Any Margazhi season is incomplete without the Thiruppavai, an integral part of not just music, but also literature.
Composed by Andal, the poet-saint, in praise of Perumal (Lord Vishnu), the Thiruppavai is a compilation of thirty verses. The verses that are divided in segments are part of Divya Prabandham by 12 Alvars who were the Vaishanvite saints. It is believed that each day of the Margazhi month has been derived from these verses.
Narrated in stanzas, the first five are about the principles and purpose of prayer, while the next ten are about the significance of community participation. The last segments are about the temple visits of the poet-saint and the supremacy of the lord.
There are three stand-alone verses as part of the Thiruppavai, which were introduced later by scholars to bring in a few older elements.
A practice followed for several centuries now, recitals of Thiruppavai take place in many forms. Over the month, devotees in groups sing the verses traversing through the streets in the locality. The December season is replete with performers who sing the verses, though some have transformed the rendition by mixing both Carnatic and Hindustani styles. And, in several hosueholds, Thiruppavai is associated with the compositions sung by legendary Carnatic vocalist M L Vasanthakumari.
The Thai connect
Thailand too commemorates a month, in the lines of Margazhi during December- January called Triyampavai-Trippavai.