Sri Manavala Mamunigal Sesha Vahanam 2018

Triplicanites are ecstatic.  Today 3rd Nov is day 2 of Swami Manavala Mamunigal uthsavam; in 2 days time is Deepavali and 25th of Aippaisi ~ 11th Nov 2018 – is the exalted day ‘Aippaisiyil Thirumoolam’ ~ the day when our Acarya Swami Manavala Mamunigal’s thiruvavathram occurred.

There is the illustrious lineage of Purvacharyargal – the hierarchy of Srivaishnava preceptors – through whom the glorious traditions passed by in generations.  Its happy culmination with Namperumal Himself becoming disciple of Acarya Mamunigal redounds the wisdom of our holy lineage.  Swami Emperumanar (Sri Ramanujar) and Mamunigal – both were incarnation of Adisesha.  Born as Nayanar, Mamunigal was an ocean of knowledge, yet learnt at the feet of his erudite father and others – the way Sri Rama and Sri Krishna did, during their stay on earth – through courses under great sages of their times like Vasistha, Viswamitra, Sandeepani .. ..

The whole Sri Vaishnava World is rejoicing at the very thought of sarrumurai celebrations of great Acaryar.   Getting back to our own place,  there have been rain forecasts – nothing unusual for Chennai, though this year there have not been much of rains.  Today, it was day 2 – and after Sri Periyazhwar thirumozhi rendering in the afternoon, evening at 0745 pm there was purappadu of Swami Manavala Mamunigal – in Sesha vahanam.  When it rains,  ordinary mortals would take  shelter – move  around carrying umbrellas, wearing rain coats and more – for the Supreme Lord, it is Adisesha who is the parasol. Adisesha in our Sampradhaya is fondly Ananthazhvan ~ he serves the Lord always - in His various avatars, Ananthazhwan accompanies Him in some form and continues his service.

Sri Erumbiappa in his thanian to Yathiraja Vimsati extols Acaryar :

Ya: sthuthim yathipathiprasAdaneem

vyAjahAra YathirAja vimsatheem |

Tham prapanna jana sadhakAmbhudham

nowmi Sowmyavara Yogi pungavam ||

"I offer my homage to Acarya Swami Manavala Mamunigal, who blessed us with this great work of  ‘Yathiraja vimsathi’ with the intention of pleasing the heart of our Udayavar Bashyakar Sri Ramanujar.  He is the one, who showered Prapannars with the nectar of sakala saasthra arthas, just as the rays of moon fully nourish the  Chataka  birds."  The thaniyan inclines that those who recite this work will have blessings of Emperumanar.  ‘Prapanna jana chatakam budam’ would mean Acarya Emperumanar is like the rainbearing cloud which provides lifeline of water for all including skylarks.  Yogi PUngava refers clearly to our Acarya Mamunigal.

The Lord once decided to depute Adisesha  to the world on a mission to reform men and women and remain there for 200 years. Adisehsa  spent 120 years as Sri Ramanuja, for the rest of the determined period (80 years) he was reborn as Swami Manavala Mamunigal. That our Acharyar Mamunigal  was a manifestation of Adisesha was proved in an incident when some jealous people set fire to his house but he slipped away to safety under certain compelling circumstances and to continue his task uninterrupted he took to ascetic order.

Today (3^rd Nov 2018 )  is day 2 of Sri Manavala Mamunigal Thiruvavathara uthsavam –   and it was  purappadu of Mamunigal in Sesha vahanam. Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.

~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan