SrI:
SrImathE Goapladesika mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Ranganathadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:
SrImathE Gopalarya Mahadesikaya Namah:
Dearest all,
After Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Sri Srinivasa
desika Mahadesikan, Sri Ranganthadesika Mahadesikan
(RAJAMANNAR KOIL ANDAVAN) took over. In 1934, in the
month of Vaikasi on Pornami 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 Andavan). And Prakritham
Andavan is Srimad Andavan ParavaakkOttai Gopaladesika
Mahadesikan, whose silver Jubilee celebration of his
ascent to Sanyaasa Ashramam [Acharya peetam] is being
held on February the 14th at Srirangam Divya
kshEthram.
Let us be blessed to enjoy reading the life histories
of Sri Mannargudi Andavan and Sri ViNNaaRRankarai
Andavan Swamins.
Sri Mannargudi Andavan
(Vikrama- Vaikasi- Mrigaseersham)
(8-6-1880 - 17-11-1954)
There was in Mannaargudi one Ramanujacharya Swami, one
of the descendants in the lineage of Nadadur Ammaal,
one of the immediate disciples of Sri Bhashyakara. He
belonged to Srivatsa Gotram and was a
well known Vedic scholar. His forefathers were famed
for their proficiency in Vedic recitation which would
charm the ears of the listeners. Sri Ramanujachar
Swami organized and led the Veda Parayana Goshti
during the festivals of Sri Rajagopala Swami. He was
married to one Senkamalathammaal. To them was born on
28th Mrigasirsha, Vikrama, Vaikasi (8th June 1880)
a male child who was given the name of
Srinivasagopalan.
After Upanayana Samskara, he started his early studies
at the feet of his father who also administered the
Pancha Samskara. Later, he learnt Vyakarana Sastras
under the famous Vyakarana Pandit Uruppattur Sri
Rangachariar Swami (who later became the 39th Pontiff
of Sri Ahobila Mutt).
In the beginning he served as Adhyaapaka in the Sastra
Patasala at Orattanad. Sri Srinivasa Gopalan married
at the early age of 10 to one Nachiyar Ammaal who
belonged to a very orthodox Sri Vaishnava family. He
arrived at Srirangam with his wife and fell at the
feet of Srimad PoundarikaPuram Andavan and was given a
room in the rear of the
Asramam. He studied under the Acharya the Grantha
Chatushtayam. At the end of his studies, he
received Bharanyasa from his Acharya. On hearing
about his proficiency in Vyakarana Sastras, the
authorities in Kerala Sanskrit College invited him
to serve as Professor of Vyakarana. Sri Srinivasa
Gopalan served in the Sanskrit College at
Pattambi for 20 years.
Then, when he completed his assignment at Pattambi, he
visited Srirangam. Srimad Poundarika Puram Andavan,
considering the Vairaghya and scholarship of Sri
Srinivasa Gopala Swami desired that he should succeed
him and accordingly he was given Preksha
Mantropadesa and admitted into the holy order of
ascetics and was given the new name of Sri
Ranganatha Maha Desikan. He was just 54. When Srimad
Poundarika Puram Andavan attained the lotus feet of
his Acharya on 20th October 1934 (*Bhava- Vaikasi-
Pournami day* ), Sri Ranganatha Maha Desikan took
charge of the Ashramam with all sincerity and
seriousness.
Many scholars who had intimately known and moved
with the Swami in his Purvasrama came to study
at his feet, notable among them are Sri Tatachariar
Swami of Cuddalore, and Sri Ramaswamy Iyengar of
Thanjavur.
Srimad Andavan spent his leisure hours in meditation
and Ashtakshara Japa. At the conclusion of every 10
million japam, a _Thadeeya Aaraadhana_ used to be
held. He advised the disciples to celebrate the
Tirunakshatra day of Srimad Poundarika Puram Andavan
in their own homes so that more and more
Srivaishnavas could come to know of Swami's greatness.
Srimad Andavan was averse to receiving gifts in cash
or kind. Once, when he was presented an amount of
Rs.4,000, he handed over the amount to Sri V.R.
Ramaswamy Iyengar, Advocate, Thanjavur with a request
that the money should be utilized to bring out a
new edition of Rahasya Traya Sara in Devanagari
script. The instruction was complied with and today
we have this beautiful edition in our hands with the
superb commentary of Vangeepuram Navaneetham Sri
Rama Desikachariar Swami. It remains a monument to
Swami?s vision and generosity and devotion to Swami
Desikan.
Srimad Andavan Ranganatha Maha Desikan attained the
lotus feet of his Acharya on 17th November 1954 (
Jaya/ Kartigai/ Krishna Saptami) when he was 75.
His Tanian reads as follows:-
Aadhya Srinidhi Yogi Labda Manuraat Sri Vaatsya
Raamaanujaath
Sampraaptanguna Mantra Jaatham /
Apara Sri Vaasa Yogi Swaraat Gnaanaabdim Suguna Karam
Munivaram Sri Ranganatham Bhaje //
(meaning)
I take refuge at the sacred feet of Sri Ranganatha
MahA Desikan, the ocean of Jn~Anam and the treasure
house of all auspicious attributes, who received his
manthrOpadesam from the first SrinivAsa MahA
Desikan, his samAsrayaNam from Sri RaamAnuja MahA
desikan of Srivathsa gOthram and his Bhara
SamarpaNam, thuriyAsramam and Ubhaya VedAntha
Isvaryam from the other Srinivasa MahA Desikan .
SRIMAD ANDAVAN ( SRI VENNATRANKARAI ANDAVAN )
(Panguni - Anusham) (19-3-1882 - 9-4-1980)
Sri Velaamur Varada Krishnamachariar Swami belonged
to Kalyana Puram near Tiruvaiyaaru. He married one
Alarmel Mangai. Both the families were steeped in
Vedic tradition. The family enjoyed the patronage of
Serfoji Raja of Thanjavur on account of their deep
dedication to Vedic tradition. They lived in a house
adjacent to Singaperumal Koil at Vennatrankarai whose
praise has been sung by Tirumangai Alwar.
The couple was blessed with a son in the cyclic year
Kara in the month of Panguni when the star
Anuradha was in the ascendant.19th March 1882. At his
birth, he was named Seshadri. He received Pancha
Samskaram from his father as well as the first lessons
in Sama Veda from his father.
He was sent to Tiruvaiyaru Vembu Sastrigal and
(Nagaraja Sastrigal), noted Sanskrit Pandits to
specialize in Sama Veda, Kavya, and Nataka.
Later, he studied and became proficient both in Yajur
Veda and Divya Prabhandam. Qualified to perform
yagnas, he was an authority in Dharma Sastras and in
the practical application of six Sutras in daily life.
He excelled in Goshti Parayana as he was endowed with
a rich mellifluous voice. At the Sama Veda
examination conducted by Pudukkottai Samasthanam, he
was declared to have passed in second
class owing to the partiality of the examiner but
when the Swami refused to accept the award
contending the verdict, the Raja ordered a
re-examination and found him to have passed in Ist
class, by which he won the acclaim of the Raja and
other Sanskrit pundits. He married Janaki, then only
7 (the daughter of Kodavasal Ramabadrachariar and
Ponnu kamalammmal) at the age of 11. Sri Velaamur
Srinivasachariar was greatly devoted to Sri Desika He
was chiefly instrumental in enabling Velliyanur
Srimad Andavan to celebrate Sri Desika Annual
festival at Neelamegha Perumal Koil. He gave to
the temple a palanquin, a number of Vahanas and
several jewels. These festivals were conducted by
him with great devotion out of the family funds.
Even after becoming an Acharya, he continued to
evince keen interest in the proper conduct of these
festivals. Today, Srimad Andavan's relations in
Purvasramam still continue to celebrate Swami Desika
Utsava with unabated interest and devotion. (Once,
when participating in a Yaga, the Ritvik in
charge of Atharvyu was indisposed and could not
attend. Within one night, our Swami learned the entire
Atharvyu mantras and acted in the place of the
absentee Ritvik and completed the Yaga successfully.
Such was his capacity to absorb and retain with
razor sharp memory and perform the role with
consummate skill.)
Some hostile persons removed the idol of Swami Desika
from the small shrine in Hara Saapa Vimochana
Perumal Koil at Tiruk Kandiyur. The father of
Srimad Srinivasa Maha Desikan took the lead in
making a new idol and installed it in the empty
shrine. Srimad Andavan in his Purvasrama used to lead
the _Adhyapaka Goshti_ during the festival days.
Srimad Srinivasa Maha Desikan in his Purvasrama
was quite well known for his philanthropy. He has
helped pious Vaishnavas in times of dire need.
Although born in a wealthy family, Sri
Srinivasachariar's mind and heart turned to
renunciation and to severing Worldly attachments. He
had already sought the feet of Gnana Vairaghya
Anushtana Sampanna Poundarika Puram Andavan and
received from his Grantha Kalakshepam, Bhara
Samarpanam, Prapatti Prayoga Upadesam, Presha Mantra
Upadesam and Sannyaasa Prayogam. Considering his
Poorvasrama financial resources as trash, he came to
Poundarika Puram Andavan Asramam as his final retreat.
After becoming the Acharya, he devoted his full
attention to the administration of the Asramam and
to the celebration, in a grand manner the
Tirunakshatra of the past Srimad Andavans.
(He helped Chaturveda Satakratu Navalpakkam Narasimha
Tatachariar, Kozhiyalam Sri Ranga Ramanuja Maha
Desikan and several others and earned their gratitude
and blessings)
The daily Aradhanams were performed with great piety
and devotion. The SaaRRumuRai congregation was indeed
an inspiring sight to the
devout. On such occasions, Srimad Andavan himself led
the Goshti giving it both grace and solemnity. He
would recite all by himself the Nighamana Adhikara of
Sri Rahasya Traya Sara of Sri Vedanta Desika. His
discourses on such occasions were listened to with
rapt attention.
It is relevant to mention that Sri Vinnatrangarai
Swami was accepted as same teacher by Sri Thenbarai
Andavan (of Peria asramam), since the latter had a
feeling of regret that he had not mastered his own
Sakha, same veda! Very interestingly, in the Sannyasa
life too, Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan exhibited great
concern for the health (that was rapidly declining) of
Sri Thenbarai Andavan (1960's). Everyday he would
walk to and fro. What it means is that he should take
bath every time on return! Once indeed, a moving
event occurred, Sri Vennatrangarai Andavan walks to
Peria Asramam, meets Sri Kannan Swami on the way,
learnt that the latter was going to Madras on some
urgent work since the Thenbarai Andavan's health would
sustain life for some three days, but Sri
Vinnatrangarai Andavan warns the latter that it was
not so, takes him back to the Asramam and almost
influences him to take to the saffron order. Yes, it
was urgently necessary. Readers would realize the
risk, the confusion, etc. That often results on the
successor not taking over immediately without a gap in
time.
Indeed on later occasions, Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan
used to congratulate Sri Thirukkudanthai Andavan on
the growth, expansion, increasing affluence, etc. of
his Asramam, with a legitimate satisfaction that He
himself had worked for it by forcing Sri Kannan Swami
to accept Sannyasa at the right moment. [Sri
Thirukkudanthai Andavan SathAbhsishEka Uthsavam is
held this Panguni? ]
Srimad Andavan seemed to have a premonition of his
impending death. He called to his side the then
Srikaryam, Paravakkottai Sri Rajagopalachariar Swami(
who had come to the Asramam to assist him in the
conduct of Tirunakshatra celebrations) and told him
in confidence that since his earthly life would not go
beyond the next Sravanam day which fell on the 5th
April 1980, he should be interred by the side of his
Acharya in the Brindavanam on the bank of Vada
Kaveri. Strangely enough, Srimad Andavan entered his
Jyoti at 2 pm on 9th April 1980,(* which was Siddharti
Panguni 27th, a Krishna Paksha Navami Tithi day) so
close to the last day which Srimad Andavan had himself
fixed.
(IT WAS THIS SWAMI WHO INITIATED INTO SANNYASA ASRAMAM
THE MAHAN CELEBRATED AS INJIMETTU AZHAGIYASINGHAR)
The Iyal Goshti of Venntran Karai Andavan was a
magnificent sight, the like of which was never seen or
heard of before. The grand procession led by the
Ahobila Mutt elephant, with the idol of Sri
Bhashyakaara at the head, passed through the streets
of Srirangam and impressed all by their colorful
variety- the Poorvaasrama son of Acharya carrying
the worn garlands of several Divya Desas, seven or
eight divisions of Veda Parayana Goshtis, their Vedic
chant piercing the sky above all the surging sea of
Srivaishnavas, devotees and disciples. The procession
stood at the Dasavataaran Sannidhi and after
Mangalaasaasana there reached the Asramam.
Ubhaya Vedaanta Vidwan Madhurantakam Sri Veera
Ragahavachariar Swami paid glowing tributes to
Srimad Andavan's many sided virtues in verse and
prose. Another glorious chapter in the history of Sri
Poundarika Puram Asramam came to a close.
His Tanian reads as follows:
Naryanaakhya Yathiraja Paadaabja Bringa
Sri Vaasa Yogi Gurunaa Arpitha Bharam Eese/
Bhakthyaaddhi Poorna Varadaarya Kripaatha Sinham
Sri Srinivasa Munivaram Aham Prapadhye //
(meaning)
I take refuge at the holy feet of Srinivasa Maha
Desikan who was like a honey bee at the lotus feet of
the yathi- srEshtar , Sri NaarAyaNa MahA Desikan and
performed his prapatthi at the sacred feet of
Poundarikapuram SrinivAsa MahA Desikan after receiving
his pancha samskAram rites from Sri VaradAchArya
Swami known for his Bhakthi-Jn~Ana -VairAghyam .
AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Namo narayana
Acharya PadhukAngri rENu:
[dust at the feet of the Acharya paadhukA]
____________________________________________________________________________________
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