SrIman!SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinamsamvardhaya/
SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinamsamvardhaya//
KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava:/
SrI RanganAthO jayathu SrI Ranga SrIs cha
VardhathAm//
=====================================================================================================================SRI
RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 14 DATED 3RD AUGUST 2001
======================================================================================================================
SPECIAL ISSUE "KNOW THGIS ACHARYA"
CELEBRATING THE TIRUNAKSHATRAMS OF ?
 Sri Srinivasa Maha Desikan, founder of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan=
Ashramam Adi, Pooradam (2nd August 2001)
 Sri Yaamuna Muni, (Aalavandaar) Adi ? uttraadam (3rd August 2001) =
and
 Sri Padmavilochanar (Pundareekaakshar aka Uyyakkondaar
(Adi - Sravanam - 3rd August 2001)
=================================================================================================================================
EDITORIAL
Dear Bhagavatas:
IN THIS ISSUE:
With the kind permission of Sri Madhava Kannan Swami of Singapore,
one of the Chief Sishyas of Poundarikapuram Swami Ashramam and the Co-
ordinator of the Ashramam Kainkaryams in the Eastern hemisphere, We
are glad to present two of his excellent informative articles on the
founder of the Ashramam, Srimad Srinivasa Munigal.
The articles on Sri Pundareekakshar, and Sri Yaamuna Munigal are from
my series on "Acharya Vamsa Vriksham" housed in Saranagathi Journal
and archived at www.srivaishnava.org/sgati
{Pundareekakshar: Saranagathi Vol.1.007 d/ 22nd November 1997
Yamuna Muni: ibid. Vol.2.008 d/ 29th November 1997}
We are glad to inform you that the membership of Sri Ranga Sri has
risen to 600 mark thanks to the numerous members who have encouraged
their friends to join and / or recommended to us to include them in
our mailing list.
A REQUEST:
IF you are satisfied with the form and content of the Journal, please
spread the word among those interested and encourage them to join by
sending an email to ?
"Srirangasri_subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
Alternatively, You may suggest us the email addresses of friends,
who may be REALLY interested, so that we can directly add them to our
mailing list.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
Editor & Publisher
"Sri Ranga Sri"
=================================================================================================================================The
month of Adi is special. It is the first month of Dakshinaayanam,
which starts with "Adippandigai"- Adi festival. Among the Azhwaars,
Andal, an incarnation of Mother Earth (Bhoomi Devi) appeared as the
foster-daughter of Periyaazhwaar. Among the Acharyas, like the three
Mudal Azhwaars who were born on successive constellations, 3 great
Acharyas viz. Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Maha Desikan, Pundareekakshar
and Yamuna Muni and were born in Pooradam, Uttiradam and Tiruvonam
respectively.
>From Sri Madhava Kannan's posting:
SRIMAD SRINIVASA MUNI,
FOUNDER OF POUNDARIKAPURAM SWAMI ASHRAMAM
(Sri Madhava Kannan, Singapore)
SrImathE Goapladesika mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Ranganathadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Gopalarya Mahadesikaya Namah:
Sri Narayana Yogindra Varadaarya Kripaasrayam /
Rangesa Paada Vinatham Srinivaasa Munim Bhaje //
(Meaning)
"I hail Srinivasa Muni who obtained the full grace of Sri Narayana
Yogindra Varadaarya, who always bowed at the feet of Lord
Ranganatha".
It is pertinent to mention here of just two sweet anecdotes
illustrating Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Swamy's depth of
knowledge and a wealth of interpretations whether it be Swamy
Desikan's Srisukthis or Bhagavath Bhashyakarar's Sri Bhashya or Gita
Bhashya or any grantha whatsoever. The article will remain incomplete
without recalling these incidents. One relates to Sri CM
Vijayaraghachariar's personal experience.
Late one night at Srirangam, East Utthara Veedhi Sri
Vijayaraghavachariar while bringing back to his mind the explanation
of Acharya Srimad Andavan on the Abheethi sthava sloka 7:
`ramaa dhayitha rangabhUramaNa na thasya
yamavasyathaa narakapaatha bhIthi krutha:"
It proclaims Swamy Desikan's declaration of Lord Ranganatha's certain
protection to Prapannas from falling into the clutches of
Yamakinkaras if they chant this sloka.
Sri CMV Swamy could not digest it. He found it difficult to
understand as to how one sloka could be so specific to Sri
Ranganatha's protection! Perhaps, Swamy would have said this due to
Bhagavath Abhimaanam and abhimaanam towards Swamy Desikan's abhIthis
sthavam. Thus, he was pondering and was having a sleepless night.
Srirangam Divya Dampathi appeared in Acharya Srimad Andavans dream
and said,
"Your sishya has got a doubt on SrI Vedantha Desikans sthuthi on Us.
Go and explain the greatness and specialty of this sloka".
Within an hour, Srimad Andavan knocked at the door of Sri CM
Vijayaraghavachariar and right there at the door step, explained the
meaning of the sloka and the greatness of the compassion of Divya
Dampathi with tears rolling down his cheeks. This is a proof of his
depth and clarity and explains how Lord Himself was prathyaksham
(visible to his eyes) to him. Swamy Desikan has packed into this
Sloka all the Beejaaksharaas contained in the Praanaprathishta Mantra
and Saannidhyaachana mantra installation and energizing mantras
pertaining to Lord Ranganathan.
========================================================================================================«out
this Great mahaan, there are two Slokas composed by Sri RV
Krishnamachariar:
I am giving only the translation (Please forgive my translation as
well):
For those who take to sanyaas (renunciation), there could be many
reasons. Poverty, disinterest in samsaaric afflictions, mental
worries, non-cooperation from spouse etc. But, this Swamy (Sri
Poundarikapuram Andavan Swamy), had lot of wealth (inherited), an
extremely cooperative Pathivratha dEvigaL (spouse), and was himself a
great VidwAn of the first kind. Simply due to his vairAgyam alone, he
took to sanyaasaasramam.
What kind of vidvathvam he has!
He is PaNinI in vyAkaraNam.
GaNAdhar in mImAmsA.
Vedantha Desikan in Vedantha!
Those VidwAns and scholars who acknowledge the above whole heartedly
also do not speak in front of Him (with respect and fear- bhayam
kalandha mariyAdhai)
May He reside forever in the hearts of such Great scholars and
vidwAns! (in order to bless them as he does always!)
This day about one hundred and fifty five years ago, our land
witnessed the holy birth of a mahaan in Poundarikapuram; truly it was
an avtaar of Sriman Narayanan Himself, who out of His benevolence,
and sincere determination, Dhrida vratha, to save all human beings
comes into this world. And the Lord also chooses the time, the place
and the parents to take birth from. He preordains it all.
It was the day of days- Adi PoorAdam- Sowmya year, August 1847, a
child prodigy was born in Poundarikapuram village. This village
with its sylvan surroundings is very near to the famous Oppiliappan
Koil Divya Desam, whose praise has been sung by Peyazhwar, Nammazhwar
and Thirumangai Azhwar. Enjoying, so to say, the Divya kataaksha of
the Lord, this cozy village has been the birth of many great
personages. Among them were the couple- Sri Singaperumal Ayyangar, an
effulgent scholar and a man of unswerving principles of personal
practice and conduct and Smt Senkamalam Ammal, his wife. No wonder
that Sriman Narayanan chose to take His birth from this noble couple
as their seventh son and was named him after Lord Srinivasan. How so
true this about Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Mahadesikan
needs no elucidation to the Srivaishnava world, more so to those
unnumbered beneficiaries. This multifaceted genius was a repository
of erudite scholarship endowed with an uncommon acumen, which helped
not only acquisition of knowledge of Kaavyarthas, Saasthras,
Vedanthaarthas, Granthachathushtayam, besides the Vedas and the Divya
prabandhas but also in the exposition of these to a never ending
chain of disciples who flocked to him all the year around and down
the years.
A quick review of his biographical details will inform us how great
personages (in our Acharya parampara) are born great and tower far
above the commonality!
Young Srinivasan was given in adoption to his father's younger
brother. After his upanayanam at 7, he promptly sought to learn
Sanskrit from illustrious Sri Rangachariar Swami, father of reputed
Tharka scholar Sri Narasimhachariar. Soon followed his higher
education from mahavidwans like Ghattam Varadachariar Swamy, Sogathur
Vijayaraghavachariar Swami, Perumal koil Thirupputkuzhi Swami,
Kuricchi Rangachariar Swami at Mannargudi, and in matter of time, he
became an accomplished scholar, a mahaa vidwaan himself. having
mastered Alankaara saasthra, Tharkaam, vyAkaraNam, and mImAmsa
besides the Vedas and Prabandhams.
He had his Pancha samskaaram from Sri Ghattam Varadachariar Swami and
Vedantha Grantha kaalakshepam and BharasamapraNam at the feet of
Srimad Andavan VeliyanallUr Narayana Mahadesikan Swamy, an act
indicating possibly things to come, as later he succeeded Sri
Narayana Desika Mahadesikan Swamy. He undertook pilgrimages to all
divya desas from Tirupathi to Thiruvananthapuram. In due time, he
married Smt Komalavilli Ammal hailing from Vadakarai, a nearby
village and led his grihasthAsramam at Poundarikapuram in a manner
that was remarkable for its simplicity and austerity in spite of
belonging to a family as affluent materially as erudite in
scholarship.
When his (adopted) mother Srirangammal passed away, he migrated to
Srirangam and settled down there. He led his life strictly as
ordained by the elders, performing Pancha kaala kriyas, the
observance of which gives no room for accepting any material gift
whatsoever it be nor aspire of ill-gotten wealth. His scholarship and
mastery in Sahithya, Alankara, Tharkka, mImAmsA, Sri Bhsahya and
vyAkaraNa was legendary and little wonder that those who aspired to
gain knowledge of these sought after him and learnt at his Feet.
In good time, he heard the call, the divine call for taking up
sanyaasa Ashramam and to become a "light house, guiding the parched
souls tossed about in the samsaara saagara. It was a definite call
and he went and prostrated repeatedly at the feet of Srimad Andavan
Veliyanalloor Narayana Mahadesikan who after thorough scrutiny of his
disciple's genuineness, offered him upadesa of Presha mantra and
Prapatti Prayoga and admitted him to Sanyaasa Asramam, more fittingly
called ThurIya Asramam (the fourth stage). Thereafter he went to live
in the Srimad Andavan Asramam at Srirangam hallowed by the footprints
of Srimad PeriyANdavan and spent years there offering Samasrayanam,
BharaNyAsam, and daily kaalskhepa Goshtis to the innumerable
disciples thirsting spiritually.
But as there were hindrances to the peaceful functioning of Asramam,
he decided to move out of Srirangam itself so as to carry on with his
spiritual mission more effectively. When the disciples came to know
of this, they prevailed upon him to continue his stay at Srirangam.
Through their efforts, a separate Asrama was set up and it came to be
known as the "Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam", in the same line
of Srimad Periyandavan Guruparampara, verily because Sriman Narayana
willed it so there shall be another illustrious seat of munithraya
Sampradayam, to cater to the spiritual needs of the ever growing
Sishyavarga, ever seeking new nuances and creeping in to the crevices
of the Sampradaya. And so, from this center this great Acharya
traveled on foot across South India at the request of countless
disciples who considered that their places became sanctified by the
very touch of the Acharya's feet. Eventually he stayed at Srirangam
itself following the footsteps of Emeprumaanaar Sri Ramanujacharya.
Thus started a great era, a Saga of monumental service to the Lord.
Not a day passed without a Kaalakshepa Goshti in the Asramam. It
became the confluence of great minds seeking more and more
scholarship in Sribhashyam, Bhagavath vishayam, and all else with a
thirst and enthusiasm as witnessed never before.
Sri Poundarikapuram Swami had a large stock of affluence in his
grahasthAsramam. He left off all in his supreme self-denial and
became an ascetic by almost compelling his preceptor to grant him the
saffron robe. He swayed, as spiritual king, the Srirangam town for
almost five decades. He was no ordinary scholar, nor an ordinary
ascetic, nor even an ordinary pontiff at that. He taught many;
taught Sri Bhashya every day; believed that it was his chief goal
and inaugurated the present headquarters of the Asramam on the
banks of the Coleroon river, a few yards west of Sri
Dasavatharam Sannidhi (of Sri Ahobila Mutt).
A special kind of link between the Ahobila Mutt and Sri
Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam deserves mention in this connection.
Down from 1750 to this day the Acharya hierarchy is unbroken,
uniquely continuous in this Asramam. The Acharyas are also native to
the school; inbred and brought up by Kalakshapam / invitation by
earlier Pontiffs at some time. Once a gap occurred in the Ahobila
Mutt; for some five years (1900-1905). The Poundarikapuram
Andavan of this Asramam had proudly helped in securing a deserving
candidate and giving him Sannyasa order and installing him as the
Pontiff (the 38th). This happened in 1905.
Thus, from Srirangam, he continued his mission. The Asramam under Sri
Srinivasa Maha Desikan was a center of religious activities and
philosophical discussions. The Acharya was an erudite scholar in
Vedanta Sisters; he possessed an extraordinary power of mind by which
he could accurately recall any passage, slouch or Sutra with ease.
Many learned scholars came to study Adhyatma Sastras under his feet.
Apart from the saamaanya sishyas and countless extraordinary sishyas,
mention must be made of a few outstanding sishyas who distinguished
themselves by their startling mastery of the sampradaya granthas in
all their facets and left an indelible mark in the form of permanent
contributions to the growth and spread of the Munithraya sampradayam.
And thus the three Acahrays who succeeded him after, Srimad
Ranganatha Mahadesikan, Srimad ViNNaRRankarai Srinivasa Mahadesikan
and Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan are manifestations of the Great
AchArya Himself as they follow his footprints in the sands of time,
offering spiritual succor to the ever growing disciples. In their
succession lies the clue to great Acharya's prophetic gift, the
Visionary that he was.
In 1934, in the month of Vaikasi on Pournami day, the AchArya's look
finally fell kindly on the great scholar disciple from Mannaargudi as
he had decided that he should succeed him and carry forward the
intellectual and spiritual service that he had so deftly given a new
dimension to. Thus Sri Mannargudi Anadavan, (followed then by Sri
ViNNaaRRankarai Andavan) succeeded Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan
(Poundarikapuram Anadavan). And Prakritham Andavan is Srimad Andavan
ParavaakkOttai Gopaladesika Mahadesikan, whose 81st Thirunakshathram
was celebrated recently.
While this was the Great Acharya's work to keep the line of
succession continuous, he did not rest content there; he knew the
coming days would demand more than this. that the future upkeep of
our sampradaya would need not merely "ships" and "light houses", but
also, pillars and foundation Structures. Among the many hundreds of
Ashthikas/Sishyas, mention should be made of Sri Anbil .V
Gopalacharyar of Anbil, of Sri Krishna thathachariar Swamy of
Bangalore, and of Sri C.M Vijayaraghavachariar Swamy also of
Bangalore, not because others were less equal, but because these
scholar disciples carved for themselves a unique position.
Sri Anbil .V Gopalacharyar was at the feet of this great Acharya for
42 years of his life, practically everyday learning the nuances of
our sampradayam. A man of shrewd intellect, a lawyer matchless in his
profession at Tiruchi and affluent, learned in Poorvapaksham forms of
Advaita found full enlightenment from Acharya's responses and answers
to his full load of doubts and questions. Srimad Andavan well versed
in the intricacies of Advaita completely and fully satisfied the
disciple's lurking doubts so well that Sri Anbil Gopalcharyar Swami
was enabled to author many books in elucidation of Advaitha
philosophy, - a contribution of very crucial importance for the very
understanding of Greatness of unparalleled and unambiguous
Visishtadvaita; he also brought out a few other granthas. He
perpetuated the memory of this great Mahan thus, in the form of
granthas and idealized it by instituting the "Srinivasa Mahadesikan
Vidhwath Sadhas", munificently endowing for its conduct. It is an
annual feature since then, in this Asramam that brings in
congregation scholars of repute, for intellectual and philosophical
discussion, disputation and authoritative assertion of our sampradaya
Gnana.
What Sri Anbil V Gopalachariar had done ? the Granthas he brought out
and the vidwath sadhas he instituted standing "concretized" in the
form of an elegant front mandapa named after the great Savant,
reverberating with the sonorous voices of the great scholars who
congregate there- will for ages speak of the glory of his master ?
Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Swamy.
So was the great scholar from Bangalore, Sri Krishna Thathachariar
who sat at the feet of the great Acharya for several years and in
turn, imbibed with a sense of purpose and mission, he
enthusiastically undertook the propagation of our Munithraya
Sampradaya by teaching many disciples in and around Bangalore- a
contribution of great value requiring Bhashanthara Gnana to cater to
the Spiritual well being of the Kannada Desa sishyavarga so dear to
Srimath Bhashyakarar and Swamy Desikan.
Equally great was the life of Sri CM Vijayaraghavachariar of
Bangalore. It was all a divine dispensation; how else could a retired
police circle inspector who had casually gone to prostrate at the
feet of this Acharya, get transformed, metamorphosed, so to say into
an erudite scholar with such depth, thoroughness and accuracy of
knowledge as to be able to write and publish many of our sampradaya
granthas in Kannada language for the invaluable benefit of the
disciples in kannada desa.
And you will be wonderstruck to know this: This Swami, (Sri C.M.V
Swamy) after ten interesting and enlightening years of Gurukulavasam,
at Srirangam Poundarikapuram Ashramam and gratified at the Acharya's
commitment with which he taught him all these years right from
Sanskrit alphabet to Vedanthas and Saathras in great depths, offered
even in those days, an enticing Rs 10,000 as Guru dhakshiNa. Srimad
Andavan looked up and asked him,
"Is this what you have learned and understood me?".
The disciple persisted in offering it as a token of his gratitude.
The Acharya consolingly told him,
"If I accepted this from you, great harm will follow- in future, our
disciples may stop coming to learn from me unable to make a
GurudhakshiNa; also this may incite in me an expectation of the same
too".
The disciple knew that the Acharya was sincere but still he
persisted.
Now the Acharya spoke-
"Think what one in my state can do with this money; with you perhaps,
it may find immense use in making available our Sampradaya Granthas
so much needed for the future". This was the divine spark that
impregnated in the mind of Sri CM Vijayaraghavachariar the passion
and the spirit for writing many books in kannada language which are
available even today as source books for reference and research in
Karnataka ? something which Bhagawan Ramanuja would have approved of.
Words do not suffice to extol the importance of this service to
Srivaishnava community. Srimad Andavan was noted for his vairAgya ?
unassailable spirit of total renunciation of worldly, material
things. It was Bhagawath Sankalpa that in this manner a whole range
of our Samparadya Granthas should be born in Kannada language.
Another famous anecdote: Srimad Andavan had tremendous Sri Hayagriva
Mantrasiddhi. One there was a young Boy of five years walking in
front of Swamy when the parents of the boy came to the Ashramam for
offering their obeisance and dhaNdavath praNamams to swamy. The boy
walked towards where Swamy was delivering his kaalakshepam. Swamy
looked at the child, pausing the kaalakshepam and asked him, "un
peyar enna?" (What is your name?) The boy did not utter a word. The
Father of the boy told Swamy that he is born dumb (mute). Immediately
Srimad Andavan asked the boy to come near and asked him to sit in
front of him. He taught him "aksharaabhyaasam," and recited,
SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |
vedAntAcArya-varyome sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||
(May the glorious Venkatanatha, the greatest of teachers of Vedanta,
and the lion among poets and debaters, reside forever in my heart.)?
and
jnAnanda mayamdEvam nirmalaspaTikAkruthim |
AdhAram sarva viganAnAm hayagrIvam upAsmahE ||
The five-year-old boy repeated both slokas. The one who did not speak
a single word in his past five years spoke due to Swamy's merciful
kataaksham. Today that boy has grown to His Holiness Sri Rangapriya
Mahadesikan Swamy of Bangalore. (Read Sri Srinath Chakravarthy's
excellent posts on this Swamy).
The Great Sri Kozhiyaalam Raghavachariar Swami came to Srirangam and
sought Sannyaasa Sweekaranam at the feet of Srimad
Poundarikapuram Andavan who initiated him into the Sannyaasa
Asrama in 1920 in the year Roudri- Aani- Pournami day. The Aasthaana
Vidwan of Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam, Kapisthalam Desikaachaarya
submitted to Swami for approval his Grantha "Adhikarana Ratna
Maalai". The Swami accorded his approval.
When the affluent devotees of Poundarikapuram village and his
disciples had arranged for renovation and consecration, It was H H
Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan who was invited to lend the 'holy
touch by hand" for karasparsam (by a great man). With what
results! All can see today how the small shrine of Oppiliappn has
grown as Southern Thiruppathi, with gala and festivity, fund-flow and
pomp and fame and attraction, all after 1928! The event has a
precedent in Thirukkudanthai Desikan lending his 'kara-sparsam' to
Araavamuthan some 200 years back!
This was Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Mahadesikan, a
creative genius, a perennial spring who made himself an institution
and a legend with his many sided qualities. He was a great servant, a
teacher unsurpassed, an organizer with an eye for protection, a
missionary with a vision and a visionary with a mission. No wonder
that he was known as Gnana Vairagya Anusntana Sampanna.
A little known fact about this unassuming practitioner mentioned by
Sri Navalpaakaam NS Devanathachar who got it authoritatively from
Srimad Andavan ViNNARRankarai Swami. This mahaan made it a daily
practice to chant praNavam even during brief leisure hours following
the precepts of Upanishads, thereby experiencing the thrill of the
union of JivAthmA with the ParamAthmA. That he was practicing this
was not known to anybody. It was not necessary to inform anyone, it
being the individual communion of Jivan with Sriman Narayanan. How
did then others come to know of? It was the custom to invite four
Srivaishnavas and feed them in the Ashramam on the completion of
every one crore (ten millions) of PraNava japam. Such was his
accuracy in keeping count of a small GREAT mantra. Sri
VennaaRRankarai Andavan Swami chanced to notice this and humbly
enquired and got to know the truth.
Does this not testify to the unassuming nature and greatness of the
AchArya, his gnAna, anushtAnam and VairAgyam?
Whenever there were doubts on Sri Bhashyam Grantham and its
interpretations, Srimad Andavan was always the Judge to pass his final
Judgment as to whom is right. - " was the statement of Srimad
Azhagiyasingar (41st Pattam).
What a wonder !
He attained the everlasting Bliss of AchAryan Thiruvadi on 20th
October 1934, a day after completion of one of the many Sri Bhashya
Grantha saaRRumuRais, signifying Sri Bhashya Bhakti.
Let us pay our obeisance to this Great Acharyan His Holiness Srimad
Andavan Sri Poundarikapuram Swamy on His 155th Thirunakshathram,
today.
Acknowledgement:
1. Biography of Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa
Mahadesikan- by Prof. P.R. Srinivasan, Perugavazhndhan, Bangalore.
2. Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's write up.
3. Dr. Sri VN Vedantha Desikan Swamin's article
4. Sri Delhi Hari Nagar Rajagopachariar Swamy's article
AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Narayana Narayana
aDiyEn Narayana Dasan Madhavakkannan
=================================================================================================================================PUNDARIKAKSHA
(UYYAK KONDAAR)- (CHITRAI- SRAVANAM)
===============================================================================================================================He
was born as the Amsam of Jayatsenar, one of the Nityasuris in
Paramapadam. He was born at Tiruvellarai. Scholars place his date of
birth differently.; As per GLE: 825AD; as per MKS: 826AD;and as per
PPM : 827 AD. However all are agreed that he was born in the month
Chittirai and in the constellation of Sravanam.. ATA and PPM hold
that he was a 'Puras Sikhaa Srivaishnava'.
As ordered by his master, Sri Natha Muni, he escorted Aravindap
Paavai, Sri Natha Muni's wife to her parent's home. There, the
womenfolk known as Vangipurathu Aachis made him sit in an open space
called 'Mutram' and eat stale remnants of food left over.
Pundarikaksha partook the same with relish as it was food offered to
him by the Parijanas (those dear to) of his Acharya. "Tad Uchishtam
Sukhaavaham".
On his return, he felt greatly elated when he narrated the incident
to his Acharya. The Acharya was overwhelmed and exclaimed " Nammai
Uyyak Kondeero?"- Oh ! You came to redeem me?" From then on, he came
to be known as Uyyak Kondaar. (PPM)
In Sloka 6 of Yathiraja Saptadhi, Swami Desika praises him thus:
Namasyaaam Aravindaaksham Naatha Bhaave Vyavasthitham |
Suddha Satva Mayam Soureh Avataaram Iva Aparam ||
(meaning) Lord Krishna was the 'Sarva Loka Natha'. His Tirumeni is of
Suddha Satva. His eyes are lotus-like. Uyyakkaondar fully understood
the 'Tiru Ullam' of Sri Nathamuni and lived up to it. This is
possible only for one who is full of Sattva Guna untainted by Rajo
and Tamo gunas. Also, the name Pundarikaksha (Lotus- eyed) refers to
Lord Krishna. He looked as if Lord Pundarikaksha of Tiruvellarai
himself was reborn as Uyyak Kondaar. He was a renowned dialectician.
A passage from his work is quoted by Swami Desika in his Satadushani.
His Tanian runs as follows: (SAA.p200)
Namah Pankaja Netraaya Naathasree Paadha Pankaje |
Nyastha Sarva Bharaayaa Asmath Kula Naathaaya Dheemathe |
(Meaning) Salutations to the lotus eyed master, who is the leader of
our Kula at whose lotus feet we can cast all our burdens.
===================================================================================================================================YAMUNA
MUNI (ALAVANDAR) ? (ADI ? UTTRADAM)
=================================================================================================================================Sri
Nathamuni, Sri Yaamuna Muni and Sri Ramanuja Muni are the holy
trio who were the fountainhead of the Munitraya Sampradayam. Sri
Yaamuna Muni is the central piece among them.
Swami Desika salutes these three together thus:
Naathopajnam bahubir upachitam yaamunaaya prabandhai:/
Thraathum samyag yatheendrai: idam akhila tama: karsanam darsanam
naha://
Meaning:
Sri Nathamuni discovered and inaugurated the Munitraya Sampradayam,
Sri Yaamuna Muni nourished it well with his several works and Sri
Ramanuja Muni protected it well. Because of them, our Siddhanta is
capable of removing the darkness of our ignorance"
Swami Desika in his Guruparampara Saram says about Alavandar:
" neela vandu inru vidhi vagaiyaal ninaivu onriya naam
meela vandu innum vinai udambudanbonri vizhundu uzhalaamal
Alavandaar ena venru arul thanthu vilangiya seer
Alavandaar adiyom padiyom ini alvazhakke"
Meaning:
We are wallowing in this world from time immemorial. Due to some
punya, we chanced to know the great Alavandaar who gave us auspicious
thoughts to adopt the means to avoid the trauma of Samsara. We are
the slaves of Alavandaar, Therefore, we will never ever again indulge
in evil ways"
He was the grandson of Nathamuni and son of Iswara Bhattalwan and
Ranganayaki. He is considered the Amsam of Simhavahana, one of the
Nityasuris in Paramapada.(TKP) but as per PPM, he was the Amsam of
Harivaktra, another Nityasuri in Paramapada.
His date of birth as per PPM and GLE is 917 AD, the latter specifying
the year in Kali yuga 4017 which tallies with 917 AD and born in the
year Daatu, Adi month, in the constellation of Uttraashada on a
Friday, (But as per MSR and MKS the year is 916 AD). He was born at
Kuppankuzhi (2 Kms from Kaattu mannaar koil- Veeranarayanpuram). As
per TKG his term of life is 125 years which means he should have
lived till 1042 AD.
He was named Yamunai thuraivan- Yamuna , for short. The boy grew
apace, a marvel of loveliness and intelligence. He learned all
branches of knowledge, both secular and spiritual.
Once a haughty royal chaplain by name Akkiyalvan was challenging and
humiliating learned men. Yamuna accepted the challenge and went to
the court to argue with him. The queen was so impressed with the boy
that she prevailed upon the king to give him half the kingdom if he
won in the debate offering her 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 posed:
( i ) Your mother is a barren woman
( ii ) The king is a righteous and powerful ruler and
( iii ) The queen is a model of chastity.
By no stretch of imagination could Akkiyalvan affirm that his mother
was barren, by no assumption of courage could he call the king wicked
and powerless and no way could he allege that the queen was unchaste.
He hung his head in shame. 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.
The King fired Akkiyalvan and gave Yamuna half his kingdom as
promised to the queen . The queen hailed the boy as 'Alavandar'-' one
who came to save me'. Thus, Alavandar entered his royal career in
right earnest. This demanded all his attention so much that he could
not attend even to the religious duties properly.
Meanwhile, Rama Misra was trying to carry out his promise to his Guru
to install Alavandar as the spiritual successor to Nathamuni. But, he
could not get an audience with Alavandar - the king, to discuss the
matter. He hit upon a curious plan. He made friends with the servants
in the royal kitchen and through them learned that Alavandar relished
a special variety of spinach called "Toodu Valai Keerai". He started
supplying the spinach daily. After a period of about six months he
suddenly stopped deliveries. Alavandar enquired why the spinach was
not being served. The servants replied that an old man who used to
supply had suddenly not turned up. He ordered that the old man be
brought before him when he visited the next time. The very next day
Rama Misra appeared and was duly taken to the king.
During this session, Rama Misra explained the purpose of his mission
and requested Alavandar to take over the reins of spiritual
leadership bequeathed to him by his illustrious grandfather,
Nathamuni. Alavandar took to Sannyas and was thenceforward known as
YAMUNA MUNI.
He is the one who composed the earliest Stotras of Srivaishnava
Sampradaya (ATA).
Alavandar wrote several works that are as lofty in content and simple
in style. They include
(1) Chatusloki
(2) Stotra Ratnam
(3) Siddhitrayam consisting of
(i) AtmaSiddhi.
(ii) Samvitsiddhi and
(iii) Easwara Siddhi
(4) Agama Pramanya
(5 ) Maha Purusha Nirnayam and
(6) Gitartha Sangraha
(7) Nityam
(8) Maayaa Vaadha Khandanam
Swami Desika in Sloka 7 of his Yathiraja Saptadhi pays homage to
Yamuna thus:
Vighaahe Yaamunam Theertham Saadhu Brindaavane Stitham |
NirasthaJih Magha Sparse Yatra Krishnah Kritaa Dharah ||
(Explanation)
Alavandar who learned Vedanta 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.
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