One stormy night, the first three Azhvars, Poigai Azhvar, Bhootatazhvar and Peyazhvar, took shelter in a small verandah of a house, one after another, eventually leaving only standing space for all three. But another presence was soon felt, and the three Azhvars through their verses showed who that other One was, said V.S. Karunakarachariar in a discourse.
Poigai Azhvar in his verse said that he used the earth as a lamp, the oceans as the oil and the Sun as the spark to light a lamp. Why does he talk of the earth, the oceans and the Sun? The earth holds so many riches — gold, precious stones, minerals and so on. Who put them all there? There are many creatures living in the oceans. Who made them live there? The waves hit against the shore all the time, only to go back. Who made them behave in this repetitive fashion? The Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. There is no change in this routine. Who made this happen? The answer to that is that the Supreme One — Lord Narayana — made all this happen. The Azhvars had knowledge of the Supreme One, as described in the Vedas, which enabled them to enjoy the greatness of the Lord by observing many things of this world.
Bhootatazhvar used his love as a lamp; the ghee he used was his eagerness to see the Lord; his thoughts of the Lord served as the spark to light the lamp, showing us that love for Him is important. The third Azhvar — Peyazhvar — described what he saw in the light of the lamps lit by the other two Azhvars. He said joyfully that he had seen the Lord. The Azhvars thus used nature to marvel at His greatness although they already had understood Him through Vedas.
