The Night at Tirukkōvalūr

The first three Āzhwārs, Poigai Āzhwār, Bhūthath Āzhwār and Pey Āzhwār, each came to Tirukkōvalūr on the same rainy night. The first to arrive was Poigai Āzhwār of Kanchipuram, who sought shelter for the night at the āshramam of Mrikaṇḍu Rishi. He was given a narrow space, large enough for only one person to lie down, and was told that he was welcome to rest there for the night.

Bhūthath Āzhwār of Māmallapuram arrived soon after and asked for shelter as well. Poigai Āzhwār welcomed him in, saying that where there was room for one to lie down, there was room for two to sit.

Then Pey Āzhwār of Mylāpūr reached the āshramam. He was told that where there was room for one to lie down and two to sit, there was room for three to stand. This is remembered in the saying:

"Oruvar paḍukka, iruvar irukka, mūvar nirkalām."

And so the three stood together through the night, sharing their experiences of the Lord.

A little later, the three Āzhwārs felt the presence of a fourth person among them. With space for only three to stand, they were pressed close together and grew uneasy. Then, through their divine vision, they realised that the fourth was none other than Sriman Nārāyaṇa Himself. Overjoyed, they poured out their praise of the Lord.

Tirukkōvalūr is thus the first kshethram where the first three Āzhwārs sang Pāsurams in praise of the Lord, verses that later came to form part of the Nālāyira Divya Prabandham.

It is believed that the āshramam where the three Āzhwārs stood that rainy night is the very place where the sanctum stands today, and the first three Āzhwārs are honoured within the sanctum itself.