sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abhimana, AlwarThirunagari Temple, Atri, Iyengar, Manavala Mamunigal, Moolavar

Table of Contents Darshanam

Editor: Editorial 1 Sri Sridhar Srinivasan

A Season to Celebrate Kanninun Siruthambu 3 Advisory Board: ® RAMANUJA DARSHANAM The Essential Requisite for Aradhana 11 Sri Mukundan Pattangi Devotion, Love Sri TA Varadhan ( of Ramanuja) Parasara Bhattar 14 Sri TCA Venkatesan Key incidents and insights from his life Magazine composition Gadya Trayam of Swami Ramanuja 21 Smt. Harini Raghavan Great and Teachers 26 Subscription: Divine Places – Azhvar Thirunagari 31 Each Issue: $5 Vedics Quiz 35 Annual: $20 Vedics Services 37 Website in focus 39 Email Calendar 40 [email protected] Coloring Page 42 An incident from the life of Swami 43 Parasara Bhattar – Illustrated story

About the Cover image

The cover image Ramanuja in this issue is that of Swami Ramanuja’s idol at thiru-k-kurugUr, or AzhvAr Thirunagari. AzhvAr Thirunagari is the birthplace of Swami Nammazhvar, the leader of all devotees of the . The image of Ramanuja here is known as “bhavishyad ” vigraham, or “the Teacher of the future”. It is said that nAdamuni obtained this idol when he was at thiru-k-kurugUr. Our

Thiruk kurugUr dEsikEndrar(Azhvar Thirunagari emperumAnAr) elders also say that in the thiruvAimozhi pAsuram “poliga poliga A VEDICS JOURNAL poliga”, the reference is to Swami Ramanuja. AzhvAr in that pAsuram

says that the age of will be conquered due to the birth of great devotees of the Lord. Swami explains that Volume 3 Issue 2: Apr - Jun 2004 AzhvAr foretells the birth of AzhvArs and such as Tirumangai and Ramanuja, whose benign presence purifies the world of Vedics Foundation (http://www.vedics.net) all its evil tendencies

nitya nitya aruLiccheyal (followers of , of shAstra, (followers EenRa mudalthAi EenRa mudalthAi SaTakOpan (appearance days) of Swami Swami of days) (appearance vaidikas , that while the mother who cycle of perpetual entanglement entanglement cycle of perpetual ss of ignorance was permanently was permanently ss of ignorance a and enveloping souls; and and souls; enveloping and karmA a (I know of no other Supreme andimmense more importantly, the aptly encapsulates the notion that Ramanuja, the epitome of humanity, (divine feet of Swami Nammazhvar). Nammazhvar). of Swami feet (divine thirunakshattirams , only easier to access - that Swami Nammazhvar was ‘tEvu maRRariyEn’ (the Original Preceptor), because it was Azhvar that was Azhvar because it Preceptor), (the Original parAnkusha parAnkusha kulapathi other than kArimAran SaTakOpa) other than kArimAran of Swami feet lotus the at love and respect intense Ramanuja’s Swami Nammazhvar is reflected in the appellation that Swami Ramanuja was exaltedgiven by his discipleamudhanAr; the name Thiru-arangaththu uyndavan paNindhu mAran aDi in the immersed as one who, Ramanuja Swami vision of the propelled path lotus lit by the Swami feet ofNammazhvar and his (divine outpourings), found the message that brought the ultimate divinity to the hearts Fittingly, mindsall. and one and of Azhvar at is Ramanuja Swami Nammazhvar, Swami of birthplace the Thirunagari, known as Swami and Ramanuja Swami by shared connection The close given verse for thiruvAimozhi the laudatory in is evident Nammazhvar words reflective of his unparalleled who in bhaTTar, by Swami parASara thus: of thiruvAimozhi says intellect, mOympAl vaLartha idaththAy irAmAnusan gave to the Tamizh birth Veda, the very basisVaishnavaSri for and love of the took it Nammazhvar, Swami was philosophy, to it grow to Ramanuja Swami mother foster from the flowing affection of magnificence. state its current us, the And happily for Nammazhvar, Swami Madhurakavi Azhvar, Swami Ramanuja and Ramanuja Swami Azhvar, Madhurakavi Swami Nammazhvar, vEda) blossomed. vEda) blossomed. Swami one such vaidika, took It and SAstric erudition, to show that Azhvar’s thiruvAimozhi thiruvAimozhi Azhvar’s show that to erudition, SAstric and compassion was the essence of the ,simpler only- to understand that the ( relative/friend unconditional, eternal, is our supreme God nirupAdhika bandh) our a contemporary Azhvar, MadhuraKavi Swami for us. divine of the love in begetting who was instrumental Nammazhvar of Swami refers to for us, appropriately vedas and tamizh thiruvAimozhi as Nammazhvar showed the true message of the Sastras lay in his magnificent in his magnificent Sastras lay true message of the showed the the divine, of love for outpourings through which there was no way out, dried up for good, and as a through which there was no way out, dried up for good, and consequence, the lotus-like hearts of true removed, the ocean of samsAra, that removed, the ocean of of janm on the darkness lasting light Swami called vakuLa in the Sun bedecked only when the darkne rose, the inner Nammazhvar 2

1 avatAras (ignorance) ajnyAna L nAyanAr, one of the most L nAyanAr, in this Universe that we know we that Universe this in (churNikai 83); 83); (churNikai nuja darshanam. Amongst these Eya, son of , as a brAhmaNa a as atri, son of Eya, , as a combination of of a combination as jamadagni, kaLukkup-pOgAdha uLLiruL neengi neengi uLLiruL kaLukkup-pOgAdha corresponding to different guNas to different guNas corresponding y basis removes external, physical external, physical y basis removes kasiyAda pOdil kamalamalarndadu pOdil kasiyAda kamalamalarndadu Sriman who took birth Sriman Narayana who took EDITORIAL the ocean of samsAra; Sri , brought light light brought Krishna, Sri samsAra; of ocean the (aphorisms), a veritable garland woven from veritable garland a (aphorisms), A SEASON TO CELEBRATE TO CELEBRATE A SEASON chUrNikais AzhagiyaSwami maNavALapperumA brilliant and insightful Acharyas in the Sri Vaishnava tradition, tradition, Vaishnava Sri the in Acharyas insightful and brilliant bequeathed us sAmpradAyic occupy the very pinnacle gems that of the exalted thought underpinning immensely as an apart stands Hrudayam Acharya compositions, Swami of essence fundamental the exposes that work uplifting beautiful, in tamizh vEdam’ ‘sAma the (considered thiruvAimozhi Nammazhvar’s vEda) using (), because the three suns Swami Again, did; Nammazhvar Swami do what not could about Azhagiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr: achyutha-bhAnuk Aditya-rAmadivAkara piravikkaDal vaRRi sOshiyAda vi udayaththilE bhAskara vakuLabhooshaNa on a dail the sun we see meaning, of darkness inner but the more dreadful darkness, up the srI rAma could only dry that Sun called grows on, unimpeded; , not ocean of to the womb andashine blossomed the hearthe could not of , but progressively in different varNas, in different progressively dominant in different : dattAtr son of parasurAma, (Krita ); as of dasharatha, son srIrAma, yuga); (Krita brAhmaNa- as nandagOpa, and of son krishNa, yuga); (TrEta kshatriya SaTakOpa Swami Kali, of age in the and now, yuga) (DwApara in the varNaof the , thus demonstrating manifestation that of the ultimate divinity is not the domain one . of any earlier special than the is even more Nammazhvar But Swami from picked flowers, fragrant phrases, words and inimitable vEdAs). (tamizh prabhandam and divya thiruvAimozhi maNavALap-perumAL Azhagiya Swami opus, magnum In this 92): thus (churNikai Swami Nammazhvar of wonders nAyanAr varNa yuga sUnu AnavanuDaiya pankthiratha jamadagni Atri krama asvatAramO our lord was it whether is, that

”(If the the ”(If pAsurams sri sUktIs sri ” (complete devotion ” (complete devotion faith in His teachings.). faith in His teachings.). nks of river , he noticed a Sarayu, he noticed nks of river uthern horizon. This glow led .” The question.” The about was the everything for him and considers him and for everything t time, Azhvar opened his eyes and and his eyes opened t time, Azhvar Acharya RuthAmbu - these eleven hal etthai thindru engE kiDakkum Athai thindru angE kiDakkum Athai thindru angE Sethathin vayitril siriyathu pirant vayitril Sethathin of soul,Nammazhvar itsgoaland behaviorsoul. of the this one the seek will it is born, knowledge of true hint when the that replied answer feet as the goal” The His at and service to be known as the way, that very moment and of Vedas, it conveyed the essence was simple yet guide. spirtual as his Nammazhvar chose Azhvar Madhurakavi in born NamAzhvar, accepted as a born though Madhurakavi Madhurakavi master. spiritual as his (SUdra), varNa fourth the Azhvar’s deep devotion to Nammazhvarout in the form of burst should Acharya an to devotion si “KaNNiNun called pasurams what of essence very the depict (stanzas) be. as Azhvar regards Here, Madhurakavi and of Lord’s mercy very personification as the AchArya his compassion. prabandham Divya this come “how to as arise may question A beautiful Azhvar’s the with along compiled is Nammazhvar about Lord?” the of praise in are which work), (divine final /easiest way and that was “ was and that way /easiest final and complete AchArya towards one’s from the so emanating light glowing in Thiruk-kurugUr called town temple small a to Azhvar Madhurakavi man a devout young he saw Thiruk-kurugUr, of . At southern part sitting in deep meditationunder the shade offoundlarge a tree light glowing the that understood Azhvar Madhurakavi a temple. inside had actuallycome from this . He also learnt that the saint was called“mARan” thissaint that and had remaineda without uttering food. for cry not did a child, as even and years 16 for anyone word to so his from soul great awaken this to tried Azhvar Madhurakavi of his (mARan’s) begin to share the secrets could that he (mARan) mystical experience. soul, of the nature the about question a raised Azhvar Madhurakavi “ 4 Madhurakavi Azhvar’s life is a shining example for the fifth path. path. fifth for the example shining a is life Azhvar’s Madhurakavi While . to a pilgrimage on was Azhvar Madhurakavi at the ba performing begets inanimate, the to akin samsAra to bonded jeevatma, samsAri goal and what , means) (upAya, he take does path what knowledge, deep This question broke the he pursue? does fruit) (purushArtha, penance of Nammazhvar. For the firs “ replied

) 3 (one (one who (ruthoonAm (ruthoonAm Anushatanam (sunrise, Acharya vasantha saraNAgata Sri P.B Rajahamsam Swami Sri P.B Rajahamsam suryOdayam al openly, one that we will not one that we al openly, asons. And the real reason, one asons. ar worshipped his Acharya as the ar worshipped his Acharya hna celebrates that He, being the the being He, that hna celebrates ? haryas, the samsaris were shown the the shown were samsaris the haryas, ) lighting up the horizon, which hints of which ) lighting up the horizon, things, is this of season ArunOdayam KANNINUN SIRU-TH-TH-AMBU (the glow which precedes the sun-rise). Swami sun-rise). Swami which precedes the (the glow of Madhurakavi Azhvar is the best example for a for example best the is Azhvar of Madhurakavi Azhv Madhurakavi seeks surrender). Lord. Him in the Bhagavad three ways to attain declared The Lord Himself has Gita. Theyare Karma , Gnyana yOga,and . Our Prappatti is and that of all easiest means, another yet us showed Azhvars yoga even this but Prappatti yoga was found to be difficult to follow by the samsAris. By the graceAc of the sun with the vakula garland rose with luminous rays. The rays were so so were rays The rays. luminous with rose the Nammazhvar, that felt Our purvacharyas 83) garland Hrudayam-(churNikai vakula the with sun is Azhvar Madhurakavi samsara. sea of the dried they that powerful as the one who instigated this to occur. The life ( regarded the rising sun ; likewise Madhurakavi Azhvar is compared to is compared Azhvar Madhurakavi likewise sun ; the rising Arunodayam In philosophy. for the srI vaishNava as the sun is regarded Nammazhvar nAyanaar maNavALap-perumAL Azhagiya Hrudayam Acharya describes the birth as of Nammazhvar the Few words on Swami madhurakavi Azhvar, the author of kaNNiNun kaNNiNun of author the Azhvar, madhurakavi Swami on Few words siRuthAmbu: place in a end of Dvaparayuga the at born was Azhvar Madhurakavi we can sunrise the Before Thirunagari. Azhvar near thirukkOLUr called ( glow see the early Swami parASara bhaTTar occur during the months of and and of chaitra months the occur during bhaTTar parASara Swami opportunity the have we also And then, 15). June 15 – (April VaishAkha Swami and Mudaliandan of Swami of birth holy days the celebrate to of disciples celebrated most of the two AnanthAnpiLLai, Thirumalai Ramanuja. Swami lord Kris our bewitching No wonder best amongst every class of se amongst 10:35) BG kusumAkaraha, will never reve Sri Krishna our mAyan is everywhere, Vaishnavas Sri of hearts the within but anywhere find Swami and Nammazhvar Swami us gave season that the was this that Ramanuja. celebrate to reason enough Is this not ) - Thiruvadi nilai mumukshu cannot (unquestionable (unquestionable see that it is the We can clearly who playsAcharya a only is it as role, predominant that of the Acharya by the grace the mumukshu gets acquainted onto . Acharyas Vaishnavas Sri with hold we as the lotus feet are regarded of if Thus the Lord. ( SaTAri. sure to we are the Acharya, being Acharya salvation. attain a devotee the feet of Lord, if holds he is sure to attain the feet Lord Lord. Our the grace of has nirankusha is one who swAatantrya and hence independence) question Him if He nobody can ignores the on account of the sins committed by the jiva. the hypotheticalEven in even piratti situation, where if he individual may ignore the any has committed who Acharya, the apachAram, kshu realizethe greatnesskshu of the Acharya is the one who acts as a as one who acts is the Acharya one can grant (salvation). (salvation). mOksha can grant one individual. The The individual. harya who guides the individual and individual the who guides harya (one who longs for liberation) there are four who are to mumukshu Acharya. Acharya. shows himattainAcharya the path is to the very Lord. Indeed, the the to So service and compassion. of the Lord’s mercy personification Him with pleads and Lord the to Acharya is more important than to the Lord. service It is the Acharya prays disciple his of good the for who, the mumukshu. on grace unconditional to shower His part on interest spiritual induce they role; vital a play also Vaishnavas Sri and help the mumu of the mumukshu For a srI Lord’s consort second the firstly the Lord; they are and be adored mahAlakshmi ; thirdlyAcharya and the finally Sri Vaishnavas. Lord is the one who al The Supreme to the Lord kindles she who it is and embodiment of grace is the PirAtti Mumukshu. on the shower his grace the and between the Lord mediator directly. It is the Ac know the Lord 6 5 ). Our Purvacharyas Our Purvacharyas ). gemstone which beautifies gemstone r lord is much pleased when his his when pleased is much lord r Ayee Jananyacharya swAmi have swAmi Ayee Jananyacharya e Lord’s favorite devotee, swami e Lord’s favorite rd is overwhelming, it manifests as it manifests rd is overwhelming, that Emperuman submits himself submits that Emperuman hthAr tArpariyam thErndhu.” hthAr tArpariyam thErndhu.” Bhakta parAdhInaha (Garland), the central (Garland), hAram convey that when devotion to the Lo convey that devotiondevotees. Thus, ou towards devotees are adored. are sUktis sri Azhvar’s the all if that by our Purvacharyas is conveyed It as a assumed SiruthAmbu. KaNNinuN Azhvar’s Madhurakavi is garland entire the Swami Manavala MAmunigaL’s Upadesa Rattinamalai is worth quoting pOl padam madhdhimamaam thiru-mandhira-th-thin “vaayththa here – tangaL Aariyarkal Arthapukazh - sei-kalaiyai madhurakavi - seerththa - sErvit naDuvE aruLich-cheyal nammAzhwar’s swAmi of to similar is siRuthAmbu kaNNinuN pAsurams) (ten padigams oLi chudar payilun and “nedumaarkkadimai” as and is regarded emphasized where devotion to Lord’s devotees is superiorto the Lord. to even devotion Acharyas Nanjeeyar, Nampillai,Periyavachchan Pillai,azhagiya maNavALapperumAL nAyanAr and written only siRuthAmbu, wonderful kaNNinuN commentaries for the commentaries. five has that prabandham divya work in GREATNESS OF MADHURAKAVIAZHVAR is because This . the to be superior to considered are AzhvArs exercise, a spiritual through supreme entity the about learn Rishis grace unconditional the by the knowledge gained Azhvars whereas the were composed with words mellowed of Azhvars of the Lord. Pasurams which experience, spiritual and devotion intense of a process through could discriminate who Even Rishis then poured forth as pAsurams. between the good and the bad were not bereft of samsAric temptations. while son from his separation the could not bear Vasishta sage For e.g., the Azhvars, with deep devotion only towards the Lord were unafflicted on roots, fruits subsisted The sages bondage. or samsaric by material for the sustenance Lord Krishna was the sole water but and air leaves, azhvars. is It place. unique a holds Azhvar Madhurakavi Azhvars, these Among because of his deep devotion to th nammazhwar. It is a known fact totally ( to his true devotee ). ). kaNNinun siRuthAmbu kaNNinun Azhvar Madhurakavi god other who knew no Nammazhvar than his however begins his the describing pasuram of the qualities auspicious please lord (Lord’s compassion To devotees). towards his he wished This is because to win the heart of his Acharya. the Acharya he sings that Lord glory of ‘everything’ representing to his preceptor. But by the next verse he proceeds to express his adoration towards Nammazhvar. was deeply Nammazhvar moved by the leela (sport) a child. as of Lord Krishna of his desire the To fullfil mother () he allows himself to be tied by a short-knotted string ( th knots. It is the Lord who causes th knots. It is the Lord who causes ela speaks about this qualityof the kaNNinuN siruthAmbu holds incomparable supremacy, as it was was it as supremacy, incomparable holds siruthAmbu kaNNinuN ininstrumental getting back all the works of Azhvars. OVERVIEW - AN SIRUTHAMBU KANNINUN (courtesy:Acharya.org) @ Thirupathi Madhurakavi 8 The short knotted string here is a forThe short knotted string metaphor pure love. here is and is beyond is unimaginable The greatness of Lord’s supremacy thought andlove speech. Likewise towards his his devotees is individual the his love towards of out srImannArAyaNa, boundless. soul treats them at with Himself par and manifests as one among the le bonded souls. The entire Krishna up by to get tied he pretends mother, His in order to please lord, where, together wi ropes held a series of small the manifestation, sustenance and involution of the entire universe. In 7 ghna: anagha: preeti preeti anagha: ghna: zhvar. All the eleven pAsurams eleven pAsurams All the zhvar. ..” Bhaagavata Bhakti is indeed the soul. Inherent to this nature he tor) as Madhurakavi Azhvar. Azhvar. Madhurakavi as tor) use of his Bhaagavata Bhakti to th Him on behalf of the jivAtma and (ceremonial procession on streets). procession (ceremonial shatrugNa: nitya shatru shatrugNa: vIdhi purappadu (salutations), one in samskrit and the other in tamizh were in tamizh other and the one in samskrit (salutations), thaniyans composed by Sri , who desired to have the same Acharya his precep nishTA (devotion to . It is said that Shatrughna is regarded as ever pure, free free pure, ever as wi at the pleads stands feet of Lord, regarded is AchAryaitattain one can is only through the the Lord’s grace. Shatrughna that Acharya the best example for is The Anushtanam of Madhurakavi said is It . Abhimanam,issimilar he and to that purushathe srI of Shatrughna is beca This (anaghaha). from sins “ called was he of ) (srI rAmAyaNa puraskrutha: four required Nammazhvar In fact Bhakthi. Bhagavat than greater needed Azhvar Madhurakavi while devotion his express to prabandams devotion. his to express pAsurams just eleven Two the regarded He Lord. the around centered devotion was Nammazhvar’s adored Azhvar for him, Madhurakavi whereas Lord as everything He for him. everything as Nammazhvar considered and Nammazhvar . utterances) (divine sri-sUtkis the Azhvar’s enjoying in spent his days our to the Lord’s devotee. This Azhvar surrendered Madhurakavi by of is the essential nature subservience to Namma subservient ever remained conveyed convey the devotionMadhurakavi of Azhvar towards his AchArya. is It SIRUTHAMBU” OF “KANNINUN IMPORTANCE time. of of the text last as the text compiled this has Nathamunikal Sriman to is our tradition It prabhandam). divya in 1000 (first Mudalayiram course the while chanting Siruthambu Kanninun with begin and conclude due with along recited is composition wonderful this Since ThiruvAimozhi. in and hence is not the same sanctity it also possesses Thiruvaimozhi chanted during humanity to 2500 BCE) were between 3000 – (who lived of the Azhvars All the works lost Purvacharyas that it wasNathamuni swAmi who got back the nAlAyira twelve SiruthAmbu KaNNinuN reciting by prabhandam divya But for ofthe lotus Nammazhvar swami feet . at offeredthousand times, swAmi Nathamuniand this sacred text Kanninun Siruthambu,the Sri Thus, day. of light the seen have never would philosophy Vaishnava Atma apaharam, stealing Atma apaharam, tal clear that the ordinary person the greatness of Azhvar in all eight greatness of Azhvar in all eight the whelming grace towards the Jiva,

ose who learn this Prabhandam are are Prabhandam this who learn ose ems he wrote about Nammazhvar about Nammazhvar ems he wrote abode. He calls himself Madhurakavi Madhurakavi himself He calls abode. ). ). verse Madhurakavi expresses his gratitude to Azhvar for for to Azhvar his gratitude expresses verse Madhurakavi th verse, swami madhurakavi asserts that Nammazhvar’s Sri Sri Nammazhvar’s that asserts madhurakavi swami verse, th directions. directions. his Sri and of Nammazhvar the greatness The eighth verse describes His over suktis. The Lord due to It Gita”). (“Bhagavath truth. the preached and Krishna as incarnated in it interpreted of philosophy schools different that was so complex different ways to suit their school of thought. It was Nammazhvar who us the exactgave meaning of the teachings of Lord Krishna. In the 9 him forever. He wishes to propagate in remain grace shall he having that this and is sure his that opened eyes propagate to wishes He forever. him nectarine. suktis are the essence of Vedas. While the Vedas and are are and Shastras the Vedas While Vedas. the essence of suktis are swami complex and beyond the comprehension of lay person, and crys it so lucid made nammAzhwar vEdas. of the message the true comprehend could that conveys the tenth and eleventh verses in Azhvar Madhurakavi without expecting anythingNammazhvar in return has showered his him. to indebted ever he is for which and on Madhurakavi grace Lord is the beloved that the Supreme Azhvar concludes Madhurakavi of the a devotee the Lord. Being for great love had for all; Nammazhvar that th he conveys Lord’s devotee, attain the Lord’s Supreme sure to finds the po himself because he about the greatest every individual sin that commits and that is ( one-self to belongs (soul) Atman that assuming it who owns the Lord soul from the by treasure gained the greatest about talks Then in the sixth verse he him, the unconditional that by Nammazhvar ofgrace he got this to calls his subservience Azhvar precious treasure. Madhurakavi Nammazhvar as the greatest treasure. 7 Then in the 10 ) 9 ” where in Madhurakavi ” where in Madhurakavi nishta (practice) nishta favors the nanmayaal mikka naanmaraialarkal mikka naanmaraialarkal nanmayaal of devotion is centered on his is centered of devotion brings boundless joy to his heart to his heart joy brings boundless s his lifestyle before attaining attaining before his lifestyle s Madhurakaviar admits that the the that admits Madhurakaviar and is the one that binds, holds and is the one kariya kOla thiru uru kANpan naan uru kANpan kOla thiru kariya ntial nature. Here, Madhurakavi talks talks Madhurakavi Here, nature. ntial ” It is believed that the greatest amongst ” It is believed that the greatest amongst nampinEn pirar nanporuL thannaiyum pirar nanporuL nampinEn

He everything He is the cause for fact, uses the rope to hold as how Nammazhvar everything together. Just Nammazhvar. to of this rope uses the example Madhurakavi Lord Krishna in his heart, of explainhis that short –knotted rope feet the the that conveys Azhvar Madhurakavi Acharya-Nammazhvar. at of Azhvar very name utterance of the refuge his in () nectar divine the drinking of feeling the and creates seeks tongue. and Azhvar, by uttering the the bliss enjoyed he expresses In the second pAsuram, of name to spend his days and wishes as his Lord alone Nammazhvar regards has Azhvar Madhurakavi If prabhandams. Divya Azhvar’s the reciting may one then Nammazhvar than other God he knows no that declared pasuram the Azhvar’s in singing ask why he wishes to spend his days poorvAchAryas For this, our is conveyed. Lord’s glory wherein the his Lord please to In order justification. provide a beautiful (preceptors) of the glory the sings madhurakavi swami Nammazhvar), Acharya, (his to is Bhakti Bhagavat the even a Prappana for that believed is Lord. It only Lord unto the surrender should prapanna A Acharya. please the is Madhurakavi of AcharyAabhimana This Acharya. an through This appropriate (SwaroopaAnuroopam) nature. essential soul’s that Azhvar even ifMadhurakavipAsuram,In the third conveys his thoughts get diverted from the Azhvar it may move only to sing the beauty( and of His consort. the Lord not Lord the of beauty he enjoys the that expresses Azhvar Madhurakavi Nammazhvar. of grace but due to the his own efforts because of having celebrates Azhvar Madhurakavi stanza, fourth Then in the “ Acharya. as his Nammazhvar attained Adalil punmayaka karuthuvar individual of the ignore mistakes that they are so generous the learned only and look upon the good deeds. scholars these great that even grave by him were so committed mistakes to he is grateful that says Azhvar Madhurakavi him. accept did not any without his disciple as Madhurakavi who has accepted Azhvar hesitation. Then in the fifth verse he recall to realize failed of having He confesses Acharya. as his Nammazhvar the truth. “ admits his failure to realize his esse (multitude) (multitude) samUha to accept the gift or refuse it. If If it. refuse or gift the accept to without making distinction any siding in a temple nearby, and and nearby, a temple in siding openly evaluated his merits in in openly evaluated his merits Generally, whatever occurs to our whatever Generally, a. If he had known, how could he If he had known, a. needs, he was kind enough to accept kind enough to needs, he was (which becomes yO because of a sandhi) in the first line in the first a sandhi) becomes yO because of (which ya:’ (devotees) and he, like Lord Krishna, is gracious enough to is gracious and he, Krishna, like (devotees) Lord there are no words to denote any specificwords to denote anythere are entity only no need not represent smallness of number Further, singular quantity. It can and often will represent The ‘ indicated “whoever gives” i.e., gives” “whoever indicated about the nature of the person giving. BhaktyA prayacchati—refers to the way in which the offering is made, with devotion

• • • • bhaktas

Bhashy Gita less much know not He did is too much. “Even that was too little. The other said all, at Gita arrogate to himself the position of the Lord? He talked aswe are though his had and he beggar mere a is Here Bhakti. with him give we whatever accept we in the matter.” no choice has He content with what we give. has to be if our refuse to right the had the choice “No. He said one The first had he though Even take simply he did, as he could, no. his standards, by large was sufficiently it said have could he or refused, it for his paltry was too it if offering, have it unconditionally.quantityHe laidnot matter. The emphasis does on he sum, was a big it money. Even if the with part to our willingness might the quantitywhichdetermining we were about to give.sloka The Gita quoted by him alsoto the Bhakti refers with which the offering is made to God, which alone counts and not the quantitymaterials. of It is why in the all - tOyam’ phalam, pushpam, ‘patram, – used singular,“ to indicatequantity. the minimum Now, the discussion was getting into fundamental questions the two were not equipped to resolve, so, the two learned students went to a great (Saint), one who was re him. before doubts their placed Sadhu: the of was the reply The following construction. in its wrong be never will Gita Bhagavad the of “The sloka but sloka, the not change should you not fit in, does meaning If your hard to strive have you wrong and is meaning that your only understand the correct meaning. till you get but on us, some extent satisfies to fit into and seems minds superficially deeper thought or learning throughqualified a Acharya, we can get at an even omit the meaning of never teachers will the right meaning. Our a sloka.” in repetition accept never will and letter, a or article following: the note please sloka, particular this “In He continued, 12

11 century and the son- and century th Sastra. We feel extremely fortunate fortunate Sastra. We feel extremely introduced the system of upanyasams the system of upanyasams introduced o offerswith devotion, me that y or ten. Comprehending their Comprehending y or ten. to ten rupees. Receivingto ten rupees. the paltry d Acharyas through simple, through elegant d Acharyas from the in support support in Gita Bhagavad the from a venerablemendicant old (sanyAsi) Sri U Ve Paramapada vAsi sEshadri Swami Swami Iyengar vAsi sEshadri Paramapada Ve Sri U DEVOTION, LOVE Sri Seshadri Iyengar Swami was one of the foremost scholars of was one of the foremost scholars Swami Iyengar Sri Seshadri

THE ESSENTIAL REQUISITE FOR ARADHANA - in-law of thepaTTappa swami, considered famous thirukkaNNapuram by many who sampradayam the of doyen the to be wrote swami Iyengar Seshadri Sri Vaishnavam. to Sri on aruLiccheyal Religious and Philosophical Indian the in 1940s and 1930s the in extensively to a lay audience, message the sAmpradAyic bringing English Press, Azhvars an key ideas of enumerating and purANa , from picked examples wisdom) and insight of gems rare these you bring and adapt to able being in on the Gita. At Gita were having a discussion of Bhagavad Two students the same it so happened time, that The as alms. give could they that anything for and asked by stopped helpa mindset they should those thatstudents, oflearned that may be as offer anything he could whether there was asked him, and in need, he that He replied assistance. for his request support to qualification, the including Gita, Bhagavad for commentaries the had studied Bhashya. Ramanuja insightful the and Bhashya Shankara thatThe two students, given this was a person of apparent learning, know how much they did not But assistance. some him decided to offer rupees, fift hundred - One to give quandary, the oldsaid man that he was prepared to take willingly any offer and quoted could amount they contentment (9:26) of his sense | prayacchati bhaktyä me yo toyam phalam puçpam patram || prayatätmanaù bhaktyupahrutamaçnämi tadahaà (Leaf,Flower, Fruit, Water, He wh accept) I shall purity, of offering devotion-filled have man might old the is likely it sloka, specific the quoted not If he had oft-used quote of this exalted, But his rupees. hundred one received alms of the the value reduced shloka amount the sanyAsi went away. But a discussion One saidfriends. started between the two learned that rupees ten Bhashya, Gita read man who had venerable an old for such note: (Editorial part of the 20 in the early sampradAyam Sri Vaishnava

rasam . He is all the is the all He at one stage. Later, the flowers at one stage. es of the Azhvars),saw it fit to ignorant laborer in the garden of in the garden ignorant laborer d” to our upliftment. Hence came to our upliftment. d”

Sri U Ve Badri Narayana Bhattar Swami Swami Bhattar Narayana Badri Ve Sri U for them. The Sadhu developed the The Sadhu developed for them. ) which correspond to “gnyana yOga”. The fruits SWAMI PARASARA BHATTAR BHATTAR SWAMI PARASARA ) is the “Prapatti Yoga” or “”. The Upanishad The Upanishad or “Saranagati”. Yoga” “Prapatti ) is the pushpam KEY INCIDENTS AND INSIGHTS FROM HIS LIFE HIS LIFE INSIGHTS FROM AND INCIDENTS KEY ) develop out of them and that is “Bhakti Yoga” and the sweet and the Yoga” “Bhakti is that and them of out develop ) Toyam ) only representing the “”. Gradually, it puts forth yOga”. Gradually, the “karma representing ) only patram Phalam whose couple divine the and SriranganAtha, SriranganAchiar prabhandam divya nAlAyira fruitful in the grace resulted compassionate inspired vers thousand divinely (four pour their graces again on our Acharyas to have the paramparai paramparai guru the have to Acharyas our on again graces their pour They mAmunigaL. Manavala swami till continued lineage) (preceptor did not wish to stop with that. Hence, they participated in our “lakshminaatha Kurathazhvan swami by as recited Guruparamparai, in AdisEshan servant beloved their sent also They .“ .. samaarambhaam the form of our jagadacharya swami Ramanuja to be the “Central Gem” in the veritable necklace of our Guruparamparai. Even with this, they to more and wished something wanted to do They were not satisfied. belove of their most contribute “one son adopted beloved, most the bhaTTar, parASara swami of avatAra the couple. of the divine The gardener said, “ Sirs, I am a poor Sirs, “ said, The gardener the temple. When I heard about your discussionabout the leaf, flower, fruit andstrikes“I likeit to be offered my mind water put this: to God, the seed in the soil. comes out with leaves The sprout and for sometime to begin flowers sometime, After the plant. in only leaves there are plantappear. is full of flowers The the from the other. One develops into (essence). So, one is not different God. to acceptable are four the all Hence, stages. successive four in other this they heard with joy when jumped and the students The Sadhu interpretation.a It was revelation students thus: the he told and further idea gardener’s knowledge of true is the seed the gardener to by “The seed referred leaves with a plant into develops It Acharya. the by heart in one’s placed ( 14 develop into fruits the fruits and contain delicious water or ( flowers ( water ( bhavati”— rasam….aanandI saha “RasOvai says also bliss true discovers essence this who understands essence, one around,aask withThe sAdhu turned desire to something from the disappeared. had the gardener But gardener. in any 13 as the main thing to be to main thing as the ) th the elucidation of the Sadhu. the Sadhu. of th the elucidation e Bhakti being the essential the e Bhakti being (Worship) in any temple, any temple, in (Worship) said humbly, ”Sir, may I tell you you I tell may ”Sir, humbly, said w an offering should be made: made: be should offering an w nged to. He did not take into of the person making the offering. the offering. the person making of ode in the Ramayana.ode in the did Rama not (offering) in general, but in the in the but general, in (offering) devotion, love ArAdhana dAnam ? Bhakti ( Why mental attitude mental requisite to follow the offering. So, bhakti in the first line goes goes line first in the bhakti So, offering. the follow to requisite andactwith thatobject of the the second line with in the the offering Bhakti-upahrutam refers to th ? And the Lord is referring to them? What is said of these four to them? What is said of these four the Lord is referring ? And

• worship question?” their what I feel about in laborer, working an ordinary wondered how and surprised They were couldthe gardens have something to contribute on such a topic. lofty to proceed. gardener the asked and ideas his curious to hear They were applies to everything else that is offered” offered” that is else to everything applies where in the temple working gardener a like who looked one Just then, the conversation who was attentively hearing the sAdhu stayed, the students, and between the Sadhu “ShriyA dEyam, HriyA dEyam, BhiyA dEyam, SamvidA dEyam” dEyam” SamvidA dEyam, BhiyA HriyA dEyam, dEyam, “ShriyA in humility, all in give should You joy, of sense a give with should (You deed whileandfear giving, within thought or of true committing wrong awareness) conviction, to The Upanishad refers God. to offerings to our reference with it is Gita, Bhagavad SabariYou know very well the epis belo Sabari what class about worry much So fully. love quality the Neither new. old or were fruits the whether consideration the reciprocated He nor the quantity of the material mattered. All that mattered was the love offered. were they which with ‘Mangalam as praise Rama’s sing effusively Acharyas our so that ” phalamoolABhilAshiNE’. datta were immensely pleased wi The Students But still, their doubts remained regarding why the Bhagavad should Gita offering. in the tOyam” phalam, pushpam, “patram, specifically mention They told the Sadhu that this doubt had not been cleared by him. He replied dear “My friends!are the Don’t you know that these four for required elements essential defines ho The Taitireya Upanishad He should be humble in giving and Bhakti therein must be manifest, manifest, be must therein of way the in also and Bhakti offer we object the in and visible be should It offered. giving in giving. The materialpoints, matter. itself definitively, It does not humble be the at unambiguously, should He and prominent. visible, Thus the sloka points at

kainkarya bhagavatha kainkarya es , in another, it adores es Vishnu, in another, it feel gratitude; we should feel express gratitude; das speak about various persons as about speak das t alwaysgreat gave respect to the the following - “swami, you seemed seemed - “swami, you the following e has caused some harm. This is harm. This is e has caused some of the more valuable necklaces from his neck, of the more valuable necklaces (bad qualities) and the Lord’s kalyana guNas. Our Namperumal Namperumal Our guNas. kalyana Lord’s the and qualities) (bad to have learnt vedas etc. Kindly answer this question of mine – Who is is Who – mine of question this answer Kindly etc. vedas learnt have to the Being?” Supreme After andsome confusion a little the hesitation, the ve - “Swami, replied vedic scholar Supreme being. At one place it ador (person who always does service to others). Bhattar never used to bow never used to service to others). Bhattar does always (person who his head to the learned scholar, bu question a posed devotees other this, by Shocked bhagavatha. kainkarya to Bhattar, and requested him to explain why his attitudes towards the two were different. Bhattar, with his usualamazing smileasked them to awaitfor day to get the answer. as usual, The next day,learned the and Bhattar asked him scholar came on. How can we so and Siva adores it places, other yet in and clearly explained in swami ’s srivachaana srivachaana lOkAcharyA’s piLLai in swami explained clearly poraiyum, pakkal seythavargal “kuttram (365) bhooshaNa nadakka smruthiyum upakAra ukappum, Sirippum, krupaiyum, it should always be us, has harmed a person if Even vENum”. should ; we favor great as a considered also and relationship standing a long enable This will such people. joy at person concerned. of the mistake by self-correction help in the in practice. principle this demonstrated bhaTTar Swami KEY INCIDENT 2: and intelligentBhattar’sTo hear sweet lectures, thousands of devotees Among them, there were two a well persons - one assembled everyday. a who was a person and the other learned scholar and offered it to that swami and told him “Swami - Even though this will will this though - Even “Swami him and told swami that to it and offered you”. to offering humble my it is me, for you done by favor the not equal KEY INSIGHT 1: finding “not is Vaishnava a Sri of qualities important most One of the fault with others”, even if someon great favor to me; by shouting at him, you are showing has done a to him”. at shouting by time him to a nuisance becoming are and ungratefulness enough find duty the is “It - continued simply Bhattar stunned; were disciples All the not does and own his tell Lord, to the while worshipping Vaishnava, of every Sri utsavams many so doshaas with busy very is completely. be told to innumerable are which doshaas, my to listen helped kainkaryaparar) (antaranga swami this case, the is this that Given of forth doshaas and put shoulder task in his up my me and has taken are Why to hear. also very pleased is Lord and the Lord me before the Parasara to me?” Then, Swami him from doing a favor you disturbing antaranga that at smiled simply teacher, magnanimous the bhaTTar, one took kainkaryaparar, 16

15 anushtanams antharanga kainkarya kainkarya antharanga of living the life per the dictates the life per of living asking the question is marvelous, question is marvelous, the asking of Azhvars, spread over various ing of the shrine to public was Bhattar’s greatness will be thrown . Any srivaishnava, who has an who has an . Any srivaishnava, show his greatness, but also by his also by his but his greatness, show inkaryaparar (serving devotee). devotee). (serving inkaryaparar (the prasadam that is offered to the Lord just before the the before Lord just the to offered is that prasadam (the (commentaries) is still fresh, and is attractive to young young to is attractive and fresh, still is (commentaries) ), without knowing the divine closeness of Bhattar with (practices) throughout his divine life. Even an enemy would adore adore Even an enemy would his divine life. throughout (practices) bhattar on listening to him. Bhattar’s greatness in giving the right kind to various pasurams of interpretation vyakhyanams question a person’s in answering skill His even today. people talented has finished questioner even before the food for our thoughts and offers one or more remember surely will upanyasam, hear any to opportunity references about Bhattar. that incidents key of the some enjoy going are we article, In this our for useful very which are and life Bhattar’s swami in happened desirous Vaishnava, Sri Any practice. in incidents the analyze always should and shAstra, rAmAnuja of swami have will lives in their incident each poorvacharayaas; life of the our life. thousands of teachings for open through this article andfor lessons our practice will be put also walk through this,Let us forth. step-by-step. KEY INCIDENT 1 : Once Bhattar went to the temple with his sishyas to worship his beloved namperumAL. Unfortunately,attime, that the shrine was closed to the In those times, the closgeneral public. usuallywords expressed through a divineservant out the shouting was Bhattar swami happening, was this While netrapaani”. “netrapaani, namperumAL’s that separates screen by the created inside the enclosure ( One of the close servants and the outside. shrine para at words inappropriate uttered and Bhattar at shouted Namperumal, Swami Bhattar. Bhattar simply disciplesat smiled But, him. Bhattar of startedshout back at to that aback, taken much very were Bhattar turned his face towards his disciplesand are asked them “Why disciples The me?” at revenge taking you of the Bhattar. One words from these on hearing and were confused disciples, a with bit of courage, asked Bhattar “Swami, we are not taking at shouted who inappropriately, person the at only but you, at revenge shouting are you whom at person “The them to explained Bhattar you”. through the divine took birth in this world bhaTTar parASara Swami aravanai prasadam nightly closing of the temple) ofwhich Namperumal, was offered to swami did birth by only Not Kurathazhvan. swami wife of the , by all, addressed is bhattar, as he impeccable intelligence, kind actions and spectacular (service or or (service ). Even if we we if Even ). He wanted to make the the make to wanted He . madil kainkaryam madil (house) also. On hearing this, this, On hearing also. (house) nischaya gnyanam nischaya . It should also be remembered be remembered also . It should lished the house and constructed constructed and lished the house mperumal could also not bear bear also not mperumal could an, resided in a house which came came in a house which an, resided Thirukkottiyur the to be awayfrom

d Sri Vaishnavas. The foolish king, Anything we learn should be learnt be we learn should Anything basic Sri Vaishnava practices the – thirumaligai (wrong things) done to Him. But, HE will never forget forget never will HE But, Him. to done things) (wrong apacahara fact that the kainkaryam should be done without ego and feeling of ownership (ahamkaram and mamakaram) Bhagavan to kainkaryam than greater is to kainkaryam that Lord’s the blossoming in the result always should Kainkaryam himself. excuse will Namperumal anger. His in instigating result not and face, even the surrounding wall very straight, and wanted to demolish whatever came came whatever demolish to and wanted straight, wall very surrounding most one of the azhvan, Pillai wall. Pillai the way of straightening in the Kurathazhv Swami of devoted sishyas to the workers ordered The king madil straight. the making of in the way demolish Pillai Pillai Azhvan’s as devote thirumaligai, a bhagavata’s demolish to king not the asked Bhattar and true has the Him that to kainkaryam by the be pleased will not Namperumal disturbing of effect without obeying Bhattar’swords demo the madil Bhatteranyway. went to away. he passed and came to the king, some disease Finally, king. Thereafter BhattarRangam to Sri returned from Thirukkottiyur. KEY INSIGHT 3: Vaishnava.Sri atisaim Service the time of of But, to the Lord the every remember to fail we service, doing this told has HE himself his bhaktas. done to an apacharam vasundarE”. kshamAmi na satEnaapi “padmakOTi KEY INCIDENT 4: The whole srivaishnava community knows that Bhattar was very greatly never move away Bhattar could to Namperumal. devoted and solely Na presence. from Namperumal’s separationfrom Bhattar.as One day, usual, Bhattar’s discourse was to listening also was Tribuvana-devarAyan king named going on. One mixed Bhattar’s with words intelligent thoughts. The king was nectarine simply moved, and wanted to listen more from Bhattar. But, since he repairing the walls surrounding a temple) surrounding walls the repairing learn only a little, an in-depth understanding is a must. must. a is understanding in-depth an little, a only learn KEY INCIDENT 3: Swami one of Brahmaraaya, Veerasundara named king and A to do started disciples, Kurathazhvan’s Any amount of knowledge, bereft of strong faith and clear clear and faith strong of bereft knowledge, of amount KEY INSIGHT 2: Any built of knowledge a hint when compared to useless, is understanding, faith. strong of upon a foundation ( faith strongest and clarification full with 18

17 Swami Parasara Bhattar (courtesy: srivaisnava.org) srivaisnava.org) (courtesy: Bhattar Parasara Swami decide who the Supreme Being is?” Bhattar thanked him for his reply him for his thanked Bhattar is?” Being Supreme decide who the and came bhagavata kainkarya the minutes, a few After go. him let and Bhattarquestion posed the same to him. The bhagavata,astonished by Bhattar’s questionofknow there is some kind test - replied I “Swami, question.behind your You have several times told us thatSriman only Narayana Lord. What is is the Supreme there to doubt?” Bhattar devotees the at smile replying a showed and Bhagavata honored that attitude.who posed the question Bhattar’s about

erful qualities shown by our qualities erful KNOW

y worries. Even though Bhattary is

paramapadam leaving the universe the universe leaving paramapadam recite “alarmEl mangai thiruvukku mangai “alarmEl recite en Namperumal gave him moksham our AchArya, as he is the connecting YOU

moksham and nothing else. We should always always should We nothing else. and moksham DID “ammA adiyEn venduvathu eethe”. All the Srivaishnavas were eethe”. All the Srivaishnavas adiyEn venduvathu “ammA from SripAdatheertam took Bhattar day. that on his house at assembled and Thirumaligai, his at present Bhagavata Vaishnava Sri and every each have he might mistake any him for to forgive requested them committed. Then, Bhattarattained be filled. not could that a void with KEY INSIGHT 5: Bhattar’s reply to Namperumal, wh that unshakeable have always should We always remembered. is to be swami to connection sambandam, only our poorvacharya that faith us will give rAmAnuja, Bhattar. Parashara Swami like poorvacharyas father- the be to considered is Anantazhvan Swami that know Did you Lord that elders by is said It Thirumala? in Srinivasa Lord of in-law of daughter the as thayar mangai alarmEl considered once Srinivasa In his her. for ananthAzhvAn Swami asked and ananthAzhvAn, Swami vAzhi , to this day, we thayar. mangai alarmEl of father the live - Long vAzhiyE” appanAr 20 on the lotus feet of have the faith at our Acharya’s and that samAshrayanam link to our poorvacharyas lotus feet will remove all our worldl and Emperumanar Kurathazhvan, the greatest personality representing of bhAgavata-sEshatvam (sensibility) bhavam he had the Namperumal, to Lord’sfollowed Azhvar’s devotee). He simply (subservience kind have this to try always should We life. in his “nedumaarkadimai” life. our in sEshatvam of bhAgavata OUR GOAL: an having Vaishnava Sri if every be achieved, article will The aim of this opportunity to read this article,try and would implement the qualities parasara Bhattar. depicted our Swami these are a little by Though difficultput into practice, to are Bhattar’s they not impossible. those we implement if pleased, be most will will) (divine thiruvullam Sri of every goal The ultimate in our life. him shown by anushtanams by our trodden path the walking life, of living be that should Vaishnava the preceptors, and follow wond ’ - 19 even on ” – we have ” – ”. The king was was king The ”. (I shall safeguard safeguard (I shall mi. But now, I practicallymi. hearit gh this will never happen, if it never happen, if gh this will On one kaisika ekadasi day, after after day, ekadasi On one kaisika and ego. He left, but surely had est faith in Namperumal, and at the the at and in Namperumal, faith est umakku mel veedu thandhOm rly. So, he went withBhattar some pride So, he to rly. kalaivaay tunbam kalayaadozhivaai kalaikan matrilEn tunbam kalayaadozhivaai kalaivaay abhayam sarvabhoothEebyo dadaami’ sarvabhoothEebyo abhayam . This kind of strong faith will give more power to our kainkaryams more power to our kainkaryams will give faith of strong . This kind you from allbeings that may pose danger).” Bhattar interpreted that facing is Hence, it all. to giving protection is it “Yes, said and quote thou even But, one day, us. towards would turn backwards pretending that it could not protect us - was a king and had to look after the welfare of his people, he could not people, he could not and had to look after the welfare of his was a king attend kalakshEpam regula heard lectures your give and one day Palace my to -Come “Swami said and have I “Yes, - Swami wealth”. and jewels priceless of lot a you give shall I there. Bhattar to you - “Have said and him at the King, smiled at looked simply replied Bhattar king The Do you at his right hand. look had a and Namperumal ever worshipped says?”. it what know ‘ proclaims it that lotus feet than Namperumal’s no refuge other I have day that about worry or fear any without your than other refuge no got I have not, or do kainkaryam worries my remove you Whether do to us feet enable also and faith, then there would not has this strong worldly means. If everyone Our divyadesams. beloved in our kainkaryaparas a lack of be us, to safeguard there always is as He us leave will never Namperumal us. all of to Bhattar by depicted as correctly KEY INCIDENT 5: caused bhakti unsurpassed and intelligence impeccable swami’s Bhattar to have the highest joy. Namperumal is customary (which vyakhyanam puranam kaisika Bhattar’s to listening on that day), the Lord uttered “ given you paramapadam (mOksha, liberation). On hearing this, Bhattar only we have “Swami, - Namperumal to and replied joyful very felt mokshaishyaa have told you heard that sole the But, bhagyam? a great What sweet mouth. own from your and , Embar Emperumaanar is Swami bhagyam this reason for Kurathazhvan’s relationship you are the ones who made with me. They paramapadam”.to give me Bhattarwhere returned to his house, Bhattar mother uttered the thiruvAimozhi swami’s AnDAL, pasuram her feet at prostrated Bhattar puguveer”. naadu “nalamandamilladOr thiruvAimozhi Nammazhvar’s swami same the with and replied strong swami’s Bhattar at astonished sameashamed time, of his attitude a lesson. learned KEY INSIGHT 4: the towards faith strongest have always should Vaishnava Sri A true He should try to havelotus of Namperumal. feet the mentality of ‘ says who Azhvar i’ (That artthou) ! The (swami rAmAnuja) in his SribhAshya that that SribhAshya his in tatas tvam (big gadyam as is usually as is usually gadyam (big SrIranganAtha ami PeriyAvAchchAn PiLLai, PiLLai, ami PeriyAvAchchAn bhAsyakAra shnu and serve the Lord and His the Lord and His serve shnu and ). Some of them opine that a a that opine them of Some ). ly addressed to swami rAmAnuja’s addressed to swami rAmAnuja’s ly (knowledge). The Sastras declare that Sastras The (knowledge). pEriya gadyam pEriya mOksha jnAna ! (my master) nuja established firmly nuja established mamanAtha (misinterpreters of the vEdAs) have it that only a a only that have it vEdAs) of the (misinterpreters kudrushTis The brief commentary of sudarsana bhattar and and bhattar sudarsana of commentary Sanskrit The brief the gadya bhAsya ofDeSikA swami The maNipravAla commentary of sw

the SaraNAgati gadyam and is direct gadyam the SaraNAgati and srI for jnAna is means mOksha the establishes that in knowledge of the form bhakti (which is the heart of upAsana) is the surest path to mOksha. (There arein places the is suggested or surrender and gItA bhAshya where prapatti SrIbhAshya explicitly). quite not but a means as (who his of disciples those lest and disciples, his for love infinite of Out bhakti this that means think the as he declared in what faith had implicit being the sure means)as take this his ultimatedecide that view and 22 - combination of karma yOga and is the means. In order to jnAna yOga is the means. In order and yOga of karma combination vanquish these, Sri Rama essence and in its as an adjunct which has karma which bhakti, comprises meditation loving of the Lord, is the surest means to salvation. to employed terms alternate are vEdAnta and dhyAna, UpAsana, convey the purport of this • • or Gadyam The SaraNAgati ( salvation to means is the SrI to reach jagadAchArya our of yearning the expresses gadyam Vi abode of the supreme VaikunTha, of our ThiruvAimozhi the decades of last the in spirit recalls It Consort. Nammazhvar. swami kulapathi, The language of the GadyasA recitationis nectarine. is ofbound these is Lord The reciter. satisfies the and it stirs Lord as much the to please bound to grant our , be, remembering the however sinful we may Master. to the great gave He assurance our been commented upon by several of have The three Gadyas that are lost to us. The ones are commentaries Some of these Acharyas. accessible to us are, • commentary of the mainly following here is presented called) periyavAchAn PiLLai. What follows is the introduction in commentary: PiLLai’s PeriyavAchAn The ‘ like of sentences meaning the of knowledge 21 ) close to the to the close

alized with ) are expressions of the expressions ) are Gadyas I and His consort, srI srI consort, His and I RanganAtha hAn piLLai. Seri hAn piLLai. was not in isolation to swami swami was to in isolation not three compositions of SrI Ramanuja of SrI Ramanuja compositions three

onate vision of our jagadAchArya onate (the gem amongst ), (the gem amongst the dvaya ratna mantra It is the uninstigated grace of our Lord and connection to of our Lord and connection grace It is the uninstigated SrI V V Ramanujam, M. A., M. Sc., Ph. D., Editor, YatirAja pAduka YatirAja D., Editor, M. Sc., Ph. M. A., SrI V Ramanujam, GADYA-TRAYAM OF SWAMI RAMANUJA GADYA-TRAYAM commentary by parama(With the maNipravALa most kAruNika – the – emperor amongst chakravathi merciful, vyAkhyAna commentators, swAmi periyaAchc permission from the original publisher, Sri Parampara Sabha, Bangalore) Bangalore) Sabha, Parampara Sri publisher, original the from permission serialization) a multipart of part (Second (Editor’s note: and to adapt given us this wonderful opportunity has that swami Ramanuja gadya- emperumAnAr’s Swami Sri Vaishnavam. work in serialize this seminal of aspect an essential and the sampradAyam, to fundamental is both trayam about, understand, to learn for everyone necessary very Ramanuja Darshanam, piLLai of swami periya Acchan commentary The incomparable comprehend. has been very transliterated aptly by Dr. V V to whom we will Ramanujam, remain forever in debtthis for allowing joy, us the joy of getting mystic poetry of our Azhvars. The Saranagati gadyam is actually a a actually is gadyam Saranagati The Gadyam Saranagati Azhvars. first of is the gadyam The Saranagati our of ( prose pieces The three prose. in Sanskrit poetry inner experiences of the great Acharyaarebe ranked and with the to mystic Sr between SrI Ramanuja, conversation – of prapatti doctrine of the exposition live and is a ranganAyaki, at feet srI Ranganatha the surrender of in sat RanganAtha Lord while Rangam, in Sri day Uttiram Panguni On a Hiscourt with divineRamanuja His consort on throne, SrI stood before and to the divine all his belongings and himself them, surrendered in accepted he be and that pardoned be sins earthly his all that begged the service of the divineHe got so accepted,couple. with additional was accorded what would be protégés his spiritual all that assurance him. to assured acceptance of assurance Thus, the of all is on behalf progeny. It spiritual all his to but alone, Ramanuja feel can heirs, spiritual we, as his pleaded and that Ramanuja humanity forceful is a Gadya The SaraNAgati grace. Lord’s of the assured commentary of the of version abridged an is gadyam SrIranga shorter The mantram. mahA compassi divine, inspired, wondrous, ”- this ”- this accepted by the elders is proper by the elders is proper accepted came and worshipped at the feet at the worshipped and came ture of the Atman, dear to our our to dear Atman, the of ture mercy, chose to publicize what publicize to mercy, chose possessions; practice of duties, possessions; perior authority as also the vEdAs, between himself and the para himself between tasmAn nyasamEsam tapasaAmatiriktamAhuh tasmAn nyasamEsam prajAnana (begetting progeny), progeny), (begetting prajAnana fires), sacred (tending to AgnayAh through sacred fires), offerings (making Rituals), Sacrificial (Conducting (meditation), MAnasa nyAsa (surrender)

------actually transpired (in private) (in private) transpired actually Narayana. Sriman , being: into came trayam gadya of prose uplifting the is how This Lord while day), Uttiram (Panguni festival auspicious particular On a RanganAthacame out with His consorts (for the festival),sat and in Court, EmperumAnAr (SrI Ramanuja) authority faithful;it has to the the sanction to those who need more, of the shrutis too. It may be pointed out that the SvEtAsvatArA Upanishad – of prapatti practice actual the contains yO bramhAnam vidadhAti pUrvam tam ha dEvam mumuksuvaraisaranAmaham prapadyE. of the spirit the with keeping in is decidedly means this Thus, because shruti, more consistent with the na be considered should it Himself, Lord to acceptable most and Acharyas, to be worthy ofto) practice (superior than bhakti. Feeling more that this factnot be lost trust in to those who had him (srI should utmost he, out of his abundant Ramanuja), fear of samsAra fortune) good (due to our On this occasion of the Lord. and finally declares “ declares and finally this (prapatti) has of the greatness dear being and most acceptable our to been What has preceptors (Acharyas). 24 properly have who all amongst - penance – superior and effective most the is (nyAsa) elders these. of order, the practice evolutionary are in that The twelve mentioned earlier of truth leads to the ability to perform tapas- reducing bodily needs, practice by followed senses, outer of -control dama for required in turn which in that sama-control of inner senses, leading to an absence of attachment to said of ones liberally material, giving is it begetting children ( ), to propagate tending the sacred fires, makingsacrifices, offerings fire, to the dEvas meditation of through the since surrender. God, and Further, understood dharma (sAstra) is the su 23 EtatvE EtatvE

. (knowledge). The The (knowledge). . jnAna yes i rAmAnuja’s personal faith, thei rAmAnuja’s it, he vanquishes them using e very opposite ofe all these traits of i.e., the sAstrAs, and reveals his his reveals and i.e., the sAstrAs, the nature of the Atmanof the nature (as fully e various means inincreasing order atti as the means established in the fashioned his exposition on Sastra, Sastra, exposition on his fashioned – This exalted truth is held in secrecy is held in secrecy This truth exalted – of the jIvatma, through the Gadyas. (an unqualified person) in to the vEdas, the vEdas, in to person) unqualified (an hanDAla (nyAsa) is the surest and unfailing independent independent unfailing and surest the is (nyAsa) prapatti satyam (truth) (penance) tapas sensory control), dama (outer (inner sensory control), sama dAnam (generousity) conduct) (right dharma

------The next question is; “Is this means a conclusion contained in the in the contained a conclusion means this “Is is; question The next an emphatic is answer The not?” or vEdAnta The Taittariyadeclares th Upanishad of effectiveness mahOpanishadam dEvAnAm guhyam dEvAnAm mahOpanishadam even by the dEvas - TaittrIya Upanishad) to those that are willing to to the true nature open their mind isgreatnessWhat of prapatti the a(as means) relativemeans to the great be practiced cannot Bhakti Vedanta? in the mentioned explicitly (bhakti) could vEdAs the learn to qualified varNas Only those universally. practiceis path difficult(akinvEdic the path; this to crossing fire a pit of quickly (salvation) fruit the yield does not it of hair!); on a bridge self- continuous requires it of many lapses; possibility of the because inconsistent with and hence is effort to the Lord).Prapattisubservient is th no with result, in yielding quick easy, is, universal, it in that bhakti, possibilitylapses, of with consistent the true nature (swaroopam) of the Atman, isa completed task () in that it does not need any self- end the reaching to means appropriate an is and effort, question arises as to why Sri bhAshyakAra did not vanquish the the vanquish not did Sri bhAshyakAra why as to arises question kudrushtis by establishing that prap a for inappropriate would be it as just that, Feeling (vEdas). Shrutis a c initiate to brAhmana it would be equally so to reveal the true spirit of shrutis to those (kudrustis) who stand far removed fr them to familiar quite language the ( guarded secret, closely true purport, and conclusion cherished means to salvation is but a refined form of form a refined is but salvation means to reveals rAmAnuja swami means to mOksha, sole was the bhaktiyOga here the view dear to force that in the Here, Acharyas. and his by Azhvars down the insight passed swam into insight obtain we gadyas, notion of prapattias (Surrender) the sole meansfeet to the lotus of the Divine couple. This view that Sri T.A Varadhan Varadhan Sri T.A ed as a great follower of their follower of their ed as a great e of shouldering the position of of the position e of shouldering stered all the requisite Sastras, he stered all the requisite Sastras, he . Swami AnanthAzhvAn was born AnanthAzhvAn . Swami t an uplifting Acharya. Swami Swami Acharya. an uplifting t rd, took birth as swami Ramanuja. Ramanuja. rd, took birth as swami take refuge at the feet of swami Ramanuja. Ramanuja. of swami at the feet refuge take GREAT SAINTS AND TEACHERS GREAT SAINTS AND TEACHERS “swami Ramanuja, by making me an Acharya, has done something something done has Acharya, an me making srI instructed Ramanuja swami Rangam, Sri reached When they by Swami as sishyas. them take to emperumAnAr aruLalap-perumAL but asked of him, was did what emberumAnAr aruLALap-perumAL Ramanuja, reluctantwas to take very the position of an AchArya.said to them He “swami palmhard, nut ofsimilar tree to the neck the weighty to tying up a big, of a smallam not capabl sparrow. I take should all you So, is here. Himself Ramanuja swami when Acharya them. accept to Ramanuja swami requested and feet!”, His at refuge emperumAnAr aruLALa-p-perumAL that knowing Ramanuja, Swami swami and took agreed, himself, respect for his of did this because AnanthAzhvAn Swami sishyAs. his as others and ananthAzhvAn and Ramanuja, from swami religion deep concepts of our learned the Ramanuja.swami In due service to the Lord andspent his doing time their as ananthAzhvAn swami took people many course of time, went to Sri Rangamwent to Sri along with swami thoNdanUr nimbi, marudUr nambi and swami echchAn to AnanthAzhvAn epitomized and lived as every srI vaishNava should, should, vaishNava srI as every and lived epitomized AnanthAzhvAn our upon and was verily the beacon that shows us how we should look Acharyas. Notably, srI TA Varadan is a direct descendant of Swami say to superfluous be would not it appropriately, and ananthAzhwan, Swami about write to qualified is Ananthazhvan an only that ofthe greatness this Acharya) such was AnanthAzhvan, life in the enjoy some incidents we will Saints, of Great issue In this of the is one ananthAzhvAn Swami ananthAzhvAn. Swami of history who liv greatest examples of someone AchArya. Sriman Lord of servant divine the AdisEsha, that elders by said is It the command of Lo on Narayana, As swamiRamanuja, AdisEshaable was to teach the world about the also He pAsurams. and Azhvar shAstras the in revealed truth divine wanted to show how practicefollowing the divine it was truth. As not as birth took to do both, AdisEsha (Ramanuja) form same the for possible simultaneously ananthAzhvAn swami in a village called sirupuththUr, near thiru-Narayana-puram. After his where he ma years, in early schooling (Editor’s fortunate note: We are indeed that we have this opportunity to abou article uplifting an bring you 26 25 ). This being so, This being so, ). prApya tvara prApya kainkaryam, service. This is the is the This service. kainkaryam, this refuge when he first sought sought first he when refuge this s in realizing the goal, and so, so, and goal, the in realizing s is the case of our Acharyas who ble Ramanuja, the crest jewel of the of the the crest jewel ble Ramanuja, ne only out of eagerness, a sense ne increasing, all that they (Azhvars) (Azhvars) they that all increasing,

delivers me from here” (SitAs words words (SitAs here” from me delivers - Sri RamA’s pronouncement in the in the - Sri RamA’s pronouncement her protector (ThiruvAimozhi 5.8-8)”; 5.8-8)”; (ThiruvAimozhi her protector the called Vedas) Vedas) called camphor the 3-34). Seeking refuge or surrender is to be or surrender refuge 3-34). Seeking rvice at His lotus feet. feet. lotus at His rvice Sakrutj Eva prapannAya Sakrutj Eva (initiation) at the feet of his Acharya MahApUrNa (Periya (Periya MahApUrNa Acharya of his feet the at (initiation) RamAyana. (YudhakAnda-18.3 RamAyana. the formally doubting once. It should not be repeated performed only Lord. the of efficacy is do of surrender Here the repetition ( service eternal of for performance longing do what He pleases should not one remain passive till the owner seeks to with his view property, in authorities of “I(texts) such as do not need “Remove 5.8-3)”; (ThiruvAimozhi from any but you grief of my redress and comes or not - I have no ot my grievances he if Him befit will It “ swami Why should 39-30). lankA-sundarakAnDam in from her prison seeking)?’ (‘refuge the prapatti repeat Ramanuja of his because passive remain He cannot follows: as is The answer eagernes anxiety and overwhelming the fruit of his all and seeks surrenders too. The same state of our Azhvars as the as well of samsAra fear A footsteps. (Azhvars) in their follow to realize the goal keep on desire (many nine times refuge of the Lord the protective to seek do was could once. they did as way the same in much times) aharnisham of the great Lord’s the protective refuge seeks Ramanuja Thus swami acceptance and samsAra from for relief means sure-fire the feet, Divine se eternal for performing chUdAmaNim rAmAnujAryamAryANAm venera the I prostrate night, and (Day karanDakam karpUra chAmIkara vEdAnta vandE the casket containing noble and (cycle of birth, ignorance etc.) crossed Swami’s mind and he fell at the and he mind Swami’s etc.) crossed ignorance (cycle of birth, Lord’s protection. the seeking total surrender conveyed his and feet holy seek he not Did arises: a question Here AshrayaNa Nambi)? Has not the Lord expressed that this ‘seeking’ is to be made only once? inkaryam (service) that I want to do to I want that (service) inkaryam ued running towards the temple. He Suddenly, swami ananthAzhvAn swami ananthAzhvAn Suddenly, noticed that his wife was returning baskets of the emptying after faster she was asked her whether sand, and She normal. than faster walking meets that a bachelor saying replied of swami sight the from her away give her to forced and ananthAzhvAn and he to be emptied, him the basket did it faster than she could. He will then give the empty basket to her so more fetch and go back she can that ananthAzhvAn swami sand without this, On hearing it. about knowing angry became ananthAzhvAn swami that this bachelor was doing by which swami something are not wife and his ananthAzhvAn able to do the service as ordered by asked Ramanuja all, (After Ramanuja do the to wife his and ananthAzhvAn this went with his wife work), and swami seeing time. On ananthAzhvAn, the bachelor started a tree. up and climbed away running under stood AnanthAzhvAn Swami the tree, the bachelor to beseeching concerned for you. Further, this is ka things? unnecessary this Why all my AchArya! command of the fulfill to do not you please and my wife, with do my work along to I will continue warning, of my spite in work our with meddling on insist you if help; then I willforcedgada-p-parai”.you with to hit be this After hearing this their wife continued and his ananthAzhvAn and away, bachelor went work. the door. and closed entered the temple, 28 the with up me beat not will you if jewels and clothes and my beautiful all you give “I will said The bachelor come down. adorned richly come to bachelor the wanted ananthAzhvAn Swami -p-parai”. down away from the tree. The bachelor came down, and slowly backed bachelor, the followed ananthAzhvAn Swami away. running and started The stop. him make to bachelor the at gada-p-parai the and threw the hit gada-p-parai and the time, that at back looking was bachelor bachelor on his chin, but he contin 27 ed with water, and with tearful g water. He also built a small pond s devotees struggle with this hard this hard s devotees struggle with zhvAn! Withoutabout the conditions worrying

Ramanuja. to swami a connection them give would who Acharya his to on thiruvAimozhi lecture a was giving Ramanuja One day, swami starting decad the thiruvAimozhi day was the decad of The sishyAs. srI – Lord of thiruvEngadam the about kAlam ellAm”, “ozhivil with poo magizhum “sindhu line the contained One pAsuram Srinivasa. thiruvEngadaththu” describing – the abundance of flowers in the holy – maNdapam” “pushpa name the also had Thirumala Lord. of the hills this on While commenting flowers. fragrant is specialty whose the place eyes well Ramanuja’s swami pAsuram, a build go to Thirumalai, to you willing among “Is anyone said eyes, He of the service and perform of thirumala, for the Lord garden flower on the sishyas, All of to the Lord there?” flowers and providing they were of the extreme cold at afraid – that, were silent hearing to unwillingness an mention to not wild conditions, the and thirumalai Swami rAmAnuja. swami of presence alluring and comforting the leave unfulfilled. being desire His Acharya’s bear could not ananthAzhvAn – Please “swami saying So, he volunteered to Ramanuja swami servicecommand to do the at me thirumala”. Ramanuja, with great are You . happen desire my make to happiness said “AnanthA volunteered have you thirumala, in before hugged him and gathering, in this person) (male piLLai” “aaN the giving instance, the permissionSwami him to go thirumala. In this srI vaishNava every that important a very displayed ananthAzhwAn on AchArya). dependence (total ‘pAratanthryam’ called have should (servitude), in sEshatvam excelled rAmAnuja of swami disciples Other ananthAzhwanbut swami displayed the exaltedof trait ‘pAratantryam’ the started and thirumala, his wife to with went ananthAzhvAn Swami also and everyday, Srinivasa of Lord temple the to went He service. storin for tank started building a huge the for the Lord’s service, and named flower garden and a beautiful the huge tank for was building While he “Ramanuja”. garden flower itwater,necessary was forand himwife his to dig the sand a out using he sand, the digging After in tamizh. tool known as “gada-p-paarai” filla basketwould withand his took the sand the sand, wife to a was wife His the basket for next round. emptied and different place Hi seeing time. On pregnant at this young a form of the took Srinivasa Sri of thirumala, Lord the labour, to and offered ananthAzhvAn Swami and approached boy bachelor very look “ You saying offer by the refused ananthAzhvAn Swami help. sophisticated to do this hardto the work. You already seem tired due do this and other nice things on you. If you weight of your and bad very feel will I and tired, even more become will you hard work, pachhcai pachhcai see the gada-p-parai hung on the the on hung see the gada-p-parai hnavas said “There is no mention hnavas said “There is no mention dear to the Lord of . mutt exists it is called – the periya t it. The Sri Vaishnavas first wanted wanted first Vaishnavas The Sri it. t mutt isto be administratormutt supposed his great connection with Ramanuja, great connection with Ramanuja, his s then applied some camphor ( some s then applied ) to the chin of the Lord. The Lord, as promised in the form of form in the as promised Lord, Lord. The the the chin of ) to right hand side of the wall. rightside of the gOpuram hand time over and in thirupathi, time long a lived ananthAzhvAn Swami The thirupathi. at a jeeyar mutt of Ramanuja, command on the installed, first jeeyar of this mutt was swamiananthAzhvAn’sand sishya, the responsibility of this jeeyar was to ensure the smooth functioning of the temple at Thirumalai.day, this To this appeared A boy were very tired. and of food, ran out they hills, On the to ea with food requested them and to find out whether the food was offered to the Lord first,and asked his recite please you and can Acharya, your is Who you? are “Who his was ananthAzhvAn swami that replied The boy salutation”? ananthAzhvAn’s swami was said he that slOka a recited and Acharya, salutation – “akilAthma ajnyAnaguNAvAsam thimiraapaham dEsikam. anantArya vandhE suSaraNam Aasrithaanaam “I pay my obeisances to AnanthAzhvAn, who is the repository of all also and who and kindness, following good qualities, auspicious those for refuge supreme is the and ignorance of darkness removes the who surrender onto him”. The Sri Vais order of the fulfilling and to Me, service to performing in displayed Ramanuja.So, the blood that comes out is not blood, but tears of happiness from Me”. The priest karpooram He that His clothes some of ananthAzhvAn swami gave the bachelor, see Lord sent him home. Even today, we can and had adorned before, the in the chin. While entering with white camphor adorned Srinivasa, gOpuram of the temple, one canmain of this and the jeeyar jeeyar mutt, of the temple. how dear he illustrates life ananthAzhvAn’s in swami incident Another to coming were Vaishnavas Sri A group of Srinivasa. Lord was to by srI. nadAdUr was led group Lord. The thirumala to worship the was very leader who a great ammAL, just you Did thaniyan. this in Ramanuja to connection Acharyas your of “We two on the spot?”compose this have For that – the boy replied salutations to our Acharya. One talks about his great qualities which I The other celebrates just recited. is it and “srImad rAmAnujArya srIpada ambOruha dvayam bhajE” ananthAryam santhAryam uththamaanga Sat Ramanuja, feet of swami two the who is ananthAzhvAn, srI “I worship 30

29 to the sanctum for sanctorum the nding what had happened, swami n set, andn set, the temple priestsdo the came to Ananthazhvar at Thirumala (courtesy: Acharya.org) at (courtesy: Acharya.org) Thirumala Ananthazhvar evening rituals in the temple. Swami AnanthAzhvAn said that there is a boy inside the temple and that he closed the door. Everyone requested as it wasthe boy to open door getting late for the eveningfor rituals the Lord. The door opened, but boy was not to be found anywhere went all They temple. the inside divine in His happily Lord, smiling the saw and evening rituals, grandeur,some blood with but oozing out of His chin. Swami out coming blood is this What “swami! Lord – the asked AnanthAzhvAn and replied Did anything happen?” The Lord smiled of your chin? Have you forgotten that just recently hit me with “AnanthAzhvAn! On understa gada-p-parai?” the ananthAzhvAn, withbegged for great the from sorrow, have happy at the“I am extremely sincerity you Lord. The Lord replied This was the time of su

divyakshEtram ere he could meditate upon the meditateere he could upon ose to resideof on the banks the ting gardens and falls, and there is falls, and there and gardens ting

you to pursue your penance” penance” your you to pursue by the name ‘AdipirAn’. This Adinatha piraan (Azhvar thirunagari) Courtesy: Acharya.org Acharya.org Courtesy: thirunagari) (Azhvar piraan Adinatha 32 not a more ideal location for for location ideal a more not / creator (the Brahma time, a upon Once follows: as goes The most common this temple. associated with many legends There are narrative an appropriate to him direct to Narayana Sriman requested manifestor) place on earth (bhU ), wh him, told universe Lord of the The Narayana. of Sriman glory infinite I ch you were created, “Even before my where Adipuri, place called beautiful a most river, thAmiraparaNi is celebrated form manifest (holy place) is surrounded by enchan 31

Smt. Chitra Madhavan Madhavan Chitra Smt. alli. Both have separate is in the month ofin chittirai, the month is in rvelled at the extent of lord’s rvelled d?”. After thorough analysis, the the analysis, thorough After d?”. it must have been the Lord of must have it another perfect disciple – swami – disciple perfect another from generation from generation to generation. AZHVAR THIRUNAGARI

: AdinAthan / AdipirAn / polindu ninRa pirAn. The Lord polindu ninRa AdipirAn / / : AdinAthan : AdhinAthavalli and kurugUrv : AdhinAthavalli DIVINE PLACES – DIVINE PLACES sannidhis. sannidhis. Temple Legend: including works sacred many in mentioned is This divya prabhAvam, guruparampara purANam, brahmANDa kurugAmAnmiyam, thiruppanimAlai, vagana kavi mAlai, stone down handed and stories carvings here is in a standing posture and faces east. Moolavar is svayambhu svayambhu is Moolavar east. and faces posture standing here is in a thirumEni (self-manifested Divine Form). ThAyAr : Presiding Moolavar this hearing After people”. by learned is celebrated of that and because the Sri Vaishnavas took the food, and reached thirumalai later in the day. They then told swami ananthAzhvAn about this incident thanked and and was puzzled ananthAzhvAn Swami boy. the for sending him we did not even know you were and like that, “I have no sishya replied happene could this have How coming. that in thirumalai concluded elders thirumalai Himself that did this,and ma ananthAzhvAn. for swami affection in Ramanuja swami of idol divine the installed AnanthAzhvAn Swami of Lord to be the father-in-law the temple. He also is considered another in that enjoy will We life. his in incident another to due Srinivasa DarSaNam. Ramanuja of issue anniversary birth anantAzhvAn’s Swami the star of chittirai theas – same swami with madhurakavi Swami Akin to Azhvar. Madhurakavi swami Acharya, his to service made ananthAzhvan Nammazhvar, existence. of his the cornerstone rAmAnuja, 04) (Jan-Apr issue previous the in described instances Certain [Note: were obtained srI T A Varadhan, by and Teachers, Saints under Great guruparamparA odds with are that sources hagiological from of sources utilized commonly two charitam, sUri or divya prabhAvam for the reference about more knowing of desirous Readers information. thatauthor directly.] contact article the requested to are ’ clearly onRum thEvum t had been lost) directly from had been lost) directly t Narayana as the parabrahman. parabrahman. as the Narayana Randhu maRROr deivam deivam Randhu maRROr

The narrative that details how Madhurakavi Azhvar found found Azhvar how Madhurakavi details that The narrative Kanninun Siruthambu, is well known. Nammazhvar composed in praise of Nammazhvarsource as the ultimate a very important delineates kainkaryam, and of wisdom charama called sampradAyam Vaishnava Sri of aspect means sole is the kainkaryam bhAgavata that nishTa, parva prapanna. a for and reward In earlier the temple times, was in very close contact with the thAmiraparaNiand the temple river To make banks. the the north bankstown bigger, of the river were moved. Tamarind of the the took AdisEsha is known that It which swamitree under Nammazhvar meditated for 16 with association Azhvar’s Thirumangai to akin years, at ThirukkannanguDi. urangapuLi When the word Azhvar is mentioned it means Nammazhvar,Ramanuja because he is the kulapati for inspiration of divine source quintessential the darshanam, andinsight,available equivalent to us as the four of vEdas thiruvandAdi, periya thiruvAsiriyam, (thiruviruttam, thiruvAimozhi) (unit of 11 pAsurams) 4-10, called ‘ called 4-10, of 11 pAsurams) (unit

(ii) (iii) (iv) (i) OdiOdip palapiRappumpi OdiOdip establishes the supremacy of Sriman supremacy the establishes “ kaNdIr vazhiyERik palpadigAl paNindhu pAdiyAdip kUdi vAnavarEththa ninRa thirukkurugUradhanuL “ puguvadhuvE adimai mUrthikku Adhi Aduputkodi 4-10-7 (3112) ThiruvAimozhi it and temple for this Nammazhvar of mangaLASAsanam the This was famous Nammazhvar’s and antiquity. fame its for is unparalleled padigam Saints: and Teachers Great 34 Swami Manavala visited MAmunigaL this placeand established the Ramanuja Swami Sannidhi. of AdiPiran front in Mantapam calls this kshEtram as the boundary between this world of samsAra and the birth place ThirukkOLUr Sri vaikunTham. the abode of eternal joy, Nathamuni, Sri Thirunagari. Azhvar close to is Azhvar of Madhurakavi the Acharya getting responsible for us the tamizh Veda of Nammazhvar, (tha pAsurams 4000 the all received siRuthAmbu Kanninun chanting after Thirukkurugoor, at Nammazhvar 12000 times Facts: Important Other ” (the ” (the 33 prapanna jana kooThastha jana prapanna “Azhvar” of Sri Vaishnava Vaishnava Sri of “Azhvar” ose water is used for various various for is used ose water the or mantapam present here are a are present here or mantapam city as his capital and hence the city as his capital and nce, the Lord Himself came as a as came Himself the Lord nce, e forefathers of Nammazhvar called called Nammazhvar of e forefathers e foremost among the Azhvars, was was the Azhvars, among e foremost events, Adipuri was named kurugUr. kurugUr. named was Adipuri events, thAmiraparaNithIrtham, brahma thIrtham

Thiruvaranganathan Thiruvaranganathan Lokacharyar Pillai Swami AnDAL Thiruvengadamudaiyan Thiruvengadamudaiyan (Icon) of Nammazhvar here is said to have been made from from made been have to said is here Nammazhvar of (Icon) (name of the tower above the presiding sanctum): of the tower above presiding (name (the name of the holy tank wh the holy tank (the name of

vigraha (iii) (iv) (i) (ii) The thirumanjana mantapam and mirr The thirumanjana mantapam rare treat with intricate carvings. A beautiful, delicate, stone stone delicate, A beautiful, carvings. intricate with rare treat refulgent the to adds Veenai, Mohana is called which , Azhvar at a specialty is Sevai Arayar Sri Rangam, in As beauty. Thirumanjanam. during Thirunagari Lord: on the Divine Outpourings vimAnam thIrtham temple): purposes in the Brahma, Nammazhvar, here: the Lord revealed Himself Sages to whom Azhvar Madhurakavi and rishis Thandhan, Sankan, The or Thirunagari Azhvar to fame who brought prapannas), amongst leader (because Nammazhvar to recognition brought that Thirunagari Azhvar there). he manifested are: Thirunagari Azhvar at shrines important Other the water of thAmiraparaNi river, imbued with the divinity-induced are Sannidhis and Adipiran Here Azhvar of Nammazhvar. grace separate, separateddistance by a 60 ofHowever, to this feet. it day, is “ the it is Nammazhvar debatable whether Pleased with Brahma’s intense pena intense Brahma’s with Pleased Sastras. In order to of true knowledge gave Brahma teacher and commemorate this divine series of mention that one of th also Legends named this a local chieftain, Kurugan, name Kurugapuri. who is referred to as Nammazhvar, tradition, considered to be th and Thirunagari” “Azhvar called be to came place hence this And here. born kOvil’. AdinAthan ‘Azhvar temple and the ThanDa 1) called also is kshEtram divya this these legends, than Other and 4)Theertha kshEtram, 3) sEsha KshEtram, 2) KshEtram, KshEtram. Salient Aspects: vimAnam Seperate Sannidhi honors at honors Seperate Sannidhi Lord Sri Ranganatha Ranganatha Lord Sri Nammazhvar (B) Uyyakondar Uyyakondar Nammazhvar (D) Nanjeeyar Nanjeeyar Ananthanpillai (D)

(C) Alavandar (D) Manavala Mamuni Mamuni Manavala (D) Alavandar to Darsanam” “Emperumanar name the Who gave ? SrivaishNava (A) (C) Ramanuja’? of as ‘shadow Who was known This work by Swami Ramanuja details the mode of worship of of worship mode of the details Ramanuja Swami by This work the Lord. Grantha Nithya (A) NityaPadi(C) GadyaThraya (B) NooRRandAdi? Ramanuja author of Who is the 6000Padi (D) Koorathazhvan (A) Nammazhvar (C) (B) Sri RamanujaWho blessed with the title “Emperumanar”. (D) Thiruvarangaththu-AmuthanAr Alavandar (A) (C) Nambi (B) (A) Thirukkurungudi (A) (B) (D) Thirunarayanapuram Kancheepuram (C) with Acharya Who is the only devasthanam Thirupati Thirumala MAmunigaL Manavala (B) Alavandar (A) Ramanuja (C) Ranganatha both hisLord Sri worldssubmitted (vibhUthis: nityaand leelA) gaveofand the authority granting to moksha Desikan Vendanta (D) this Acharya Ramanuja (A) Bhattar Parasara (C) MAmunigaL Manavala (D) Ramanuja of Pavithram and to be daNdam, Who are considered Nampillai (B) Koorathazhvan (A) (C) Mudali-Andan (B)

11. 12. 8. 9. 10. 5. 6. 7.

36

35 Mukundan Pattangi Pattangi Mukundan i – birthday– i – on April 25, 2004. right in front of the temple. One

SWAMI RAMANUJA Thiruchchendur too. too. Thiruchchendur parama padam (srI vaikunTham)? Is this the place where where place the this Is When Swami Ramanuja this place for visited the first time vaikunTham)? burst and he was enchanted and town, river and he saw the (srI of outskirts the Is this Thirunagari? this “Is joy in out padam parama benefit for the Vedas the secrets of revealed SaTakOpan all of mankind?.” of When the great Tamil poet Kamban sang his songs in front his songs in front When the great Tamil poet Kamban sang by asked he was first time, for the Perumal of Periya our SaTakOpan?” not sing about “Why did you Perumal takes of Azhvar singing praise being, (The message perumAL) about periya even singing precedence over Azhvar Thirunagari is in southern Tamilnadu, in Thirunelveli in Thirunelveli Tamilnadu, in southern is Thirunagari Azhvar VEDICS QUIZ ON Who is the First Acharya (PrathamAcharya) for us? for (PrathamAcharya) Acharya Who is the First Narayana Sriman Lord (A) Ramanuja (C) Nammazhvar (B) firstWho is the Acharya on this(Bhu-lOka) Earth Desika Vendanta (D) Nammazhvar (B) Narayana Sriman Lord (A) Ramanuja (C) Who is the First Acharya,who made these teachings available to interested. those all Desikan Vendanta (D) Narayana Sriman Lord (A) Ramanuja (C) Nammazhvar (B) here (Hence, place at this to Ramanuja Sishya a Lord became Nambi) Lord obtained the name Vaishnava Desikan Vendanta (D)

(v) (vi) 1. 2. 3. 4. can reach this kshEtram from can reach this Location: stop from Thirunelveli Buses district. Editor’s note: It isthat we can our good fortune bring you this quiz focused on our jagadAcharya commemorate rAmAnuja, his swami to tiru-nakshatram on chitra tiruAdhira answers. multiple have questions Some

$5000 $5000 [email protected] Srimad Srirangam Andavan Andavan Srirangam Srimad Sishyas Sishyas Sirupuliyur Sishya Sirupuliyur Chicago Vedics Chicago Vedics Detroit Vedics Sishyas Sishyas

the time before s/he got to know

or send mail to: mail to: send or

A GEM FROM SWAMI NAMPILLAI www.vedics.net support One time Recently supported special projects supported Recently Swamigal. R.Kannan Sri Trust, Charitable Andal Sri $1000 From the U.S, far away from India, yet you can still make a difference. a difference. still make you can India, yet from far away From the U.S, Vedics His causes. for money His spend and flow, to Grace His Allow need. in- temples- and devotees willing between bridge a as serves Details: Ther ThiruKoodaloor Samprokshanam:$5000 $2050 and DwajaSthambam Kancheepuram, dhoothar, Sri renovations. Gopuram. Sannidhi, Govindarajar Sri $2500 support maintenance Monthly viNNagaram arimEya thiru Thirunangur Thirunangur thiru-k-kAvaLampAdi Kandhadai Kovil Sri Thirusirupuliyur thiru-siRu-puliyUr Kandhadai Kovil Sri ) (Near thiru-k-kUdalur Kanchipuram dhUthar pANdava Vedics Chicago ThiruvaliThirunagari Emperumanar & ThirumangaiAzhvar BhavishyadAchArya Azhvarthirunagari Swami Nampillai,greatus the grandgave teacher the commentary who is VaishNava a of quality “The – devotees his to said on thiruvAimozhi of all for wasting sorrow feel (i) to aboutserving the Lord and and Him, started (ii) futurewaste the not using Lord thereby the the current time andall future serving (i.e.spend the time productively). 38 Thirunangur thiru-maNi-k-koodam Andavan Srirangam Srimad 37 Mukundan Pattangi Pattangi Mukundan tees to have a divine darshan but a divine darshan but tees to have

compared to Devaki who gave birth carnations of Ramanuja? VEDICS SERVICES Dream a little. Do a little ” is an intiative to help our temples by restoring basic basic by restoring help our temples to an intiative ” is 500 per month) per month (Rs. 5000 per month) we have a divine divine per month) we have a (Rs. 5000 per month Adisesha Adisesha (B)

$100 (A) (C) What are the other names of Ramanuja? Nammazhvar (D) aNNan. Koil (B) IlayazhvAr (A) muni Vara Vara (D) (C) Yathiraja (A) Embar Embar (A) (C) KoorathAzhvan Bhattar (B) VaraVaramuni (D) What are the previous in

14. 13. devotees (Rs: 2 devotees (Rs: Serve our Temples Serve

services, food, shelter, education, financial independence independence financial education, shelter, food, services, for His resources us to use allows He - As do, we must" "What we can temples so many are there in India, home like us. Back Him via devotees to lack of due primarily services, and their basic needs deprived of funds. With gallopingprices, temple assets stripped, little or no government support, the temples it as difficult have never found to basic deprived of Most of the temples are as they have now. sustain . daily of minimum performance the unhindered necessities for for open and clean the premises prayers and keep offer One priest to 1. new a hundred building than better is temple ancient an Maintaining why Yashoda who brought up Sri ones. That is one of the reasons attained greater eminence Krishna, is all the more the service to Him. When the temple is a Divyadesam, significant. “ 2. Food, Oil, Flowers (Rs 2500 per month) 2500 per (Rs Flowers Oil, Food, 2. With just opportunity to serve a temple. It is the solemn duty to preserve the devo day for current temple not only also for future generations. Event Event Event Madhurakavi Azhvar, Azhvar, Madhurakavi Thirunakshatram Anandazhvan Star Star Star Krutthikai Akshaya Truteeyai Truteeyai Navami Akshaya Krutthikai Thirunakshatram Thirunakshatram Ramanujar ThiruAdhirai Srirama Muthaliyandan Srirangam Makham

Utthiram Srivaishnava Ekadasi Ekadasi Srivaishnava Utthiram Paurnami Chitthirai SwAthi Chitra VishAkham

Lunar Lunar Lunar Lunar Lunar Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar Calendar Panguni 19 Ayilyam 21 Panguni Pooram Panguni 22 Sarva Ekadasi Utthiram 26 Panguni Vedupari Thirunagari VishAkam Panguni Uttharam 1 Chitthirai ThiruvONam 3 Chitthirai Sathayam Chitthirai 10 Ekadasi Sarva Chitthirai 13 Chitthirai 14 Chitthirai 17 Chitthirai 19 Chitthirai 21 Chitthirai 22 Chitthirai 23 1 Vaikasi PooraTTAdhi 2 Vaikasi UttharaTTAdhi 9 Vaikasi Ekadasi Srivaishnava ThiruAdhirai 17 Vaikasi Hastham Ekadasi 19 Vaikasi VishAkam SEvai, Kanchi GaruDa

CALENDAR - SECOND QUARTER 2004 CALENDAR - SECOND Date Date Date Apr 2004 May 2004 Jun 2004 40 04/03/04 04/03/04 04/04/04 04/08/04 04/13/04 04/15/04 04/22/04 04/25/04 04/26/04 04/29/04 05/01/04 05/03/04 05/04/04 05/05/04 05/14/04 05/15/04 05/22/04 05/30/04 06/01/04 39 Harini Raghavan . The website has been been website has . The llery. The gallery contains pictures pictures contains gallery llery. The ryas life along with their photo. history of Swami Mudaliandan. It Mudaliandan. history of Swami

IN FOCUS addressed, was comparedto the ent places where the thirumaligais are are where the thirumaligais ent places ) of Mudaliandan Acharya lineage are Mudaliandan ) of (the lotus feet of Swami Ramanuja). Ramanuja). Swami of feet lotus (the thaniyans WEBSITE Azhvars and some Acharyas. Acharyas. some and Azhvars Yathiraja Paduka

created by the disciples of Mudaliandan Swami thirumaligai to convey convey to thirumaligai Swami Mudaliandan of disciples the by created Acharya. of their the greatness The site hosts a section about the covers the salient pointslifeSwamisand is a good read offor one to get a in born to be fortunate are who Those greatness. Acharyas this taste for Mudaliandan’s Swami on details the all find can lineage Swamis thirumaligai here. It lists the differ ( verses Salutary located. also present here. Bhayankaram Prativadi Sri by discourse the is site of this The highlight has The discourse Swami. on Sri Mudaliandan Swami Annangarchariar to relish. for everyone to English been translated The site boasts an extensive photo ga and the differentof the Lord Acharyaspresent in the thirumaligai. It also all the of hosts pictures Swami here are on Swami Ramanuja, The other notable sections sections these All Azhvars. the all and Kurathazhvan Mamuni, Manavala the Acha from aspects salient contain we recommend thisIn summary site anyone for who wants to get a taste Swami of For all the sishyas greatness. Mudaliandan’s of Swami Swamis about information valuable holds this Mudaliandan thirumaligai. to Swami Mudaliandan, issue is dedicated The website reviewed in this as known also as he’s affectionately AnDAn, is website of this The url swami Ramanuja. of staff) “tridandam”(holy http://www15.brinkster.com/mudaliandan

Anand Srinivasan COLORING PAGE

42

41 mAnuja with his most favoritemAnuja Nammazhvar Thirunakshatram Thirunakshatram Nammazhvar du). Festivals are shown based on shown based are Festivals du).

CHILDRENS SECTION CHILDRENS SECTION Vaikasi 20 Vaikasi Anusham 31 Vaikasi Ashvini Ani 1 Thirunakshatram Bhattar Ani 5 Krutthikai Ekadasi Ani 14 ThiruAdhirai Ani 16 SwAthi Anusham Thirunakshatram PeriyAzhvar Thirunakshatram NAthamunigal

the time in India,result,as 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 in is followed that calendar based on the are listed The festivals Na Tamil (Triplicane, Thiruvallikkeni NOTE for humanity vision rAmAnuja’s swami that We believe Note: Editorial joy of terms ofinconsistent the offers a lifestyle, is complete one that of part As and practice. in concept unparallelled a philosophy living children for section a on embarking we are vision, this introducing Acharyas to those young, and Azhvars our which introduces by young assimilated easily a framework minds in impressionable color our children than have more rewarding could be What children. Sri Here, beloved of Acharyas? of our most thirumEni the and beautify rA swami has shown Anand Srinivasan (mElkOTE). thirunArAyaNapuram at selvappiLLai 06/02/04 06/13/04 06/15/04 06/19/04 06/28/04 06/30/04

Not just that,

(sarvajnya bhaTTa sarvajnya scholar called a great time, same the At having vanquished omniscient), who knows everything, means one in being into many debates, was scholar ushered many a knowledgeable a palanquin. on Rangam Sri in Ramanuja swami engage to desire a with Rangam Sri to come had He and supremacy. prowess prove his intellectual on the Sastras, to a debate The littlesaw child Parasara this spectacle enquiredwho he and as to knowledge, supreme to claims bhaTTa’s of sarvajnya told He was was. debate. a in Ramanuja swami to vanquish desire and his to carry were required bhaTTa by sarvajnya vanquished whosoever were him on the palanquin!!! of likes by the environs populated amidst raised The child Parasara, was Kurathazhvan, swami and Mudaliandan swami Ramanuja, swami duel. a verbal to him and challenged arrogance, scholars this by irked 44

43

to be denied in this context is Tar, was exultingly referred to as referred exultingly was Tar, nce in the lifeof swami parAsara eal blend of joyous service at the at the service of joyous blend eal Illustrations by Sri Anand Srinivasan Sri Illustrations by PARASARA BHATTAR AN INCIDENT FROM THE LIFE OF SWAMI THE LIFE OF SWAMI AN INCIDENT FROM sway. glory held and fame Ramanuja’s when swami time the This was the id Rangam represented Sri in Life couple. the divine and Ramanuja feet of swami Parasara Bhattar,year the five old child prodigy of Kurathazhvan and Cauvery of river the banks sands along on the playing Andal, was children. other alongside a veritable is (preceptors) of AchAryas lineage The srI vaishNava than the other in greater one seemingly of invaluable gems, garland to a willingness and compassion knowledge, scholarship, erudition, Swami in this lineage, One of the AchAryAs share their treasure. parASara bhaTTar, isattributed a particularlylevel highintellect of and and shastric insight intelligence, whose bhaTTar, parAsara SrI brilliance. of our hearts the in place a special held unparalleled, wisdom was jagadAchArya swami rAmAnuja,and not bhaT parAsara Swami that fact the also inimitable of that association) desire, son by (a putra ‘abhimAna the ranga and raja ranga srI archAvatArams, all of emperor the couple, nAyaki!! an incide The pictorial belowdescribes fore. to brought were talents prodigious his wherein bhaTTar,

www.chinnajeeyar.org Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji HH Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana

46 45

?” n with intellectual giants such as ild Parasara to step down for the to ild Parasara , placed him on the palanquin and the palanquin him on , placed e moment. What was he to say, a moment. What was he to say, e

swami Ramanuja himself!! Ramanuja swami d to debate swami Ramanuja debate d to Sarvajnya bhaTTa, with a condescending attitude,agreed to the duel, asked by the ch and was consequently duel. Parasara pickedup some sandinhis handfrom the banksof river sand how much me you tell “can bhaTTa asked sarvajnya and Cauvery, hand?” my in is there one no thought, he something, was Here floored. was bhaTTa Sarvangya out on the spur of th could figure million? or ten sand of particles or a million sand of particles thousand what to say. not knowing speechless, He stood there, even who cannot ‘For someone him, The child parAsara admonished figure out that this is a fistfulsand, ofyou claim how can to know be qualifie everything or

Sarvajnya bhaTTa was not only humbled, but was the awestruck by is your child ‘Who the He asked intelligence. five-year-old’s refulgent ‘Kurathazhvan’. said and Parasara father?’ year five a if that realized bhaTTa sarvajnya decimated, arrogance His of kind this displayed Cauvery, banks of on the old child, playing situatio be the would what intelligence, or Mudaliandan Kurathazhvan up Parasara picked He immediately Kurathazhvan. of swami to the residence the palanquin himself carried

) mAL, Thirupputkuzhi

eera Adai sEvai (darshan in wet clothes eera Adai sEvai (darshan Sri Vijayaraghavap peru

48

47

Annan Koyil Emperumanar

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: Bhagavad Gita - English HH. Tridandi Srimannarayana Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami MEDITATION Meditate on the beauty of God, atleast thrice a day, atleast a minimum of 3 minutes each time. Chant Sri Vishnu 1st Sunday and 3rdunday 7:45pm CST: Sahasranamam (the 1000 Holy Names of Lord Vishnu) once a day. Sri Vachana Bhooshanam - Tamil HH Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami RESPECT FOR ALL THAT IS HIS Strive to lead a life in which you will never hurt a fellow living being for any reason. 1st & 3rd Sunday 11AM CST: Srimad Bhagavatham - Telugu MONEY Sri U.Ve. Satuluri Gopala Krishnamacharyulu Earn to live, educate, support and serve and not for the sake of pursuing materialistic desires.

2nd Saturday 10AM CST: Siria ThiruMadal - Tamil CHARITY Sri U.Ve. M.A Venkatakrishnan Swami Donate however little it may be to noble causes.

Feeding the needy is the highest form of charity.

3rd Saturday: 9AM CST: Athimanusha Sthavam- Tamil CONTENTMENT Sri U.Ve Elayavilli S Bhoovarahan Swami Be happy and content that you are His. Thank your preceptors at least

once a day for you with this awareness.

Tuesdays: 10 PM CST: ABSOLUTE FAITH Sri Krishnamachari Swami Thiruvaimozhi Santhai 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. Latest updates : www.vedics.net

For more details email: [email protected]

Always adorn a peaceful smile; it will work on others and on you too