The Second Antādi
Iraṇṭām Tiruvantādi ('Second Antādi') is Bhūtatāzhvār's 100-verse composition, the second in the sequence of the three early Āzhvārs. As the narrow shelter grew even more crowded, Bhūtatāzhvār responded to Poygai Āzhvār's cosmic lamp offering with his own: 'Divine love (anpu) is my lamp, melting devotion (ārvam) is my oil — with the brilliant flame of my beloved Lord, I offer light to the supreme.'
Love as the Lamp
Where Poygai Āzhvār used the external cosmos as his lamp, Bhūtatāzhvār uses inner devotion itself as the lamp — love, longing, and melting surrender become the materials of his offering. This progression from outer to inner reflects the deepening of the devotional experience as the three Āzhvārs compose in sequence.
Themes
Iraṇṭām Tiruvantādi explores the Lord's beautiful forms, His divine qualities, the Āzhvār's inability to contain his devotion, and the liberating power of the Lord's name. It is characterized by emotional intensity and vivid sensory imagery drawn from both Sanskrit poetic conventions and Tamil Sangam poetry.
The Tirukkōvilūr Meeting
The tradition that the three early Āzhvārs all met at Tirukkōvilūr on one rainy night — and composed their three antādis in sequence in that tiny space — is among the most beloved origin stories in Sri Vaishnava lore. The three Āzhvārs are honored together as the 'Mudal Āzhvārs' (First Āzhvārs) in the tradition.