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Table of Contents Darshanam

Blessings from Vanamamalai Jeeyar Editor: 1 Sri Sridhar Srinivasan Editorial 4

Swami Manavala Mamuni – The Associate Editor: RAMANUJA DARSHANAM matchless 8 Smt Harini Raghavan

(Philosophy of Ramanuja) Great Saints and Teachers 15 Sri ’s influence on me 19 Advisory Board: Sri Mukundan Pattangi Sri Pillai Lokacharya’s Biography 23 Sri TA Varadhan Sri Vedantacharya’s appreciation of Sri TCA Venkatesan Thiruvaymozhi 26 Swami Desika’s Biography 33 Subscription: Swami Manavala Mamunikal – A 35 Each Issue: $2 biographical appreciation Annual: $8 Divine Places – Thiru Narayanapuram 40 Saranagathi Deepika – A definitive Address guide to surrender 43 15934 Fleetwood Oaks, Q&A 49 Houston, TX 77079 Vedic Activities 51 Website in focus 52 Email Vedics Quiz 53 [email protected] Calendar 55

About the Cover image

The cover of this issue presents the image of Sri Ramanuja, as he is present in the holy temple of vAnamAmalai (present day nAngunEri, in thirunelvEli district in tamilnadu). This holy place is very important to all followers of Ramanuja. This place is the seat of a monastery that derives its lineage directly to Ramanuja, and is one of the very few monasteries that can trace such a lineage. Sri Manavala Mamuni, who is Sri Ramanuja, Vanamamalai considered to be a of Ramanuja Himself, initiated the first pontiff of this monastery, srI ponnadi-k-kAl jIyar. Sri Manavala mAmuni A VEDICS JOURNAL passed on the torch of the Ramanuja religion to this pontiff, and to this Volume 1 Issue 4: Oct - Dec 2003 day, the current pontiff of this monastery is considered the symbolic torchbearer of the Ramanuja Religion (orAn vazhi AchArya, in Tamizh). Vedics Foundation (http://www.vedics.net)

. , the (great (great (place) of of (place) (token of Sri PiLLai (the 4000 (discourse)- kshetra (discourse on (discourse (salutation) sloka sloka (salutation) poorvacharyas kalakshEpa dakshina Guru dakshina thaniyan . Sri Ramanuja’s divine order Ramanuja’s Sri . mpiLLai, Peria-vAchchAn piLLai piLLai Peria-vAchchAn mpiLLai, ) pieces of erudition and insight, and pieces of erudition te those objectives he could not ds of meritorious scholarly Sri scholarly ds of meritorious precious attention towards writing writing towards attention precious by Lord , to His great great His to Lord Ranganatha, by (esoteric scriptures) of our tradition tradition our of scriptures) (esoteric Naalaayira Divya prabhandham Divya Naalaayira philosophy azhakiya maNavALap perumAL nAyanaar perumAL maNavALap azhakiya ” on Sri Mamunikal was uttered by (sacred land of ). The above-mentioned, The above-mentioned, of India). land (sacred Rahasya granthas Rahasya sidddhantha ( Bhagavad vishaya kalakshepa ghosti vishaya kalakshepa Bhagavad (commentaries) of (divine incarnation), was the ThiruAvatara ThiruAvatara was the incarnation), (divine Mumukshuppadi Mumukshuppadi Tatvathrayam and Tatvathrayam Sri Vachanabhooshanam. , the lord Ranganatha Himself. This divine event occurred event occurred This divine Himself. , the lord Ranganatha (the teachercontributions of all whose aptly the ), Thiruk-kurukai-pirAn-piLLAn, Na Thiruk-kurukai-pirAn-piLLAn,

puNya BhArata varshA puNya BhArata ii) iii)

i) “SriSailESa dayApAtram “SriSailESa was on this auspicious day, the famous famous the day, auspicious was on this 2 thiruvAimozhi) attended by hundre thiruvAimozhi) a dedication, This was the Vaishnavas. offerred for Acharya), appreciation year, a whole for us that tells History Mamunikal. Manavala Sri Acharya at temple of the festivals of all cessation had enjoined Namberumal ,world renowned by the name kOil, a temple that is considered to be the foremost amongst the 106-Divya desams that adorn our final occurred on the event uplifting spiritually Namberumal the amidst The most prestigious commentaries for these three Rahasya Granthas and the the and Granthas Rahasya three these for commentaries most prestigious The by Sri Mamunikal been written have Hrudayam Acharya work wonderful master are matchless These commentaries day,adorned, the day interestingly, the Ani thiru-moola by So, Sri star. auspicious moola Ani this to importance equal attaches Vaishnava-world Sri appearance, Mamunikal’s Sri day of the to akin manner in a also, day Aippasi Thirumoola day. Nammazhvar’s of Swami place divine the thirunagari, Azhwar ThiruAvatara Lokacharya “Acharya the work- great unparalleled An great name. reflected his by was written Hrudayam” of granthas 18-rahaya Among Lokacharya. Pillai Sri of brother younger and insight spiritual of as gems are hailed three Lokacharya, Pillai Sri : sampradAyic Sri Mamunikal also. What an ineluctable and appropriate connection connection appropriate and an ineluctable What also. Sri Mamunikal Swami as manifested AdisEsha would seem that It establishes!! this only to successfully comple mAmunikaL As Sri Ramanuja. Bhagavad as avatara in his fruition, to bring he could not give his most Ramanuja, vyAkhyanams divine verses) and divine verses) and and viSiStadvaita our great for commentaries was carried out by teachers), by authored were Granthas Rahasya and so on. Eighteen

1 (One utsavam

. (incarnation) of Sri of Sri (incarnation) thirunakshatram aaSwayuja/aippasi Darshana-pravardhakaarya aparAvatara Similarly the moola star in the in the star moola the Similarly e) of this wonderful movement movement wonderful of this e) daayam, who live in different parts parts in different live who daayam, Mamunikal will be celebrated with with be celebrated will Mamunikal ananthAzhvaan, the embodiment ofananthAzhvaan, ” ”. ”. (truth) Vaishnava . I perused Volumes I I perused Volumes Dharma. Vaishnava (truth) (the progenitor) and (the progenitor) and Sanatana (JyEsta/mithuna) has got its own place of pride, because it of pride, because it has got its own place (JyEsta/mithuna) (servitude) towards Sriman . Sri Ramanuja’s Ramanuja’s Sri Narayana. Sriman towards (servitude) ANi His Holiness Sri U Ve VanamAmalai Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami Swami Jeeyar Ramanuja VanamAmalai Ve Kaliyan U Sri His Holiness chentamizh vEdiyar sinthai theLindhu….. theLindhu….. sinthai vEdiyar chentamizh yanmoolam ASwayuja masyavataara moolam……. moolam……. masyavataara ASwayuja yanmoolam I am extremely pleased to learn that my dear spiritual friends and friends dear spiritual my learn that to pleased extremely I am Ramanujadevotees of our Sri sampra of USA have establishedFoundation”the “Vedics and started a have main highlight to a journal Darshanam’, ‘Ramanuja called journal features of our for available per time a limited extent, journal to this & II) of I & II (Issue I readthis the table of interesting purpose. and contents, which was very readers. all to of much value proved sure, would have am which, I Darshana- the Ramanuja, Sri Bhagavad with dealing after that told I am pravartakAchArya for growth / furtheranc responsible deal will appropriately, very issue, current the Vaishnavam, Sri called the mamunikal, Sri Manavala with Bhagavad Ramanuja Swami. I am writing “appropriately” not only not “appropriately” writing I am Swami. Ramanuja Bhagavad the but also because because of the said reason, of Sri day celebration) (appearance of devotion almost all Divya desams by followers fervor and in RamanujaSampradayam during the month of famous two of friends as verily my is hailed, Swami Ramanuja Bhagavad Sri friends, Dear Spiritual remind to Thiruv of AdisEsha/ incarnation the wish I sEsha bhAva context, this of an incarnation was too, naturally quite Sri Mamunikal, In aparavatara, Adisesha. in tamil, one stanzas, “ nALE thirumoolamadenum aippasiyil in , and another “ .Jagadabhyudayaikamoolam month of this context. The in also I have to narrate Another wonderful event Manavala Sri Swami of nakshatra Thiru-avatara was the star moola Mamunikal in the month of aippasi. JIYAR SWAMI FROM VANAMAMALAI

” and ” and Sridhar Srinivasan Sridhar (Ghatikachalam) (Ghatikachalam) ”. Sri Mahacharya Mahacharya ”. Sri . Akin to Sri MamunikaL, Sri MamunikaL, to . Akin (wishing well) on his well) stotras (wishing of Sri Mudaliandan Acharya Mudaliandan Acharya of Sri who authored the thanian the thanian who authored our first Sri Vanamamalai Jeeyar Jeeyar Vanamamalai Sri our first Yateendra pravaNa prabhaavam pravaNa Yateendra chOLasimhapuram malai Jeeyar Swami was considered, malai Jeeyar

shTa diggajAs shTa (Divinity Incarnate) of Swami Ramanuja’s Ramanuja’s Swami of Incarnate) (Divinity EDITORIAL mangalashasana Sri Appachiar ANNa Sri doDDAchArya My heartfelt Mangalashasanas again to you all. you to again Mangalashasanas My heartfelt avathAra purusha few, since learning the necessarily meant a rigor of being, being, of a rigor meant necessarily Vedas the few, since learning A PHILOSOPHY FOR ALL OF MANKIND, FOR ALL TIMES FOR ALL OF MANKIND, A PHILOSOPHY FOR ramyajamaatru yogeendra paadarEkhAmayam sadA paadarEkhAmayam yogeendra ramyajamaatru composed the prapatti and This Mahapeeta was established by Sri Manavala Mamunikal through through Mamunikal Manavala by Sri was established This Mahapeeta Vanamamalai Sri the for pontiff first the Swamin, Jeeyar PonnadikkAl The first Vanama parampara. Jeeyar the foremost amongst the eight prominent and famous sishyas of Sri a who were called Mamunikal, most eight his diggajas, ashta had also Swami Jeeyar our Ponnadikkal disciples. prominent Likewise, ashTadiggajAs. those among one became Parampara the Doddacharya of Mahacharya, of ashTadiggajas among one was also It was Swami. life have influenced that systems religious and philosophical the Of all or the insight of spiritual depth the claim very few can for Mankind, The timeless Vedas. in the enshrined vision universal of grandeur been have embodiment of perfect knowledge, as the epitomized Vedas, for a beacon as both dharma, sanAthana supporting substratum the between relationship fundamental of the aspects abstract understanding aswellas ,and , Man the pathway to liberate oneselffrom birth and death. However, the struggle of karmic miasmic the cyclical, by were they as divined Vedantha, and Veda of message abstruse a the domain of become so, had to do equipped sages spiritually exalted qualified traininglivingandinaccessible a majority to of the common-folk. an It needed 4 stature, erudition, brilliance, and humanity, to unravel the the unravel to and humanity, compassion brilliance, erudition, stature, the to accessible in terms Vedas and Veda of message fundamental common man.Emperumanar Swami brought the joy and nectar of other similar books, I shall consider this small essay of mine to have to of mine essay small this consider books, I shall similar other a journal darshnam the Ramanuja wish wholeheartedly I borne its fruit. and healthy growth. very steady My Dear Friends, if these few words of mine motivate you to read Sri Sri read to you motivate mine of words few Jeeyer. Ponnadikkal Acharya great these if Friends, Dear My “ biography, wonderful Mamunikal’s “ ”. 3 ( of of (garland are excellent excellent are

(mutt) also shares (mutt) an also shares vishadavAkSikhamaNi i nUtrandAdi i mahapeeta upadEsarattinamAlai arted flowing, many of which are many of arted flowing, ne dance on the holy tongue of Sri meter for literary compositions compositions literary meter for was a great and bountiful reservoir reservoir bountiful and great a was thiruvAimozh radayam. Of course, from this great reservoir reservoir this great from Of course, radayam. Vanamamalai jIyar Swami Swami jIyar Vanamamalai ns 73 verses! ns 73 verses! intimate connectionSri with Mamunikal. so simply wonderful that they defy appropriate description. Sri Sri description. appropriate defy they that wonderful so simply ManavalaMamunikalfamous by the name is “ he achieved, life-limit factor to all of us merely human, upadEsa upadEsa human, merely us of all to Apartthese commentaries, from his factor and teaching) jewels of with good reason encomia and compositions that have received much famous Tamil literaturetoo. The life-limit to be performing divi seems (‘VeNbA)’ on lived Mamunikal Sri verse-compositions. two these in Mamunikal glory the unmatched to indicate Perhaps years. glorious 73 our for achieved, he rattinamAlai contai mAmunikaL, there were no then-kalai or vada-kalai sects in Sri Sri our in of fact sects historical a vada-kalai or state to Swami of time the friends, then-kalai During no dear my were appropriate. be context, there would this In sampradAyam mAmunikaL, appropriately, ended, of poorvacharyas Our holy dynasty Vaishnavam. Mamunikal Sri Mamunikal. with Sri of our Sri Vaishnava samp many Acharya paramparas/streamsst me for bhAgyam, pride of great a matter is it context, In this extant. still to informyou that our Sri Vanamamalai

vaidika (esoteric (esoteric rahasya granthas rahasya his pristine status as the ‘guru’ as the status his pristine (birth dates) two of for the holar, poet, Acharya. With some poet, Acharya. holar, nam, who saved the essence of srI of srI the essence who saved nam, one behind, that offers the ultimate ffusive, uninstigated grace of Sriman Sriman grace of ffusive, uninstigated BSS and Sri Narayanan have have and Sri Narayanan BSS Iyengar e month of bhadrupada, puraTTAsi in e month of bhadrupada, puraTTAsi to all sentient beings, if only they are are they only if beings, sentient all to ) thiru nakshattirams liberation mOksham( (the dharma shown by vedas) for all to comprehend and adopt. adopt. and by vedas) for all to comprehend (the dharma shown of your favorite spiritual magazine features articles on works of both both of works on articles mAmunikaL maNavALa Swami Vaishnavam, of Sri foremost early Also, the month. in this occur lOkAchAryar piLLai and Swami features part of October (latter half of th magazine Acharya an exalted dESikan, Swami birth day for the featured tamil) spiritual this to compositions and philosophical stotrams whose divinity-inspired much awe and reverence. Consequently, the current issue day engender favorite your of to many by considered Desikan, and Swami lOkAchArya piLLai Swami be the two eyesRamanuja of Darsha some during invaders pillaging of forces dark from the vaishNavam Pillai Swami Vaishnavam. Sri for 1300s) (early times difficult very the very name embodying Lokacharyar, of a set us with left of mankind, for all scriptures) that lay bare the essence of the sri vaishnavam and sri vaishnavam the essence of the bare lay that scriptures) dharma Swami what completed lOkAchAryar Swami piLLai is said that It that terms, unequivocal compelling, show in to to, intended Ramanuja no leaves that a philosophy is ours of reward written a succinct, informative biographical sketch on Swami on Swami sketch biographical informative succinct, a written MamunikaL,the first article. of a two part joyous of time a is in Tamizh) (aippasi of ashwayuja month The current because celebration, It would not be an exaggerationthirunagarithatmahA AzhvAr to say most one of the is Swami BhuvarAhAchar ES U Ve Sri vidwan today. sampradAyam in the scholars and knowledgeable authoritative is (as mAmunikaL jeeyar’ dear ‘periya on our very article His every sri that primer quintessential the known) is affectionately is the MamunikaL why Swami how and understand to needs, vaishNava Sri Alongside, Lord’s AchArya. 6 the both on perspective modern a fore to brings (PL) the e move away from to not willing piLLai on Swami article Raman’s Sri And Vedaraaman Sri NArayana. lOkAchAryar brilliance mind-numbing and insights uplifting rationale, and relevance work of immense Sri PL’s in enshrined ideas, of fundamental BhushaNam. Sri Vachana significance, as is celebrated par excellence, / Acharya scholar that Desikan, Swami sc the quintessential divinely-inspired for foundation the laid he verily his credit, to compositions plus 120 and Azhvars of etherealism mystical the bridge between providing the Sri PB Rajahamsam Both Ramanuja. Swami of brilliance systemic the of Sri scholars acclaimed Swami, Rangachary Sri Embar and Swami 5 like them. like them. another storical chronicles chronicles storical (blessings) by His His by (blessings) ng time from his busy schedule his busy from ng time accessible to all those that don’t hip that formed the center of the of the the center formed hip that AshAsanams AshAsanams manuja Darshanam, has seen the has Darshanam, manuja of influence and relevance social e His brilliant expositions of vedic of brilliant expositions His It is indeed our that good fortune strove to perpetuate this wonderful outpourings of the original carriers of the original outpourings ental truths that connect Man and truths that connect Man and ental , irrespective of their caste, creed, creed, caste, their of , irrespective first time, we have the good fortune time, the good fortune we have first and he did so, because he gleaned the gleaned he so, because he did and place of pride in our hoary lineage of of lineage our hoary in of pride place ly, as subsequent hi ly, as subsequent the hand picked by Lord Sriman Narayana to be be to Narayana Sriman Lord by picked hand (auspicious) mangaLa Acharyas, because he was Acharyas, because he was the Appropriately, for Acharya. His of receiving Swami, Jeeyar Ramanuja VanamAmalai U Ve Kaliyan Sri Highness in taki compassion and whose kindness to bless us with insightfulwords of understated. wisdom cannot be divinity hearts of all people to the status social upbringing or gender, mystical from the divine, same truths to Swami was left It Azhvars. the of Sri Vaishnavam, philosophy of the Ramanuja to establish the philosophy of the Azhvarstruthas the the and established ), and (vedas Sastras in the revealed revelations of the equivalent the as Prabandham Divya Tamil Vedas. by the Sanskrit represented philosophy a philosophy, universal a compassionate, revealed truths fundam the juxtaposed once at that God to the incontrovertible fact that the love and grace of God for Man is a pervasive and omni-present element, it. from turn away like known as Ra hence Sri Vaishnavam, Acharya that Acharyas of many manifestation an for Ramanuja, Swami Interestingly, Ramanuja. Swami of vision spiritual ripe earth on this tenure his limit to was had sEsha, Adi of incarnation the verily time And subsequent and forces. events local various due to 120 years to The times witnessed a steady decline in th days. by marauding attacks persistent the due to mostly Sri vaishnavam, those in and in pillaging no pains spared who invaders, Muslim hordes of polity of wors and places temples plundering Indian of Sri the glory and re-establish charge take to Emperumanar Swami and our Lord both sampradayam, our in said is often As Vaishnavam. is not there are inimitable, (emperumanar) Acharya Swami as benefit, for our re-appeared Ramanuja, Swami Hence, maNavALA mAmunikaL, on indicate,glorygreaterbring and even joy to the heartsof to srI Himself. Lord our and vaishNavas we have this opportunity to put together anRamanuja of issue illustrious more accounts many by other, and the celebrating Darshanam Ramanuja, Swami maNavALa mAmunikaL. occupies MamunikaL Swami

(atrocious adharmA (sentient ) from (effect of actions done of actions (effect a Bhuvarahachariar Swami the nitya-soori(eternally free jeevatma s born as “Sri Ramanuja”. Of Ramanuja”. as “Sri s born re-incarnated through infinite infinite re-incarnated through rless during the tenure of Sri the tenure of Sri rless during vior of Sri Ramanuja. Hence, he Ramanuja. of Sri vior the hence, earned imozhi), and fell on ears that discounted his discounted ears that fell on iya pirAn dAsar aNNar’ and the the and aNNar’ dAsar pirAn iya t asa t the people of those times, eme. His father was called His father was called eme. y dismissed as irrelevant by the the by irrelevant as dismissed y meone unlike themselves. So, He So, He unlike themselves. meone

kArmic vAsanA kArmic ) in this world, failed miserably in achieving achieving in miserably failed world, this ) in Sri U.Ve. Ilayavalli Srinivas Avatharas THE MATCHLESS ACHARYA SWAMI MANAVALA MAMUNI His primary goal, i.e. the liberation of the of the liberation goal, i.e. the His primary of this and cons pros the scrutinize carefully did He bondage. worldly he that was and that quickly reason the discover He could failure. abject did to the category not belong ofwhich souls, because of whatever He quickl his did during were births He whatever Therefore, to themselves. jeevatmas as not of relevance Gita’, even in the ‘Bhagavad said, from so as those coming preaching another jeevAtma. He the souls through thought of liberating immediately summoned His serpent couch, live and world mortal the to down “Go instructed, and AdishEsha, ) the people empower exhortations, your through and years, for 200 there with and about knowledge their make true nature them come to My bu eternal bliss”. they enjoy world, so that head, ugly wa the serpent Adishesha Accordingly, it’s time when as the known the age of , course, rear to supreme, was powe actions) reigns Ramanuja and reflection of their ignorance over years),made this world a hot bed for him, he had to cut short his 120. of the age at Vaikunta, depart to Sri and world in this stay here at not happy this beha The Lord was With years. of 200 assignment the original complete to him asked Swami as world this down to came Adishesha obedience, implicit Sri as incarnation previous in his AdisEsha, mAmunikaL. maNavALa appearance Nammazhvars’s by fascinated much very was Ramanuja, and his divine outpouring (thiruvA this In keeping with Uynthavan”. adipaNindhu “mAran appellation AdisEsha second time around, the Nammazhvar, love for overwhelming birth. for his most suited as the place Thirunagari Azhvar selected the when and Thula of month in the year in sAdharaNa born He was supr was reigning star Moola ‘Tigazhaakkidanthan Tirunaaveeruda number of births ( Sriman Narayana, even though He though even Narayana, Sriman 8

every every 7 underscores the need underscores thing to take to heart;thingsuch to take that Ramanuja darshanam, a philosophy philosophy a darshanam, Ramanuja After all, all our Acharyas, our Acharyas, After all, all e of universality of divinity and and universality of divinity e of iven by a need to accost and make make and to accost a need by iven

Sriman Narayana that Swami Desikan Desikan Swami that Narayana Sriman (Spoke with one voice). voice). with one (Spoke . Eka kanTasthAs exist and continue their attempts at distortion, distortion, at attempts their continue and exist Swami Manavala Mamuni doing idu vyakyanama at Sri Rangam Sri Rangam at vyakyanama doing idu Mamuni Swami Manavala of them, were them, of for all of us to simplyfor allow all the omnipresentus to of Divinity to work through us, to bring to light the true essence of for all of man kind, for all times due to traditions Vaishnava Sri in current day differences If there are of an essentially and extrapolations mis-interpretations modern-day unified point of view the ultimatedown through an truth handed and/or of ignorance a reflection is simply it of Acharyas, lineage exalted ego on part ofthe hoaryrefusing to accept a few truths that have been to be dr seem efforts Such on. passed the ultimateaccessiblereward only to a chosen few, an unnecessary re- orientation the true spirit of the truth that tends to more of undermine such That comprehension. its in extending assist than our philosophy one messag reflect the efforts fail to some is Ramanuja Swami of compassion efforts spoke in Desikan on how Swami light shed tradition, VaishNava withconsonanceRamanuja’s the true spirit of Swami vision of Sri While compassion. divine uninstigated and of divinity universality highlight deepika SaraNagathi from insights Swami’s PB Rajahamswam the of innate dependence on Swami in-sync how demonstrates Swami Rangachary Sri espoused, Desikan was to the true spirit of the sampradAyam,uplifting the nammAzhvar. of Swami outpourings one ( azhvar’s 4000 hymns (Kingdom). Similarly, you too too you Similarly, (Kingdom). (worldy) activites impeded his la Mamuni accepted asceticism accepted asceticism la Mamuni for the vanquishment of other vala Mamunia position to of atha (they both represent Sriman Sriman represent atha (they both a), sever all his connections to his connections a), sever all his of our Lord, living in Sri Rangam Rangam Sri in living Lord, our of the archASri Ramanuja murthy of and the birth / death of anyone in the birth / death of and i Rangam, the citizens of Srirangam Srirangam of citizens the Rangam, i “Oh! My dear son! All our previous previous All our son! My dear “Oh! nAr (meaning mAmunikaL) was nAr (meaning (divya prabandham). The devoted The devoted prabandham). (divya divya prabandham samsaric Saamraajya aruLiccheyal ). It was required that a householder, while entering the the while entering a householder, that ). It was required (ritual worship) was performed by Swami mAmunikaL, i.e. i.e. mAmunikaL, by Swami was performed worship) (ritual sanyAsa sanyAsa uniquely qualified to perform daily thiru ArAdhanam to himself. himself. to ArAdhanam thiru daily perform to qualified uniquely blissful supreme the extolling poem a panegyric VimSati, YathirAja this period by was composed during Ramanuja, Sri virtues of Mamunikal with specific reference to ArAdhanam worshipped Mamunikal, Manavala as incarnation in his Ramanuja Sri himself. This may appear rather inappropriate, but this act is similar to Rangan Lord worship of ’s Sri Narayana) that,in given the exalted positionSwami of Ramanuja within emperumA Swami our traidtion, thirunagari. AzhvAr at SriSailEsha once ordered his ardent disciple Swami Manavala Mamuni, from him, sastras all who had learnt vEdantha and Vedas learnt acharyas Vishisthadvaitha of our establishment firm the for and philosophers philosophy. However, they all dedicated the remainder oflife their time of and propagation study for the 10 ( (Sanyasa of life stage fourth and their commentaries). They also went and lived in Sri Rangam, the the Rangam, in Sri and lived went They also commentaries). and their Vaishnava Sri of city capital the rest of your lifetime,must spend afterfrom my departure this material world to the eternalabode Swami become to desire as related their families as well of Sri glory the as propagate well as kaikaryam perform to ability Lord’s our Manava Hence, Swami Vaishnavam. of context the with The Lord Ranganatha, However, a new name. take to and relatives in his retain to Acharya the bade prescience, and foresight characteristic clear becomes intervention divine this placed Manavalan”; “Azhakiya as name when name have the to of a disciple worthy is as it and disciple mAmunikaL’s the examine to instructive be would it point, this At AchArya. of his Mana Swami events that elevated and propagating the true tenets ofVaishnava the Sri as in the hoary given the to according act did Mamuni Swami he was, that disciple So Sr commandments of his teacher. of them begot the good fortune all of Rangam – of Sri & the Lord counting Swami Mamuni as one amongst themselves. (house- gruhastha a as Rangam Sri to came Mamunikal Manavala numerous relatives holder). He had exaltedness not offeredany to one else.

thiru 9 (leader (leader thirumEni Bhavishyad (religious (religious (the chosen (the garland of of garland (the kulapathi achara

OrAn vazhi samaya nikaL, kindly refer to YathIndra nikaL, kindly eed him as the head of the Sri of the head as eed him name for mAmunikaL in his for name iyar. His father performed all all performed father His iyar. the village of Azhvar-thirunagari Azhvar-thirunagari village of the good fortune of clearing the wild wild good fortune of clearing the th Manavala Mamunikal. (For th the Mamunikal. Manavala unique honor of being blessed with being blessed honor of unique Guru-parampara hAra Guru-parampara nearest and dearest disciples. Hence disciples. dearest and nearest ed idol of Sri Ramanuja’s As Sri Sailesha was responsible for was for responsible Sri Sailesha As Acharya who desired that the erudite ) (house holder). It should be noted that that noted be should It holder). (house (all requisite ritueal to be performed for a man) and and to be performed for a man) (all requisite ritueal ) became a ) became samskaras mother’s name was Sri-ranganAcchmother’s name was requisite his son suited to Sri Vaishnava educated Nammazhvar. Swami of body) (divine Swami to over handed was thirunagari Azhvar at temple Ramanuja’s Sri and hence, daily of time, due course in Mamunikal Manavala Swami MamunikaL excelled as the disciple of none other than the excelled as the disciple MamunikaL Swami the pillai), (Tiruvaimozhi SriSailesha famous (future) Acharaya vigraha (idol). (idol). vigraha Acharaya (future) now even (ablution), daily for vigraha archA Nammazhvar’s the receive descendants SrisailEsha’s applied of to the archA kAppu, the daily ThirumaN remnants practices). When he attained marriageable age, azhakiya azhakiya age, marriageable attained When he practices). maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr(the pUrvAshrama Acharyas lineage of sri vaishnava the chosenAcharya lineage) ends wi lineage) the chosenAcharya Swami mAmu rest of the biography of this qualities great of the some of I speak Here, Prabhaava). PravaNa divinely thatrare bring to lightAcharya and events to hisinspired character. illustrious This was of AdishEsha. reincarnation was the Mamuni Manavala Swami to his fashion manifest a shown in the inside a pillar on a picture (mutt) abode Rangam Sri in his we find sanctum sanctorum, ason the serpent AdishEsha depicted seated with of reincarnation the is he that doubt beyond proves This hoods. several Adishesha. and Ramanuja Sri for Azhvar-thirunagari at a temple erected SrisailEsha Sri to had been presented idol, which Ramanuja’s Sri installed famous of the foot the at buried which lay and Azhvar Madhurakavi tree. Sri Sailesha had the Tamarind engulfed that had forest/vegetation overcoming after back, brought also He period. nAthamunikaL’s after been which had of Nammazhvar, idol the sacred substantial obstacles, This is TrikaNaambi. at of a hill foot the at lake a muddy into discarded our (idol) of archA thirumEni consecrated the currently Sri was it time, same the At Nammazhvar. Swami tradition), of our SailEsha who brought out the buri succ should Mamunikal and brilliant normal, course of a as realized desire a pontificate, Vaishnava the Hence, appropriate occurrence. to Sugreeva hoping that he ent miracle, Periya Perumal, the the Perumal, miracle, Periya ent rcy of Sailesha, the Lord of the the Lord rcy of Sailesha, did not work to keep his promise. did not work to keep his promise. thanga Maharshi. Obviously this this thanga Maharshi. Obviously rds the sanctum sanctorum & le, especially those who have been who have especially those le, Swami mAmunikaL’s seat, recited recited seat, mAmunikaL’s Swami ts and other sacred components of ts and other sacred gins and ends with the sacred ‘’, and brushing aside the opposition and about his promise to Sri Rama. Rama Rama Rama. about his promise to Sri e beginning of all divya prabhanda all divya prabhanda of e beginning Aranga Naayakam Aranga (token of appreciation) and after offering it at the holy feet feet holy the at it offering after and appreciation) of (token dakshiNa of Swami mAmunikaL,of Swami ran towa disappeared. To add to this magnific disappeared. – archaka the through ordered immediately Himself, Ranganatha Lord ‘let this slOka be recited at th monkey the salute Rama), may and our Lord, Acharyas of our grace the uplifting untouched by (Sri I question the authenticity of this particular episode, that the sloka was – mAmunikaL Swami to Lord Ranganatha by made an offering indeed follows. as our elders by is provided The answer vande” of the experience is an outpouring of the not so heartening This sloka pathram be to is sloka This & . Rama as incarnations previous Lord in His daya construed as follows: “SailESa the object of me who Sugreeva, surrender has a reference to Rama’s Sugreeva But . back getting in (Rama) Him help would (Sugreeva) latterafter of Rama the help to asked by the with waskingdom getting The directions. the all in Sita, of search in monkey subjects, his dispatch the enjoying intervened. During this period, Sugreeva season rainy all forgot kingdom, the of pleasures dire the of aware sugreeva make to Lakshmana, send had to consequences that would follow if he Therefore, failure. a total was instance this in sharanagathi Rama’s Sri So, holy the under sharanagathi Lord performed our Ranganatha, now as recitations; just as a Vedic recital be just as a Vedic recitations; allso also recitals of the tamil veda, the divyaprabhandam, shall pAtram’. ‘srI SailESa dayA end with commence and many peop that possible is quite It namely Ma mountain Rishyamukha, son by the name (after all, how is it possible for a little boy to cut through the large, Him preventing Himself?) Lord were not the if He assembly gathered, to proximate presence from getting the resembling voice majestic inimitable, His in stanza following the thunder ofa rumbling cloud, guNarnavam dheeibhakthyAdi pAthram dayA “SriSailEsha munim” mAtharam ramyajA vandE pravaNam Yetheendra a golden on sloka aforementioned the containing leaf He kept a palm fruits, coconu flowers, plate full of guru 12

Eedu 11 (priest) kAlakshEpam archakar’s (complete surrender), surrender), (complete sharaNagati sharaNagati ilEsha (Thiruvaimozhip pillai). In . Even though Krishna was younger was younger though Krishna . Even was highly indebted to Lakshmana Lakshmana to indebted highly was give a public discourse on the a public discourse on the give t give him a chance to serve Him adequately due due adequately Him serve to a chance him give t (lecture), tandem in with my nAcchiyArs & all (discourse), I have instructed that all festivities of the temple be held in in held be temple the of festivities all that instructed have I (discourse), glorious your of present to partake be I will period. this during abeyance upanyasam Swami mAmunikaL, by the Lord Himself, ordered Thus Srivaishnavas”. to service perform to call clarion this accepted obedience, implicit with the Lord. on lectures wonderful mAmunikaL’s of Swami day On the concluding assembly august the amidst Lord appeared the Eedu, and thiruvAimozhi an of guise in the vaishnavas, sri and of mAmunikaL Lord RanganAtha, reclining on his serpent bed decided to have Swami Swami bed decided to have on his serpent reclining Lord RanganAtha, the Sri complete to he wished as His guru, for Mamunikal Manavala a MamunikaL, Swami with (lineage) parampara Acharya Vaishanva on PirATTiAr Periya Perumal, (Periya Himself with started that lineage to Swami maNavALais our Acharya mAmunikaL Parampara). There selected why Lord RanganAtha as to reasons compelling are several mAmunikaL: Swami and served (LakshmaNa) Rama brother of Sri as the born was AdishEsha that he felt Rama him devotedly, so AdishEsha ordered he Hence, of gratitude. debt repay this to and desired But the shrewd next incarnation. to be born as his brother again in His Adishesha took thisto spirit order of the letteras the elder was and born namely brother of Krishna to him, Balarama did no situation,ofto the nature disappointed. the prevailingso the Lord was a stole Venkatesha Lord Ramanuja; Sri born as was Adishesha The same Moreover, Ramanuja. of disciple became the and Ranganatha march over in the (as described Ranganatha under Lord took refuge Ramanuja Sri performed and gadyam) sharaNAgathi on Thiruvaimozhi Nampillai Sri of super-commentary the padi), (36000 most are the You style. alluring in your commentaries, other along with being of fortune good have the as you task, this for person qualified Sri Sa acharya esteemed by the trained conduct for your unhindered order to accommodate thereby not giving him. the Lord opportunity On the other to serve Thus, so many ways. Him in who served Ramanuja only Sri was it hand, thisattemptserve AdishEsha of the Lord to was also thwarted. as maNavALa mAmunikaL, born was AdishEsha the same Hence, when the Lord realized that this was to capitalize His opportunity realize and of opportunity golden the seized He desire. long cherished his follows, him as & ordered Rangam of Sri city the to arrival Mamunikal’s to our temple & shall come “You

studying all his all his studying mAmunikaL. ananyArha sEshatvam ananyArha

. The sentient soul should have have The sentient soul should . But for his lucid, illuminating illuminating lucid, for his But . There is no way to discharge the the . There is no way to discharge one-way to perform service to his service one-way to perform state of dependence not unlike thestate of dependence a sincere effort at his style, the clarity of thought and and of thought the clarity style, his

tence. tence. oscimum (thuLasi) The sacred of Swami MaNavALa (a state of dependence not unlike the of dependence (a state Swami Mamuni at Sri Swami Rangam Mamuni achitvat pAratantryam pAratantryam achitvat inanimate). inanimate). on the commentaries several wrote mAmunikaL MaNavALa Swami Rahasya Granthas(esoteric scriptires). debt that all Sri Vaishnavasincurred haveholySwamiatfeet the of is mAmunikaL.MaNavALa Yet, there commentaries, all the 4000 divya prabhandas have become too abstruse abstruse too become have prabhandas divya 4000 the all commentaries, of simplicity The us. of rest for the unparalleled are majesty of expression he represented; that and all spirit Homage offered at the holy feet at the holy offered Homage (quality of complete surrenderance to Lord, without an iota of blemish) (quality of complete surrenderanceLord, without aniota to of blemish) and is not elated when placed by Lord on His crown; nor does it become by Lord on His crown; nor when placed is not elated feet unhappy while put down over His the same disposition as that of the sacred thuLasi, awareness that the per be utilized Lord, to the to belonging an object merely he/she is mAmunikaL MaNavALa Lord’s whims and fancies. Swami principle of this exalted and lived demonstrated Acharyas. and Azhvars of spirit the to service and humility by marked Swami MaNavALa mAmunikaL thought that it was up to the Lord to determine the position given to Swami mAmunikaL. Thisthe true is a nature (swaroopa) of the jeevAtma, mAmunikaL MaNavALa Swami and Parathantrya) (Achitvat inanimate of exis spirit embodied this exalted his all practice and teacher of a qualified feet the works under exhortations. 14 13 (surrender) SaraNAgati considered it appropriate to be it appropriate considered to Lord Ranganatha, his was a life was Lord Ranganatha, his to y of Srishailesha also known as (token of appreciation for Acharya) for Acharya) (token of appreciation hmana to fetch his bow and arrows, and arrows, his bow fetch to hmana the king of the ocean did not bother the king of ocean did not r, Ego made our Lord feel unhappy feel Lord Ego made our r, ) mAmunikaL as His teacher. )? The same plight befell Lord Krishna befell Lord Krishna )? The same plight anAtha himself, could have composed such a composed such a have could anAtha himself, Guru Dakshina Guru shAdguNya paripoorNa shAdguNya slOka. Though Swami MaNavALa mAmunikaL was elevated to this elevated mAmunikaL was MaNavALa Though Swami slOka. highest position of being the Acharya by the most magnificent Lord of the Lords Sriman Narayana, sAndIpani, sAndIpani, Narayana, Sriman Lord of the Lords by the most magnificent insteadforasking of , the ultimate reward,a asked for petty Lord The a child. as drowned son who had his of retrieval viz the favor, Swami adopted Ranganatha Lord So, now this. at displeased became Muni (Ramyajamathru MaNavALa in his mAmunikaL, MaNavALa Swami – vandE” pravaNam “Yathindra AchArya His as anointed been had Ramanuja, as incarnation previous the arose between no ill-will Even though by Lord Venkateshwara. teacher & the taught, Lord Ranganatha devoted was highly who mAmunikaL, MaNavALa Swami of the disciple appellation the earned had and Ramanuja) (Sri Yatheendra to PravaNa. Yatheendra even a enlighten will slOka this in embedded meaning of The depth common man, and it is not difficult to perceive only the highest abode of Divinity, the Lord Rang performed by Sri Rama to Samudra Raja (the king of the oceans). But But oceans). the of king (the Raja Samudra to Rama Sri by performed days, even after the lapse of 3 whole King the of misbehavior this at enraged Highly Rama. Sri appear before Laks of the oceans, Sri Rama ordered so thatitself. he might dry up the oceanall, After the samudraraja is but was Sri whose embodiment Narayana, Sriman servant) to (a a kinkara Lord Hence, misfired. sharanagathi Lord’s also our Here Rama! of ocean (ArNavam) now under the veritable refuge takes Ranganatha Swami etc., namely, – devotion, Adi – bakthi (dhI), knowledge MaNavALa mAmunikaL. became Ranganatha Lord Rama, as In His incarnation – vande” “Munim a as services required all and provided Muni of Vishwamitra disciple the as to Vishwamitra’s awareness subsequent However, disciple. ange as Lust, such traits undesirable about His choice of thisall, AfterRama Guru. was not Sri known as the perfect one ( the 64when He learnt under the preceptor SAndipanIarts Muni, within offered 64 days. When MaNavALa Swami namely pathra’, daya of ‘SrishailEsha feet mAmunikaL, the receptacle of merc pillai. Thiruvaimozhi to unto the ocean, in order refuge take Rama), ‘I (Sri – vande” “ArNavam was such Lanka’; & reach cross the ocean priyO hi hi priyO nIlOthphala bhagavad guNa , BG 7.17), Himself arrived arrived Himself 7.17), BG , s, and living the life of ascetics. ascetics. life of the living s, and is the most beautifulSri temple of day subsequent to Poigai Azhvar Azhvar day subsequent to Poigai his corresponding date this year is date this year corresponding his sathayamstar; Nov 3, 2003). in in the “thiruvONam” “thiruvONam” the in in Kanchipuram (hermitage) of a saint called “mrgaNdu”. “mrgaNdu”. called a saint of (hermitage) sa cha mama priyaha mama sa cha

Ashrama ). At this time, the Lord, never one to give up on an on an time,up the Lord, never one to give). At this flower in a well in thiru-mayilai (present day Mylapore, in in Mylapore, day (present in thiru-mayilai well a in flower flower in tamil) on the seaside at thiru-k-kadal-mallai thiru-k-kadal-mallai at seaside on the flower in tamil) leelAs (recounting the innumerable auspicious qualities of the Lord) Lord) the of qualities auspicious innumerable the (recounting srI yatthOkthakAri perumAL srI yatthOkthakAri sengazhuneer kurukkaththi at the Ashrama,invisible He entered the room, to the three Azhvars. As the suddenly, because presence, to feel His the three Azhvars began posture a standing of them in the three accommodate room which could (present day Mahabalipuram), on the on the Mahabalipuram), day (present sources. Poigai AzhvAr manifested on a lotus flower in the a lotus flower manifested on Poigai AzhvAr sources. of month of “aippasi” (T star during the on a appeared AzhvAr 2003). BhUdhaththu Nov 1, ( on appeared PEy Azhvar 2003). 2, Nov star; avittam of aippasi, (month a the temple of srI AdikEsava-p-perumAL) on the day after bhUdaththu month, born (aippasi AzhvAr was 16 supreme Lord with born, blessed by the them were All three of divinity, on focused life a lived they a result, as and knowledge, the Lord at different temple worshipping to the Trivikrama), and he Night time had come, there the earliest. reached AzvhAr Poigai Ashrama, the to entrance the at room in a small down was lying the glories of the Lord. At thatreflecting time, on bhUdhaththu Azhvar indicated and him welcomed Azhvar Poigai location. same the at arrived in”. come please sit; two to supine, one to be for space enough have “we Both ofand them were sitting, were indulging in anubhavam Azhvars two The Ashrama. same the to by came Azhvar when, pEy down, one can lie place, “in this room said, little in that present already two canstand;and three can sit, please come in”. joy- their continued Azhvars the three them, and joined AzvhAr PEy divine His and qualities Lord’s auspicious of the filled discussion activities ( opportunity to interact with His true devotees ( aham gnyAninOthyartham a reason of to tied is invariably souls great of such appearance Since the divine intent, the three Azhvarsmeet to fulfill hadof to their the purpose manner a in Vedas esoteric the world to wit, give appearance, by achieved Narayana Sriman And this common folk. the to accessible in the effort and become the harbingers meet the Azhvars making Vedas. Tamil holy the of composition the towards The Lord made each of them go to the town of thiru-k-kOvalUr(a place where there Tamilnadu, in present day

15 (mArgazhi in tamil), tamil), in (mArgazhi starts.of the In the context of is celebrated. It is is It celebrated. is Andal of cally the earliest of all AzvhArs. AzvhArs. all of earliest the cally , that the grandest of festivals in of festivals grandest the that , (vow of the female devotees) that that female devotees) (vow of the mArgasIrsha as appeared during the months of greatand saints Acharyas from Sri (eternally free souls who reside with who reside souls free (eternally ” – “ones who were not born born a from “ones who were not ” – ars – poigai AzhvAr, – bhUdhaththu ars ayOnijAs adhyayana Utsavam paavai nOnbu nitya sUris nitya MUDHAL AZHVARS : The three AzhvArs – poigai AzvhAr, bhUdhaththu AzvhAr, bhUdhaththu poigai – three AzhvArs The : GREAT SAINTS AND TEACHERS GREAT SAINTS AND TEACHERS Swami thoNdar-adi-p-podi AzhvAr and and AzhvAr thoNdar-adi-p-podi Swami emperumAnAr. aruLaLap-perumAL Swami Swami pEy AzhvAr AzhvAr pEy Swami AzhvAr thirumangai Swami Swami thiru-p-pAN AzhvAr AzhvAr thiru-p-pAN Swami Swami poigai AzhvAr poigai AzhvAr Swami Swami bhUdhaththu AzhvAr Swami dEsika vEdAnta Swami maNavALa mAmunikaL Swami lOkAchAriAr piLLai Swami

mAsAnAm mArgasheershOham’ mAsAnAm

(x) (vii) (viii) (ix) (v) (vi) (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) In addition, the appearance day of srI visvaksEna, the commander-in- the visvaksEna, srI day of appearance the In addition, our Lord’s of all chief of period. also occurs during this time the Lord), life the enjoy briefly we will Darshanam, of Ramanuja issue In this Azhv the first of the of histories (the AzvArgaL as the mudhal collectively known AzhvAr, pEy AzhvAr, Tamil. in AzhvArs) first AzhvArgaL Mudhal are AzvhAr and pEy chronologi AzhvAr are “ These three Azhvars water different in three on water-flowers appeared womb”. They forms the basis for the famous for the forms the basis commences, and the holy also in the month of margazhi, highlighted by Lord Sri Krishna in the in the Krishna Sri by Lord highlighted of margazhi, month the in also Gita as ‘ temples, the desam divya know to appropriate is it forth, bring months these joy and celebration born in by being months famous who made these about our preceptors these months. and Achary saints great The following – order chronological in October through December, an feature December and October, November months of The Gregorian days of manifestation abundance of of holiest which the in month the also is December tradition. Vaishnava calendar solar Indian in the months ,

mOksham

(the ocean of life). (the ocean of

samsAra samsAra Bhoothathu Azhvar Bhoothathu the Divineoflove andthe Divine, and through their for Poigai Azhvar Peyazhvar Peyazhvar Azhvar Poigai

liberation from the miasma of of miasma the from liberation theirThe three Azhvars returned to thiru-k-kOvalUr after spreading love message of yogic powers, left theirVaikuntam,Sri earthlythe and bodies went to represents which Narayana, Sriman abode of wonderful 18

17 mudhal mudhal ” para para thiruvandhAdhi

” (second poem of poem (second ” mUnRaam structure, the sea of ether as the as the structure, the sea of ether l auspicious nature of the supreme supreme the of nature l auspicious mp structure, and his longing for for and his longing mp structure, d them into a state of togetherness, a into state d them autiful complexion of the Lord and and Lord the of complexion autiful (auspicious qualities). qualities). (auspicious being verily the Sun himself!.” himself!.” Sun the verily being The Azhvars wondered on the cause on the cause wondered The Azhvars ) verily the remover of obstacles that the remover of obstacles ) verily iraNdaam thiruvandhAdhi rn, offered a lamp using his yogic powers too, powers yogic a lamp using his rn, offered kalyANa guNas n mEni kaNdEn; (first poem of the type andhAdi, meaning the last word the last word (first poem of the type meaning andhAdi, vaiyam thagaLiyaa vaarkadalE neyyaaga, veyya kadhirOn veyya viLakkaga kadhirOn neyyaaga, vaarkadalE thagaLiyaa vaiyam (supreme concept) and verily the all-auspicious progenitor of all that is is that all of progenitor all-auspicious the verily and concept) (supreme and un-manifest. manifest (third poem of the type andhAdi), which is a set of 100 verses too. 100 set of a is which andhAdi), the type of (third poem boun experience divine uplifting This the spreading India of South parts across various and they traveled Himselfby the Lord givena through the message of message the Lord, bacame Azhvar, three thiruvandhAdhis. Another Azhvar, thirumazhisai upon in particular, AzhvAr pEy – Azhvars mudhal three the of a disciple as the Narayana Sriman their message of exposure to the auspicious discus ( discus auspicious the yet different – “anbE thagaLiyaa, aarvamE neyyAga” – using his his using – neyyAga” aarvamE thagaLiyaa, “anbE – different yet la as the love for the Lord immense thigazhum aruKKan aNi niramum kaNdEn; kaNdEn; ponnAzhi seRukkiLarum kai-k-kaNdEn; purisangam inRu” pAl vaNNan en Azhi consort of the Lord – sawmeaning, “I the divine ; I saw the the be saw I of the Lord; body divine AzhvAr, in tu BhUdaththu composed the flame. He engendering energy as the the Lord union with “ as known verses 100 of a set the type andhAdhi). and bhUdhaththu Azhvar poigai by lit love, of spiritual lamps The two in the Lord the three Azvhars to see and experience allowed Azhvar, to pEy AzhvAr inspired Divine experience That proximity. manifest sing, po “thiru-k-kaNdEn, in conch divine beautiful, white, the and the Lord, prevent us reaching of first verse This is the Lord”. the of the hands to feel inadequate. was beginning Azhvar, poigai powers, his yogic using and immediately, change, for this lords the Lord of the lamp to a spiritual lit presence, divine the realizing “ lamp “using the earth as physical lit flame the and flame, for the as, now famous What poured forth was divine poetry, thiruvandhAdhi These verse). becomes the progenitor of thought for following hundred verses bring out the essentia infinite and His Lord

prapatti ThonDar (devotee). For instance, For instance, (devotee). (absolute reverence to the reverence (absolute

to grasp these critically insightful insightful critically these grasp to ining, thinkingining, about, the material e reproductive organ of his own his reproductive organ of e bhAgavatha PL!!!), Swami PL had such a clearPL had PL!!!), Swami Vedanta provided a firmament of a firmament provided Vedanta (idol) is made) made) is (idol) out Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Perumal Manavala out Sri Azhagiya AdAnasmruthiyil kATTil krooram AdAnasmruthiyil acharyAbhimanam nam. During my first reading of this book, the the of this book, my first reading nam. During (means) were too esoteric for me to grasp. My too esoteric for me to grasp. My were (means) archA tirumEni upAyam (community of servants), unburdened by caste or gender-based or gender-based by caste unburdened servants), of (community BhAgavathApachArandhAn anEka vidham anEka BhAgavathApachArandhAn aththai mAtru pareekshaiyODu okkumenRu shAstram sollum shAstram okkumenRu pareekshaiyODu yOni mAtru aththai athilE onRu avarkaL pakkal janma niroopaNam janma niroopaNam pakkal athilE onRu avarkaL ithuthAn archAvathAraththil up and convincing interpretation of investigation. philosophical and spiritual further for comfort Sri of aphorisms the of translation English an read to I chanced One day (PL), LOkAchAriar Pillai Swami by (SVB) BhUshaNam Vachana we in what know acharya most brilliant be the by many to considered darsha as Ramanuja today Kulam in resulted have could remarks such when age and a day In distinctions. it turned (and as excommunication Nayanardefend Sri (AMP) had to grasp of the universalityofVaisnavam the Sri as bequeathed to us by the extreme and Emperumanar, like Swami and Acharyas the Azhvars 20 concepts of nirhEtuka krupa, krupa, concepts of nirhEtuka acharya and his teachings), and the non consideration of and the non consideration of acharya and his teachings), an as (surrender) What struck me very profoundly were both the radical nature of the the of nature radical the both were profoundly very mother) me struck What truth in SVB the message that contained and the clarity with which the same was delivered. I very thrilled to come across an Indian/Vedic of the home the message who so explicitly hammered acharya/guru or economic gender, caste, of a bhagavatha’s irrelevance for qualification as a state physiological/psychological every for means a practical PL provided Sri release/redemption. sentient to internalize being the fundamental that all truth of us are one to belong we all and that children Narayana’s Sriman (Itin isthatsaida the scriptures an of about devotee is the birth inquiry is it that character-less-ness, of act an and repulsive so heinous th inspecting man a to equivalent sense of this inability, looking back, is that we are too conditioned by the conditioned we are too that back, is looking inability, sense of this day life every system of punish-reward the aphorisms that by mesmerized absolutely I was concepts. However, dealt with the notion of caste of a than exam is more cruel (This, indeed, perumAL’s of which 197. consider the following from SVB: from SVB: sutras the consider following 194. kinds) many of are Bhagavathas against (Offences 195. (Oneaboutisinquiry of their these birth.) 196.

of ) 19 nirguNa , chanting ) supremacy (beginning of Sri Vedaraman SriRaman Sri Vedaraman paratvam ( paratvam (prayer to the sun (prayer to akti List started / maintained by akti List started raised. Mine were influenced influenced were Mine raised. ste based admissions policy in policy in based admissions ste pousing their anti-vedic and anti- and anti-vedic their pousing cts of Sri Vaishnavam due to my ligious views are shaped by the by are shaped views ligious ), I chanced upon a few ISKCON upon a few ISKCON ), I chanced ” style dhoti, wearing Nike sneakers) sneakers) Nike dhoti, wearing ” style grown up in a Tamil family family Brahmin up in a Tamil grown sandhyAvandanam panchakachcham nirhEthuka krupA nirhEthuka and and the upholding of the of the upholding and the Maya and SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYA’S INFLUENCE ON ME SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYA’S Every individual’s secular and re secular and Every individual’s is he/she environment in which considerably by the fact of having of the upsurgance the with associated upheavals political/social and the 80s. and 70s in the Nadu in Tamil parties political Dravidian regional the to I was used family, in a Brahmin raised of someone Typical of the daily performance Sriman Narayana thoroughly captivating. To start with, I was I was with, start To captivating. thoroughly Narayana Sriman comfortablewith the vedantic aspe a compelling provided thought of universe new this That upbringing. caused me to read on. Soon I was thoroughly impressed by the sincerity sincerity the by impressed thoroughly was I Soon on. read to me caused I read As Vaishnavam. in got interested devotees and of the ISKCON myself found and I to another lead one thing literature, more ISKCON the posts on Bh browsing regularly Sri ManiVaradarajan. spiritual thought and to a whole new universe of Here I was introduced and Azhvars of and works life the with familiar became I endeavor. of the concepts repudiation I found Visistadvaita’s Acharyas. festivals religious observance of , for various Sanskrit in of slokas Pooja, Saraswathi Navami, such as Sri Rama On the injunctions. Vedic with in accordance all Vedas); of learning by a political constantly was bombarded I side, political/social bent upon es environment and a polity atheism of display flagrant and often, a blatant in sentiments religious mixed with hatred. personal Such negative attitudesto a theistic way of life were further amplified by a ca based simply candidates qualified to denied opportunity that education affiliation. religious on their It is not unusual for those of us who come to the US to get drawn into a US for graduate in the my arrival and lifestyle, and worldly materialistic of absence an by marked was years, early the during least at education, Lords un- the to Owing and/or philosophy. in religion interest any real ( grace instigated an as more upon I came that activity an ago, years some publications of (pictures of mock curiosity than by intent. A certain degree accident in “ westerners clad

not merely disregarding the not merely disregarding the knowledge of my own errant errant of my own knowledge the (mediator, the role played by Lakshmi) Lakshmi) by played the role (mediator, iyavENumenRirukkil iranDukkumiranDum iyavENumenRirukkil Sri Pillai Lokacharyar Lokacharyar Sri Pillai purushakaara

(Sriman Narayana) lies in s (soul) defects and lack of merit, but also in(soul) makingalsoand lack defects these the s of but merit, upaaya iranDum iranDumkula . purushakAraththukkum upAyaththukkum vaibhavamAvadhu – – vaibhavamAvadhu upAyaththukkum purushakAraththukkum . The life and works of Sri PL and Sri AMP Nayanar epitomize and and epitomize Nayanar AMP Sri and PL Sri works of and The life Years it. understand as I darshanam Ramanuja of crystallize the essence any personal for the prospects about be very cynical used to ago I of light the in advancement spiritual to following has the in and steps SVB of light beacon a shining Like past. offer: 15 upEkshiyAdhavaLavanRikkE pArththu hAniyaiyum guNa dOshaththaiyum pachchaiyAkkugai avaithannaiyE angeekAraththukku of (The greatness and 22 jeevAtma’ jeevAtma). of the the acceptance very basis for and 16. defects the - these of both remove to unDayiRRithAm necessary is it that said be it (If lack then both become the Lord’s). of merit-, ”. It in the in the

21 ! alted elders such as Drona or eldersalted such . nt a number of pseudo-religious of pseudo-religious a number nt (fifth caste) (fifth caste) dia’s political and social landscape landscape and social political dia’s close to the ultimate proximity God. transcend caste and gender based caste and gender transcend vANi” says “Sri Lokacharya carried carried Lokacharya “Sri says vANi” ongst the sentient, some of the caste- neral rites for Jatayu panchama jathi jathi panchama (leader of community) Sri Nammazhvar who kulapathi and the irrelevance of caste in the scheme of salvation scheme the in of caste irrelevance the and Sri PeriyaNambi and hisattachment to Sri MaranEri Nambi Sri Thirukachchi to deep devotion and his Ramanuja Swami Nambi belonged to the Sri Rama performing fu Sri Rama performing Bheeshma. Muni LOkasAranga and azhvar of ThiruppAN The episode Our Sri Krishna preferring to dine with Sri Vidura even though he even Sri Vidura dine with to preferring Sri Krishna with ex had the option of dining

• • • • • • is no exaggerationassert that to if society PL’s Swami hadup on taken universality of equality am vision of dominate In upheavals that so based and man for PL’s vision Swami feel Indeed, I obviated. been may have irreleva have rendered society would Indian the harmed and corrupted have that movements and political home. measure. in polity no small true my found have I that feel I books on the web and reading of browsing Thus, after several years last, At quest. Vaishnavam, this fortuitous contact with SVB (owing to Lord’s nirhetuka my ended krupa) However, it is Swami PL, who went to considerable lengths to explicitly explicitly to lengths considerable to who went PL, Swami is it However, within the Indian its relevance expand on this concept and establish Sampathkumaran R. M. Prof. framework. and philosophical social courage of conviction, that he gave to some revolutionary, voice and opinions; of the population) (with aunpopular certainsegment now even instances, many in sadly, and then unpopular that to proclaim leaders religious and for political is fashionable Today, it forms life all of oneness spiritual PL to as Swami such visionary a true took it However, considerations. terms that in darshanam Ramanuja of vedic wisdom expound the of a state to humanity of all elevated two of the mention the mere at goose bumps always experienced have Since, I two the literally represent me, they to AMP Nayanar, and Sri Sri PL brothers eyes of our glorious Sri Vaishnava tradition Sri Vaishnavam with is replete practical applications of the glorious following: the Consider sentient-beings. all for of equality precept January 1988 issue of “Sri Ramanuja to their logical conclusions many precepts and practices ofRamanuja Sri regardingsuch things as prapatti, value of the mystical Nammazhvar’s experiences, (18 (devotee’s) (devotee’s) bhagavatha’s (sin)!!! Sri PL was a (sin)!!! Sri PL was practical Ashtaadasa Rahasyangal Rahasyangal Ashtaadasa views and actions, they must be ched and included amongst his PL never soft peddled these issues!!! apachAram (great soul) had several Brahmin as disciples. To disciples. as bhagavatas Brahmin several had soul) (great Srivachanabhusanam (SVB) (SVB) Srivachanabhusanam Tattvatrayam Mumukshuppadi Arthpanchakam Archiradi Prameyasekaram Prapannaparitranam Sarasangraham Samsarasamrajyam Navaratnamalai Navavidhasambandham Yadrccikapadi Parantapadi Sriyapatippadi Tattvasekharam

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. instance, he was a blazing visionary and pioneer, the likes of which finds finds of which likes the pioneer, and visionary a blazing he was instance, He very brother. his younger saving present, past or in the no rival a was mattered that all that held staunchly 24 of a caste of the any consideration that and Perumal to devotion grave a constituted bhagavatha he prea man who practiced what This name of Vilancholaipillai. by the a Harijan was disciples principal mahatma Sri PL’s of immensity the grasp fully evaluatedthe timeframe in in which they occurred, ie, almost 800 years took in Srirangam baghavathas several then, Understandably ago. level of a reached objections These position. Sri PL’s to exception formally to having Nayanar’s AMP Sri necessitated in turn that criticality Sri brother. However, vindicate his explicitly and directly he very in which works several He composed for prapatti. states qualificatory of of absence issues controversial covers Notableamongst the manywere composed for works that the benefit of are eighteen Acharyan benevolent supremely by this generations future are called that style, in Manipravala philosphy of srI vaishNava no aspect leave and that scriptures), esoteric uncovered. of srI stalwarts two represent Desikan, Sri Vedanta with along Sri PL, critical save way to harm’s in lives very their who put vaishNavam, of Mohammedan difficult times the during sampradAyam our aspects of guru in detail greater in expounded is role PL’s Sri of Details invasions. prabhAvam. parampara His Works ” (“Is ” (“Is 23

| || (house holder). This This holder). (house Sri Vedaraman Sriraman Sri Vedaraman (bachelors) throughout their their throughout (bachelors) under the able leadership of the able leadership under the gruhastasrama – teacher of the universe). universe). of the teacher – revered by Sri MM isSri revered by Sri MM Pillai one need look no further than the one need look no further than the prominent amongst these disciples les included several luminaries; luminaries; several included les the occasion of Ashwayuja (Aippasi Ashwayuja of the occasion

most authoritative commentaries on on commentaries authoritative most acharya Sri Nampillai who was also also who was Nampillai Sri acharya inkaryams to Namperumal and sri sri and Namperumal to inkaryams ey were young they overheard their their ey were young they overheard shrAvaNa (thiruvONam). Those were were Those (thiruvONam). shrAvaNa brahmacharis ulagAriyan Nampillai ghostiyO, Namperumal ghostiyO samsArabhOgisandashta jIvajIvAtavE nama: nama: jIvajIvAtavE samsArabhOgisandashta lOkAchAryAya guravE krishNapAdaSya sUnavE SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYAR: A BIOGRAPHY SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYAR: Sri (MM), in his much celebrated much celebrated in his (MM), Mamunigal Manavala Sri Azhvars works of and lives the commemorates UpadEsarattinamalai, onehas singled out he In this wondorous composition, and Acharyas. devoted he has whose honor, in any one else, than more Acharyan, so acharyan several pasurams. This as (also known Lokacharya Sri PL was born around 1205 AD on in tamil), under the asterism of flourished Vaishnavam when Sri days Nampillai. His august Sri discip prompting the oft quoted “ it the gathering of devotees who came to listen to Nampillai or who The most came to see Namperumal”). were Sri Vadakku Thiruveethip Pillai (VTP)Sri and Vaachaan Periya Pillaiwho authored (PVP), the two Sri Nammazhwar’s Thiruvaimozhi, viz. muppaththi-aaRaayirappadi (36,000)and the irupaththi-naalaayirappadi or Edu (24,000) respectively. Sri PL and two was of the eldest two sons. The with blessed VTP was Sri Sri Nayanar. Perumal (AMP) Manavalap Azhakiya the second was Sri after his his eldest son VTP named of quintessence To gain the or Ulagariyan. known as Lokacharya very clearly, darsanam Ramanujar’s Nayanar. AMP and PL VTP, PVP, Sri works of their from They learned Rangam. grew up and lived in Sri brothers Both Sri like acharyas contemporary from other as as well father illustrious when th that is said It Nampillai. about regrets some expressing father as a young minds and on the impression an indelible left incident they remained consequence ka magnificent rendered lives and vaishNavam. first he was the that in revolutionary a social be considered Sri PL would language that works in the vernacular wrote independent who Acharyan latter In the caste. on of his views an account and Vedanta on expounded

’ , the uruvum perum vanangum thuraikal … thuraikal vanangum Sri Embar Rangachari Swami Swami Sri Embar Rangachari uruvaadhaavathu eththEvum eththEvum uruvaadhaavathu ) by two phrases ‘ to the Lord existenceof other ruvil moorthiyodutthu itthanaiyum ruvil moorthiyodutthu (tarukkinaal) and their practice of practice their and (tarukkinaal) a compelling refutation of Jain of Jain refutation compelling a even Madhva who came after who came after even Madhva re) (Thiruvaaimozhi 4-10-10). These 4-10-10). (Thiruvaaimozhi re) languageAzhvars’ of message was not taken ‘cognizance of’ by the not the authors)Sankara hadthe encouraged n of nirguNa Brahman (the Supreme n of His own form (moorthi). Thirumangai Thirumangai form (moorthi). His own (the Lord’s in-dwelling for all objects of of objects all for in-dwelling Lord’s (the ’ (having all , worlds and other objects that are that objects other worlds and gods, all (having ’ ’ (distinguished from other objects in form, qualities qualities in form, objects other from ’ (distinguished facilitator par excellence SRI VEDANTACHARYA’S antharyaamitvam antharyaamitvam APPRECIATION OF THIRUVAIMOZHI seihaiyum vEraavaan ‘ 3- 11) 7 – – (Thiruvaaimozhi and action) phrases refute the interpretation of ‘aham brahmaasmi’ the from as jeevaatma such no differences are there that as meaning Upanishads is only one there Lord) and that (the and paramaatma (soul) evvulahangaLum maRRum thanpaal ma evvulahangaLum nirkave ninra vaNNam but less form with His blemish if they are one Him as observed in their natu keeping these distinct per Ramanuja), either an absence of exposure to the Azhvars’ works or a fear a fear or works Azhvars’ the to of exposure absence an either Ramanuja), about lack of acceptability ofby the then existing Azhvars (inscholars caste of and view of the language dvaita (or Azhvars the by repudiated clearly ideas advaita, propounding be). may case as the propositio the advaita, Coming to not Sanskrit. As for Sankara (and Vaishnavites themselves, since the Vaishnavites The primary focus of Acharyas preceding Nampillai in the Sri Sri in the Nampillai preceding Acharyas focus of The primary principles of advaitism, the counter to was tradition VaishNava ideas these since extent, some to , and of and primarily, though Azhvars, the more so in southern taken roots in India and had philosophy schools of of time the at been the source for had parts of the country. The works Azhvars India in arguments towards this end. It was true that only Buddhism and popular were Jainism right the provides Nammazhvar fact, In vogue. in were also advaita from interpretation of the cosmos, as of criticism their in charitable mostly are The Azhvars illusory. being rest ‘ by Nammazhvar’s as is revealed other religions, (Thiruviruttam-96)he attributes where other in refuting precede Sankara It is thus clear that the Azhvars was This apparently religions. 26 religions as an intention to spread to intention an as religions lacking as Buddhists and Jain the calls 9-8-9) thirumozhi (Periya Azhvaar thinking(pundhiyil), setting in aside the need for the concept of a He provides (Isvara). conductor logic alone dialectic philosophy using eatingstretch (Periya in one thirumozhi2-1-7). 25 u thadaa niraindha akkAra adisil adisil akkAra niraindha u thadaa (a type of sweet)}. Apparently, in Apparently, in sweet)}. (a type of PL reached the lotus feet of Sriman lotus feet of Sriman the reached PL ctual achievement, when one of the achievement, ctual quagmire of samsAra, enslaved by

sh of ANdAL, and he organized a and he organized of ANdAL, sh , 15) SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING TO THINK Tanidwayam Tanidwayam Tanicharamam Tanipranavam

16. 17. 18. lOkAchArya panchashat lOkAchArya Orthodox accounts indicate that Sri Narayana at the advanced age of 95, after a lifetime dedicated to service service to dedicated lifetime a after 95, age of advanced the at Narayana Lord. our and of bhAgavathas significance lOkAchArya’s PiLLai Sri about need be said more Nothing of intelle or heights of contributions his by inspired dESikan, Swami vaishNavam, srI of stalwarts brightest panchashat, in lOkAchArya PL’s virtues Sri extols senior contemporary, PL: Swami of praise in dESikan Swami by composed a panktyau leenAtma parIthAkAra janijaladhi peeDithayau rAkshasI trishNa vishaya trividha bhUshAm sukti srImatIm varOdAth Bhuvanaguru …. iva dEvyai Pavanaja pANi bhUshAm svabharThAm ( , near Lord SundaraRaja, about we mentioned issue, last In the sundara adisil). (akkAra of sweet full small vessels 100 with being presented (srI chOlai practice. in this and ANdAL Ramanuja between a connection There is irun says nAchchiyAr thirumozhi, verses in her work – of the in on ANdAL, of Lord nooRu thadaavil the nAn nambikku, mAlirunchOlai narumpozhil “nARu to offered nooR vaiththEn, parAvi vAy nErndhu {I – sonnEn” rAna),100 vessels fulladisil of akkAra rAja. sundara to that offer physically able to she was not her lifetime, to fulfil that wi wanted Ramanuja Lord Sundara to adisil akkAra of full vessels 100 offered and festival, brother to ANdAL. the elder as known Ramanuja is of this, Because Raja. Rama’s Sri her giving by suffering Sita’s relieve Sri did (As of the array given ornament, so has the esteemed lOkAchArya to bring relief to guaranteed bhUshaNam, vachana srI called ornaments in the lost souls, of multitude the thirst) sensory called () rAkshasis of three kinds

individual should take effort to to effort take should individual ile Kuruhoor sung these 10 verses sung these Kuruhoor ile ere is no equivalent state (of glory) glory) state (of equivalent is no ere e Lord Narayana of great qualities) qualities) great of Narayana e Lord mil verse of MaNavALa MamunikaL uraikkum – needupugazh – uraikkum rmudhal maiththiRai In fact,in the Thiruvaaimozhi nooRRandaadi of ManavalaMamuni as is summarized decad 2) the (verse thAL nAraNan mikkapugazh maRRavaiyum seidu Veedu nank nalathaaladaiya Naadu vaazhap naam maanilathOr indha maaRan vaNkurukoor paththu. nal paadiya paNpudanE fert of the fame, eternal of (Maaran with concern preaching well, to the benefitworld), to leave (of the all offeet th and seek the other things decad: for this The RatnaavaLi verse SvaimTvat! suiSwrTvaiÚiolinépixSvaTmivÍaýÉvat! tahKsvaRnuKLyat! Cyvnvidtr àaPyvE;MyvTvat! , svRÇap]patat! zuÉivÉvtya mansaxCyRÉavat! sMˆŠaecaeNmaeckTva¾gdyntyaepaidzt! svRyaeGym! . svaamitvaat susthiratvaannikhilanirupadhisvaatmavidgraahyabhavaat , praapyavaiShamyavatvaat chyavanavaditara taahaksarvaanuklyaat shubhavibhavatayaa sarvatraapakshapaataat maanasaadharchyabhaavaat sarvayogyam samqkochonmochakatvaajjagadayanatayopaadishat (Swami nammAzhvAr exposes the accessibility of the Lord to all beings, soul the to comprehensible permanence, Lordship, qualities, His through from such, distinction all to affability impediments, bereft of sAmsAric the over control auspicious all, to equanimity goals, losing other all for deliverance, mind, capability worship by of adaptability cosmos, cosmos) of the activities and existence for the cause The above verse, as with the Ta quoted earlier, advocates that the inremove the impediments the way of reaching ego) the Lord, (viz. for verse: by the Thiruvaaimozhi as conveyed, accessible, Him to become vE nIrnumathenRivai 28 sErmin uyirkkatha nErniRai illE illE nErniRai uyirkkatha sErmin uprooting ego; th by (Get to the Lord the soul). 27 NAs, infinite infinite NAs,

uyarvara uyarnalam uyarnalam uyarvara – indicating form for the for the form indicating – should seek the feet of Lord. iraajasaptathi (seventy verses on verses (seventy iraajasaptathi s to rewrite some of the verses ways adheredways to interpreting the ymously called nigamaantha desika desika nigamaantha called ymously (Thiruvaimozhi 1-2), on the face of it it of face the on 1-2), (Thiruvaimozhi nantha kalyANa gu nantha listing out qualities of the Supreme Supreme the of qualities out listing they provide respite to the Vedas) to the Vedas) provide respite they veeDumin thOdudaiya seviyan seviyan thOdudaiya ïutIna< ivïmayal< zQair< tmupaSmhe . ySy sarSvt< SÇaetae vk…lamaedvaistm! , – Thiruvaaimozhi1-1-1), advocating thus unsurpassed Namamzhvar seems to preach that we Namamzhvar without qualitiesand hence without form) was clearly demolished by (e.g. before it was proposed by Sankara even Azhvars udaiyavan that Saints Saivite other So also, Supreme. for the qualities auspicious e.g. preceded Sanakara, Supreme. Vedaanthachaarya (synon Vedaanthachaarya Supreme. or nigamaantha mahadesika the latter – to indicate his greatness) aspect (a on this concentrated auspicious qualities of the Lord) in his coverage of the contents of contents of the coverage Lord) in his of the qualities auspicious tattparya Dramidopanishad in his Thiruvaimozhi Nammazhvar’s Sanskrit form of in the saaram DrAmidOpanishad and ratnaavaLi of goes to the extent verses. He have work. There in the former verse of Thiruvaaimozhi in each Being even been attempts by later author (Uttamoor Veeraraaghavaacharya, 1983)in Vedanttacharya’s RatnaavaLi verses in some Thiruvaaimozhi out brought qualities that a feeling with inhavein the RatnaavaLi. the original not been covered verses Nammazhvar praising a verse include to fails never Vedantacharya from Periya starting of Acharyas the lineage whenever he indicates oft one of his examining his stotras. Besides, in Ramanuja perumAL to aspects unclear clarifying Azhvars works of about works, Tamil quoted such Acharyas earlier with in consonance he, that clear is it Vedas, of the Lokacharya, Pillai Nampillai, Bhattar, Parasara Ramanuja, as Alavandar, For of their ideas. an exponent and was esteem in high held the Azhvars Yath following the consider instance, shlOka:- Ramanuja) the by scented words, of streams whose yasya sarasvathamvakulAmOdavaasitam strOtO | SaTakOpa shrutInAm vishramAyAlam SaTarim tamupaasmahE || upon meditate (I vakula flowers,are so exalted that bring to ratnaavaLi taatparya Dramidopanishad with only here We deal out the fact that Vedantacharya al by upheld principles the to according verses Thiruvaaimozhi brief, To be commentators. orthodox by expounded and Nammazhvaar instances. few a to we limit ourselves startingIn the decad with

’, ’. In nambi ( ’ of ’ more clearly saadhana Bhakti saadhana ’ – uproot all attachments uproot all attachments ’ – avaapthasamasthakaaman svaprabOdhapradathvaath ! You give heaven to all souls – – souls all to heaven ! You give ’ or ‘ rms of the Azhvars’ doctrine doctrine Azhvars’ of the rms svaruchivitharaNaath cad 1-2., notwithstanding Azhvar’s Azhvar’s notwithstanding 1-2., cad ve been heated discussions ve been discussions amongst heated s for nothing to s for whomever He wants Vaikuntham pukuvathu mannavar vidhiye mannavar pukuvathu Vaikuntham ’ – love induced by Him without effort effort without Him by love induced ’ – poorNan (Bhakti as an end result of the Lord’s Lord’s of the an end result as (Bhakti - my father Who goes over to this world , , world this to over goes Who father my - ukanthavar thammai maNmichai mEviyaatkondu mEviyaatkondu thammai maNmichai ukanthavar moonda anpaal saadhya Bhakti saadhya neer numathenrevai vEr muthal maaitthu numathenrevai neer Vaikuntham eeppaayum evvuyirkkum nee Vaikuntham – It is the destiny of people of this world to go to heaven- heaven- to go to world this of people of destiny the is Naanmukan thiruvanthaathi19. ; It – Thiruvaaimozhi 10-9-9.; Vedaanthaachaarya succinctly in te succinctly Vedaanthaachaarya ( enthai poi vicumperavaikkum or a tool) as places those whom He desires under His feet and lifts them to heaven – feet and His under whom He desires those places Periyathirumozhi 2-1-2.) ‘ puts Maamuni MaNavALa Swami word ‘ through the There ha the individual. on part of Maamuni’s Manavaala of upholders supposedly are who scholars, about speaks Nammaazhvaar whether tradition, blessings)the Thiruvaaimozhi in de and ego. in the idea by the illustrated more instance one only up We take 8-7-8. verse Thiruvaaimozhi piraanaar ennaiyaaLum matRaruL aRiyEn seivaarkatkuugandu seivar aruL veRithE than mUvulagum chinthaiyuL siRiyEnudaich nindrozhinthaarE neRiyaavayitrilkondu (I don’t know any other . The Lord who rules over me blesses those whom He is pleased about, for nothing. He has stationedHimself withinthisinterior, the three worldsin His little mind.) one’s ‘ as Narayana Sriman declaring in unequivocal are The Azhvars advise ‘ advise He is suspicion since any without be believed one Who could ‘pazhuthiltholpukazh Govindan’ illaatha ‘kuraiyoNRum ‘ i.e., paampaNaippaLLiyaan’ grace, not because there is any He desires or we can offer. Nampillai, Nampillai, return for him to other words, He does not expect want anything in offer. can we He blesse i.e., shower His blessings, or desires He to. This isthe above Thiruvaaimozhi the message passed to us by verse any is there of His uninstigated consequence as a comes mOksha, redemption, that because not grace, of cycle long of prison the cruel of Maaran sweet words By these Him. away.) go births will ‘ explains Manavaalamaamuni 30 and 29 ’ signifying ’ signifying rance through His through His rance svaprabOdhapradathvaath’ elf and a taste, desire for Him. for a taste, desire elf and mself, famous actions and signs, and actions mself, famous He gives delive by those who submit themselves to those who submit themselves to by m with love towards Him induced by ivtr[at! svRkalaïyTvat! meaning respectively ‘giving well by Himself good good Himself well by ‘giving respectively meaning adhikatharaguNaanantha divyaavathaaraath adhikatharaguNaanantha svaruchivitharaNaath’ incarnations. Perform Bhakti to Hi to Bhakti Perform incarnations. that the incarnations of the Lord are divine (by His Will) and reflect His His reflect and Will) His (by divine are Lord the of incarnations the that abode). permanent in His pronounced ( are than more which qualities nooRRanthaathi the third Thiruvaaimozhi are echoed by These facts verse. paththudaiyOrkku enRum paran eLiyanaam pirappaal – seiyum paththi – mUNdavanpaal maanilaththIr muththitharum nedugach pOm endRuraiththa mARanthan insollaal chiRai paamang chendRapirap who have Bhakti those to accessible Being is easily (The Supreme world! this of People Him. towards If the earlier verse did not communicate the above idea, the next verse in the next verse idea, the above communicate not verse did If the earlier right. things sets RatnaavaLi taatparya Dramidopanishad bNxahRTvat! SvÉ´E> Aixktrgu[anNtidVyavtarat! sveR:vasi´mTvat! ntsugmtwa SvàbaexàdTvat! , OyatiÉOyaidicÖat! Svéic . zvaRde> SvaNˆgdanat! àihtpdtya=nNtsael_ymah adhikataraguNaanantadivyaavataaraat svabhaktaiH bandhaarhatvaat svaprabodhapradatvaat natasugamatathaa sarveshhvaasaktimatvaat sarvakaalaashrayatvaat svaruchivitaraNaat khyaatabhikhyaadichidvaat prahitapadatayaa.anantasoulabhyamaaha svaanGadaanaat sharvaadeH of of the Lord because accessibility easy limitless exposed the (Azhvar qualities; being able to be His bound by His devotees, surpassing abode), His in (even incarnations divine endless His in qualities all, easily understood closeness to Hi of good realization giving Him, times, all at accessibility Himself, Him by for (desire) a taste providing great with feet His having and others, with form his sharing all.) in interest ‘ The key words in the above verse are ‘ realization of Himself’ ‘providing by Himself a taste for Him’. These These Him’. for taste a Himself by ‘providing Himself’ of realization words stress that the Azhvarthat it is upholds the Lord Himself who about Hims knowledge gives the soul the word ‘ Besides

-for nothing) does does nothing) -for veRithE ct a reason for His blessing, it is it blessing, His for a reason ct He wants to consider. If it were to it If to consider. He wants of Nampillai’s commentary of on the at Azhvar describes the upaaya or or upaaya the describes Azhvar at aaimozhi nootrandhaadhi Manavaala Manavaala nootrandhaadhi aaimozhi (priyatama Eva varaNIyO bhavati) bhavati) varaNIyO Eva (priyatama

(tamevaiShavRRiuNute tena labhyaH) labhyaH) tena (tamevaiShavRRiuNute Swami Desikan, Thiruvaheendrapuram Swami Desikan, only Hisawere a taste,attain pleasure. desire, If there to the Lord, (on and being, a sentient being of his only because is it individual) of the part Vedaanthaachaarya’s it cannot be deemed as a means for salvation. ‘atharkitha’ dispensesanything withfor (thatlooks above arguments the of the on part arguments of absence the also as sentient), the from all at Lord Himself to bless or not to bless! not fit in. Even then, if one would expe then, if one not fit in. Even those who do a thing by themselves, the word ( those who do a by themselves, thing the word He is attainedHe is only by those to whom Maamuni is not as explicit as Vedaanthaachaarya. He just mentions mentions He just Vedaanthaachaarya. as as explicit not is Maamuni ‘kalantha neri katturaitthaar’ th – ‘cheyvaarkaTku’ verse Thiruvaaimozhi excels even ‘Atharkitha’ and actions. His heart in individual of even the absence points out the former that in the sense ‘nirhEthuka’ an effort on His part to find a reasonwhile points the latter out only an Thiruv In the a reason. of absence means by which the Lord got to Azhvar His atharkithaanugraha’. – a part here It is worth reproducing tmevE;v&[ute ten l_y> iàytm @v vr[Iyae Évit 32 ’ 31 ), possibly as a ), possibly

cheyvaarkatku svayam anantha krthishu aadaraath anantha krthishu svayam of mind and actions of His subjects, subjects, His of actions and mind of s universal Lordship to those that Lordship universal s His blessing) the Lord blesses the Lord blesses the blessing) His anishad Ratnaavali by Uthamoor Uthamoor by Ratnaavali anishad oor Veeraraaghavaacharya. Thus, Thus, Veeraraaghavaacharya. oor alternative suggested for the version rated by those oriented by those towardsrated the suk«it;u c AnikRtanu¢hTvat! meaning ‘for nothing’ is inconsistent with this this with inconsistent is ‘for nothing’ meaning veRithE’ when commenting on this verse, demolishes arguments that the Lord that arguments verse, demolishes on this when commenting those who do something ( will bless only ideas gene put to rest response to karmatheory of (as indicated by an Dramidop verse of corresponding word ‘ the by Veeraraaghavaacharya ÉVyTvat! r]Tvat! iÇjgdixk kaé{ytae gaepÉavat! ÉVyTvat! r]Tvat! iÇjgdixk kaé{ytae nIlarmaivàÉavat! Svjn k«tinjaTmàdan àÉuTvat!, mNdiSmTya iSwtTvat! ùid Svatam! icÇanpyat! Svjnùidrtae maxv> ceTyvaect! . bhavyatvaat rakshatvaat trijagadadhikakaaruNyatO gOpabhaavaat prabhutvaat krutanijaatmapradaana svajana nIlaaramaaviprabhaavaat mandasmityaa sthitatvaathRRiudisukRRiutiShu cha anarkitaanugrahatvaat maadhavaH svajanahRRiudirato chitraanapayaat svaataam chetyavOchat (Azhvar describes the Lord as the consort of Lakshmi, stemming from concern for His devotees, wonderful traits: His the following in becoming a kindness His indescribable protection, submissiveness, mountain to akin qualities worlds, three the Surpasses cowherd, which even Hi transferring stones, of blue His showering demeanor, pleasant smiling, Him, His with align for the state regard blessings without devotees.) His in the minds of the defects and removing explanation Sanskrit a is anugrahathvam’ – atharkitha cha krthishu ‘ithi not the Lord does That excellence. , par aruL cheyvaar’ of ‘veRithE to whom He wants individuals of and actions of mind the state verify is Another correctly. ‘veRithE’ which interprets one combination is bless, thatfinding without a rationale (for the clear, is As acts). good doing in or of case the in Himself by blessing word ‘ interpretation offered by Utham other:- any out which rules only sequence, the Nampillai suggests seivar. (aruL) veRithE uganthu seivaarkatku (aruL) piranaar ennaiyaaLum Ratnaavali: taatparya Dramidopanishad verse of The original not theirs. During this difficult critical expositions of philosophy, philosophy, of expositions critical , one of the bedrocks srI bhAsya, one ” (my Lord present on top of the (my” Lord present on top

Swami piLLai lOkAchAryar (head of lOkAchAryar piLLai Swami srutaprakAsika (a srutaprakAsika great commentary srI sudarSana sUri. Without his great y of sastra and vedanta brought him him brought and vedanta sastra of y ssence of our sampradAyam for later later for of our sampradAyam ssence ion of revolutionary simplicity and and simplicity revolutionary of ion sailAgrE vasthu paithAmaham dhanam paithAmaham vasthu sailAgrE kanchithe only hill is material wealth thatby my has been handed to me forefathers) Desika Vedanta Swami Rangam, Sri of invasion Muslim the During of manuscript the saved heroically prakAshika also known as sruta sUri, on srI by srI sudarSana bhAsya the children of saved and bhaTTa), we will invaders), escape the to among corpses which, he hid (in sacrifice the understanding of not have a way aptly were and visishTadvaitha of essential SAstra His mastery Swami literature. and tamil of Sanskrit, by his mastery complemented everything he at gems, who excelled those rare one of was Desikan how his determine to difficult often is it philosopher, poet A touched. his shone through poetry mastery of domain the clearly is that allure lyrical the philosophy had and how his master His consummate of poets. and swatantra’ ’ simha’, ‘kavitArkika titles the ‘vEdantachArya’. attributemodern accounts may Even though philosophical differences who fashioned giant intellectual - the lOkAchAryar PiLLai Sri between in a the direct of Ramanuja vision respective their from is clear it Desikan, Swami and universality, exalted esteem. in great other each held that they lives earth from this and departed years, 101 of life full a lived dEsikan Swami in the year 1369 A D. 34 sampradAya. the Ramanuja protecting and both in role a vital played Swami Desika is clear that It in history Indian for period a critical during vaishNavam srI sustaining life when time the was This particular. in srI vaishNavam and general, torn to been had docility, and sAttvic values by in India, dominated killed, that invaders Muslim mobs of marauding insane, the shreds by all that was and destroyed plundered period, Swami Desikan,along with were time) that at Sri Rangam at of srI vaishNavam pontificate the very e the in saving instrumental generations. 33 (food (food asti mE hasti asti mE hasti ”, a stOtra that that stOtra a ”, uncha vrutti uncha (great)Acharyas, manifested on manifested (great)Acharyas, er 1200 stotrams (poems)to his er 1200 stotrams (poems)to Desika Desika to sing about him for of spirit of srI vaishNavam in srI vaishNavam of of spirit ately, considered by many to be considered ately, eatest exponents of the Ramanuja eatest exponents of the Ramanuja panchakam vairAgya day kanchipuram), near the temple day kanchipuram),

liber, many capturing the essence of many capturing liber, mahAn (older Sanskrit). In a feat that defies modern modern defies that feat a In Sanskrit). (older prAkrit SWAMI VEDANTA DESIKA: A BIOGRAPHY Swami Desika is the Lord standing on the hill of kAnchi – “ – kAnchi of hill the on standing poetically the point makes that the only wealth that is valuable for Lord the is Desika Swami obtainedalmsa through daily on basis). to the Lords of devotion as his as legendary for wealth was His disregard of king local the once, that said is It SriRangam. and Kachipuram Vedanta asked Swami Kanchipuram Swami Desika composed “ money. set in motion by Swami Ramanuja, and is held by some on par, even even par, on some by held is of the gr one dESika, vEdAnta Swami and ineffable the epitomized philosophy, Ramanuja, thought and practice. He is, appropri Swami by amongst the greatest Acharyas produced by the spirit of Sri Vaishnavam motion in set to happened who coincidentally lOkAchArya, piLLai inimitable the with on influence great a and contemporary senior dEsikan’s be Swami life. Desikan’s Swami of a number like dESikan, Swami current this earth at “thUppul” (near 1268 yearAD, in the month of bhadrupadaof Lord dIpa-prakAsa, in the (purattAsitamil), in under the asterismof shravana (thiruvONam). He at of Lord srInivAsa holy bell of the be an incarnation to is considered displayed dESika srI vEdAnta age, early an at Even Thirumala. a to moved He child. ordinary to no was clear it and influences of divine indicative characteristics was this that him knew who everyone years, where he for a few thiru-vaheendra-puram place called the Lord is said to have blessed Lord dEvanAtha. Here, worshipped the (horse-faced Lord Hayagreeva an idol of with Desika Vedanta Swami to this day can be which of Knowledge), as the Lord Lord, considered seen at the ParakAla mutt, the original (and the only) pontificate Desika. Vedanta Swami by established was an His and scholar. writer a prolific was Desika Vedanta Swami scale. He to he was able the heights at one wondering left that intellect both over had complete mastery and Sanskrit, in composed extensively and tamil desikan has ov comprehension, Swami them of the credit, all of highest ca Ramanuja sampradAyam . for disregard total with srI vaishNava, true a as lived Desikan Swami material possessions, and consequently a lifein

aruLiccheyal ) and ) and sincerity, commitment, sincerity, vyAkhyAnams to epitomize the very essence of the very essence to epitomize rumental in reviving the archA rumentalin reviving the archA that he decided to move to Sri Lan begot two sons, abhirAma Jeeyar nAyanAr and was the chief the and was nAyanAr Jeeyar , while AbhirAma VarAdhIpa took took VarAdhIpa AbhirAma , while ts of Sri VaishNavam, and achieved achieved and VaishNavam, Sri of ts ckground. As a matterAs natural ofckground. scholarly works of Acharyas that had that had scholarly works of Acharyas young maNavALan was so intent on was so intent young maNavALan nooRRanthAdi’. The nooRRanthAdi’. hitherto been pushed into the ba into hitherto been pushed and his commitment, devotion, erudition stemming from consequence temple everyday charge of in was put nAyanAr capabilities, of his Vaishnavas Sri all for leader the anointed as well as administration time. and felicity knowledge his depth of sAstric he was for though Famous thought the with restless was nAyanAr Swami prabandham, divya with he because incomplete incomplete, was still his formal education that this objective by bringing to fore to by bringing objective this Swami Thiruvaimozhipillai was inst was Thiruvaimozhipillai Swami in and thirunagari Azhvar at Ramanuja Swami of (Idol) thirumEni Appropriately, he put the young a temple for Emperumanar. building maNavALan in charge of the temple. Manavalan’s earnest devotion composition a beautiful write him made Ramanuja Swami towards considered VimSati”, “Yathiraja called ‘irAmAnusa the exalted pleased so maNavALan by the young displayed and devotion the to PravaNa” “Yatheendra title the he gave that ThiruvaimozhipiLLai young Manavalan. maNavA in his life, early Quite Thiruvaimozhip- Acharya his to dear expositions (Divyaprabandham), brilliance and erudition knowledge, Young maNavALan’s piLLai. an he gathered and wide, and far fame of his flames the spread impressive set of disciples. The consistent sOlai, thirumAlirun and VillipuththUr Sri way of by Rangam Thiruvaimozhip-piLLai. Swami of wishes with corruption, rights, of Misuse Rangam. Sri at in disarray still Things were tremendous effort had to exert Nayanar were rampant. and disorder restore to skills organizational inspired divinely force his to and bring Rangam, Sri at events for sAmpradAyic glory pristine original the without antagonizing the people who were functioning in different capacitiesat that point in time. He realized the importance of bringing the focusto essential back tene 36 VarAdhipa and vishNuchitta Ramanuja. -chitta Ramanuja Ramanuja VishNu-chitta Ramanuja. and vishNuchitta VarAdhipa very early in his life away passed name of sanyAsAshramam by the fulfilling the desires of his Acharyan and aged soon, the Very mAmunikaL. Swami to successor and aide maNavALan’s Young away. passed Thiruvaimozhip-piLLai venerable himself immersed He he was inconsolable. immense and was grief ( commentaries studying into completely

’ As it it As 35 sikkil kidaaram (married state) at the the at state) (married the processional at deity at the processional education under his father and and father under his education and that man was Azhakiya was Azhakiya man and that Sri BSS Iyengar & Sri KS Naryanan Naryanan Sri KS & Iyengar Sri BSS lished and trying to find feet of and trying to lished then passed away. The cherished away. The cherished then passed be known of sastram and Divya known of sastram and Divya be aryar, who had the same name aryar, who had the same grihasthAshrama ) of azhakiya maNavALan, maNavALan, azhakiya of ) ). SWAMI MANAVALA MAMUNIKAL A BIOGRAPHICAL APPRECIATION thirumEni Over 300 years had transpired since Swami Ramanuja’s arrival at Sri Sri at arrival Ramanuja’s Swami since transpired had years 300 Over and two of era a glorious to harbinger as the acted that an event Rangam, sixty was also It Vaishnavam. Sri uninterrupted of centuries a half in India, of the whole south and social life cultural since the years the by waste to laid had been particular, in SrIrangam and general, The hordes. Muslim marauding irreverent, the of armies invading had just dEsika vEedanta illustrious idol ( SrIrangam at and re-consecrated restored been then just had SrIrangam, in only It was were still subdued. activities sAmpradAyic temple, where that Melkote and Kanchipuram Thirunagari, AzhvAr like few pockets a Sri Vaishnavam wasasserting itself. The year was 1370 A D,a mere just estab was Vijayanagar since years 35 stability. illustrious Sri Vaishnavagrown to circumstances, the community,Under the above the for and Ramanuja Swami efforts of compassionate to the due numbers large mistaken be to dEsikan, Swami and lOkAchAryAr as piLLai such Acharyas subsequent (not glory. pristine it’s to it lead and organize to leader a for was crying naayanaar shows the Man is often said, the hour maNavaLapperumAL Pillai Lokach Swami brother of ( of asterism under the AD, 1370 year in the born was Mamunikal Swami ‘ called a village at of ashvayuja month in the moolam, dAsar pirAn TirunaveeruDaiya ‘Tigazhaakkidanthan to near Madurai, was the father MamunikaL’s Swami ‘SriranganAcchiyar’. and aNNar’ son-in-law and also a disciple of KollikAvala dAsar, a junior disciple of Lokacharya. Pillai Swami had his basic maNavALan The young maternal grandfather.entered He our feet of the lotus father reached after, his soon years and 16 age of Azhvar to Kidaaram Sikkil from his residence shifted He Lord. Thirunagari to become the disciple of the illustrious ThiruvAi- maNavALan young, brilliant the while, short In a very mOzhippiLLai. everything that could mastered very deep devotion a developed, expectedly, He also Prabhandham. Ramanuja. and Swami ThiruvAimOzhippiLLai Acharya towards his . Such . Such L, wea have That they would would they That 22 (verse 22), because he he 22), because 22 (verse stifiablyeloquent Both reports. It, at once, captures the essence the essence captures It, at once, ote was very conversant with conversant with ote was very ote the definitive commentary on commentary on the definitive ote nnacle of the orthodox lineage of orthodox lineage of the nnacle of Coming to know that the famous Manavala Mamunika Manavala nary person. In fact, authentic In fact, authentic nary person. re and lineage, position Swami Swami position lineage, and re rumAL nAyanAr) too was on his Acharya Hrudhayam would have Acharya churNikai way of studying this master piece in intellectual achievement and in intellectual achievement piece this master studying way of His therein. contained ideas intricate fundamental, the understanding Sri to returned MamunikaL Manavala Swami fulfilled, almost mission Rangam. that many events by life was punctuated mAmunikaL’s Swami demonstrated that he was no ordi accounts of Sri Vaishnava literatu Vaishnava Sri of accounts maNavALaatmAmunikaL the very pi Acharya Hrudayam, Swami ManavaLa MamunikaL fearlessly began a began fearlessly MamunikaL ManavaLa Swami Hrudayam, Acharya 800 over of a journey Melkote, to Thirunagari Azhvar from journey kilometers. But, as divine would have intervention it, Ayee and a direct of Vaishnavam senior scholar (a Sri Swami JananyAchArya maNavALAppe azhakiya of disciple would not write an expose for this chUrNikai tillhe understood the essentialambiguity. message without Melk of Swami Jananyacharya Ayee wayat Thirunagari the same to AzhvAr time, to meet Swami Manavala of whom he had heard ju MamunikaL, not far at a place as it should be seen, met, pre-ordained these great souls effort an ardent to led union This joyful Thirunagari. Azhvar from away another enlighten one on both their parts to compare notes and to the due However, excellence. of poetic abstruse piece an remained Swami of compassion overwhelming was the intellectual honesty and sincerity of our AchAryas, that they, they, that of our AchAryas, and sincerity honesty intellectual was the of mastery and comprehensive knowledge immense of their in spite of the embodiments were and divya prabandham, vEda, vEdAntha bhAgavathas. to other subservience humility and spare no pains to re-iterate the exact messagedown through our passed mostly and irreverent fanciful, from away stay (and lineage exalted incorrect interpretation that is the norm these days) is evident this from incident. wr MamunikaL Manavala Thus, Swami which, Acharya Hrudhayam without of brother illustrious (the Nayanar’s Manavalapperumal Azhakiya most brilliant be the to and considered lOkAcharya piLLai Swami grantha is a Hrudhayam AchArya lineage) in our hoary AchArya of comprehension grasp of the is beyond it brilliance, intricate of such scholars. sAmpradAyic even well-read insights complementary corresponding the and reveals of thiruvaimozhi from shruthi, smruthi, ithihAsa and purANa. Swami Manavala on this commentary a write to qualified uniquely MamunikaL, pause at to work, had magnificent 38 37 kArimAran kArimAran (name) “Periya “Periya (name) equently, Swami equently, thiru nAmam nary lay folk such as ourselves. naryfolkas lay ourselves. such to pay homage our kulapathi, her of his vast set of relatives. He set of relatives. He vast her of his s, by the notionand that his work again, by way of Kunthinagar, the the Kunthinagar, of way by again, ra muni. Swami mAmunikaL’s ra muni. BhAshyam. Cons thus returning to normal and Sri d, perspicacious commentaries for the (asceticism) from Adivan saTa kOpa kOpa saTa Adivan from (asceticism) man Sriraman in this issue) man Sriraman in sanyAsAshrama (nammAzhwAr). ) of Sri Vachana BhooshaNam, would have been unavailable to us. us. to unavailable been have would BhooshaNam, Vachana Sri ) of sutras had not formally studied and mastered the intricacies of Swami Swami of intricacies the and mastered studied formally had not Sri magnum-opus, emperumAnAr’s itatjeeyar and was this point that he got the popular appellation, maNavALa mAmuni and vara va him endeared and commitment compassion brilliance, inspired divinely the given aptly and He was one and all, to Nayanarleft SriRangam and reached Kanchipuram,after visiting and SriperumbudhUr and Thirumalai ThirukkOshtiyUr, ThiruveLLarai, SrI bhAshyamstudied at the YathOkthakAri temple at Kanchi. He SrI to returning ground before as a testing SriperumbudhUr utilized affairs. of Head as the, position his to assume Rangam of affairs the managing ably was nAyanAr Swami equipped, fully Thus the temple with a whole-heartedof commitment sense and conviction. However,felt he handicapped,at time life,dedicated to the sampradAyam,wasinterrupted often by sAmsAric one or the ot of as demise events, such therefore took Jeeyar” (The ‘Big’ jeeyar) commensurate with his position as the man in in man the as position his with commensurate jeeyar) ‘Big’ (The Jeeyar” RanganAtha. Lord our ‘periya perumAL’, of affairs the of charge Rangam Sri at situation the With Manavala Swami of primacy, place its to restored vaishnavam by the urge was overcome MamunikaL he set out Therefore, nammAzhvAr. Thirunagari, Azhvar to ThiruviymozhipiiLLai, his Acharya of birthplace of home is known as the that dEsam divya famous the Swami on the article see related insights, please For further note: (Editor’s Vedara piLLai by Sri lOkAchArya Swami Manavala MamunikaL’sintellect and erudition cuts through to the meanings in the rahasya granthAs and laysinsights bare tremendous otherwise beyond the reach of ordi satakOpan vachana and sri mummukshuppaDi (tattvathraya, Granthas rahasya by the brilliantbhooshaNam), Acharyadown to us handed Swami of commentaries the day, without this to is said, It lOkAchArya. piLLai ideas and revolutionary insightful the Mamunikal, Manavala Swami aphorisms the in buried sampradayam Vaishnava Sri to fundamental ( often is that environment the by instigated Thirunagari, Azhvar At Mamunikal Manavala Swami vaishnavam, SrI for birthplace the called luci acclaimed, critically his wrote

, .

thrEtha Yadugiri Yadugiri vEdAdri - is in a a in is - or NC Nappinnai NC Nappinnai ) Sanatkumara, ) Sanatkumara, Sampatkumaran . Kusha, Lord Kusha, . Raamapriya 's idol for offering prayers, 's idol for prayers, offering (Lakshmi). (Lakshmi). Yadugiri Nachiyar Nachiyar Yadugiri no separate shrine for Andal. for shrine no separate mAnasIka putra mAnasIka carnation of Sriman Narayana. Narayana. Sriman of carnation which he gifted to his daughter gifted to his daughter which he a Yadava king. Sri Krishna and and Krishna Sri king. a Yadava Hence this place gained the name the Hence this place gained Balarama and Sri Krishna brought Sridevi cheluva nArayaNa Swami cheluva nArayaNa . (idol) along with the idols of both his the idols of both (idol) along with YAdavAdri possession. possession. ) of Cheluvanarayana in Narayanadri, with the the with Narayanadri, in Cheluvanarayana of ) . archA murthy archA or the processional deity is called the processional or , also known as as known also , (Mother Earth) and (Mother

. Now, in the absence of Vishnu absence of in the Now, . (processional idol) and offered their prayers. Thus the the Thus prayers. their and offered idol) (processional mUrthy , Sri Rama required an archA murthy for his prayers for his prayers archA murthy an required Rama Sri Yuga, Ramapriya

, Bhudevi is the Divine Consort and there is tsava DIVINE PLACES – THIRU NARAYANAPURAM DIVINE PLACES tsavamUrthy Ramapriya idol in his ammAL The u Selva pillai Temple Legend: place gained the name gained place Rama’s son Rama’s inherited Ramapriya idol, wedding to during her Kanakamalini Yuga. Dwapara in idol this inherited family Yadava the of Balarama the between the verisimilitude observed travel, his during Balarama ( main deity Presiding Deity: Presiding Thiru nArayaNan the East. facing towards posture standing called was it when Yuga, has a Vaishnavas) among Sri as Thiru-Narayanapuram (known MElkOte Krta to back dating history, long very 40 Brahma requested Lord Narayana (Vishnu) to provide him an idol, to idol, to an him (Vishnu) to provide Narayana Lord requested Brahma which Brahma, to idol an gifted in turn Vishnu prayers. perform daily for it using was who Brahma, . from his Atma was created it to his son ( presented regular prayers, for his daily prayers when Sanatkumara came down to Earth in down came Sanatkumara when prayers daily for his Sanathkumara brought thisidolof Narayana andto yuga. day Melkote. present in the it installed nArAyaNAdri gifted Vishnu the request. with Vishnu approached again once Brahma small him another consorts, Ramapriya idol to Narayanadri, installed it in the temple as the the as temple the in it installed Narayanadri, to idol Ramapriya u Thus Lord Rama looked to Brahma for an idol of Lord Vishnu. Brahma Brahma Vishnu. Lord of idol an for in the human was Brahma himself because He to looked Rama Lord Thus Lord yuga, to krta from to him precious idols bequeathed these gifted Rama was greatly Lord attached and devoted to these deeply Rama. to this reverence and love view of Rama’s deepest In idols. name the gained it idol, Thirunarayana's In thrEtha

39 ), composed by the Lord himself, is the Lord himself, by ), composed (salutary verse) for Swami Manavala Manavala Swami for verse) (salutary ) of our Lord’s dear serpent servant Adi Lord’s ) of our thaniyan ’ when chanting vEda . mantras. chanting vEda ’ when avathAram srI SailESa dayA pAtram dayA srI SailESa OmkAra Swami Mamuni at Sikkil Kidaaram (no sathuppadi) (no sathuppadi) Kidaaram at Sikkil Swami Mamuni Mamunikal ( Mamunikal of at the time temple, and home Sri Vaishnava every at invoked place to the pride of akin at conclusion, commencement of prayers and ‘ to offered both were they all, After very a with personality a charming had Mamunikal Manavala Swami Ramanuja. Swami by the with favorably is compared in person allure His complexion. fair exuded Divinity of kind ( the incarnation sEsha. Swami maNavALa mAmunikaL departed from this earth in the from this earth departed mAmunikaL maNavALa Swami sEsha. and Vaishnavam Sri to of service years glorious 73 D after A 1443 year Narayana. Sriman The parts. in two is produced article This biographical note: (Editor’s second part of the article, highlighting various uplifting, mysterious be will origins divine Mamunikal’s Swami reinforced that events magazine) darshanam of Ramanuja in next issue the published as the him identify and vazhi’) ‘OrAn (called AchAryas Vaishnava Sri account himself!! a (For detailed RanganAtha for Lord (guru) Acharya about this magnificent episode inSwami maNavALa mAmunikaL’s life, in Swami ES BhuvarAhAchAr Sri by article the accompanying please see The issue). this nitya (festival), (festival), sEvai , as the Lord ofas this the Lord , (renamed Vishnuvardhana Vishnuvardhana (renamed (processional deity) of this of this deity) (processional maNtapam

Vaishnavam Vaishnavam by Sri Ramanuja) of is is the place where Sri Ramanuja Sri Ramanuja where is the place (one that brought joy to all those (diamond crown) biTTi dEva biTTi jnAna Azhvar sannidhis) sannidhis) Azhvar selvappiLLai , )

vairamuDi vairamuDi ndhusheethabhAnO ndhusheethabhAnO features a most magnificent idol of Swami Ramanuja Ramanuja Swami of idol magnificent a most features

primary deity primary Swami Manavala Mamunikal Swami Ramanuja Ramanuja Swami Swami Pillai Lokacharya Lokacharya Pillai Swami Desikan Swami Paramapada nAtha( Paramapada Anjaneya Chakkaraththu-Azhvar Nachchiyar and Kalyani Nachchiyar Yadugiri thamar ugandha thirumEni thamar ugandha (daily services) to thiru-nAraNan and Sri Vaishnavam, a fact a fact Vaishnavam, Sri and thiru-nAraNan to services) (daily (sanctum sanctorums): sanctorums): (sanctum

celebrated around March-April every year, attracts thousands of of thousands attracts year, every March-April around celebrated India. all over devotees from With the help of the King of the King With the help afterSri brought into he was HoysalaRamanujaSri Dynasty, constructed the temple at to Vaishnavam for Sri framework created the and Melkote and grow. flourish The famous

And other acharyas And other (vii) (viii) (ix) (i) (v) (vi) (ii) (iii) (iv)

days. Hence, it is no wonder that Thiru Narayanapuram and and Narayanapuram Thiru bhAnO mathAndhakAra JayamAya that JayabAhyakrshAnO pramukhATavi si Jaya samshritha wonder shringE yAdavAdri JayaRamanuja no is Saints: and Teachers Great it called is ThiruNarayanapuram, Hence, revolutionized some of the religious customs that were in practice those days. ( tirunAraNan 42 temple radiates knowledge and also th also and knowledge radiates temple Facts: Important Other (i) (ii) temple were most dear to It isSwami Ramanuja. to be noted that Thiru Narayanapuram as extolled at Melkote at arrived who Ramanuja, Swami Ramanuja). Swami close to performing here years twelve spent 88, of age advanced an kainkaryam that is, to this day, remembered withand tears fondness of joy by should Vaishnava Sri every dictum, Ramanuja’s per Sri As devotees. Narayanapuram. Thiru at years of a couple least at spend Sannidhis and 41

” at the ” at the tIrthams Agama, a Ananda Cheluvanarayana pAncarAtra (Hill of the Saint). Saint). of the (Hill at invaded India during the last at invaded India during s have sung on the Lord in this s have sung Yatishaila e famouse Yadavadri, including the and there are many other many other are and there Vishnuvardhana and his subjects, and his Vishnuvardhana nt wars between native Hindu Kingsnative between nt wars verse (pAsuram) contains the name the contains (pAsuram) verse , and dug up the idol of s) Ramanuja catuSlOki as as catuSlOki s) Ramanuja tirukkalyANi oru nAyagamAy Oda ulagu udan ANdavar udan Oda ulagu nAyagamAy oru (Badari of South India). Sri Ramanuja and Garuda and Ramanuja Sri (name of the tower above the presiding sanctum): sanctum): presiding the above (name of the tower (the name of the holy tank whose water is used for various various for used is water whose tank holy the of name (the : Pancaratra : Pancaratra srIsham namAmi shirasA yadushaila dIpam". dIpam". yadushaila shirasA namAmi srIsham process that continues to be scrupulously adhered to even to this day. be scrupulouslyadheredcontinues to process that to even this day. the name place gained From then, the During (current yuga), th yuga), (current Yuga Kali During incessa to due ruins, to fell temple, hordes of Muslims th and marauding ruins. the under buried lay Cheluvanarayana deity main The years. 1200 The Utsavamurthy was however taken away to Delhi, along with the Swami of the temple, by king Mohammed Badshah. other riches of King the help with Ramanuja, 1099 in Yadavadri arrived a also established He temple. constructed Lord in a newly the reinstalled worship consistent with systematic for framework is heart, Ramanuja’s Swami to was close which ThiruNarayanapuram, Swami (one of Ananthazhwan’s Thirumalai Sri in celebrated also disciple closest Ramanuja’s Salient Aspects: vimAnam pratyaksham: Lord: on the Divine Outpourings the Azhvar Strictly speaking, none of Nammazhvar’s offered and interpreted Sri Ramanuja temple. But “ 4.1.1. Thiruvaimozhi karuNAnivAsam maNim mangaLa "srIranga srIvEnkatAdrishikharAlaya kALamEgham pArijAtam shikharOjwala srIhastishaila Agama Vaishnavam in Sri for centers most sacred of the four is one Melkote Rangam, others being SriSouth India, Thirumala the and Kanchipuram. It is equated to the Holy Badarinathand in north India hence called kshetra badari dakshina tIrtham temple): purposes in the feet ofLord, as the first this but only this Lord. Sri ThirunAraNan which refers to none of the recognition in sloka following the composed Ramanujacharya places.

divya divya sAmarthyam (compssion) (compssion) dayA Naichyanusandanam conveys the essence of this the essence conveys

(kindness) and (kindness) (consort) are the lamp who who lamp the are (consort) nce of sAstric wisdom. The wisdom. nce of sAstric piratti (state of subservience, inferiority) inferiority) of subservience, (state Swami Ramanuja bequeathed us a us bequeathed Ramanuja Swami kAruNyam ..) indicates that Stotraratnam providesa clear, naichya bhAvam (the redeemer) are described in the second verse. The redeemer) are described (the (invocatory verse in praise of Swami AlavandAr) of of AlavandAr) Swami of praise in verse (invocatory (Tamizh vEdas) as the esse as the vEdas) (Tamizh SaraNya Thaniyan (capability). Since it is He alone who possesses these two qualities, qualities, two these alone who possesses is He it Since (capability). saraNya the as identified uniquely he is Deepa the Lord unto surrenders Desikan verse, Swami In the third its and light the like who, lakshmi), (mahA His consort and prakAsar and Lord inseparable. are flame, ignorance that envelops the the darkness of remove alone can the how just on to describe goes Desikan Swami soul. individual and lord the pleases saraNAgata of the proximity mere emotional It on His devotee. shower His overwhelming grace propels him to Swami piLLai words of the to re-collect may be instructive towards us without any expectation of any obvious act or act obvious us without any expectation of towards The qualities from Him. dayA this deserve from us to qualification of as him identify distinctly that Naryana of Lord qualities primary two the goal of our saranagati are The thirdconveys the nature of the first of phrase verse the SaraNAgata –“Jivatma swaroopam”. The illai…” Ondrum nilai “NeesAnEn verse thiruvAimOzhi in his with is brimming Narayana Sriman expected from the saraNAgata is outlined in this hymn of praise. praise. of hymn this in outlined is saraNAgata the from expected is expressed Narayana to Lord Sriman subservience Unconditional (Sarangata) prapanna a Similarly, Acharyas. and AzhvArs the all by Nammazhvar Acharyas. and the foot steps of Azhvars should follow has expressed this

swAdayanniha sarvEshAm swAdayanniha • The 44 ALavandAr’s stOtra ratnam gives a clear picture of the message message of the picture a clear gives stOtra ratnam ALavandAr’s Thaniyan The ratnam. Stotra in the yAmunar Swami by conveyed ( prabandham forms by Swami Ramanuja, as described of saranagati, essential tenets the focus of saranagati deepika. deepikA: in SaraNAgati expressed of Saranagati Concepts • • wonderful composition. In the first verse itself, Swami Desikan conveys conveys Desikan Swami itself, verse first the In composition. wonderful that this stotram will reveal the path of saranagati, as handed down to us Even though by EmperumAnAr. lay in contributions his principal wisdom, and vEdantic of sAstric wealth expounded in surrender unconditional idea of total, the delineating In a similar and Vedanta. essence of vEda of the elucidation lucid manner, the first slOka of saranagati deepika

43 ) of the swaroopam (auspicious qualities) are qualities) (auspicious Sri P.B. Rajahamsam Swami Sri P.B. Rajahamsam in temples (such as harijans), as harijans), in temples (such asha, it is not mere ‘praise- not is it asha, osed in praise of Lord Deepa Deepa Lord of praise in osed

saranagati, attributes required of Most importantly, the supremacy of

Swami Vedanta Desikan’s place of of place Desikan’s Vedanta Swami DaSakam, nyAsa VimSati , nyAsa nyAsa , VimSati nyAsa DaSakam, ) at the lotus feet of Sriman NArayana. dantAchAryan (as Swami Desikan was Desikan was Swami dantAchAryan (as kalyANa guNas ti and the true nature ( prapatti SARANAAGATI DEEPIKA SARANAAGATI DEEPIKA MElkOTE is located in Mandya district, State in State Karnataka district, in Mandya located is MElkOTE

MelkOTe also serves as a center of excellence for studies in Sri for studies of excellence center a serves as also MelkOTe and verses) (divine Prabandham as Divya as well Vaishnavam well the also houses Melkote Vedas/upanishads. Sanskrit run by Sri Lakshmi Research of Sanskrit known Academy Tatachar. Thiru Narayanapuram stands testimony to the true spirit of Sri of Sri spirit true the to testimony stands Thiru Narayanapuram of a spirit In Ramanuja. Swami by as envisaged Vaishnavam, that are communities members of even service, cooperative typically allowed to function never the Lord. to services perform specific opportunity to given are a is Ramanuja, by Swami in place put which was This practice, testament to his of Catholicism vision and compassionall. for THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO SURRENDER THE DEFINITIVE ) composed on Lord Deepa Prak

stOtra Location: Synopsis Synopsis hymn comp is a Deepika SaraNAgati at Tirutunga, Prakash, enshrined praise of as an outpouring appears Deepika Though Saranagati birth. ( poetry’; rather, it reveals the essential tenets of saranagati the and constituents there-in. The greatness of a person performing saranaga SaraNAgatA, are all revealed here. revealed are all SaraNAgatA, thethe Lord SaraNya,– His and (iii) (iv)

and 160 kms from Bangalore (3 hours drive by road). It is at an altitude altitude an at is It road). by drive hours Mandya from kms 25 Pandavapura, from kms 30 is about It India. South (3 Bangalore from kms 160 and the sea level. meters above about 900 of Saranagati Deepika consists of 59 slokasand the rest of , the article aprovides contemporary interpretation / understandingauthor of the on this topic. soul exalted inspired, a divinely for possible a manner only in described and content in similar is Deepika Saranagati Desikan. Swami as such of vE form to other compositions as nyAsa such fondly known), the describing and emphasizing compositions poetic them of all Tilakam, process of total surrender ( ) krupA ) at our ) at Mumukshu ). kainkaryam upEyam on to stress how the Lord alone alone the Lord how to stress on demi-gods form the body of the the body of form the demi-gods reera Atma bhAvam. The entire Atma bhAvam. reera rrender only unto him to gain only unto rrender alities of the Lord (gyAna-bala, (gyAna-bala, Lord the of alities alone and the store-house for all and the store-house for alone ) as well as the goal, fruit ( fruit goal, the as well as ) upAyam (vision of grace), as indicated by the vAkya vAkya shAstra the by indicated as grace), of (vision verse, Swami Desikan conveys the Supremacy of the Lord Lord the of Supremacy the conveys Desikan Swami verse, th verse Desikar conveys that Prapannan should regard Lord as regard Lord should that Prapannan conveys Desikar verse th everything for him and replace lord with all the worldly relations. relations. all the worldly with lord replace and him for everything In the 13 auspicious qualities. The sentient seeking salvation ( salvation seeking sentient The qualities. auspicious who is filled with sattva guNa begets this sattvaasa guNa consequence of the Lord’s kaTAksham madhusudhanah pashyeth yam hi Purusham “jAyamanam chinthithaha” mokshArtha vai sa vigneyaha sath sAtvikaha The seventh verse describes the relationship between the Sarangata between the Sarangata the relationship The seventh verse describes and the SaraNyain terms of the Sa A a prapanna. of required qualities the about speaks Desikan Swami of will the per as Lord and act the unto surrender should prapanna ( service perform should prapanna a Lord, i.e., universe, every species and all the and species every universe, ) brahma, , as (such dEvathAs the Thus Lord. Supreme this Supreme controlled by and manifested represent his organs, and mOksha who can grant alone Narayana Sriman Lord. It is has to su hence, the SaraNAgata eternal bliss. Swami dEsikanthe six describes fundamental attributes of the Lord which form the substratum for the numerous, infinite auspicious qu These of the Lord. qualities Supreme Entity as Him -tEjas) distinguish Aishwarya-veerya, none. second to and conveys that the Lord is In the ninth verse Swami Desikan who long to those for all Refuge is the he and Acharyan foremost goes Desikan Swami attain mOksha. is ( the path In but Lord. for self-contentment for the pleasure of Lord’s feet, not will of per the which perform objects, insentient to similar a manner the sentient, so too shall the prapannaexhibit himself as nothing but of the Lord. object at the hands insentient an the his life, by should lead a Saranagatan as how describes Desikar 12

•

• • 46 • • • 45 mOksha mOksha ) can be ) can he who he who ‘ ” (The Lord ” (The Lord PurushOtama sloka further enumerates that it that enumerates further sloka verse is to be recalled here here is to be recalled verse accept us, to redeem us. The The us. redeem to us, accept atement by quoting verses from from by quoting verses atement nder unto the Lord for any desire desire any for unto the Lord nder time, place or method of worship. of worship. place or method time, d that He pervades everything and everything He pervades d that yEriTTu maDimAngayiTTu” yEriTTu maDimAngayiTTu” , a state of ceaseless wonderment and bliss). and bliss). wonderment of ceaseless , a state

) Anthar bahischa thath sarvam vyApya narayaNa sthithah narayaNa vyApya sarvam thath bahischa Anthar liberation Anandam nirathishaya In the sixth verse, the qualities of our Lord, the SaraNya, are are SaraNya, of our Lord, the In the sixth verse, qualities described. Only the best amongst sentient ( lOkAchAryAr (PL), a great contemporary of Swami Desikan, and the and the Desikan, contemporary of Swami a great (PL), lOkAchAryAr where shAstram, divya bhushaNa vachana srI famous the of author in grace on our Lord’s uninstigated dwells 381, sutram PL, in Swami these terms: nOkkinAi, en aDiyArai pEraicchonnAi, en “Enn ooraicchonnAi, kodduthAi nizhal avarkalukkothunga theerthAi, viDAyai avargaL enrAppOlE silavaththai us, is love for His overwhelming of our Lord, because meaning, and turn grace, His with us redeem to reasons for looking constantly any to find constantly striving effort, he is and in that us toward him, semblance of goodness, even negativeattributes that can be termed as goodness. and of our Lord, kindness dwells on the Desikan Swami Likewise, state to bless us, to his ever-ready andgreatness simplicity saranagati of is terms that conveyed here, in saranagati isthe easiest way and attain to perumAL’s grace ( Desikan Swami universe. for the entire and protector the sole refuge that claim to is qualified who alone prakasar, Lord Deepa addresses an as His body universe the entire controls everything. The vEdantic “ Yet another and outside). inside pervades everything, Narayana feature of saranagati is described here, in that there is no time, place from free is A prapanna for saranagati. restriction or qualificatory surre and shall restrictions these all on the no restriction is and there the subject of the focus or of in terms restricted only is Saranagati saranagati, i.e saranagati is valid only if directed towards the This Narayana. Sriman lord supreme grant mOksha alone can who Narayana Lord Supreme is the ( the , where in the Lord himself declares himself Lord in the Gita, where the Bhagavad is the me alone attains and such an individual unto surrenders sarvagnya’ Swami Desikan substantiates his st substantiates Desikan Swami

•

ssness (inherent (components) of (components) of angas es that God is the only resort. es that God is the only resort. the lord’s protection, a sense of the lord’s protection, a sense bits his helple bits clear pointers on how a prapanna clear pointers e feet of Lord Deepa prakAsha, and prakAsha, Deepa feet of Lord e lease from the bondage of samsAra of samsAra from the bondage lease ja. Our elders teach us the above above Our eldersja.us the teach

ccepted and protected. and protected. ccepted the aspirant moksham DID YOU KNOW? poverty to helpand believ himself) seek - Actively gOptrutva varaNam a be to prayer relentless Anukoolasya sankalpaha - devoting oneself to Lord’s service in in service oneself to Lord’s - devoting sankalpaha Anukoolasya thought, word and deed. that thing any from away oneself Turning – varjanam Pratikoolasya is to Lord’s service. not related -kArpaNyam The aspirant exhi invokes God’s mercy and on part of the aspirant Helplessness the is for him. redemption secures Narayana Sriman that conviction firm The - vishvAsa mahA give can only one who

(one a yOgin as a prappana role in molding finite a has anga Thus, each method a formal as saranagati and union, bearing) into who brings uplifting this conludes dEsikan Swami practice. easy for (yOga) th unto by surrendering composition committed from sins for innumerable Lord’s forgiveness for the asks at the ardent prayer an is Deepika SaraNAgati Thus, immemorial. time of the eradication for for redemption, feet of our Lord, a request for re and called ignorance darkness 5. (perpetual association). material LOkAchArya. PiLLai Sri of the life history in on incidents based should lead his or her life. Practice of saranagati requires certain certain requires saranagati of Practice and episodes various during (as demonstrated us assured repeatedly unto we surrender that once krishNAvathAra) and Rama events during life. her to His business, responsibility, His His duty, dharma, Him, it is His or protect us. his lead provides Desikan Swami In summary, should shall a prapanna and foremost, First / conditions. stages qualificatory he shall Acharyan, the of guidance the with and Acharyan an approach perform saranagatiat Lord’s feet. following the Lord, unto the While surrendering be observed: should Prapatti 1. 2. 3. 4. the of incarnation be the to considered is LokAcharya PiLLai Swami Sri Varadara – Lord of Kanchipuram 48

47 ). Only (resolute (resolute Akinchanyam (constituent (constituent moksham angas (surrender to no one un aDikkeezh amarndu mahA vishvAsam mahA atti yOga, Saranagati is the is the Saranagati atti yOga, (no where to go). go). where to (no the very act itself stems from stems from act itself very the and welfare of his daughter to welfare of and nagati and readily grants eternal eternal grants and readily nagati e innumerable misdeeds committed innumerable misdeeds committed e (surrender) (surrender) ananya sharaNatvam (state of singular subservience, directed directed subservience, singular (state of ananya gatitvam gatitvam ananya prapatti Pukal ondruPukal illA aDiyEn ” (I have no where else to go, I seek refuge under refuge under no where else to go, I seek (I have ” sloka, Swami dEsikan conveys that it is the AchAryan, AchAryan, the is it that conveys dEsikan Swami sloka, sloka, the qualities expected of a Prapanna are discussed. are discussed. of a Prapanna expected qualities the sloka, th th slOka communicates that the SaraNAgatha should express should express that the SaraNAgatha communicates slOka th ananyArhasEshatvam The 28 (nothing to offer) and and (nothing to offer) else). Swami Nammazhavar’s Sri Sukthi from thiruvAimOzhi may may thiruvAimOzhi from Sukthi Sri Nammazhavar’s Swami else). here, “ be recalled pukurndhEnE…. your lotus-feet) In the 30 faith) is exhibited. This MahA vishvAsam that the Lord will Protect Protect will Lord the that vishvAsam MahA This exhibited. is faith) one of the forms him those who surrender unto son-in-law, who in this case would be the paramAtma. SwamiIn Slokas54, 53 and Desikan’s of stage, component) who acts as the linkas between the SaraNAgathawho acts the the SaraNya.An and a akin to is Acharyan the that would be apt would be that analogy father, who is entrusting the care ‘He, who is blessed by the kind, grace-filled vision of the lord, begets the lord, begets vision of kind, grace-filled by the is blessed ‘He, who cogitation and a consequent realization sAtvic qualities, sAtvik liberation’ towards directed Even though the Lord is conveyed. Saranagati of Here, the greatness has shown different ways to attain Him. i.e., yoga, GyAna Prap finally and yOga yoga, Bhakthi unto surrenders a prapanna paths. When enumerated all easiest of the Lord’s feet to attain salvation, the Lord is pleased by the very act all and ignores th of surrender by the prapanna. lifetimes over innumerable The prapanna shoulda not construe that is the Lord’s grace of his saranagati, when consequence as grace unconditional of Lord’s recognition is this It Lord’s grace. liberationforthe basis is important. that In the 25 The SaraNAgata / prappana should express his express his should prappana / The SaraNAgata his and else) towards no one

because the Lord is pleased by sara has BhagavAn because moksham of assured is A prapanna bliss. are sins his that Lord Deepa-prakASha to submits Desikan Swami ( of liberation assured he is of which in spite infinite; • • • • ” dices containing the sources of containing dices toward establishing Ramanuja Ramanuja establishing toward tion and management.and tion (After ) and wrote two lines that are still wrote two lines that and ) to all those who were interested. ThiruAradhana Krama ThiruAradhana Did he have any other contributions to humanity? to humanity? contributions other any have Did he Temple renovations, administra

Ramanujarya DivyAgnya VardhathAm abhivardhatAm VardhathAm DivyAgnya Ramanujarya down to us Swami Ramanuja). He also had his disciple write Sri Sri daily prayers. who does Vaishnava Sri by every being chanted write disciple his had “ also He Ramanuja). handed instructions the following by succeed and grow we (May Swami us to down at Lord Srinivasa to it and offered Venkatesa morning during this is being chanted Even today Thirumala. prayersatSri all Vaishnava temples. commentaries of writing form the were in contributions of his Most it and teaching works for existing Mamunigal: attributed to Sri works 18 There are Four inSanskrit - Devaraja Mangalam, KanchidivyadEshastuti, Bhagawad YathirajaVimsati,A commentary on - and tAtparya dIpa Gita. Thiruvaimozhi UpadesaRatnamalai, - Tamil Three in and Arthiprabhandham Noothandhandhi - words) & Sanskrit Tamizh of (Mixture MaNipravALa in Eleven Azhakiya Lockacharya, on works of Pillai Commentaries and Thirumozhi Periyazhwar Nayanar, Manavalapperumal in Four NooRRandhandhi. Ramanuja Arulalapperumal of Prameyasara and Gnyanasara the of the Lord daily worship is on the One work Emberumanar. Kramam). (ThiruAradhana 5. were: contributions His Other Main (i) south) the in confusions and political invasions Muslim Darshanam. He added verses about Swami Ramanuja into the the into Ramanuja Swami about verses He added Darshanam. ( Daily Prayer URM. There are many more acharyas, but the ones listed here are listed here but the ones acharyas, more many are There URM. AllVaishNavas.definitelySri about the ones we as need to know their All one another. support works their all and acharyas these contradiction, no ambiguity, no is there and in unison are messages confusion. opportunity for and no contributions? compositions, mAmunikaL’s Swami What were directed he did was Everything

4. 50 49

? Mukundan Pattangi Pattangi Mukundan yas). He taught us to write write to us taught He yas). rams (in tamizh and Sanskrit) rams (in tamizh other Acharyas. To this end, he To this end, other Acharyas. about all our AzhvArsand is the slokam by Lord submitted gnised as a mantram (that which (that which as a mantram gnised thai ssinthai seithu * ssinthai thai hEsamAi pEsukinREn * pEsukinREn hEsamAi vaiththu (2) ... 1 1 ... (2) vaiththu

Q & A: SWAMI MANAVALA MAMUNI Q & A: SWAMI MANAVALA protects by invocation) because it instructions, Per our Lord’s (mAmunikaL). his Acharya for Himself this thaniyan is to be recited at the beginning and conclusionany of is chanted Om sacred how the to (akin recitation prabandham divya at the beginningand ending for vEcis recitations) like he write many works us, did teach mamunikal did else What scholars? other He is the Lord's Acharya (Swami Manavala Mamuni also known as as known also Mamuni about Him? know we should and why is He, Who Manavala (Swami Acharya Lord's the is He unique the had have to only Acharya the Muni), VaraVara Lord before discourses vEda drAviDa of delivering opportunity Ramanuja. Sri before discourses vedanta Samskrita and Ranganatha He Lord and Sri Ramanuja. as per the Hence, Ubhayavedantacarya Daya Srisailesa Ramanuja. and Swami of Adisesha avatara is the Patramis the only taniyan reco No, mamunikal did not want to re-write the alreadyexisting works, importance of teach us the to focus was His did. as some others of works propagating and protecting hasstOt composed many wonderful of meanings the explain lucidly that commentaries and insightful (pUrvAchAr works by other Acharyas incomplete. or inadequate are ones existing if the only new works works their are what and purvacharyas these are So who he says, Here, purvAchAryas. Swami mAmunikaL has written down for us in Swami UpadesaRaththinamAlai (URM) pinnavarum kaRka, upat kaRka, pinnavarum manniya seer veNpAvil Guru the via he has learnt what that, so advice this He provides Paramparadoes not get completely or changedlost in the future. we seek as devotees of basic education for any This forms the basis the Lord. All Acharyas and works we need to know are listed in * innaruLAl thiruvAimozhippiLLai "enthai vantha upathEsamArkkath

2. 1. 3.

. be offered by http://www.vedics.net . Vanamamalai. is one of www.vanamamalai.com ’. Classes will Classes ’. ). It is also famous for the great great the for famous also is ). It in Thirupputkuzhi and the Raja and the Raja in Thirupputkuzhi (daily observance) for every Sri for every observance) (daily where the Lord himself came to came to where the Lord himself

vaana-maa-malai sit the Vedics website WEBSITE IN FOCUS (Azhvars outpourings) works, including kOyil kOyil including works, outpourings) (Azhvars nithyAnusandhAnam swayam vyakta swayam (divine places) sung by the Azhvar saints. It is also also is It saints. Azhvar by the sung places) (divine aruLiccheyal Gopuram renovationat Thiruchithrakoodam. May 5,May 2003 for Emberumanar thEr (temple car) renovation kainkaryam. funds (target: drive to collect organizing a pledge is currently Vedics and renovation Sthambam Dvaja Dhoothar the for $5000) samprokshanam kainkaryam in Kanchipuram. Devotees are pouring met. easily is being target the and their pledges making forth and to devotees who make being distributed CDs are Select upanyasam more. $50 or donations of as such kainkaryams support commenced a drive to just has Vedics Mandapam renovation the Vahana on the tele- a few new classes to introduce plans Vedics In Nov 2003, bridge for devotees. One will class to teach be a santhai devotees essential and Thiruppavai, Thiruppalliyezhucchi Thiruppallandu, components on to tele-bridge, Vedics on the classes Sanskrit offer also will Vedics support the who this essential needs of devotees wish to learn ‘dEva bhAsha as termed language, often Vaishnava a Sri and scholar Sanskrit a renowned Swami, Sri Dikshit Seattle. in stationed currently priest Vaishnava. Another santhai class is also being planned to learn learn to being planned also is class santhai Another Vaishnava. other mozhi. thiruvAi Divya sthalams

to see additional details and further information related to the above and above the to related information further and details see additional to other kainkaryams. Vanamamalai is pronounced as as pronounced is Vanamamalai ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ Vedics continues to strive to be that framework to bring all interested Ramanuja of the true spirit and joy devotees the wonderful vision sampradAyam. Please vi presented for this issue is The website 52 the the eight divine places one amongst reside in the place ( place in the reside is one mutt The Vanamamalai mutt. Vanamamalai the mutt, Vaishnavite old. years 650 about is and mutts Vaishnava Sri very prominent of the 51 TCA Venkatesan TCA Venkatesan ilosophical doctrines (Mostly (Mostly doctrines ilosophical $2050a temple to trustee at ed these divya desams by their desams these divya ed -built the society as a whole. a whole. as society -built the

are ongoing are listed below: are ongoing VEDICS’ ACTIVITIES VEDICS’ ACTIVITIES (renovation and purification after renovation) renovation) after and purification (renovation Following the footsteps of Ramanuja, Mamunigal rebuilt the the rebuilt Mamunigal Ramanuja, of footsteps the Following Spiritual leadership by contributions through commentaries and commentaries through contributions by leadership Spiritual the Ph complex issues on Making

kainkaryamat Thirkkoodalur.At total of $5000 was submitted to Sri 9, on May kainkaryam this for Swami Madhavan ThirukkOshtiyur 2003. In April 2003, Vedics ran a pledge drive to collect funds for the the funds for collect drive to a pledge ran Vedics In April 2003, samprokshanam presence during their lifetimes. It is Vedics’ belief that there cannot It is Vedics’ belief their lifetimes. presence during temple than kainkaryam perform to channel be a more compelling desams. at divya kainkaryams These temples and divya desams are real links to our quest for for to our quest real links are desams divya These temples and of our desire extension logical represent a and divinity, experiencing to provide people in the US an opportunity discover immense heritage. spiritual our of wealth areand sacred temples desams to both theThese divya testaments of our of commitment and depth vision of spiritual magnanimity sanctifi of whom Acharyas, many written and preserved in Sanskrit texts originally) made easy to to easy made originally) texts Sanskrit in preserved and written devotees. interested all to accessible and understand (iv) temples and Sampradaya. strengthened Sri Those days Viashanava and spiritual. Rebuilding temples social were centers for everything strengthening Temples, he re and (ii) and Compositions Works, Purvacharyas & of Azhvars propagation community. Vaishnava Sri the to guidance (iii) in the presence of Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami on Swami Krishnan Velukkudi Sri of presence the in SriPerumbudur Vedics also donated the sum of sum of donated the also Vedics

activitiesSome specific that ¾ Nithya aradhanam (daily temple ritual) kainkaryam (services) supported supported (services) kainkaryam ritual) temple (daily aradhanam Nithya Kanchipuram Thirunangur, at divya desams in continuing is by Vedics into new actively looking is Vedics desams. divya and other and Thirunagari, Azhvar Kanchipuram, at divyadesams at kainkaryams of rehabilitation towards oriented efforts, Vedics’ Srivillipuththur. neglected divyaand desams temples, is motivated by two important criteria: ¾ ¾ ¾

Indicates Devotion (b)Follow Tradition Took Mamunikal as his Acharya as his Acharya Took Mamunikal Acharya Taninan possession Most prized His prayers daily a part of as him Included works Promote Purvacharyas and Preserve purvacharyas per as only and preach Teach, write to RamanujaSurrenderring will take you to LORD devotees initiated all for Acharya the is Ramanuja AstikAs (Believers of LORD and HIS message) message) HIS and LORD of (Believers AstikAs message) HIS and of LORD (NON-Believers nAstikas Astikasincorrect messages with Astikas like acting nAstikas

a. a. b. c. d. a. b. c. d. a. b. c. d. (a) Chant Acharya Tanian Tanian Acharya Chant (a) and message name spread Acharys’s (b) as you can works many new Write as (c) life. and (d) enjoy Eat drink What are the primary pre-requisite to be a devotee, as taught by by taught as a devotee, be to pre-requisite primary are the What the lord? Community Leaders who are: who are: Leaders Community Which of the following uniquely characterize Mamunikal’s message? message? Mamunikal’s characterize uniquely following the Which of Why do we follow Mamunikal? Mamunikal? follow we Why do What mAmumikaL’s does not contribute(From to one’s Karma? on Tatva-Traya) Explanations (a) Thought (Mana) (Mana) Thought (a) (Vaak) Speech (b) (Kaaya) Actions (c) (Kainkaryam) Lord to Dedications (d) URM) (From VaishNavam? Sri to damaging most is the Which What did the Lord offer to Mamunilal? Mamunilal? to Lord offer the What did

8.

(c ) Lord’s Acharya Acharya Lord’s (c ) incarnated re- Ramanuja Swami is He (d) 5. 4. 6.

7. 3. 54 53

Mukundan Pattangi Pattangi Mukundan MaNavALa mAmunikaL’s

terested in Sri . It is is It Vaishnavism. Sri in terested the biographical sketches of the the biographical e templeas as well the mutt and is

VEDICS QUIZ es of the temple deity in procession during during procession in deity temple the of es temple in Vanamamalai.photo It hosts a beautiful Swami, the first pontiff of the Vanamamalai jIyar jIyar Vanamamalai the of pontiff first the Swami, ) whichfor is very useful those who want to visit the temple. thOthAdrinAth Which of the following are the works of Mamunigal? Mamunigal? the works of are following the Which of works Purvacharyas on Vyakhyanams (a) Vimsathi (b) Yathiraja (URM) Mala Ratna (c) Upadesa Nootrandadi Thiruvaimozhi (d) Which of the following represent Swami represent following the Which of contributionsdailya on we see basis ? prayer daily part of a as Sri Ramanuja to prayers (a) Added Suprabhatam Venkatesa Sri (b) about know to we need that AchAryas our List of (c) prasadam good (d) Enjoy

utsavams The mutt was established by Swami Manavala Mamuni through jIyar ponnadikkAl amongst foremost the considered Swami was jIyar PonnadikkAl lineage. This Mamuni. Manavala Swami of disciples prominent most eight the on th good information site gives us who read for anyone is in an important mutt. Vanamamalai of the devotees by the being maintained 1. 2. gallery containing pictur the mutt. headed who different pontiffs festivals, beautiful pictures of the temple and the town of Nanguneri (another for name vanamamalai).isato thesection whole There devoted history behind the mutt as well as The site gives the different legends (sthala puraNam) behind the origin of the after (named corner Varamangai Sri is the site read on this An interesting the consort of the Lord of Vanamamalai).a bunch It hosts of literary works on Vanamamalai and SriVaishnavam. functions temple for the calendar the which contains section a There is ( wantThus vanamamalai.com togood site those who a to go for very is learn about the Vanamamalaimutt, as temple / wellfor those who want to visit the temple. Event Thondaradippodi Azhvar Azhvar Thondaradippodi Thirunakshatram Thirumangai Azhvar Azhvar Thirumangai Thirunakshatram Nampillai Thirunakshatram du). Festivals are shown based on shown based are Festivals du). b; 7-b; 8-a; 9-1; 10-a; 11-a

Star Svathi Sarva Ekadasi Ekadasi Pooram Svathi Sarva Visakham Jayanthi Kettai Moolam Hanuman Revathi Kaisika Ekadasi Ekadasi Emperumanar Dvadasi Kaisika Revathi Perumal Kaisika Ashvini Arulala Bharani Karthigai Rohini Thiruppanazhvar Thiruvadhirai

ANSWERS TO LAST ISSUE’S QUIZ ANSWERS Lunar Lunar Calendar Calendar Karthigai 18 Karthigai 19 Karthigai 20 Karthigai 21 Karthigai 22 Karthigai 24 1 Margazhi 4 Margazhi 5 Margazhi 7 Margazhi 8 Margazhi

1-a,b; 2-a; 3-a; 4-b; 5-c; 6-

Date in is followed that calendar based on the are listed The festivals Na Tamil (Triplicane, Thiruvallikkeni the time in India,result,as maya and represent the date not necessarily your contact Please countries. and other US in the falls the festival Acharyaa temple priest or to determine the exact date and of time a festival. specific Dec 2003 NOTE 56 12/04/03 12/05/03 12/06/03 12/07/03 12/08/03 12/10/03 12/16/03 12/19/03 12/20/03 12/22/03 12/23/03 55 Event Event Poygai Azhvar Thirunakshatram Thirunakshatram Azhvar Poygai Pillai Lokacharyar Thirunakshatram Bhoothatthazhvar Thirunakshtram

Vijaya Dasami Dasami Vijaya Thirunakshatram Desikar Vedanta Mamunigal Manavala Thirunakshatram

Star Star

Lunar Lunar Lunar Lunar Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar Purattasi 14 Kettai 17 Purattasi Uttharadam Sarasvati Purattasi 18 Thiruvonam Thirumalai Garudasevai Purattasi 19 Avittam Purattasi 30 Thiruvadhirai Aippasi 1 Sarva Ekadasi Punarvasu 4 Aippasi Magam Aippasi 7 Hastham Aippasi 10 Visakham Ekadasi Sarva Aippasi 12 Deepavali Moolam 13 Aippasi Pooradam Mudaliyar Senai Aippasi 15 Thiruvonam Aippasi 16 Avittam 17 Aippasi Sadhayam Aippasi 18 Poorattadhi 27 Aippasi Thirunakshatram Peyazhvar Thiruvadhirai Sarva Ekadasi Karthigai 1 Magam 4 Karthigai Hastham 7 Karthigai Visakham Ekadasi Sarva

CALENDAR - FOURTH QUARTER 2003 CALENDAR - FOURTH

Date Date Oct 2003 Nov 2003 10/01/03 10/04/03 10/05/03 10/06/03 10/17/03 10/18/03 10/21/03 10/24/03 10/27/03 10/29/03 10/30/03 11/01/03 11/02/03 11/03/03 11/04/03 11/13/03 11/17/03 11/20/03 11/23/03

Live discourses on the Tele-bridge

Pray with sincerity humility and gratitude for atleast 15 minutes a day.

FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD RESTRICT FOOD CONSUMPTION Eat anything only after offering it to God. Wednesdays 9:30PM CST (8:30pm after 1/15): Bhagavad Gita - English HH. Tridandi Srimannarayana Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami MEDITATION Meditate on the beauty of God, atleast thrice a day, 1st & last Sunday 7:45pm CST: Sri Vachana Bhooshanam - Tamil atleast a minimum of 3 minutes each time. Chant Sri Vishnu HH Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami Sahasranamam (the 1000 Holy Names of Lord Vishnu) once a day.

1st Sunday 10AM CST: Srimad Bhagavatam - Telugu RESPECT FOR ALL THAT IS HIS Sri U.Ve. Satuluri Gopala Krishnamacharyulu Strive to lead a life in which you will never hurt a fellow living being for any reason. 3rd Saturday: 9AM CST: Acharya Hrudayam- Tamil Sri U.Ve Elayavilli S Bhoovarahan Swami MONEY Earn to live, educate, support and serve and not for 2nd Saturday: 9AM CST: Siriya Thirumadal – Tamil the sake of pursuing materialistic desires. Sri. U.Ve. Venkatakrishnan Swami CHARITY 3rd Saturday: 9AM CST: Acharya Hrudayam- Tamil Donate however little it may be to noble causes. Sri U.Ve Elayavilli S Bhoovarahan Swami Feeding the needy is the highest form of charity.

3rd Sunday 10 AM CST: Srimad Bhagavatam - Telugu CONTENTMENT Sri U.Ve. Satuluri Gopala Krishnamacharyulu Be happy and content that you are His. Thank your preceptors at least once a day for blessing you with this awareness. Last Saturday 10AM CST: Purpose of Life- Telugu HH. Srimannarayana Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar ABSOLUTE FAITH Place complete trust in the supreme LORD. Do not go against His way.

SELF – CONTROL Strive to live a life free from selfish desire and anger.

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