The compendium of Nalayira Prabhandam consists of devotional hymns composed by the twelve Vaishnava saints called Azhvars.
The First three Azhvars are Poigai Azhvar, Bhutathazhvar and Peyazhvar believed to have lived during the later part of 5th and 6th century AD. The Lord decided to bring these three devotees together and bring them into the limelight of the world. All the three were contemporaries always absorbed in HIM oblivious of the outer world. They all lived during the period of religions like Jainism was ruling and rampant. Hence, the three were tolerant of other religions. This is reflected in then verse. The three were also extreme of Vamana Avatar.
The story goes like this:
ON a rainy day during late hours, Poigai to save himself from getting drenched took shelter in a small veranda like room of a house, so that he could lie down until the rain abated. Within a few minutes Bhutan tapped the door with a similar intention. HE was let in and there was room for two persons to sit. Again in the next few minutes one more person (Peyazhvar) sought shelter from the pouring rain. Now three of them could only stand. A repeat performance – one more person entered the room pushing them and overpowering them. The three of them were anxious to know who the fourth person was who was pressing them. The Lord in HIS infinite mercy made them realise the true nature of the Divine.
Immediately the three Azhvars broke for the hymns which are the starting point of Divya Prabhandam. Each of them sang 100 verses called Mudal Tiruvandadhi, Erandam Tiruvandadhi, Moonram Tiruvandadhi respectively.
Poigai started stating the Earth as the Bowl, Sea Water as Ghee, Sun as Wick, etc., Bootham started his verse treating Devotion as the Bowl, Ambition as Ghee, lit the lamp of Knowledge.
Peyazhvar who sees light spread by Mahalakshmi sung thus, “I have seen Mahalakshmi, the golden form.”
The three Azhvars put the seed of Parama Bhakthi and taught the love of divine to the world.