The Crown of the Prabandham
Tiruvāymozhhi (Tamil: திருவாய்மொழி — 'the sacred utterance' or 'the holy mouth-words') is Nammāzhvār's magnum opus — 1,102 verses in 100 decads, considered the supreme jewel of the Divya Prabandham and of all Tamil literature. It covers the entire range of Śrī Vaiṣṇava theology through Nammāzhvār's personal experience of separation from and union with the Lord.
Structure
100 decads of 11 verses each (the 11th verse of each decad is a phalashruti — statement of benefits from reciting the decad), organized into 10 'centads' (paṭal). The structure mirrors the Vedas: philosophical exposition, devotional experience, theological teaching, and direct address to the Lord.
The Tamil Upanishad
Ācāryas call Tiruvāymozhhi the Drāviḍa Upaniṣad — the Tamil embodiment of all Upaniṣadic teaching. Nāthamuni placed it in the position of the Upaniṣads within the 4,000-verse Prabandham: just as the Upaniṣads are the Vedānta (end and crown of the Vedas), Tiruvāymozhhi is the Vedānta of the Drāviḍa Veda.
Commentaries
The Arayirappadi tradition (five commentaries of increasing size — from 6,000 to 36,000 granthas) provides systematic exposition. Nampīḷḷai's Īṭu (Muppatārayirappadi, 36,000 granthas) — conveyed through the student Vaḍakkutiruvīdhi Piḷḷai — is the most celebrated. Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ's condensed summary is also widely used.
Use in Practice
Tiruvāymozhhi decads are sung at funerals (symbolizing liberation), at births, weddings, temple festivals, and during the daily tiruvarādhanam. The Aḍhyayanotsavam festival consists primarily of the recitation of Tiruvāymozhhi before the Lord.