எம்பெருமானிடத்திலே பக்தி
செய்தல் இளைய பெருமானான இலக்குவணன் 'அடிமை சேவகம் செய்தார் போலே' என அவனிடத்தில் “உனக்கே
நாம் ஆட்செய்யவேணும்” என்னும்படி வேணும் என்றும் சொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளது. அதாவது
கைங்கர்யம் என்னும் லட்சியத்தை இராமாயணத்தில் இளைய பெருமாள் கடைப் பிடித்துக் காட்டினார்.
இராமனை உடன் பிறந்த வகைக் கருதாமல் தெய்வமாக எண்ணிப் பணிவிடைகள் செய்தான். பெரியாழ்வார் திருமொழியில் இதோ ஒரு அற்புத பாசுர
வரிகள் :
காதம் பலவும் திரிந்துழன்றேற்கு
அங்கோர் நிழலில்லை நீருமில்லை* உன்
பாத நிழலல்லால் மற்றோர்
உயிர்ப்பிடம் நானெங்கும் காண்கின்றிலேன்*
இப்படி நம் எம்பெருமானாராகிய
உடையவரிடத்திலே - அவரது பாத நீழல் (இராமானுஜ பதச்சாயா) என கைங்கர்யம் பண்ணின 'எம்பார்'
சாற்றுமுறை இன்று.
For Srivaishnavaites –
divyadesams assume great significance as these are the places where our Great
Azhwars visited and sung about the Lord…. Equally important are the places
associated with Azhwagal and Acharyargal….. Sri Ramanujar has the pride of
place in the list of our Acharyars; he is hailed as Udayavar, Emperumanar,
Bashyakarar, Ilayazhwaar, Yathirajar, Thiruppavai Jeeyar, Num Kovil
annan, amongst other names. Our darsana Sthapakar, Sri
Ramanujar rightly reverred as ‘Yathi Rajar’ ~ the king among yathis [hermits
and sages, the greatest reformer he was, Ramanuja gave us many vedantic
treatises - toured the entire Country, making the Srivaishnavatie tradition
flourish in all his path. Of those who remained closest to Sri Ramanuja –
Sri Mudaliandan, Sri Koorathazhwan, Sri Embar,
Sri Ananthazhwan, Arulalaperumal Emperumanar, Kidambi Achaan, Thirukurugai
Piraan Pillan, Thiruvarangathu Amuthanar and more.
Today (20th Jan
20197) is punarpoosam in the month of Thai – heralding the Sarrumurai vaibhavam
of Swami Embar. At Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam,
Embar had purappadu with Sri Parthasarathi and today being thai pusam, it was
purappadu uptil Big Street for harvesting crops !! (more on this in another
post)
Around 56 kilometers from
Chennai lies this place – which perhaps you would have passed by hundreds of
times………… As we travel on the Chennai Bangalore highway, Sriperumpudur, the
birthplace of Sri Ramanujar is around 48 kms ~ Thirukachi is around 78 kms…
after Sriperumpudur comes Sunkuvar Chathiram - here you need to branch
off right and travel a few more kilo meters to
reach Madhuramangalam… The moolavar here is Sri Vaikunda
Perumal and Thayar is Kamalavalli thayar. There is a separate sannathi
for Swami Embar right infront of the Perumal sannathi. This temple
not being located on the mainstream has lesser number of people visiting.
All the Uthsavams are being conducted well….
Madhuramangalam is the birth
place of Swami Embar ~ cousin of Swami
Ramanujar, Embar was born as Sri Govindar here (then known as
Mazhalai mangalam) in Krothana Samvatsaram (1026 AD). Embaar was born to
Periya Piraati and Kamala Nayana Bhattar. Swami Ramanujar is known as the
incarnation of ThiruAnanthazhvan and Swami Embaar as the incarnation of Periya
Thiruvadi. Arising out of his connection to Periyathiruvadi, the Theertham of
this temple is known as Garuda Pushkarini and it is believed that at this place
any snake or poisonous insects will not harm anyone. The Avathara Mandapam of
Swami Embaar is located around ½ km from the temple.
Govinda studied under Yadava prakasar and rescued Ramanujar from the plot- the Guru Yadavaprakasa hatched. Legend has it that while taking bath in a river, a shivalinga landed in his palm and he became an orthodox Saivatie for a while. He stayed in Sri Kaalahasthi praying and offering pooja to the lingam. During this period he was known as ‘ullangai konarntha nayanar’. A great Acharya and uncle of Ramanuja - Thirumalai Nambi along with his disciples went to Kaalahasthi and started delivering upanyasams (discourses) next to where Govindha was offering floral prayers to the linga.
While he was rendering
discourse on Maran Sadagopan’s tamizh vedam – Thiruvaimozhi ~ in the decad
titled “Thinnan veedu” – there is a pasuram - dhevum
epporulum padaikkap poovil naanmukhanaip padiaatha - devan Emperumaanukkallal
Poovum poosanaiyum thagume ? which would mean “ Maha Vishnu
is the One who created everything – including all demi gods and all beings,
sentient, non-sentient- is Chathurmukha Brahma (he is the one who created
Siva); and it is the Lord Sriya Pathi Sriman Narayanan – the Primordial Chief
who enabled Brahma to do so… Essentially it is MAHA VISHNU who makes
everything happen.
Chathur mukhan the creator was created on the lotus flower from the
navel of Emperuman and Azhwar asks whether any flower could be meant for some
one else but HIM – the only one unparalleled !! Govindar
jumped down crying ‘thagathu ! thagathu ! (cannot cannot). He fell
down at the feet of Thirumalai Nambhi… with tears rolling down his cheeks and
cried for saving him and to change him to a Vaishnavaite again. Embaar’s
attachment to Ramanuja can be understood by the excellent description of the
divinely beautiful thirumeni azhagu in his verse.
Swami Embar attended Ramanuja’s lectures, discourse,
debates expositions and dispositions and served his master as a shadow. With
great resolve and commitment, he secured sanyasa from Udayavar and obtained
robe of an ascetic. Udayavar named him Emperumanar but he could not accept this
and pleaded that he did not deserve this honour, upon which Udayavar called him
“Embar”. Swami Embar’s work ‘Vijnaasthuthi” is forever
remembered by posterity.
Embar's enjoyment of
seeing Sri Ramanujacharya's lotus feet , tender fingers reminding one of the
creepers, sacred saffron robe, most auspicious poonool, thridandam , His
enchanting smile laden with Daya , large dark eyes reminiscent of wish yielding
karpaka maram (tree), the kudumi (sikha) formed by abundant tresses is simply
beautiful . Embar declares that there is no one equal to him; since
Yathirajan's Divine Beauty lingers in his heart.
A great contribution to Vaishnavism is Embar being the acharya to the greatest Sri Parasara Bhattar (son of Koorathazhwan). Legend has it that when Udayavar asked Embar to bring baby Parasarar for naming, Embar by way of protection muttered Dvaya mantram in the infant’s ears and that placed on the baby unusual brilliance. Upon instruction of Udayavar, Embar became the Acharya of the baby and thus vaishnavaites are endowed with a great Acharyar – Sri Parasara Battar.
In the year 1137 the greatest of Acharyas Ramanujar left for heavenly abode resting on the lap of Embar. His moving away left Embar sans any interest in life and four years later, he followed the Jagadhacharyar. His work ‘Vijnaasthuthi” will ever be remembered by posterity.
A great contribution to Vaishnavism is Embar being the acharya to the greatest Sri Parasara Bhattar (son of Koorathazhwan). Legend has it that when Udayavar asked Embar to bring baby Parasarar for naming, Embar by way of protection muttered Dvaya mantram in the infant’s ears and that placed on the baby unusual brilliance. Upon instruction of Udayavar, Embar became the Acharya of the baby and thus vaishnavaites are endowed with a great Acharyar – Sri Parasara Battar.
In the year 1137 the greatest of Acharyas Ramanujar left for heavenly abode resting on the lap of Embar. His moving away left Embar sans any interest in life and four years later, he followed the Jagadhacharyar. His work ‘Vijnaasthuthi” will ever be remembered by posterity.
photos of Madhuramangalam and Embar at Avatharasthalam (abov
3 – rest at Thiruvallikkeni)
Sri Bhagavath Ramanujar
Thiruvadigale Saranam
Adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.
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