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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA
APPAN THIRUVADIGALE SARANAM

Free will (7)

Dear Bhagavathas, accept my pranam. This is in continuation of earlier posting.


Such is the simplicity of the pasuram . It is very appealing. It expresses the 
all pervasiveness of Emperuman.
He is our saviour and he alone is the one to redeem us.
Any one will loose the heart on hearing this pasuram.
This is not the only one. 
All the other pasurams of Thiruvaimozhi are similar to this. 
Sriman Nathamuni wanted to hear all the rest.
But, the Araiyars did not know. They guided him to Thirukurugur. 
Sriman Nathamuni got all by his meditation and got the pasurams of other 
Azhvars also..
Sriman Nathamuni was now, immensely pleased to spread this path to all.

SRIVAISHNAVISM IS BORN 

Though he was one among the followers of sanadhana dharma he was convinced of 
the easy path.
He was in the fag end of his life .He foresaw the advent of Sri. Ramanuja by 
his yogic powers .He passed on the mission to his grandson Sri.Alavandar 
through his Sishya Uyyakondar (and from him to his sishya Manakkal nambi 
toSri.Alavandar )
Sri..Alavandar had 5 great sishyas Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi etc.,Yet he waitedfor 
Sri. Ramanuja. He saw him in Sri Varadharaja swamy Temple in Kancheepuram; but, 
did not meet him. He arranged through his disciple Peria Nambi to enlist 
Ramanuja to SriVaishnavism and to lead the movement.
Sri. Ramanuja took charge of the mission and decided to fulfill the ambition of 
Sri. Alavandar
.He learnt all sastras and ?Arulicheyal? from the 5 great sishyas of Sri. 
Alavandar. 
It was not easy task to learn ?Thirumantram?from Thirukoshtiyur Nambi 
After many ordeals .he learnt it on an undertaking not to reveal it to any one. 
But, he broke the promise as soon as he learnt Tirumantram. 
WHY?. He had a large kind heart. It is not enough if he alone knows. It will 
take a longer time or rather impossible to pass it on to all by the current way 
of selective teaching. 
So he invited all whom wanted to know it to join him and preached it to them. 
Thirukoshtiyur Nambi came to know of the incident and after questioning Sri. 
Ramanuja blessed him. He announced that hereafter the movement is to be known 
as Emperumanar Dharsanam.
The preaching is not confined to Thirumantram alone.
Arulicheyal also was preached.
What is the greatness of ARULICHEYAL?
Let us see from few lines of Arulicheyal.
1.VAAZHAAT PATTU NINRULLEREL VANDHU MANNUM MANAMUM KONMIN ( Thirupallundu.3.) 
If you are desirous of getting redeemed come, join us and get benefited.
2.NEERADA PODHUMINO (Thiruppavai.)(Join us to enjoy the Baghavat vishayam)
3 KANNAN KAZHZLINAI NANNUM MANAMUDAIYEER(TVM. 10.5.1)
(Those who are interested to fall at the feet of Lord Krishna).
4 PARIVATHIL EEASANAI PADI VIRIVATHU MEVALURUVEER(TVM.1.6.1)
(Those who are interested to worship the lord)
5. PATHUDAYAVARKKU ELIYAVAN(TVM.1.3.1)(The Lord is easily accessible for those 
who desire him)
6. PAYANENRAKILUM PANKILARKIALUM CHEYAL NANRAKA THIRUTHI PANIKOLVAN (Kanni Nun 
Chiruthambu. 10)(He will correct you even though you are not fit andwill use 
you for his service)
7. AVANALLAL THEIVAMILLAI (Thirumalai9) (He is the Lord for redemption)
8. CHEMMIN MUDI THIRUMALAI VIRAINDHADICHERUMINO(TVM.4.1.2)
9. (Join quickly and worship Thirumal.)
10. VANPUKAZH NARANAN THINKAZHAL CHERE.(Fall at the feet of Sriman Narayanan, 
the savior)
11. THUYARARU SUDARADI THOZHUTHEZHU MANANE.(TVM.1.1.1..) (O! Mind fall at the 
glorious feet of lord, which will remove all our woes. Worship him).

All the excerpts shown above are from various Azhvars sree sukthis clearly 
indicate that
Emperuman is the lord to redeem us from samsara.
He is easily accessible. ALL ARE ELIGIBLE
It is enough if you have the desire to fall at his feet 
You don?t require any special qualification. He will correct you and takeyou in 
his service.

This kind of Azhvzr?s approach is in sharp contrast to the vedic approach.
Here all are eligible for redemption by Emperuman
He will redeem us from samsara and 
It is enough you have the desire to worship him. The rest he will look after.
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To be continued to ??????>8
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SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA
APPAN THIRUVADIGALE SARANAM

Free will (8)

Dear Bhagavathas, accept my pranam. This is in continuation of earlier posting.


Sri. Ramanuja arranged for commentary on Thiruvaimozhi through Thirukurgai 
piran pillan
He was not only a man of heart ;but also of logic .He used his logic to winover 
other vidhvans. 
He had to convince and conquer the men of intelligence. He wrote ?SreeBashyam? 
commentary on Brahmasutra. 
He used other means as the situation warranted in respect of others.
He nominated Sri.Parasara bhatta, son of Sri.Kurathazhvan to be successor to 
the mission.
He appointed 74 Acharyas (Simhasanathipathis) for the wider propagation of 
Srivaishanavam.
He conquered many Vedhanthins and they became his disciples.
He instructed Sri.Bhattar to win over ?Madhava? a famous Vedanthin.
This vedhanthin was conquered by Sri.Bhattar with the help of 
?Thirunedunthandakam?
This vedhantin was later known as ?Nanjeeyar?
Let us see what he has told to us
?VEDHANTHI ENRU SERUKKURRUIRUNTHEN. SARVESWARANUKKU NAMA ROOPANKALILAI. 
UNDENBAR CHOL POYE ENRU CHOLLIYIRUNDHEN. BHATTARARULALE UJJEEVIKKA PERREN. 
AAZHVARKAL THIRUVAKKAI 
(AVARKAL KOORUM ENPERUMAN PERUMAIKALAI) MEYYENAP PERRATHU BHATTARARULALE.? ( I 
was of proud of being a vedhanthi. I have told earlier that Emperuman has no 
form or name. The statement of those who say as Emperuman has form etc., are 
not rue. But, now I am saved by Sri.Bhattar.I learnt from himthat the Azhvars 
statements regarding Emperuman are true.)
This great vedhantin had no hesitation to accept the truth. He is known as 
Nanjeeyar later on. He has made improved version of commentary (9000 padi) to 
Thiruvaimozhi.

His successor Nampillai was a great scholar and had eminent sishyas. 
Sri.Periyavachan Pillai and Sri.Vadakku thiruveedhi Pillai and others. 
Nampillai spent his time in Bhagavat Vishayam His discourses were made into 
Eedu 24,000 and 36,000 by Sri.Periavachan Pillai and Sri vadakku thiru veedhi 
pillairespectively.

Sri. Pillai Lokacharyar is the son of Sri. Vadakku thiruveedhi pillai who led 
the movement during 13th and 14th centuries. 
Our poorvacharyas followed the way shown by Azhvars.
During these periods it appears that some discontentment was among 
Srivaishnavas. Probably, vedhanthins who came into the fold of Srivaishnavam 
couldnot adjust themselves to the principles of Azhvars. Perhaps, Sreevachana 
bhooshanam was a rejoinder for such thoughts. Similarly Acharya Hrudhayam also 
is a illustrative publication during this period. It discusses the greatness of 
Azhvar, Thiruvaimozhi and the Srivaishnavam against vedic practices. Let us see 
one or two sutras of Sreevachanbhooshanam here.
Sutra.207. BRAHMANYAM VILAI CHELLUKIRATHU VEDAADHYAYANADHI MUKATHTHALE 
BHAGAVLLABHA HETHU VENRU. ATHU THANE EZHAVUKKU URUPAKIL THYAJYAMAMIRE.( 
Brahmanyam is considered as great as it is cause for attaining the Emperuman. 
If it becomes the cause for loosing him, better 
loose brahmanyam

Sutra.115. 
PRAPAKANTRA PARITHYAGATHUKKUM AGNAASAKTHIKALUNRU SWAROOPA VIRODHAME PRADHANA 
HETHU.( The upayas karma, gna ,bhakti are known as ?upayantram? i.e., base 
means compared to prapatti. They are to be discarded. Why?. It is not because 
the practitioner does not have enough knowledge or sufficient skill;but, it is 
against the swaroopa of Jeevan

Sutra 127. VEDHANTHANKAL UPAYAMAKA VIDHIKIRAPADIYEN?
Sutra.128 OUSHADHA SEVAI PANNATHAVARKALUKKU ABHIMATHA VASTHUKKALILE ATHTHAI 
KALASI IDUVARAIP POLE EASWARANAI KALANTHU VIDHIKIRATHU ITHANAI.( why does 
Vedhanthas prescribe the ways Karma, gna, bhakti as means to Moksha? It is just 
like mixing the medicine with sweets etc.,(substances liked by people) for 
consumption by the patients who otherwise will not intakethe medicine as such. 
These means are mixed with Easvaran; otherwise people will not follow them.

We get similar informations from which it can be inferred that some vedhanthins 
who got converted to Srivaishnavam were not able to follow it in full.They were 
always reminded of vedic ?dos and don?t dos? which they felt as most important. 
The? kainkaryam ?seemed to be of secondary importance to them.

In the beginning of the 14th century Namperumal had to be moved away from 
Srirangam to safer place due to Islamic invasions. Namperumal returned in 
1371AD only. In the mean time the activities of Srivaishnavam was hampered 
bythe occupation of foreign elements.
Later, it was Sri.Manavalamamunikal who restored the pristine glory of 
Srivaishnavam based on Azhvars sree suktis.

The political scene of India began to change in the coming centuries. The 
swadesi Kings lost their powers. Foreigners took the political control of 
India. The life style also began to change due to rapid changes in social life 
and scientific advancements. Foreign religions Christianity and Islam took root 
in our country. Western thoughts and culture affected the process ofthinking. 
Advaidic philosophy changed its stand to patronize the worshipof all deities. 
The worship of smaller deities is in vogue always. But, ?Parathvam? was not 
attributed to them. Now, vested interest are claiming that all gods are equal 
and one and the same and they are capable of granting ?Moksha .This kind of 
commercialization and adverse conditions affected Srivaishanvam very much. 
The changed climate has created a sense that ?Jeevan? has a ?free will? towards 
attaining his salvation.


The classification of the society into 4 varnas might have worked in earlier 
days. In the modern world people stand divided into numerous castes. Theyare 
supposed to do the work relating to that caste. But, most of us are doing the 
duties of the others for a living, yet cling to the caste identification for 
security reasons? Transport and communication have advanced in such a way that 
once foreign travel (crossing the sea) was considered as a taboo, is sought 
after by most of us. In general, a mania to copy western habits, rather to 
understand our culture has become the fashion of the day. Inthis context, how 
far sanadhana dharma as enshrined in vedic sastras are working is a point to be 
pondered by every body. The brahmin is supposed to be leading a life set for 
him, after Brahmam and all other varnas are to assist him in the sanadhana 
dharmic way. We are in a democracy. How and whereto find Kshatriyas? Similar 
difficulty will be experienced for other varnas also.


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 be continued?..>9









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