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sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah

SRI PILLAI LOKACHARYAR: A BIOGRAPHY
                                                By Sri Vedaraman Sriraman
                                                        in Vedic_Magazine

lOkAchAryAya guravE krishNapAdaSya sUnavE |
samsArabhOgisandashta jIvajIvAtavE nama: ||

Sri Manavala Mamunigal (MM), in his much celebrated
UpadEsarattinamalai, commemorates the lives and works of Azhvars
and Acharyas. In this wondorous composition, he has singled out one
Acharyan, more than any one else, in whose honor, he has devoted
several pasurams. This acharyan so revered by Sri MM is Sri Pillai
Lokacharya (also known as ulagAriyan ? teacher of the universe).
Sri PL was born around 1205 AD on the occasion of Ashwayuja (Aippasi
in tamil), under the asterism of shrAvaNa (thiruvONam). Those were
days when Sri Vaishnavam flourished under the able leadership of the
august Sri Nampillai. His disciples included several luminaries;
prompting the oft quoted ?Nampillai ghostiyO, Namperumal ghostiyO? (?Is
it the gathering of devotees who came to listen to Nampillai or who
came to see Namperumal?). The most prominent amongst these disciples
were Sri Vadakku Thiruveethip Pillai (VTP) and Sri Periya Vaachaan
Pillai (PVP), who authored the two most authoritative commentaries on
Sri Nammazhwar?s Thiruvaimozhi, viz. muppaththi-aaRaayirappadi
(36,000) or Edu and the irupaththi-naalaayirappadi (24,000) respectively.
Sri VTP was blessed with two sons. The eldest of the two was Sri PL and
the second was Sri Azhakiya Manavalap Perumal (AMP) Nayanar. Sri
VTP named his eldest son after his acharya Sri Nampillai who was also
known as Lokacharya or Ulagariyan. To gain the quintessence of
Ramanujar?s darsanam very clearly, one need look no further than the
works of Sri PVP, VTP, PL and AMP Nayanar.

Both brothers grew up and lived in Sri Rangam. They learned from their
illustrious father as well as from other contemporary acharyas like Sri
Nampillai. It is said that when they were young they overheard their
father expressing some regrets about gruhastasrama (house holder). This
incident left an indelible impression on the young minds and as a
consequence they remained brahmacharis (bachelors) throughout their
lives and rendered magnificent kainkaryams to Namperumal and sri
vaishNavam.

Sri PL would be considered a social revolutionary in that he was the first
Acharyan who wrote independent works in the vernacular language that
expounded on Vedanta and an account of his views on caste. In the latter
instance, he was a blazing visionary and pioneer, the likes of which finds
no rival in the past or present, saving his younger brother. He very
staunchly held that all that mattered was a bhagavatha?s (devotee?s)
devotion to Perumal and that any consideration of the caste of a
bhagavatha constituted a grave apachAram (sin)!!! Sri PL was a practical
man who practiced what he preached and included amongst his
principal disciples was a Harijan by the name of Vilancholaipillai. This
mahatma (great soul) had several Brahmin bhagavatas as disciples. To
fully grasp the immensity of Sri PL?s views and actions, they must be
evaluated in the timeframe in which they occurred, ie, almost 800 years
ago. Understandably then, several baghavathas in Srirangam took
exception to Sri PL?s position. These objections reached a level of
criticality that in turn necessitated Sri AMP Nayanar?s having to formally
vindicate his brother. However, Sri PL never soft peddled these issues!!!
He composed several works in which he very directly and explicitly
covers controversial issues of absence of qualificatory states for prapatti.
Notable amongst the many works that were composed for the benefit of
future generations by this supremely benevolent Acharyan are eighteen
in Manipravala style, that are called Ashtaadasa Rahasyangal (18
esoteric scriptures), and that leave no aspect of srI vaishNava philosphy
uncovered.
Sri PL, along with Sri Vedanta Desikan, represent two stalwarts of srI
vaishNavam, who put their very lives in harm?s way to save critical
aspects of our sampradAyam during the difficult times of Mohammedan
invasions. Details of Sri PL?s role is expounded in greater detail in guru
parampara prabhAvam.
His Works

1. Srivachanabhusanam (SVB)
2. Tattvatrayam
3. Mumukshuppadi
4. Arthpanchakam
5. Archiradi
6. Prameyasekaram
7. Prapannaparitranam
8. Sarasangraham
9. Samsarasamrajyam
10. Navaratnamalai
11. Navavidhasambandham
12. Yadrccikapadi
13. Parantapadi
14. Sriyapatippadi
15. Tattvasekharam
16. Tanidwayam
17. Tanicharamam
18. Tanipranavam

Orthodox accounts indicate that Sri PL reached the lotus feet of Sriman
Narayana at the advanced age of 95, after a lifetime dedicated to service
of bhAgavathas and our Lord.

Nothing more need be said about Sri PiLLai lOkAchArya?s significance
of contributions or heights of intellectual achievement, when one of the
brightest stalwarts of srI vaishNavam, Swami dESikan, inspired by his
senior contemporary, extols Sri PL?s virtues in lOkAchArya panchashat,
a stotra composed by Swami dESikan in praise of Swami PL:

janijaladhi parIthAkAra leenAtma panktyau
trividha vishaya trishNa rAkshasI peeDithayau
Bhuvanaguru varOdAth srImatIm sukti bhUshAm
Pavanaja iva dEvyai pANi bhUshAm svabharThAm ?.
                                                (lOkAchArya panchashat, 15)

(As did Sri HanumAn relieve Sita?s suffering by giving her Sri Rama?s
ornament, so has the esteemed lOkAchArya given the array of
ornaments called srI vachana bhUshaNam, guaranteed to bring relief to
the multitude of souls, lost in the quagmire of samsAra, enslaved by
three kinds of rAkshasis (demons) called sensory thirst)






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