SrI: SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama: Dearest all, Let us continue to enjoy the acharya paramparai. After Sriman Nathamuni, Sri Pundareekakshar [also called as Uyyakkondaar], Sri Raamamisrar also called as maNakkaal nambhi], we have Swami Yamunamuni or Sri Alavandhaar in our Acharya parampara. SrI YAmunAchArya- also called as SrI Alavandhaar- His period was from year 917 CE to 1042 CE. (about 125 years). He was the Grandson of "thaaLam vazhagith thamizh maRai innisai thandha vaLLal"- Sri Nathamuni. YAmunAchArya is the grand -Acharya (PrAchAryA ) of Ramanujacharya (1017 AD to 1137 CE). He clearly established the principles of VisishtAdhvaita as an expansion of the doctrines housed in his grandfather's treatises and elaborated on those doctrines with authoritative scriptures such as Sruthis, Bhagavadh Gita , AzhwAr's pAsurams and Selected SAtvikaPurAnAs. Swamy Desikan says in YathirAja Sapthathi: Vighaahe Yaamunam Theertham Saadhu Brindaavane Stitham | NirasthaJih Magha Sparse Yatra Krishnah Kritaa Dharah || We shall bathe in the holy waters of Yamuna (Alavandhaar), who has severed all connections with mean passions and attachment, who stood steadfast in safeguarding the Saadhus, and in whom the things emphasised by Krishna were present perfectly. (A second meaning: We shall bathe in the holy waters of Yamuna river, form which poisonous snake had been removed, which is close to Brindhavanam, and in which Krishna was interested.) Alavandar who learned Vedantha Arthas at the feet of MaNakkaal Nambi was not only the one residing on the banks of Yamuna (Yamunai thuRaivan) by name but was also like the clear flowing waters of the river Yamuna. Lord Krishna got rid of the cruel Kaalinga from the river and made its water pure and clear for all to drink. He was most delighted when he played with the Gopis of Brindavanam in the Yamuna waters. Likewise, Alavandar vanquished those who misinterpreted the Vedas and established Vedanta Siddhanta. Just as one can derive supreme pleasure by bathing in the holy waters of Yamuna, one can enjoy supreme Bhagavad Gunanubhava by immersing in the lucid granthas of Yaamuna Once an arrogant vidwAn by name Akkiyalvan was challenging and humiliating learned men. Yamuna (as a 16 year old boy) accepted the challenge and went to the court to argue with him. The queen was so impressed with the boy that she told the king and pursuaded him to give away half the kingdom if he won in the debate and offered herself to be thrown to wild dogs, if the boy failed. Akkiyalvan asked the boy to state three propositions positive or negative which he offered to counter. And, if he could not, the boy would be declared the winner. Yamuna asked (or stated) three statements. He asked Akkialwan to counter. (i) Your mother is not a barren woman- Naturally he could not counter saying that his mother is a barren woman (he is very much standing in front of Yamunacharya). (ii) The king is a righteous and powerful ruler - Obviously he can not afford to counter this. and ( iii ) The queen is a model of chastity. - oh no! Never can he counter this. Akkialvan accepted defeat and the King now asked Yamuna to disprove his own statements. Yamuna clarified by observing the following:- (i) The sacred laws say that an only son is no son at all. So, Akkiyalvan's mother was as good as barren in the eyes of the law. ( ii ) The king cannot be called righteous when he entertained such an arrogant person to be his chaplain and his not dismissing the chaplain showed that the king was indeed powerless. ( iii ) According to the Sruti texts, every woman is wedded first to Soma, then Gandharva and then Agni before marrying her earthly partner. The queen was no exception and therefore cannot be deemed a model of chastity. (This is only to drive home a point that logic can not be the solution fully. One needs to fall back on Saasthras and Sruthi/Smrthis for praMANams.) The King sent Akkiyalvan out of his kingdom and gave Yamuna half his kingdom. The queen hailed the boy as "Alavandhaar"- One who came to save me.. How the king was changed due to the mercy of his grandfather Sriman Nathamuni through the krupa deed of Sri Raamamisrar [MaNakkaal Nambhi]- [as seen earlier in the post] He is the one who composed the earliest Stotras of Srivaishnava Sampradayam: He wrote the following works great in content and yet lucid. (1) chathuslOki (2) StOtra Ratnam (3) Siddhitrayam consisting of (i) AtmaSiddhi. (ii) Samvitasiddhi and (iii) Iswara Siddhi (4) Agama Pramanya (5) Maha Purusha Nirnayam (6) Gitartha Sangraha (7) Nityam (8) Maayaa Vaadha Khandanam [Extract from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swami?s write up on Acharya vamsa vruksham] [From asmadhAcharyan?s Tamil commentary of Swamy Desikan?s YathirAja Sapthathi ? translated into English by Sri CG Balaji Swami]- During the incarnation of Kannan in this world, he was met by one of the ancestors of Nathamuni, who asked Kannan the means to elevate oneself out of the samsaric affliction. He was then asked by Kannan to perform aradhanam (worship) to his vigraham (idol), which the devotee promptly did. This vigraham of Kannan, which came down as a familial treasure was worshipped by Sriman Nathamuni and later by Ishwara bhatta and Alavandar. Manakkal nambi thus taught all the shastras and Vedantha to Yamunacharya. Manakkal nambi informed Yamunar that the bhakti yogam of Nathamuni is available with Kurugai Kaavalappan and ordained him to obtain initiation into Yoga from him. Yamunar immediately proceeded to meet Kurugai Kavalappan, who was immersed in deep meditation (yoga). Not wanting to disturb his penance, Yamunar went and sat behind him. Kurugai kavalappan woke up from his penance after a little while and enquired ?Are there anyone from chottai kulam here? Alavandar immediately came in front of him with folded hands and prostrated in front of him. Addressing himself as adiyen, he then inquired with curiosity as to how Swamy knew that he had come. To this Kurugaikavalappan replied that during his yoga, Kannan withdrew His attention from him and looked behind him. He continued saying that none other than a scion of chottai-kulam would Kannan bestow such anugraham on. Having considered this great an anugraham and affection of Kannan on Alavandar, Swamy Deshikan says, ?yathra Krishna: kruthAdhara: Swamy continues saying that, just as how we dip in the holy waters of Yamuna flowing through Brindavanam, which has been the recipeint of Kannan?s endearment, to wash away all our sins, so do we pray to this great acharya Yamunar by immersing ourselves in the flood of his divine qualities and glories, who has been a recipient of Kannan?s divine anugraham and who subdued the serpents propagating other philosophies and who guarantees definite protection to innumerable flocks of devotees. Sri Alavandhar's naichyAnusanthAnam (feeling lowly nature of oneself- the jIvAthma as compared to the Lord's Greatness, KalyANa guNAs) is very beautifully reflected in SthOthra Rathnam (total 65 slokas in this work- reported to be an elaborate reflection of Dwayam). They are more appropriate and applicable to us (and not Sri Alavandhar). He has composed for us only. Aparaaadha-sahasra-bhaajanam patitam bhiima-bhavaarnav'odare; agatim saran'aagatam hare! krpayaa kevalam aatmasaat kuru. Oh SrI Hari! pray, make me your own out of sheer grace - me, who has fallen into the depths of the terrible ocean of worldly existence, and who, being resortless, have sought refuge at your feet. amaryAdha: Kshudra: chalamadhi: asUyAprasavabhU: kruthagnO dhurmAni smara paravasO vanchanapara: nrusamsa: pApishta: kathamahamithO dukkajaladhE : apArAth uttheerNa: tava paricharEyam charanayO : What a soul stirring sloka! One can not but cry reciting this, (imagining himself as the hero of the sloka) AlavandhAr describes himself as: amaryAdha: - one who has crossed the bounds of established rules Kshudra: - engaging in trivial /worldly /material/sensual pursuits chalamadhi:- never steady; (chanchalam), fickle mind asUyA prasava bhU : Place where jealousy is born kruthagana: Ungrateful one dhurmAnee:- ill feelings towards fellow human beings; smara paravasa : Fallen into the gamut of desires and sensual impluses vanchanapara: skillfully deceiving others (at cheating others ) nrusamsa: - engaging in violent acts paapishta: ( Incorrigible sinner - mahA paapi Swamy Alavandhaar's works are the ones which give us crystal clear jnAnam about our unparalleled unambiguous VisishtAdvaita Srivaishnava philosophy, the presence of which can never take us to the wrong roads. After taking so many countless births, We, (dAsars (servants) of Sri Alavandhar), who have been blessed to be born (due to the limitless, unconditional grace of the Lord Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan) as Srivaishnava in this birth, and have realized and taken up the prapatti maargam (due to the nirhEthuka krupA of the Lord), who are bequeathed with such Great Acharyan, YamunAchAryan, the learning of whose SrI sukthis enable us to know the tatvatrayam crystal clear and upAyam and upEyam (means and goal) perfectly, and keep us reminded of the same always, will never ever read (hereafter) works of those who belong to other religions. Says Swamy Desikan in Adhikaara sangraham. neeLa vandhu inRu vidhivagaiyaal ninaivonRiya naam/ meeLavandhu innum vinai udambu onRil vizhundhu uzhalaa(dhu) ALavandhaar ena venRu aruL thandhu viLangiya seer/ Alavandhaar adiyOm padiyOm ini alvazhakkE. Alavandhaar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam asmadhAchArya paryanthAm vandhE GuruparamparAm Regards namo narayana dAsan ____________________________________________________________________________________ Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/newmail_tools.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:SriRangaSri-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mailto:SriRangaSri-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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