The Tamil Name
Empermāṉ (Tamil: எம்பெருமான் — from em (our/my) + perumāṉ (great lord)) is one of the most characteristic Tamil names for Śrīman Nārāyaṇa in the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. It combines sovereign authority (perumān = the great one, the master) with intimate belonging (em = ours, mine) — expressing the paradox at the heart of the devotee-Lord relationship: He is the supreme sovereign, yet He is ours.
Usage in the Prabandham
'Emperumāṉ' appears constantly in the Divya Prabandham — especially in Nammāzhvār's Tiruvāymozhhi and in the compositions of Tirumangai Āzhvār. The term captures the Āzhvār's attitude of simultaneously bowing in reverence (perumān = the great one) and claiming ownership in love (em = ours).
Related Tamil Names
- Perumāḷ — 'the great one' (used especially for temple deities)
- Emperumānār — 'our Emperumān' or 'the lord who is greater than Emperumān' — the special epithet of Rāmānujācārya
- Namperumāḷ — 'our Perumāḷ' — the processional deity at Śrīraṅgam
Theological Depth
The 'em' in Emperumān is not a casual 'our' but a profound claim: the Lord who is supreme over all worlds has made Himself 'ours' through His condescension (saulabhya). This is the Āzhvārs' constant theme — the Lord who transcends all categories willingly becomes accessible, close, and intimate — 'ours.'