely under the fourth thousands.

Nammazhwar wrote four prabandhams in relation to the four Vedas.

Thiruviruttam - Rig Veda 

ThiruvAsirium - Yajur Veda 

Periya Thiruvandhadhi- Atharvana Veda 

Thiruvaimozhi - Sama Veda 

Azhwar Thiruvadigale Sharanam 

Now- if we notice; PeriyAzhwAr comes 6th in the chronological order; But still his prabandhams are the first to be taken in 4000. WHY?

1.PeriyAzhwAr saw the PerumAL and Thaayar first, before reciting the pAsurams- Even Pey AzhwAr and ThirupPANAhwAr saw. NammAzwAr is in the 

Acharya lineage. It is He who blessed us with all 4000. He is also reported to be the angi while all other AzhwArs as parts of His ThirumEni (Body). His work should have been taken as the first. But, it is PeriyAzhwAr who sang 

PallAndu for PerumAL.

2. Sri ANDAL is the incarnation of PiraaTTi (BhUmi PiraaTTI). Hence, PiraaTTi should be given the top preference. ThirupPAvai and Nacchiyaar Thirumozhi should have been placed first in the 4000. 

But AndAl would not have been happy to receive that special treatment. She would not be pleased because of the reason that, she will feel, her Acharya (as claimed by her in each of her works- as Bhattar Piraan kodhai),  PeriyAzhwAr should be given higher position than Hers. That¡¦s why first PeriyAzhwAr PAsurams are placed as the beginning Prabandam and then followed by AndAL¡¦s works.