Periyazhvar was the foster father of Andal. His name was Vishnuchitta, but he acquired the name of Periyazhavar. ‘Peria’ in Tamil means great or important. Vedanta Desika said that the reason for his being considered great was that he was the father-in-law of Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, whom Andal chose to marry. By virtue of becoming father-in-law to the One before whom all celestials bow, Vishnuchitta became ‘Periyazhvar.’
Manavala Mamunigal said that Vishnuchitta was great because he sang ‘Pallandu’ to the Lord to keep evil eyes away from Him. Vishnucitta says, in these verses, that the Lord should live forever! What a strange thing to say to the One who has no beginning or end!
But Vishnuchitta, because of his affection for the Lord, didn't pause to think of all this. His verses were spontaneous expressions of his concern for the Lord, said Akkarakkani Srinidhi in a discourse.
There are many ways of serving the Lord and none is inferior to another. But stringing garlands for the Lord is special. In the Krishna avatara, when Krishna and Balarama are on their way to meet Kamsa, they visit the house of a garland maker, who offers garlands to Krishna.
A commentator wrote about the significance of this gift. Making garlands was the man’s profession, and even if his wife had asked him for a garland, he wouldn’t have given her one because the garlands were made to be sold. If he were to give garlands to his wife, what would he do for a living?
And yet, the man offered garlands to Krishna without even being asked to. Vishnuchitta’s chosen profession too was garland-making for the Lord. So he was great also because of the way he chose to serve the Lord.
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