SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya/ SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinam samvardhaya// KAvEri VardhathAm kAlE, kAlE varshathu vAsava:/ SrI RanganAthO jayathu SrI Ranga SrIs cha VardhathAm// =========================================================== SRI RANGA SRI VOL. I / 027 DATED 17th March 2001 =========================================================== Dear Bhagavatas: As announced in the last issue, we are presenting under "KNOW THIS ACHARYA" Series the thumbnail sketches of 5 PoorvAchAryas whose Tirunakshatrams fall in this month of Masi Viz., MASI- PUSHYAM (6th March 2001) 1.SRIMAD PERIYA ANDAVAN a.k.a VATHAL SWAMI (Common to Munitraya Paramoparas) 2. SRI VEERARAGHAVA SATAKOPA YATHEENDRA MAHADESIKAN (37th PaTTam Azhagiyasinghar of AhObila Matam) -------------------- MASI ? MAGAM (8th March 2001) 3. MANAKKAL NAMBI (Common to all Papamparas 4.SRI SRINIVASA YATHEENDRA MAHADESIKAN (19th PaTTam Azhagiya Singhar of AhObila MaTam) MASI- SWATHI (13th March 2001) 5. PANCHAMATHA BHANJAMNAM SWAMI (Common to Muni Traya Paramparas) Dasoham Anbil Ramaswamy Editor & Publisher "Sri Ranga Sri" ===================================================================== KNOW THIS ACHARYA MASI- PUSHYAM 1.SRIMAD PERIYA ANDAVAN a.k.a VATHAL SWAMI (1801 - 1884 AD) (VED): "Periya Andavan, as he has come to be familiarly known is the real architect of the Andavan Parampara, for he laid it on firm foundation. He lived during the 19th Century AD- a most disturbed period in the history of Vaishnavism, when the Southern part of the Tamil country became a hotbed of internecine wars. Carnatic Wars (1743-1767 AD) broke out between the English and the French and both the temple and the town of Srirangam suffered much. The pilgrim town and the center of Vaishnavism became an occupied territory. The Nawab's army took shelter in the Srirangam temple. The military fortunes of the contending parties were fluctuating until the English won the war and seized Tiruchirappalli and the surrounding regions. In his Poorvasrama, Periya Andavan was called Sri SrinivAsa RAghavAchariar. The son of one KrishnamAchArya Swami, he belonged to the village, Pillaiyaranai near kAnchi. He was born in the Kali year Roudri in the month of Maasi when the star Pushyam was in the ascendant and this corresponds to 25-2-1801. (*It was a Sukla TrayOdasi day. He belonged to Sandilya GOtram- *SMM) He came from a distinguished Dipa- Pradipa family who were entitled to some special honors at the kAnchi PEraruLALan temple. After BrahmOpadesa at the age of 8, his father himself instructed him in the Vedas and Divya Prabhandam. He also administered the Sudarsana MahA Mantram. He received his Pancha SamskAram from one Sama Periyappan Swami, a descendent of Tata Desika. In the course of a pilgrimage, Sri Krishnamachariar and his family worshipped at the ArAvamudan Sannidhi at KumbakONam, where he met one NAvalpakkam RAghavAchariar Swami, an erudite scholar and previous acquaintance. At the latter's request, Sri Krishnamachariar and his family stayed with him for some years as his guest. At his departure, he left his son to be instructed in Kavyas and Tamil lore at the feet of NAvalpakkam Swami. Later, SrinivAsa RAghavAchariar studied VyAkaraNa and mImAmsa SAstras at the feet of his paternal uncle. Goaded by an intense urge to seek the feet of Sri Vedanta RamAnuja Maha Desikan, he arrived at Srirangam and prostrated himself before the Acharya. >From him he sought and received Bharanyasam at the Sannidhi of Lord Ranganatha. Discovering in the Prapanna, the potential Acharya, Srimad Andavan directed him to get instructed in all Rahasya Granthas by Tirutturaip Pundi Andavan. Soon, he became a scholar in all VedaAnta SAstras and won the appreciation of the two AchAryas and their disciples. He visited the NAvalpakkam village six months after his marriage and on that occasion, his father-in-law (* Sri Nrisimha Tatachariar-*SMM) presented him a gold ring. SrinivAsa RAghavAchariar is said to have made golden image of Swami Desika out of the ring and installed it in the local temple. With an intense longing to become a SannyAsi, he came back to Srirangam but both his mother and wife pleaded with him not to take to holy orders. Sensing the domestic compulsions, the Acharya advised him to remain a householder till such time as he is blessed with a child. With the birth of a daughter, a few years later, Sri SrinivAsa RAghavAchariar decided to take the SannyAsa Asrama. But, still his mother would not allow him to do so. Assuring his mother that he would not become an ascetic unless he saw auspicious signs, he proceeded to Srirangam. On the way, he encountered an astrologer who predicted that he would turn either a great king or a saint destined to blaze a new trail. Just about the same time two Garudas were seen hovering in the sky. The green signal for the new course of life was given and his mother reconciled herself to the inevitable and blessed her son. Taking leave of Lord DEvarAja, Sri SrinivAsa RAghavAchariar reached Srirangam and received the ochre robes from Tirutturaip Pundi Andavan. Assuming the name of SrinivAsa Maha Desikan, he entered the holy order of ascetics at the age of 30 in the year 1831 AD. Srimad SrinivAsa Maha Desikan led a simple, austere life on the banks of Kollidam. Every day he would go round the streets of Srirangam and accept alms from the houses of only those who lived a pure life, reciting and teaching Vedas. It is said that after receiving the cooked rice, he would go to the river and wash it so as to rid it of all fat and oil content. The meager food he took lacked the vital fat content rendering him frail and he was, therefore, called "Vathal Swami". He was a self-denying saint, a JithEndriya who bent his Thirumeni to the service of his soul. He taught rather by his practice than by precept. He wielded such influence on his disciples that they hailed him "Periya Andavan". When Tirutturaip Pundi Andavan attained his Acharya's feet, Periya Andavan became the Acharya in due course. On hearing about his succession, learned scholars of the day came to see him and obtain his grace. A brilliant galaxy of distinguished scholars flocked to his feet and the GOshTi consisted of such eminent persons as VedaAnta Tatachariar Swami of Sankarapuram, (who became later VeLiyanallur Andavan), Sri RAghavAchariar of VeLiyanallur (who later became ChinnANDavan of this Asramam), Sri Tirupput Kuzhi KrishNaTatachar Swami, GOpAla Samudram Vidwan Sri NArAyaNAchAr Swami, Sankarapuram SrinivAsAchAriar, MannArgudi VyAkaraNa RangAchAriar Swami (who later became the 39th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt), Vidwan GOpAlachAriar Swami, Meemisal NarasimhAchAriar Swami TirukkuDanthai Chinnamu Ranganatha PAatrAchAriar Swami(*SMM), AgnihOtram SrinivAsa TAtAchAr Swami, Vidwan ParavAstu VenkatAchAr of Srivilli puttur, Tiruvaheendrapuram AshtAvadhAnam AnantAchAr Swami (who later became Tiruk Kudanthai Andavan) etc. etc. Periya Andavan was a logician of great repute and many of his disciples also excelled in this art. One GOvardhanam RangAchAriar, a reputed logician of the North arrived in Srirangam and challenged the scholars of the day to a dialectical debate. MannArgudi RAjagOpAlAchariar, nominated by Srimad Periya Andavan to accept the challenge defeated the visiting scholar after several days of debate. The vanquished gracefully accepted defeat and requested Periya Andavan to spare RAjagOpAlAchariar Swami for a brief period , so that he could get further instructions from him in Vedanta. At the end of the period, he honored MannArgudi RAjagOpAlAchariar and conveyed his gratitude to Periya Andavan for putting him in the right path of knowledge. He set up the Asrama on the lands donated by a patron and continued his Kalakshepam classes there uninterrupted in the sylvan environment. He conducted classes in Sri Gita BhAshya, Sri BhAshya, Rahasya Traya Sara and Bhagavad Vishayam more than 30 times to hundreds of disciples. His Sishyas listened entranced wondering that so much Vedantic wisdom emanated from so frail a body. He framed a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to by his disciples. He undertook a pilgrimage which took him to Tiruk Kudanthai, MannArgudi, VaDuvur and other places. Whatever he touched he enriched and he left behind a tradition of excellence, a spiritual touch for his worthy successors to cherish and carry forward. Such indeed is the glory of Periya Andavan. He observed 55 ChAturmAsya austerities (58 according to SRP) during the span of 85 years. He attained the lotus feet of his Acharya in the year 1884 that is SubhAnu Makara Krishna Trayodasi". His Tanian reads as follows:- Sri RangEsa PadhE Samarpitha Bharam Srutyanta RaamAnuja Sri Yogeendra GuroothamEna Yaminah Srutyanta VidyAtmanah / Praaptha Srutya vathamsa Yugma Hridayam Sri Vaasa Raamaanujaath Sri Srivaasa Muneendra Desika MaNim SreyOnidhim Samaasraye // (meaning) " I resort to SrivAsa Munindra Desika who is the gem of Sreyas, who did his BharasamarpaNam at the feet of Rangesa, who had learnt all about RamAnuja Darsanam from his Guru, to whose heart resort all the Srutis" ================================================= MASI-PUSHYAM 2. SRI VEERARAGHAVA SATAKOPA YATHEENDRA MAHADESIKAN (37th PaTTam Azhagiyasinghar of AhObila Matam) This SwAmi was born in the year (1845) KrOdhi, MAsi, Pushyam at ILayavalli Agraharam in Kousika GOtram. He was named GOpAlachAriar. He assumed PaTTam on 31st January 1899. He wrote 16 Works including "AadEsa maNi". He ascended to his permanent abode in the year VikAari, MArgazhi PoorNima day. He was known for his strict observance of the ascetic order. (Source: Swami DEskan's 7th Centenary Commemoration Volume-P.363) ============================================================ MASI ? MAGAM 3. MANAKKAL NAMBI He was born as the Amsam of Kumudan, one of the Nityasuris in Paramapadam. He was born in the MaNakkAl AgrahAram adjacent to ANBIL, in Lalgudi Taluk, Trichy District. His date of birth is also variously placed by scholars: PPM: 832 AD; MSR: 870AD; MKS: 876 AD. But, all are agreed that he was born in the year VirOdhi, month of Masi in the constellation of Magam. The credit for transforming Yamunai thuraivan into YAmuna Muni goes to him (PPM). For 12 years, he rendered personal service to his Acharya, Uyyak KonDAr and after the demise of UyyakKonNDAr's wife, he took over the culinary duties and cooked food for his Acharya. (PPM) EmbAr describes that Nammalwar drank of the ocean of mercy of the Lord Narayana and rained it through Natha muni and that PuNDarikAksha was like the fountain spring that let the stream reach AalavanDAr. PuNDarikAksha learned the holy collects and Yoga Rahasya from Natha Muni and passed them on to AalavanDAr. His devotion to his Guru was such that on an occasion when two daughters of PuNDarikAksha had to cross the slush on their way back home after bath in the river, he laid himself down on the slush and asked them to walk over on his back. Since, the sands at the feet of the Guru's daughters were on his body, he came to be known as ' Manal Kaal Nambi' . He took to Sannyas. He does not seem to have written any work. But, citations of his teachings are found in the works of other AchAryas. Swami Desikan quotes his teachings in NyAya Parisuddhi. So, he is known as "Yathaartha Khyaadhi" Swami Desika in Sloka 7 of his YatirAja Saptadhi praises MaNakkAl Nambi as follows: Anujjitha Kshamaa Yogam Apunya Jana Bhaadakam | Asprushta Madha Raagam Thum Raamam Turiyam Upaasmahe || (meaning) The one who learned through UpadEsam all the Sastaraarthas from UyyakkoNDAr was MaNakkAl Nambi. There were only three Ramas before. Here comes the fourth Rama. The defects noticeable in the other 3 Ramas were totally absent in this 4th Rama. ANUJJITHA KSHAMAA YOGAM : ParasurAma had no patience. Out of jealousy, he fought with 'Chakravarthi Tirumagan'. With an uncontrollable rage, he embarked on destroying the entire Kshatriya race. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never lost his composure and kept his senses under absolute control. APUNYA JANA BHAADAKAM: Dasaratha Rama destroyed the Rakshasas, otherwise known as 'Punya Jana'. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never harmed anyone but always did all the good he could to SAdhus who are also known as 'Punya Jana' ASPRUSHTA MADHA RAAGAM: BalarAma became reddish in color by excessive drinking MaNakkAl Nambi never exhibited any pride or prejudice or any excessive attachment to anything worldly. Let us prostrate before this blemish less 4th Rama ===================================================================== MASI MAGAM 4.SRI SRINIVASA YATHEENDRA MAHADESIKAN (19th PaTTam Azhagiya Singhar of AhObila MaTam) This SwAmi was born at TiruvallikkENi in NaDAdur SrIvatsAnkam vamsam. He assumed the ochre robes in the year rAkshasa AaDi month (July 1735) and adorned the PeeTam for 10years and 7 months and ascended Paramapadam at PuLLambhoothamkuDi. (Source: Swami Desika 7th Centenary Commemoration Volume p.357) =================================================================== MASI- SWATHI 5. PANCHAMATHA BHANJAMNAM SWAMI The line of Muni Traya Parampara continues -1 (common to Poundarikapuram Asramam and Periyaasramam): SRI PANCHA MATHA BHANCHANAM TATACHARYA (1500-1591 AD) VED: "Sri Tatacharya, a cousin of ShashTa parAnkusa, and his SrikAryam for sometime, was the RAjaguru of two Vijayanagar rulers. A contemporary of the great Vaishnava scholar, MahAchArya (also known as Doddaachaarya), he wielded considerable power and influence. He was responsible for making Vaishnavism the most favored religion in the Vijayanagar empire." PPM: He was born in Masi under SwAti Nakshatram in NAthamuni Kulam (SoTTai Kulam). He belonged to Tirumalai Nambi Vamsam. He learned the Saastrarthas from Tirumalai SrinivAsa Desika Swami. His son was the famous Lakshmi Kumara Tata Desikan who is believed to have grasped the Vedanta Arthas from PirAtti herself. He was instrumental in the renovation of the golden VimAnams of kAnchi PEraruLALan and ThiruvEnkaTamudaiyAn, reconstruction of GOPuram, Maintops, Parker's etc and he is reputed to have arranged for the weddings of 10 million maidens. And hence known as " Koti Kanyaka Dhaanam Tatachariar". He wrote a KAvya called "Pancha Matha Bhanchanam". He was the SrikAryam of kAnchi. He had a number of Sishyas including some kings like Venkatapathi RAyar. Several stone inscriptions on this Acharya are available. He represents the 21st generation of Sri NAthamuni. His Tanians are: 1. Composed by Keezh Neer Kundram Anantha Desikar: Sri Saila Poorna Kula Vaaridhim Poorna Chandram Sri Srinivasa Guru Varya Padaabja Bringam / Sreyo Gunaambudhim Aaasrita Paarijaatham Sri Tatayaaryam Anagham saraNam Prapadhye // I take refuge at the feet of Tatayaarya, the blemishless who is a Paarijatha flower (Granting all desires) of those who take refuge at his feet, the one who is like the full moon coming out of the ocean of the lineage of Sri Saila PoorNa. 2.Composed by Kachi Kadambi Appayya Dikshitar (a.k.a) SrinivAsa Dikshitar SukhaTaatham Trayee Maarge Tatraatham Tattva Nirnaye / Tat Taata Taatamaayaare Taatayaaryam Aham Bhaje // (meaning) "I celebrate TAtchArya Guru who is like Sukha Brahmam in Vedic lore and in establishing Tattvas" ==================================================================== PLEASE AWAIT AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! =====================================================================
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