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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,

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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