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>From Sri Madhavakkannan V
========================= 
 
SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:

We are all aware of Thirukkudanthai Desikan Sri Gopaalaarya 
Mahadesikan 
Swamy (from 1700 CE to 1782 CE). There were three ascetics in saffron 
attire 
(as Great Sishyas) serving this GrahasthA Acharya, attending on him 
with 
implicit reverence, doing all personal chores- a very unusual 
phenomenon. 
They had been drawn from far and near; one was from wartrap, who 
later 
proved to be on the model of Sri Nathamuni; the second from Seyyanam 
(Thirunelveli) a prototype of Sri Yamunamuni; and the third from 
VazhutthUr 
near Ayyampettai Sri Vedantha Ramanuja muni, whose prolific progation 
service had brought the school to a preeminent status. At His feet, 
there 
were three sanyaasis (munis) and hence is called "munithraya 
sampradayam" 
since then.

Sri VazhutthUr Swamy, Sri Vedantha Ramanuja muni- He received the 
robes 
of a Sannyasi from the hands of Paduka Sevaka Sri Ramanuja Maha 
Desika- 
came to Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan (Thirukkudanthai Desikan) along 
with other 
two sanyaasis as mentioned above and fell at his feet, quoting from 
NammazhwAr Thiruvaymozhi:

Theeraa vinaigaL theera ennai Andaay! THIRUKKUDANTHAI OORAA!
Unakku Atpattum adiyEn innam uzahlvEnO?

You have ruled me dispelling all my sins accrued so far! Oh Lord of 
Thirukkudanthai! (Thirukkudanthai DesikanE!) After being protected by 
You, 
will I ever suffer here (on this earth?) No? never! (pl forgive me 
for my 
free translation).

Thirukkdanthai Desikan was overwhelmed with joy and blessed our Sri 
Vedantha 
Ramanuja Swamy "Here after it is You who is going to rule the world 
being a 
glorious Acharya! Here after you will be the ruler (andavan) of 
Srivaishnava 
sishya kOtis! Thenceforth, that Acharya came to be known as Andavan. 
Prefixing the name of his village, he came to be known as Vazhuthur 
Andavan.

Sri VazhutthUr Andavan was born in the star of Poorattadi in the 
month 
of AvaNi in 1743 CE..

He was also known as Srirangam Srimad Andavan, as he stayed in 
Srirangam
almost permanently. As the Sampradaya was continued by the successive
Acharyas, and Swamy had Sri Navalpakkam Annayaarya Mahadesikan, Sri 
Andikkattu Swamy and Sri ThirutthuRaippooNdi Andavan as sishyas. Each 
of 
them had many sishyas and Samparadyam grew to a great extent and 
hence this 
Swamy is known as one of huge family (big kudumbam), also 
called "Kudumbi 
Swami"

The term "Andavan"- meaning one who came to rule the hearts
of his followers was coined and applied reverentially not only to him 
but
also to all Acharyas who came after him. Thereafter, the Parampara 
itself
came to be called "Srimad Andavan Paramparai, propagating the 
munithraya sampradayam. Other than Sri Pakalamutt and Sri Ahobila 
Mutt, all 
other AchAryas of Vadakalai sect today trace back to Sri Vedantha 
Ramanuja 
Muni (Sri VazhutthUr Andavan) . Today is Swamy's Thirunakshathram. 
Let us 
pay our obeisance to this Great Acharya by reciting the thaniyan 
(dedicatory verse) and contemplate its meaning:

Gopala Desika Padaabja Madhu Vratasya Pragnaa Virakti
Karunaa Mukha Sad Gunaabde/
Vedaanta Lakshmana Muneh Srita Bhagadeyam
Paadaaravinda Yugalam Saranam Prapadhye //

(Meaning)

He who is like bee residing in the (and sucking the honey from) the 
lotus 
feet of Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan, who was endowed with a sea of 
auspicious qualities, knowledge, detachment and mercy, who showers 
His grace 
to those who resort to him. adiyEn takes refuge at his feet with no 
other 
recourse.

Large number of disciples used to attend his kaalakshepams due to his 
greatness. Once when a new series of kaalakshepam was about to start, 
disciples recited the thaniyan and were about to start. There was a 
king 
cobra which came out of its hole and had its hood raised. Immediately 
one of 
the sishyas took a stick to beat and kill. Swamy the most 
compassionate as 
usual took pity of this being and asked the sishya not to disturb or 
hurt 
the snake. They proceeded with the kaalakshepam (in a tense situation 
perhaps for sishyas). The Cobra stood still till the end and 
disappeared 
after kaalakshepam was over.

This extraordinary event was happening repeated everyday. The snake 
became 
one of the regular attendees too. After the grantham was completed, 
Swamy 
was descending the steps of the tank for his Anushtanam, the Cobra 
went 
around him and struck its hood on the ground three times and appeared 
to beg something.

The Acharya understood that it was a Mahapurusha in the previous 
birth and 
had become a Cobra by some curse and that it was seeking relief from 
Samsara. Plucking a fruit from a tree nearby, he offered it to his 
Aradhana murthi and performed Aartha Prapatti for the Cobra. 
Vazhuthur 
Andavan sprinkled some holy waters on the Cobra which was waiting for 
him 
to come. Instantly, it passed away. (from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swamy's 
article and Sri Thirukudanthai Desikan 300 the Anniversary malar)

Sri Vazhutthur Andavan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards
Narayana Narayana
aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan






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