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SrI:
SrImathE Goapladesika mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Ranganathadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Gopalarya Mahadesikaya Namah:

Dearest all,

On February the 14th, asmadhAchAryan His Holiness
Srimad PaRavakkOTTai Andavan Swami has completed 25
years of SanyAsa Ashramam and the sishyas and
abhimaanais have taken this glorious opportunity to
celebrate this divine event of Swami's ascent to
Acharya Peetam as a grand function in Srirangam at the
ashramam premises. 

adiyEn had already sent the invitation and is attached
under files section in SriRangaSri groups. This whole
series on Acharya vaibhavam is being sent everyday to
commemorate this divine celebration as a token of our
gratitude to Swami. adiyEn would continue till 74th
post [to align with Yathiraja Saptathi] and send my
rambling as usual as a part of this series. 

adiyEn requests all bhAgwathas and their families to
attend this function and receive the benign blessings
of His Holiness

Let us enjoy asmadhAchAryan life history here in this
post. [extract from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swami's
Acharya vamsa vruksham write up]

SRIMAD ANDAVAN - PRAKRITAM ACHARYA (THE PRESENT
PONTIFF) (PARAVAKKOTTAI SRI GOPALA DESIKA MAHA
DESIKAN) (Panguni- Rohini) 

Born in the year Roudri on the 2nd day of Panguni
under the star of Rohini, corresponding to 17th March
1921 in the Mazhaiyur village as the son of Sri
Venkatachar Swami and Janaki Ammaal, the daughter of
Puraanam Vidwan Sri Kuppuswami Iyengar Swami. (*The
village was gifted to the forefathers of this family
about 6 generations earlier. From that time onwards
the further generations of the family had been living
there*) 

Srimad Andavan was named Rajagopalan after the
presiding deity of Mannargudi temple which at the time
of his birth was celebrating the Tiru Ther (car)
festival. Paravakkottai Sri Venkatachariar Swami was a
pious scholar belonging to Vadhula Gotram Kandaadaiyar
family who fashioned his life strictly according to
the prescribed rules for a Sri Vaishnava. He had
received instruction in Rahasya Traya Sara at the feet
of Poundarika Puram Srimad Andavan. His elder brother,
(*Sri Chakravarthi Aachariar* ), also had been
performing Biksha services to Srimad Andavan. 

When child Rajagopalan was 2 years old, his mother
died and two aunts from Thillaiambur came to look
after the child. After the Upanayana Samskara, Sri
Rajagopalan was placed under Mannargudi Sri Srinivasa
Gopalachariar for Vedic instruction 

Later, he joined K.R.M. Estate Paatasaala and studied
Sanskrit poetry under a distinguished Vidwan Peruga
Vaazhndaan Sri Krishnamachariar Swami. Owing to the
hard discipline of the teacher, the pupil was able to
acquire proficiency in Sanskrit. 

Later, the boy was admitted into the Sanskrit college
at Sholinga Puram by Sri A.R.Krishnamachariar Swami
who also instructed him in Champu literature. Because
of the boy_s proficiency in Sanskrit,(* in 1936*), he
was admitted into the 3rd Year class in the Sanskrit
College, Tirupathi, in which he studied hard for 6
years. When he returned to Thillaiambur, during the
summer holidays, he did not waste a single moment; he
used the occasion to study Granthas under Vidwan Sri
Venkatachariar Swami. 

During his stay at the Sanskrit college, he had as
class mates or College mates some of the distinguished
scholars of the present time, such as PURISAI
KRISHNAMA CHARIAR Swami, the Editor of Nrisimhapriya,
VILLIVALAM SRI NARAYANA CHARIAR SWAMI a great scholar
and brother of the present 45th Pontiff of Ahobila
Mutt and Mylapore Sri Srinivasachariar who later set
up a Publishing house _*Sarasa Kala Nilayam*) solely
for the purpose of printing and publishing the works
of our great Acharyas like (*Melpakkam
Narasimhachariar, Marudur A.R.Krishnama chariar* ).
Sri Rajagopalan moved with these persons intimately,
true to the saying _ Birds of the same feather flock
together. (*When he was just 12 years old, he had his
Samasrayanam and Bharanyasam done by the Great
Poundarikapuram Andavan himself* ). 

Having lost the mother at a tender age, child
Rajagopalan had to perform the mother_s annual
Sraddha. He lived such a pure and disciplined life in
strict conformity with Sri Vaishnava tradition as to
win the awe and regard of the learned Srivaishnavas of
Thillaiambur. They regarded him as another VASISHTA
and would not do or say anything unorthodox during the
Sraddha. (*.He would never take Paraannam (food
outside) even from his childhood *) 

Two days before Rajagopalan_s father attained the
lotus feet of the Lord, he had advised his son to do
Vedaanta Kalakshepam under the feet of the Jeeyar of
Parakaala Mutt. An obedient son that he was, Sri
Rajagopalan went to Mysore and studied under Srimad
Abhinava Ranganatha Parakaala Swami such branches of
knowledge as Grantha Chatushtayam. 

Later, he learnt under Deekshachar Swami, Nyaya
Siddhanjanam, Tattva Muktaa Kalaapam and Nyaaya
Parisuddhi and returned to Thillaiambur in 1947. 

The Swami Participated in six examinations in Vedantha
Sastras conducted by _Vedaanta Desika Vichaara Sadas_
under the direction of the Jeeyar of Parakaala Mutt.
He also passed the Purva and Uttara parts of our
Vedanta in the examination conducted by _Mysore
Maharaja Vidwat Pariksha_. 

Later, he entered Grihastaasramam marrying Lakshmi,
the eldest daughter of Tiruk Kudanthai Aarupaathi
Setlur Sri Srinivasachariar Swami, who was a strict
follower of Vaishnava Aachaaram and had done Vedantha
Kalakshepam. The couple was blessed with five sons and
a daughter. 

After getting employed as a Sanskrit Pandit at Musiri,
Sri Rajagopalachariar Swami used to visit Srirangam in
connection with the affairs of the Asramam, which was
always uppermost in his mind.. On such occasions he
would call on Sri Madurantakam Vira Ragahavachariar
Swami and cultivate his acquaintance. (* Whenever he
prostrated at the feet of Madurantakam Swami, the
latter would do _ Prathivandanam_. Our Swami felt
embarrassed and hit up on a plan to stop the
_Prathivandanam_. So, he submitted that that he had
not been initiated into Vaisvadevam and requested
Madurantakam Swami to initiate him. This done, the
Madurantakam Swami had become his Acharyan also and
there was no way for him to do _Prathivandanam_
anymore !*) From the distinguished scholar and Vidwan,
he received Vaisva deva Upadesam, for which he fell
prostrate at the feet of the Madurantakam scholar. The
latter did not relish such respect offered to him and
felt extremely uncomfortable. 

At the age 59, Sri Rajagopalachariar Swami accompanied
by his family proceeded to Kshetraadanam bathing in
the Narmada, Ganga, Triveni Confluence and afterwards
offered worship at Gaya, Haridwar and Bhadarikasramam.
Then he went to Ahobilam where he participated in the
10 days Utsavam of Lord Nrisimha and returned to
Musiri. 

TAKING HOLY ORDER Srimad Vennatrankarai Andavan was
keen and anxious to nominate a successor so that the
Muni Traya Munirupa tradition could be continued
without break in the Acharya line. He used to sound
the Srikaryam Sri Rajagopala Iyengar about this and
persuaded him to assume the Sannyasa Asrama. One day,
on the spur of the moment, he called the Srikaryam and
administered Presha Mantram, Prapatti Yogam, Sannyasa
Anushtaana Kramam and Ashrama Sweekaara-Kramam. The
day before he merged with Jyoti, he called Sri
Rajagopala Swami and gave him the ochre
robes,(*Avakundanam, Jala Pavitram, Sikhyam, Kavacha
Vastrams etc.*) and staff as well as the keys of the
Asramam and commanded that he should assume the role
of the Acharya in a year or two. And, for more than a
year and a half the Ashramam remained without an
Acharya. 

Owing to the appeal and entreaties of many eminent
persons such as the late lamented 44th Jeeyar of
Ahobila Mutt, Ubhaya Vedaanta NAVANEETHAM RAMA DESIKA
CHARIAR SWAMI, MADURANTAKAM SRI VEERA RAGHAVACHARIAR
SWAMI,(*Mannargudi M.S. Rangachariar Swami,
Vennatrankarai Velaamur Sowriraja Iyengar * ) and a
host of others, the Srikaryam Sri Rajagopala Swami
occupied the Peetam of the Acharya in a picturesque
ceremony held at Vennar Bank, Thanjavur. The place
appropriately chosen for this solemn purpose is
twice-blessed. Three of the 108 Divya Desas lie here
close to each other; it is the native place of
Vennatran Karai Srimad Andavan and the resting place
of Veliyanallur Srimad Andavan; it is further
sanctified by its association with three of our
Purvaacharyas- Sri Nainar Acharya, Brahma Tantra
Swatantra Swami and Saakshaat Swami. The Asrama
Sweekaranam took place on 20th February 1982, Dwadasi
day of Masi month in the cyclic year Dunmathi, when he
assumed the new name _ SRIMAD GOPALA DESIKA MAHA
DESIKAN_. (*On the previous day , on Ekaadasi day, he
performed JEEVA SRAADDHA as ANNA SRAADDHA. As many as
16 scholars participated in the Nimantrana like U.V.
Madurantakam Vidwan Veeraraghavachariar Swami, Vidwan
Villupuram Madhavachariar Swami, AHOBILA MATAM
SRIKARYAM SWAMI, PERIYAASRAMAM U.V PADUKAA SWAMI,
Vaduvoor Salakshana Ganapaadigal who acted as
Brihaspathi, Bangalore Veda Vidwan Swachannam
Anantachariar who acted as Brahma* ) 

(*Throughout the night, he kept awake along with
others when Madurantakam Swami delivered discourses on
Satkatha and Vedantas. NEVER BEFORE IN THE ANNALS OF
ANY MATAM OR ASRAMAM WAS SUCH A JEEVASRAADDHAM HAD
BEEN PERFORMED.* ) (*The Parakaala Mutt Swami
presented as Hayagriva Prasadam a Kamandalu and
Kaashaayam* ) 

SRIMAD ANDAVAN?S MANY-SIDED SERVICES TO RELIGION
Shortly after taking charge of the Asramam, Srimad
Andavan who had spent long and laborious years in
_collecting_ Vedantic knowledge, was now called upon
by the 44th Jeeyer of Ahobila Mutt, to collect big sum
of money to meet the expenses for the construction of
the 12th tier of the Raja gopuram of Srirangam temple.
Undaunted, Srimad Andavan through the active help and
cooperation of his disciples(* like Tirumalaikattam
Villankuppam P.A.Ranganatha Tatachariar Swami of
Shenoynagar Amuda Mukunda Kalyana Mandapam* ) was able
to collect a sum of Rs.3,43,000/- which was presented
to Srimad Azhagiya Singhar. 

Srimad Andavan_s devotion to his and our Purvaacharyas
is too apparent to need any special mention. He
renovated the Brindavanam of Velianallur Sriman
Narayana Maha Desikan at Vennar Bank, erecting of four
pillared Mantapam and installing the idol of the
Acharya. (*He also raised a compound wall and an iron
fence all around the Mandapam* ) (*In 1989, the Swami
visited Vennatrankarai, where the local host, Sri
Sowriraja Iyengar honored him with Poornakumbham and a
heavy garland that adorned Neelameghap Perumal. It was
a sight for Gods to see * ) 

Under Srimad Andavan_s direction, Swami Desikar_s
shrine in East Uttara Street was completely renovated.
The Utsava idol of Lord Hayagriva, previously
worshipped by one Amma Sathram Seshachariar Swami was
handed over to the Asramam by his grandsons on June
13,1990. This idol as well as idols of Ashtabujan and
Vaikuntanathan were installed in the shrine. (*The
Asramam building as well as the Pushkarani were
renovated at a cost of Rs. 1.5 lakhs.* ) 

Under the patronage and Presidentship of the Acharya,
the _ Sat Sampradaaya Samrakshana Sabha_- registered
as a Society was founded in 1986 to foster FREE
Sanskrit education and offer FREE instruction in the
Vedas, Prabhandas and other Grantha Chatushtayams.. 

The Nitya Aradhana plan to provide uninterrupted
Aradhana in the Asramam was created with a deposit of
Rs.1,000 collected from each disciple. The amount
donated under the head has been deposited in the Bank
and the accruing interest is being utilized for the
administration of the Asramam. 

A revised edition of Rahasya Traya Sara was published
in 1990. Chillarai Rahasyangals of Swami Desika have
also been published by the Swami - in three parts.
Srimad Andavan has been imparting instruction to the
disciples through Kalakshepams. On such occasions, the
disciples have highly benefited by Srimad Andavan?s
approach, his mastery of the subject, the clarity of
thought and the ease with which he reduces any
complicated concept in philosophy or theology into
simple and clear terms. 

Swami?s Tanian reads as follows:- 
Srivaasa Ranga Parakaala Munitrayaabda Lakshmaatma 
Rakshana Yathitva Yugaaga Maantham / 
Achaarya Bhakthi Pari bhootham Anargha Seelam 
Gopaala Desika Munim Aasrayaamah // 

We seek refuge at the sacred feet of our revered
AchAryan ,Sri Gopala MahA Desikan , who received the
sacred rites of SamAsrayaNam , Bhara SamarpaNam ,
ThurIyAsramam and the wealth of Ubhaya VedAntham from
the three great AchAryAs , Srinivasa MahA Desikan ,
Sri Ranganatha MahA Deikan and ParakAla Matam Swami .
He shines with illustrious sadAchAram and is
resplendent with his limitless AchArya Bhakthi. 

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo narayana
dAsan



 
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