Uthsavam at Sri Nampillai sannadhi, Triplicane

Sri Nampillai, in the Acharya paramparai is known for his scholastic excellence. He was the disciple of Sri Nanjeeyar and acharyar of Vadakku Thiruveethipillai. His commentary on Thiruvoimozhi known as Muppathu Aarayira(m)ppadi - is considered as the best amongst the vyakyanams; considered equivalent to Thiruvoimozhi itself and is celebrated as “Eedu” .

Swami was born as “Varadhacharyar” in the year Prabhva, 4249 kaliyugadi, in Krithikai Month in Krithikai Nakshatra. He lived a life of 105 years in this world. His period is 1147 AD – 1252AD. His life time was during the era of Chola dynasty and he was a witness to its glory, disintegration, defeat and annexation to Pandya kingdom. His Eedu also chronicles some part of the history of his time, as they are related to the temple of Srirangam. The Chola King Sundara Pandyan reportedly did the golden cover to the temple tower.
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Nampillai discoursed the lectures of Parasara Bhattar to his disciples Periavachaan Pillai and Vadakku Thiruveedi Pillai. who in turn employed them in their respective commentaries. “Muppathu aarayirappadi” of Vadakku thiruveethipillai based on the discourses of Swami Nampillai is considered the best.

The Oranvazhi acharya paramparai mantle passed on from Parasara Bhattar to Namjeeyar and Nampillai. Namjeeyar appreciated Varadhacharyar on his writings on Thiruvoimozhi and called him “Nampillai” Swami Manavalamamunigal has hailed Nampillai in “Upadesa Rathinamalai”.

Nampillai of this fame has a sannadhi at Triplicane, situate at the front of Sri Bhandaram Committee place commonly known as “Komutti bungalow”. Around 100 years earlier, there was a great person by name Yogi Parthasarathi Iyengar and his wife was Yogi Singamma. Sri Yogi Parthasarathi Iyengar in his wisdom created a press for re-publishing on paper edition, the great granthams of our Vaishnavaite mahans and in this venture established a press and persons to take care known as - “Saraswathi Bhandram Committee” – saraswathi bhandaram meaning ‘library / treasure house’ of the works of Goddess of Learning Saraswathi. He spent his fortune towards establishing this and on this place built a temple for Sri Nampillai as the rightful person to own this treasure house. The idol of Namperumal was also installed alongside. He ensured that there would be festivities at least once a year.

This Nampillai sannadhi was renovated and re-built decoratively recently by the Committee, spearheaded by Sri MA Venkata Krishnan Swami. The yearly celebrations and rendering of Thiruvaimozhi is presently on and here are some photos taken at sannithi today.

Adiyen – Srinivasa dhasan.

17^th Nov. 2013.