TITLES

Sreemathey Ramanujaya namaha
Sreemadh Varavara Munaye Namaha
Sree Venkata Gurave Namaha


Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,


We are all aware of Swamy Ramanuja and swamy's contributions towards our sampradhyam. Not only Swami was a saint, but he was a teacher, author, social reformer, a sada acharyan and lived the way, as it has to be, He is a Yuga Purusha, whom Time and Mankind cannot forget. Swamy incarnated and achieved many things, which even Emperumaan could not achieve in his Vibhava Avatharams

Below is the summary of the titles swamy was graced upon


1) "Illaiazhwar"/ is the name given by his maternal uncle Periya Thirmalai Nambi which means Laxmanan @ the time of birth.

2) "Boodhapureesar"/ is the title given by Adhi Kesava Perumal of Sri Perumbudoor 9which means lord of Bhoota puri

3)"Aam Ivan Mudhalvan"/ is the title given by Aalavandhar (when Aalavandhar recognized Swamy Ramanuja is none other than Bavishyat Acharyan which was held in aaradhanai by all poorvacharyas

4)" Yatirajar" & "Ramanuja Muni"/ is the titile given by Lord Varadarajan, while Swami accepted "sanyasa ashrama"

5)"Udayavar"/ is the title given by Periya Perumal (Lord Ranganatha) when the Lord handed over the power of granting moksha to Swami Ramanuja

6)"Thiruppavai Jeeyar"/ is the title given by Periya Nambi (one of 5 acharyas) on seeing the devotion swamy Ramanuja had on "Thiruppavai"

7)"Lakshmana Muni"/ is the title given by Thiru Aranga Perumal Aarayar (1 of 5 acharyas)

"Sadagopan Ponnadi"/ is the title given by Thirumaalai Aandan (1 of 5 acharyas) which meant the lotus feet of Sadagopan/Nammazhwar ( Swamy Ramanuja had much devotion on Nammalwar and his Thiruvaimozhi, that Swamy Ramanuja is considered as the divya padhukas of Nammalwar as he is Maaranadi Panidhu Uyindhavan (it is significant to note, that the lines of this verses from Ramanuja Nootriandhi is to be chanted without a pause) & foster mother of Thiruvaimozhi

9)"Sri Bashyakarar/ is the titile given by Saraswathi Devi, celebrating the "Sri Bashyam" of Swamy Ramanuja

10)"Desikendran"/ is the title given by Thiruvengadamudayan (Lord Srinivasan) for swamy's matchelss Kainkaryams which includes

a) It was Swamy Ramanuja who restored the Sangu & Chakra, to the lord of seven hills @ Tirumala, previously when they are given by the lord to the King Thondaiman Chakravarthy. And people started believing the lord on the hills was Shiva/Skanda/Durga, it is the unmatchable kainkaryam of swamy, that we Sri Vaishnavas have the lord @ Tirumala. today. That is why we sing the Kattiyam of Ramanuja as “Appanukku Sanghu Aazhi Allitha Perumal”

b)To execute the verses of Nammalwar “Sindhu Poo Magizhum Thiruvengadam”. Swamy Ramanuja sent one of his sishyas Ananthalwan Pillai to establish a Nanadhavanam @ Tirumala, one can even see the Nandhavanam (garden) today there named “Ramanuja Nandhavanam”, which also holds in it the Thiruvarasu (brindavanam) of Swamy Ananthalwan Pillai.

c)It was Swami who laid down the regulations to be followed in executing kainkaryms to Thiruvengadamudayan like Friday thirumanjanam,(recital of Nacchiyar Thirumozhi during the thirumanjanm) Thomala Sevai & appointed Peria Kelvi Appan Jeeyar of Tirumala to supervise the same.

d)Even today one can see Swami Ramanuja’s vigraham in Tirumala with Upadesa/Gyana Mudra because Swami here is acharyan to Thiruvengadamudayan himself

11)"Koil Annan"/ is the title given by Goda devi/Aandal, as she called him elder brother because Andal had a desire to offer 100 tada (containers) of butter & 100 tada (containers) "akkaravadisal" to Thirumaliruncholai Emperumaan which she expressed through her 'Naachiyar Thirumozhi"

Swamy Ramanuja fulfilled this her desire and offered 100 tada butter and akkaravadisal to that Emperumaan, after this when Swami Ramanuja arrived at SriVilliputthur, Andal came out of her archa avathara sammadhi, and called him "Anna" (my elder brother). And even today as a mark of that incident, Sri Andal inn Sri Villiputthur remains in the same place (in front of the sanctum sanctorum) & not inside as it would be usually.

Just like a elder brother who would fulfill the desire of a younger sister, Swamy Ramanuja also fulfulled the desire of his sister andal thus earning him the title "Koil Annan", and even today we sing in the vazhi thirunamam of andal as "Perumpudhur Mamunikki Pin Aanaal Vazhiye!

Uyya Ore Vazhi Udayavar Thiurvadi! (only way for spiritual upliftment is to take refuge in Yathiraja Padhuka)

Attaching is A very rare pic of udayavar @ Sri Perumbudhur

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

 

WHO CAN BE MORE MERCIFUL THAN YOU?

WHO CAN BE MORE SINFUL THAN ME!

Who can be more merciful than you?(no one even in Parampadham)

Oh Yathiraja! your birth was for the spiritual upliftment of jeevas in this universe

Please grace on my poor-self?(one who is bonded in samsara?)

Aarathi Prabandham


Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

SWAMY RAMANUJA'S HOROSCOPE

Sreemathey Ramanujaya Namaha
Sreemadh Varavara Munaye Namaha
Sree Venkata Gurave Namaha

Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,

Emperumaan took Vibhava Avathars Rama & Krishna, walked the path of dharma and did Geetha Upadesham, but was not able to recitfy the misleaded mankind. Then he sent Azhwars, Azhwars were immensly immersed in bakthi of their own, so he sent Acharyas.. Adiseshan took avatharam of Swamy Ramanuja to grace the mankind and lead unto the path of sharanagathi.

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

VAIKASI ANUSHAM

SREEMATHEY RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA
SREEMADH VARAVARA MUNAYE NAMAHA
SREE VENKATA GURAVE NAMAHA

Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,

In the Sri Vaishnava tradition, Ramanuja is regarded as an “avatara” of the great Lakshmana of the ‘Ramayana’ whose extraordinary life of service and dedication (“kainkaryam” and “shraddhai”) to Lord Rama was divine legend. It is said that Rama found no better way of repaying his debt to Lakshmana other than to take ‘avatar’ again as Kuresan during Ramanuja’s time on earth and reverse roles i.e. to do unto Ramanuja the same yeoman service that he had been blessed to receive from Lakshmana in an ancient age of the past!

Many incidents that took place in Ramanyana/Krishna avatara and in the life of Alwar’s and Acharyas were also repeated in Koorthazhwan’s Family (which included his glorious twin sons Prasara Bhattar and Veda Vyasa Bhattar), the foll are the few


1) In Ramayana the birth of Sri Rama and Lakshmana, was well planned and enacted by Sriman Narayana similarly he answered to Sri Ramanujar who prayed before the Sri Rangam Peria Perumal to bless the Acharya lineage by bringing a child to this world, fit enough to be named after Sri Parasarar and he did sankalpam for the birth of Parasara Bhattar


2)In Ramayana, at the end of putrakameshti yagam, a divine purusha, comes out from the holy fire, and gives payasam to Dasaratha to distribute to his wives, after consumption of which the Rama, Lakshmana, Bharatha & Shatrugna are born to his queens, similarly after hearing the prayers from Andal wife of Kuresar, Lord Ranganatha sent his “naivedyam” to Kuresa dhampathis after consuming which where the glorious sons of Kuresar were born.

3)In Krishna avataram, lord krishna was born, to Devaki, and brought up by Yashodha, “Ooruthii Maganai Pirandhu Oor Iravil Ooruthii Maganai Oolindhlu Valara” similary though Alwan and Andal were parents to Parasara Bhattar, but Parasara Bhattar was raised by Sri Ranganatha and Sri Rasnganayaki as their own son. When he was child, there was a cradle for him near the Thirumanat Thunn and the divine couple played with the child,and later bhattar became the purohitha for the divya dampathis was entrusted with koil kainkaryam by his acharya embaar

4) Parasara bhattar was only five year old when, he made garva bangam of an ahankari scholar “sarvagnya bhattar”: this incident can be compared with Swami Aalavandar’s similar talent when he won over akkiyalvan which earned him the title “Aalavandhan”

5)The most merciful of all is the Acharya. More than the mother, who cares for our physical and material welfare (which does not save us from the eternal and vicious cycle of births and deaths), more than the Lord (who liberates us because He selfishly craves our company -“Sa EkAkI na ramatE”- to relieve the tedium of loneliness in Sri Vaikuntam), it is the Acharya, who yearns for our spiritual well-being and liberation from samsara, who displays the maximum mercy. The mother may put up with us because we are from her own body, the Lord may forgive us because we are an inseparable part of Him, but to the Acharya, we are complete strangers, and whatever he does for our upliftment is absolutely without any expectation of a quid pro quo. Our Acharyas are “KripA mAtra prasanna Acharyas”, driven solely by the motive of mercy towards misguided mankind. They scrupulously adhere to the dictum “KripayA nisspruhO vadEt” (The Acharya should impart instruction to the disciple without expecting anything in return).
Bhattar had taken all pains in bringing Vedanthi of Thirunarayana puram into our fold, thus giving us a great acharya in our Guruparampara Nanjeeyar.

This Acharya, driven by boundless mercy, traversed hundreds of miles on foot to win over and emancipate a single sishya, who proved worthy of his Acharya’s efforts. This incident can be equated to Peyalwar”s episode in which alwar out of love and mercy rectified (THirutthi Pani Kondan) Thirumazhisai alwar and initiated him into Vaishnavism, if not we would not have had alwar or his Nanmugan tiruvandadi and Tiruccanda viruttam’.

6)Parasara Bhattar could speak with Periya Perumal which is similar to the Varadarajan speaking to Thirukacchi nambi

7)Bhattar had to leave Srirangam for some time to live in Thirukottiyoor, as a protest against a cheiftain Veerasundara Bramharayar which again can be equated with Swamy Ramanuja leaving Sri rangam for Melkote, due to Kirumi Kanda Chozhan

Again like many acharyas Parasara Bhattar also has given us great works like Ashtasloki, Bhagavad Guna Darpanam, Sri Ranganatha Sthoram,Sri rangaraja stavam, Guna Ratna kosham, and a commentary of Thirunedunthandakam and etc
Bhattar attained acharyan Thiruvadi at an early age of 54 years, when on a Kaishika Dwadasi day, reading Kaishika Puranam in front of Namperumal, so impressed was the lord with the vyakyanam of bhattar, he granted Moksham to Bhattar, Bhattar accepted it very happily, When explaining “Alan Purindha Nedun Thadakkai” the 6th pasuram in Thiru Nedunthandakam, and while explaining the phrase “Anjirai pull Thanipagan”, the lord came on his garuda and appeared before Parasara bhattar, Bhattar was spell bound by this vision and immediately recited the following pasuram from Periyalwar Thirumozhi “Paravai Eeru Parama Puruda Nee Ennai Kai Konda Pin Piravi Ennum Kadal Vattri, Perumpadham Aagindrdhal” twice and attained acharyan thiruvadi

Sree Parasara bhattarya Sri Rangesa Purohithaha;
Sree Vatsange sutha Seeman Sreeyase Mesthu Booyasee” is the Thaniyan of Periya Bhattar All Bhagavatha Bandhus, know the history and qualities of Sri Parasara Bhattar, but this neechan’s attempt is just to recollect a few of them,

Today, being vaikasi anusham, being the thirunakshatram of Parasra Bhattar and Veda Vyasa bhattar, let us all meditate upon them to bless every sri vaishanava with gynam and anushtanam that their goal be that of living life, walking the path shown by our poorvacharyas and to make an attempt to follow at least some of their qualities.

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

An Azhwar & An Acharya

Sreemathey Ramanujaya Namaha
Sreemadh Varvara Munaye Namaha
Sree Venkata Gurave Namaha


Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,


Today is Vaikasi Visagam, which has to its credit being the Thirunakshatram of an Alwar and an Acharya

Swamy Nammalwar and Thiruvaimozhipillai, both were born under the auspicious star of Vaikasi Visagam, The following are some similarities between this alwar and acharya

1)Swamy Nammalwar is present in the alwar goshti and also in the acharya goshti,Nammalwar is the leader among the alwars,(because alwar being ("Vedam tamil seidha Maaran")and other alwars are considered as his angas (angangal) and his presence in the acharya goshti is due to his act of
giving Naalayeeram to Nadhamunigal, Similarly Thiruvaimozhi Pillai, is present among the acharya goshti in our Guruparampara

2)Swamy Nammalwar gave us the Thiruvaimozhi, the essence of Samavedam, and Similarly acharya Thiruvaimozhi Pilllai,(his other names were Srisailesarand Thirumalai alwar) was so called out of his infinite devotion towards nammalwar and his thiruvaimozhi and bringing back the Magnum opus Eedu 36,000 padi to public from its hidden treasure ground.

3)The Archa Vigraha of Bavishyad Acharyan (Ramanuja) & Swamy Nammalwar was gifted to Madhurakavigal, by the grace of Alwar itself, Similary, it was due to the tireless efforts of Thiruvaimozhi Pillai who was ruling from Madurai as a regent, through his counterpart at Cochin brought back Nammalwar from his hidden place, and located its origin in Alwar Thirunagari, where it was earlier installed, Removed all the bush and wild growth etc (kaadu Thirutthi Naadu Aaki) and reinstalled Nammalwar after renovating the temple(this is recorded in Yatindra Pravana Prabhavam) for this Nammalwar gave the title Satagopadasar" to Thiruvaimozhi Pillai, and to mark the monumental services of Pillai, his descendants are greatly honored even today with the remnant of Thirumankappu worn by Nammalwar's idol after Thirumanjanam

Thiruvaimozhi Pillai, apart from renovating in the shrine of Nammalwar and installing him therein brought out the Bavishyad Acharya Vigraham himself which wasdug out from the bottom of the Tamrind tree(Thiru Puli Alwar)and installed Ramanuja Chaturvedhi Mangalam to the west of Aadhinathan Temple at Alwar Thirunagari. It is also said, that a scar sustained while digging out the idol is visible even now on the Bavishyad acharya's vigrahaviz Ramanuja's idol (learned people please pardon and enlighten if this is a mistake). and appointed
Swamy Manavala Mamunigal to do aaradhanai( A grahasthaa at that time known by the nameof Azhagiya Manavala Nayanar) & also asked himto compose a sthuthi on Ramanuja , Thus was born"Yathiraja Vimsathi" of Mamuni


4)Swamy Nammalwar could foresee, Swamy Ramanuja as Bavishyad acharyan, and gave the vigraham to Madhurakavigal and instructed to do aaradhanaiand indirectly explained through "Poliga Poliga" pasuram, Similarly Pillai lokacharya could foresee and premention the rise of. Sri Thirumalai AzhwAn
and his great services to come for Darsana Nirvaham and he gave instructions to his disciples (all instructions focused only on Sri Thirumalai AzhwAn)

a)koorakulOthamma dAsar to bring Sri ThirumalaiAzhwAn ,into vaishnava fold

b) He instructed Sri Thirukkannangudi piLLai and Sri Thirupputkuzhi Jeeyar to teach the meaningsof ThiruvAizmozhi to Sri Thirumalai AzhwAn.

c) He instructed Sri nAloor piLLai (who was from Kanchipuram) to teach the meanings of the remaining 3000 pasurams of the divyaprabandam to Sri Thirumalai AzhwAn who was a great scholar in VedAs and Smrtis, but yet to master the divyaprabandam.

d) Last, he called upon the great vilAnchOlai piLLai.to teach him the meanings of Sri Vachana Bhooshanam and the divine work of sapta kAdhai, when
approached

5) Lord of Sri rangam, affectionately called alwar as"Nam Alwar" through his vakku (words) and thus thistitle stood forever, Simiarly, when Lord Ranganatha,after hearing the eedu lecture from Swami Manavala Mamunigal for about a year and on the concluding day, much impressed and lost his heart in the madura vakkuof Mamuni (parama rasiganai, nenjam parikoduthu)Lord Ranganatha, came in the disguise of one Sriranganayakam, a five year old son of an Archaka,uttered the thanian and accepted Swami Manavala Mamunigalas his acharya

"srisailesa daya patram dhi bhaktyadi gunarnavam
yathindrapravanam vande ramya jamataram munim"

The interpretation is

I offer my salutations to the beautiful MaNavALa mAmuni ,
who is the object of the Daya of Sri Sailesa ( Thiruvaimozhi
PiLLai , his Acharya ). I worship that ocean of Jnanam and
Bhakthi , who revered Sri RaamAnuja.

Thus the Lord identifies Swamy Manavala Mamunigalas sishya
Of Sri SailesarThiruvaimozhi Pillai and thus the Lord approved ThiruvaimozhiPillai through his vakku(words)


6)Nammalwar's sishya Madhurakavigal, was so much devoted to hisGuru Nammalwar that he held him much higher than even Lord Narayanacomposed a hymn of 11 pasurams "Kanninum Siruthambu" SimilarlyThirvaimozhi Pillai's sishya Swamy Manavala Mamunigal salutes his acharyain "Upadesa Ratinamala" and"Aarthi Prabandham" dedicates that all whathe has got is only through the grace of his acharya and built"kalaksheba mantapam in his Thirumaligai in Sri rangam in the name of his
acharya "Thirumalai Alwar Mantapam"

Thus they are many similarities between Nammalwarand ThiruvaimozhiPillai,only these few comes to adiyen's gyanam, on this auspicious day let usall pray to their lotus feet to bless us to take us to the right path of dharma & to induce in us maha vishvasam with regards to our sampradayam, alwars and acharyas and grace our younger generation to be future carriers of Emperumannar Darshnam

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

PERIYA THIRUMALAI NAMBI

Sreemathey Ramanujaya Namaha
Sreemadh Varvara Munaye Namaha
Sree Venkata Gurave Namaha

Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,
Swamy Ramanuja has got a title “PANCHA ACHARYA PADASHRAYAR” which means one who took refugee in the lotus feet of 5 acharyas. The first and foremost being his maternal uncle “PERIYA THIRUMALAI NAMBI”, who named swamy as “Ilaiazhwar” which means Lakshmana

This article highlights a few incidents from the life of “Periya Thirumalaia Nambi”, which shows the greatness of this acharya whose thirunakshtram is celebrated today “Vaikasi Swathi”
This acharya was in the tireless service of “Thiruvengadamudayan” of Tirumala, the Lord was so pleased, with the kainkaryams that he fondly called him “Appa” meaning Father in tamil.

Bramha was born from the Nabhi Kamlam of Sriman Narayanan and in relation the lord becomes “Father” to Bramha, since the Lord himself called “Thirumalai Nambi” as father, this acharya becomes “Grand Father” to Bramha himself.

The acharya taught the meanings of Sri Valmiki Ramayanam to Swamy Ramanuja. For those who ask “what is so special about it?” the answer comes pat. Thirumalai Nambi was involved in the theertha Kainkaryam of the lord, and used bring water from Aakasha Ganga for nithya aaradhanam. Swamy Ramanuja choose to “Tirupathi” as destination for learning the meaning of Ramanyana.

Thirumalai Nambi used to perform and finish “Theertha Kainkaryam” ‘to the lord at Tirumala and would come down to Tirupathi to impart the meanings of Ramayana to Swamy Ramanuja, and in the evening would again climb back to Tirumala, next day again after finishing “Theertha Kainkaryam” would travel down to Tirupathi, like this he continued teaching not for days,weeks,months, but for a whole year.
Just imagine how much pains this acharya had taken to impart knowledge to his sishya!

Periya Thirumalai Nambi was instrumental in bringing back Govindhar again into the path of Sampradhyam, when Govindhar was guided to Saiva Sampradhayam by Yadava Prakasar
“Parasparam Neecha Bhavam Sri Vaishnava Lakshanam “is a liner, which explains one of the characteristics of a Sri Vaishnava, that we must think that we are the lowliest of all, we should shed all the 3 egos which comes to us1) by our birth being in a rich or pious family 2) by our education or qualification 3) by our fortunes or prosperity/wealth no room for ahankaram.

When Swamy Ramanuja, visited Thirumala once, Periya Thirumalai Nambi, came to welcome Swamy near Kali gopuram, along with prasadams & mariyadhai, Swamy Ramanuja said “Why did devareer, at this age come, down all the way, is it not enough, to send some small person or boy, why did devareer strain?” Periya Thirumalai Nambi said ” Adiyen went in search of such person, in all the maada veedhis of Thirumala, but could not find any other person, lowlier than me, that is why adiyen came swamy” (who other than Periya Tirumalai Nambi can say these words, we always boast of our education and designation we hold, and also about our children, & want publicity known even to our relatives, can we ever imagine to stand in front of Periya Thirumalai Nambi) who was so humble.

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Geetha Vasudevan

74 SIMHASANATHIPATHIS

Sreemathey Ramanujaya Namaha
Sreemadh Varavara Munaye Namaha
Sree Venkata Gurave Namaha

Respected Bhagavatha Bandhus,

Swamy Ramanuja had appointed 74 simhasanathipathis to propagate and safeguard Sri Vaishnava Darsanam. (Here it means Swami Ramanuja had appointed 74 acharyas for Darsana Nirvaham).

The list is given below:-

1.Mudaliyandan/Kandhaadai Aandaan -
2. Parasara Bhattar- son of koorathaazhvaan,
3. sottai nambi s/o aaLavandhaar,
4. pundareekar s/o periya nambi
5. theRkaazhvaan s/o thirukOttiyoor nambi
6. sundhara thOLudaiyaan s/o thirumalaiyaandaan
7. ramaanujam s/o peria thirumalai nambi and his son of thirumalai nambi
8. naduvil aazhvaan
9. kOmadaththu aazhvaan
10. thiruk kOvaloor aazhvaan
11. thirumOgoor aazhvaan
12. piLLaipiLLai aazhvaan
13. nadaadhoor aazhvaan
14. engaLaazhvaan
15. ananthaazhvaan
16. miLagaazhvaan
17. neyyundaazhvaan
18. sEttaloor siRiyaazhvaan
19. vEdhaanthiyaazhvaan
20. kOyil aazhvaan
21. ukkal aazhvaan

22. araNa puraththu aazhvaan
23. embaar
24. kidaambi aachchaan
25. kaNiyanoor siRiyaachchaan
26. eechchambaadi aachchaan
27. kongil aachchaan
28. eechchambaadi seeyar
29. thirumalai nallaan
30. sattampaLLi seeyar
31. thiruveLLaRai seeyar
32. aatkonda villi seeyar
33. thirunagari piLLaan
34. kaaraanci sOmajiyaar
35. alankaara vEngadavar
36. nambi karundhEvar
37. siRuppuLLi dhEvaraaja Battar
38. piLLi uRandhai udaiyaar
39. thiruk kurugai piraan piLLaan
40. periya kOvil vaLLalaar
41. thiru kaNNapuraththu araiyar
42. aasoorip perumaaL
43. munip perumaaL
44. ammangip perumaaL
45. maaruthip periyaandaan
46. matronRillaa maaruthicciRiyaandaan
47. SOmaasiyaandaan
48. seeyar aandaan
49. eeSvar aandaan
50. eeyuNNi piLLai aandaan
51. periyaandaan
52. siRiyaandaan
53. kuRinchiyoor siRiyaandaan
54. ammangi yaandaan
55. aaLavandhaar aandaan
56. aruLaaLap perumaaL emperumaanaar
57. thondanoor nambi
58. marudhoor nambi
59. mazhuvoor nambi
60. thirukkurungudi nambi
61. kuravai nambi
62. mudumbai nambi
63. vaduga nambi
64. vangeepuraththu nambi
65. sriparaangusa nambi
66. ammangi ammaaL
67. paruththi koLLai ammaaL
68. ukkalam ammaaL
69. sottai ammaaL
70. mudumbai ammaaL
71. komaandoorp piLLai
72. komaandoor iLaiyavilli
73. kidaambi perumaaL
74. kaattup piLLaan


Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan


Geetha Vasudevan