Sri Udayavar Thiruther - 20200

28.4.2020 was significant for it was the sarrumurai vaibhavam of our Acarya Swami Ramanujar.  9^th day would be grand for the twin purapaddus – in the morning it would be siriya thiruther and pushpa pallakku in the evening at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.

Life has changed suddenly – people really do not know what to do – 2020 has dawned differently and two months have just passed by with people talking, hearing, rumouring about Corona .. .. a World of fear and not knowing what to do .. .. Severe disruptions to insecticide-treated net campaigns and in access to antimalarial medicines could lead to a doubling in the number of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa this year compared to 2018, according to a new modelling analysis released by WHO and partners ahead of World Malaria Day (25 April).  WHO urges countries to move fast and distribute malaria prevention and treatment tools at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa, and to do their utmost to safely maintain these essential malaria control services. The analysis considers nine scenarios for potential disruptions in access to core malaria control tools during the pandemic in 41 countries, and the resulting increases that may be seen in cases and deaths.

Worser still is the news coming on Covid front.  After recording a dip in the number of cases of coronavirus infection over the past few days, Tamil Nadu again reported a spike, with 120 new cases on Tuesday. Of this number, 103 were recorded in state capital Chennai alone.  The source of infection of a few of the cases is being investigated.  Heavy traffic was seen in three Tamil Nadu cities of Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai after the state government announced relaxation during the Covid-19 lockdown, news agency ANI reported.  In some media there were reports and photos of traffic jams on the roads of Coimbatore, ridiculous, for there is lockdown and social distancing is the need of the hour.   The Tamil Nadu government had only announced relaxations for Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai where a four-day “intense lockdown” (starting April 26) was clamped to check the spread of Covid-19.

BhagwadRamanuja with his aesthetic beautiful interpretations occupies the central place.  Sri Ramanujar hailed as Udayavar, Emperumanar, Bashyakarar, Ilayazhwaar amongst other names was born in the year 1017 at Sri Perumpudur on ‘Thiruvathirai’ thirunakshathiram in the month of Chithirai.  The greatest reformer Sri  Ramanuja gave us many vedantic treatises.

**   ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜோ விஜயதே யதிராஜ ராஜ:  **

“Sree Ramanujo Vijayathe – Yathiraja Rajaha”

– the concluding lines of ‘Thadi (dhaTee) Panchakam’ – rendered by Swami Mudaliandan, which speaks of the  victory of Swami Ramanuja over other philosophies and his establishing the Visishtadvaita philosophy that was built by Azhwars and Purvacharyas.  In those golden days when Swami Emperumanar walked on the streets of Thiruvarangam and other Divyadesams – tens of thousands of his disciples and hundreds of Jeeyars followed him hailing “Ramanujo Vijayathe – Yathiraja Rajaha” 

Of the three great exponents of Vedanta philosophy, Bhagwad Ramanuja with his aesthetic beautiful interpretations occupies the central place.  Sri Ramanujar hailed as Udayavar, Emperumanar, Bashyakarar, Ilayazhwaar amongst other names was born in the year 1017 at Sri Perumpudur on ‘Thiruvathirai’ thirunakshathiram in the month of Chithirai.  Ramanuja was one of those visionaries  who made us realize the importance of harnessing waters in remote villages. He built a few and renovated many temple tanks right in the middle of Thirunarayanapuram, which not only ensured water for temple, but also for drinking and irrigation.   The crowning glory is  the 2,200 acre temple tank at Tondanur, called Tonnur Kere about 20 km from Melkote,  that provides  water to 70 villages for the last 1000 years.

Hail Ramanuja ~ we fall at the feet of our Acaryar who will take care of us.

உய்ய ஒரே வழி - உடையவர் திருவடி

ஆழ்வார் எம்பெருமானார் ஜீயர் திருவடிகளே சரணம்.

Here are some photos of thiruther last year at Thiruvallikkeni

~-adiyen Srinivasa dhasan [S. Sampathkumar]

30.4.2020.

Sri Mudaliandan Sarrumurai 2020

Sri Mudaliandan Sarrumurai  2020

Sure you have travelled many a times on this road by-passing the town of Poonamallee, situated at a distance of 23 kilometres from Fort St George and 17 kilometres from Sriperumbudur on the Chennai-Bangalore highway.  The name "Poonamallee" is derived from "Poovirundavalli", meaning "the place where flowers are cultivated". Had posted about the avathara sthalam of Thirukachi Nambigal here… nearer is another place of significance as the birth place of Acaryar -  which is not known to many.  This place many may know as Pettai [there are some references as Nazarathpettai – changed for obvious reasons now !]

In our Srivaishanava Sampradayam, Pontiffs carry tridandam signifying our philosophy - chit, achit and easwara.  Today (29.4.2020)  Chithirayil Punarpusam ~ is  a day of significance associated with Aandan considered as Trithandam of Swami Ramanujar.    

padhuke yathi rajasya kathayanthi yadhakh yaya |

thasya daasarathe: paadav Sirasa dhaarayaam yaham ||

Meaning: Yathiraja paduka (Swami Ramanujar's Lotus feet) is what he is known as. Hence we pay our respect to Daasarathi's (Mudaliandan) Lotus feet.

Yesterday was the grand celebration of  ~ ‘Swami Ramanujar sarrumurai”  On His Millennium year (2017), there was the spectacle at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam – grand purappadu of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman, Emperumanaar and Mudaliandan – yes, because Chithirayil Thiruvadhirai and Punarpusam fell on the same day.  So there was purappadu of Acharyar, his foremost disciple and Sri Parthasarathi Perumal.  Generally, Mudali andan sarrumurai will be the next day of Udayavar Sarrumurai.

at Thiruvallikkeni  (rest all photos of avatharasthalam Pettai)

எம்பெருமானார் வைபவத்திலே திருக்கோட்டியூர் முக்கிய இடம் வகிக்கிறது.  உடையவர் 18 தடவை சென்று திருக்கோஷ்டியூர் நம்பி இடத்தில் உபதேசம் பெறுகிறார்.    அடியேனுக்கு  பெரிய மந்த்ரார்த்தம் அருள வேணும் என பணிந்து நிற்க, உம்மை மட்டுமன்றோ வரச்சொன்னோம் இவர்களையும் அழைத்து வருவது என்ன ? என திருக்கோட்டியூர் நம்பிகள் வினவ, இராமானுஜர் தண்டும் பவித்திரத்தினுடன் வந்துள்ளதாக செப்புகிறார்.  (முதலியாண்டான் த்ரிதண்டம்; கூரத்தாழ்வான் பவித்திரம்).  நம்பியிடம்  ரஹஸ்ய த்ரயத்தினுடைய (திருமந்த்ரம், த்வயம், சரமஶ்லோகம்) அர்த்த விஶேஷங்களைக் கற்ற  நம் உடையவர் மேலும் சிறப்பு மிக்க செயலைச் செய்தார்.  ஸ்ரீ ராமானுஜர் தன் நலம் கருதாமல், சரம ஶ்லோகத்தினுடைய அர்த்த விஶேஷத்தை எந்த ஒரு நிபந்தனையும் இல்லாமல் ஆசையுடையோர்க்கெல்லாம் கூறியதால் திருக்கோஷ்டியூர் நம்பி அவருக்கு “எம்பெருமானார்” என்ற திருநாமத்தைச் சூட்டினார்.

இன்று  சித்திரையில் புனர்பூசம் - எம்பெருமானாரின் த்ரிதண்டமாயும் இப்போது அவரது திருவடியாயும் விளங்குகின்ற நம் முதலியாண்டான் சுவாமி திருநக்ஷத்திரம்.   தாசரதி, எம்பெருமானாரின் (ஸ்ரீராமானுஜர்) ஸஹோதரியின் குமாரராக பச்சைவாரணப் பெருமாள் கோவில் என்னும் ஊரில் அவதரித்தவர்.    எதிராஜரான ஜகத்குரு இவரைத் திருதண்டமாக (முக்கோல் மதித்திருந்தார்.  இவரோ, ஜகதாசார்யரான சுவாமியின் (ஸ்ரீராமானுஜர் பாதுகங்களாகவே (திருவடி நிலைகள்)  தம்மை நினைத்திருந்தார்.  எம்பெருமானார் ஸன்யாஸ்ரமம் புகும்போது, "நமது முதலியாண்டானைத் தவிர அனைத்தையும் துறந்தோம்" என்று அருளியதாக இவரது புகழ் பேசப்படுகிறது.  இவரது  வரலாறு ஆசார்யரான ஸ்ரீராமானுஜருடைய வாழ்க்கையுடன் பிணைந்தே உள்ளது.   குருபரம்பராப்ரபாவம் தவிர, கோயிலொழுகு, வார்த்தாமாலை முதலிய நூல்களிலும் வாழ்க்கைக் குறிப்புகள் காணக்கிடைக்கின்றன.

ஸ்வாமி முதலியாண்டான்  உடையவர் திருவடிகளிலே கைங்கர்யத்தைச் செய்து,  வாதூல தேசிக பதம் நிர்வஹித்து ஸ்ரீரங்க ஸ்ரீயை அபிவிருத்தி செய்தவராய்க்கொண்டு 105 திருநக்ஷத்ரம் (கி.பி.1027 - 1132)  உடையவரின் பாதுகாஸ்தானியராக எழுந்தருளியிருந்தார்.   எம்பெருமானுடைய திருவடி ஸ்தானமாக இருந்து அவருக்கு அந்தரங்க கைங்கரியங்களை செய்தமையால் எம்பெருமானுடைய திருவடியை முதலியாண்டான் என்றே அழைப்பது மரபு.

Chithirai Month (mesha month), day of Punarpusam – a day after the Great Chithirayil Seyya Thiruvathirai of Swami Ramanujar comes the avathara celebrations of Mudali andan, Lord Rama's amsam also known as Yathiraja's paduka is our guru Daasarathi (Mudaliandan).  Pettai is the avathara sthalam of Acharyar Mudali Andan, who was so close to Swami Udayavar.   

“Sree Ramanujo Vijayathe–Yathiraja Rajaha”( ஸ்ரீராமானுஜோ விஜயதே யதிராஜ ராஜ:) – the concluding lines of ‘Thadi (dhaTee) Panchakam’ – rendered by Swami Mudaliandan, which speaks of the  victory of Swami Ramanuja over other philosophies  and his establishing the Visishtadvaita philosophy that was built by Azhwars and Purvacharyas.  In those golden days when Swami Emperumanar walked on the streets of Thiruvarangam and other Divyadesams – tens of thousands of his disciples and hundreds of Jeeyars followed him hailing “Ramanujo Vijayathe – Yathiraja Rajaha:”

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.  Sri Mudaliandan Swami is reverred as Trithandam and Sri Koorathazhwan as Thiruppavithram for Swami Ramanujar.   Our Acaryar Swami Mudaliandan was born in Prabhava year 1027 in Chithirai punarpoosam. [so we have another 7 long years to celebrate his sahasrabdi !]   at Pachai Varana puram near Poonamallee (now Pettai) – on birth was named as Dasarathi – and he came to be known as  Yathiraja paduka, Nam Vadhoola Desikan (given by Sri Ranganthar), Vaishnav Siro Bushaa, Aandan (given by Swami Ramanujar), Tridandam (given by Swami Ramanujar), Sri Vaishnava dasar (given by Sishya's)

Understand that at Sriperumpudur, there is no vigraha for Mudaliandan as he stands in the Trithandam and Thiruvadi of Acharyar.  Daasarathi (Mudaliandan) [முதலியாண்டான்]  is  Avathara of the Lord Himself. Lord Rama was so pleased with Adiseshan's service to him as Lakshmana that he wanted to serve him in future Avatharas. As a result, he bestowed the Avathara of Balarama to Adiseshan and himself as Sri Krishna. Still unable to fulfill his desire, Lord Rama took the avatar of Mudaliandan in order to pay his reverence to Swami Ramanuja. When Thirukoshtiyur Nambi asked Swami Ramanuja to come to him to learn the "Rahasya Granthas" with his Pavithram (flag which is tied up on the top of Tridandam) and Tridandam (triple staff) he took with him Koorathazhwaan and Mudaliandan saying that they were his Pavithram and Tridandam. Mudaliandan's impeccable service to his mentor secured for him the status of being Ramanuja's Paduka (lotus feet), Tridandam & also the administrator of the Srirangam Temple. 

 varthamana swami and his thirukumarar 

He was blessed with son - Kandadai Aandan,  an amsam of Sathrugna at Thiruvarangam.  His Acharyans were  Swami Ramanujar, Mudaliandan and Sri Atkondavalli Jeeyar.  Here are some  photos of  his sarrumurai at Thiruvallikkeni and some photos at Avatharasthalam Pettai taken in 2017. 

adiyen Srinivasadhasan.[Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar]

29.4.2020

PS :  For a  Srivaishnavaite, Acharyar leads and guides one to ultimate  Sriman Narayana. My Acharyar  is Cholasimhapuram Doddayachaaryar (presently Sri U. Ve. Kovil Kanthadai Chandamarutham Singarachaar Swamy).   Our Acaryar lineage is traced to Swami Mudaliandan, his son Kandadai Andan, his son Thunnu pugazh Kandadai Thozhappar; his son Eeyan Ramanujachar  .. .. ..  Periyappangar Swami – his son Chandamarutham Swami aka Doddayachaar – to recent Periyappangar Thirumaligai to varthamana swami.

celebrating the birth of Adhi Shankaracharya

A great day today – ‘Chithiraiyil seyya Thiruvathirai’ – the day of our Acarya Empermanaar thiruvavathirai  thinam. 

I am so impressed and heard this song so many times – a song written by Pulloottupadathu Bhaskaran who was also was the director of the movie – it was sung by  Jesudoss to the music of V Dakshinamurthi.

Of the many divyadesams – Thiruvathari and Salagrammam present difficulties primarily due to their locations. The object in life is to do kainkaryam, have darshan of our Emperuman at various divyadesam and as ordained by Thirumangaimannan – one should travel to Badrinath in their prime of youth, when they are healthy.  From Haridwar, one travels via Rishikesh, can have darshan at Devaprayag, then probably halt at Pipalkot – next day morning proceed to Badrinath via Joshimath.  One will pass through Pauri, Srinagar, Chamoli Gopeshwar.

Adhi Shankara @ Devaprayag / Kandam enum kadinagar

On the way to ‘Jai bolo Badrinath’ is the beautiful Devaprayag.  A mystic place where the holy rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, merge into one and take the name ‘Ganga’. Lord Rama  and his father Emperor  Dasharatha did penance here. The main temple of here is ‘Raghunath Temple’, dedicated to Lord Rama. (Purushothama).  Devaprayagai is divyadesam ‘Kandam enum Kadinagar’ and next is ‘Thirupiruthi – Thiru pireethi’ – aka Joshimut.  Joshimath, also known as Jyotirmath, is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in  the  state of Uttarakhand. Located at a height of 6150 feet (1875 m), it is a gateway to several Himalayan mountain climbing expeditions, trekking trails and the holy  pilgrim centre of Sri Badrinath.

Joshimath, is the first mutt established by Shri Adi Sankara, and is located at a distance of 14 kms from Helang enroute to Badri 6150 feet above sea level. Adi Sankara authored Sri Sankara Bhashyam here.  Today  is also celebrated as ‘Sankara Jayanthi’ – associated with  sage,  greatest philosopher Adi Shankara.  The day is celebrated on the Panchami tithi (fifth day) in the Shukla paksh (waxing moon) in the Vaishakh month of the Hindu calendar.  The 1232nd birth anniversary of  Adi Shankara is being celebrated today. 

The word  ‘Sankara’ means one who bestows prosperity and auspiciousness on all people and all beings. Srimad  Adhi Sankara Bhagavatpada, has done great service to Hinduism.    Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada is verily the incarnation of Lord Siva, whose abode is Kailasa. He is Gnani, who mastered all Sastras with absolute clarity. He carried his mortal frame only for 32 years. At an young age, he embraced sanyasa    asrama, wandered extensively from Sethu to Himalayas, debated with and conquered scholars, re-established the traditional Advaita Vedanta, established Mathas, organised succession of disciples to head those Mathas, set up new temples, removed deficiencies in old temples, set up untainted Pooja practices, set up Vaidika dharma on strong foundation, taught wholesome Gnana marga.

When young Shankara wanted to turn ascetic, his mother was not in favour of this decision. He waited to grow up and take her permission. Once, he was bitten by a crocodile in his leg while taking a bath in a river near his house. While the crocodile was holding his limb, he asked his mother for her approval to let him become a sanyasi. Her mother agreed, and thus began the journey of Adi Shankara.  His works in Sanskrit discuss the unity of the Ātman and Nirguna Brahman "brahman without attributes".  He wrote copious commentaries on the Vedic canon (Brahma Sutras, Principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita) in support of his thesis.  His works elaborate on ideas found in the Upanishads.  Shankara travelled widely  across the Indian subcontinent to propagate his philosophy through discourses and debates with other thinkers.

Adhi Shankara @ Kaladi - birthplace

Shankara was born in the state of Kerala, in a village called Kaladi, located between Angamaly and Perumbavoor, east of the Periyar river.  It is also a village in Aluva Taluk, Ernakulam district of Kerala,  closer to  Cochin International Airport.   His father died while Shankara was very young and Adhi Shankara himself died very young @ 32.  The Shankara Shrine at Kalady, run by the Sringeri Math, is a large, partly open structure situated on the northern bank of the river Periyar. There are two major shrines in the temple; one is dedicated to Shankara and the other to Goddess Saradamba, the main deity of Sringeri. The samadhi (place of death) of Shankara's mother is also located here.

At Kaladi, Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthamba Mandapam is an eight-story memorial built by Kanchi Kamakoti Math. The entrance to the memorial, guarded by two elephant statues, leads to the Paduka Mandapam. Two silver knobs represent the padukas, or wooden sandals of the Teacher. The walls of the memorial feature framed relief paintings that tell the story of Adi Shankaracharya.

Of the large number of disciples who had the rare and inestimable privilege of serving the great Acharya Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, four stand out prominent. Each one of them was unrivalled in his own way: Padmapada for intense devotion, Totaka for exemplary service, Hastamalaka for supreme self-realisation and Sureshwara for deep learning.

 Adhi Shankara @  holy Badrinath shrine 

The song I mentioned at the start is ‘Shankara Digvijayam’ in the Malayalam movie Jagadguru Adhi Shankara – sung by Jesudoss, written by P Bhaskaran, to the music of V Dakshinamurthy – Muralimohan (as Acharya Shankara) – this song depicts the sojourn of Shankaracharya visiting various temples including Chottanikkara, Thrissur Vadakkunathan, Thirumala, Thirukachi, Puri Jagannath, Haridwar, various Prayags, Badrinath and Kedarnath.  Those of us who have visited Badrinath or Kedarnath will relish this song more

Adhi Shankara journey - from tweet of Sashi tharoor

With reverence – S. Sampathkumar

28.4.2020.

celebrating the birth of our great Acarya - Swami Ramanujar 1003

 Sri   Ramanujar   Sarrumurai  (1003) ~ 2020

A great day today – ‘Chithiraiyil seyya Thiruvathirai’ – the day of our Acarya Empermanaar thiruvavathara thinam.  Wonder what this is ?

Our Acaryar Swami Manavala Mamunigal was so attached at the feet of Sri Ramanujar and here is a verse from his Yathiraja Vimsati – which according to our learned vidwans came in to being as a result of the request of Swami Manavala Maminigal’s acharyan to compose a sthOthra grantham on Sri Ramanujar, when Mamunigal was a  grahasthar and had the name of Azhagiya MaNavALa NaayanAr.   These twenty verses constitute one of the most beautiful appeals to RaamAnujA for conferring his anugraham.

SrirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam

Srimadh ParAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam |

Sri BhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja Mitram

Srivatsa chi(h)nna CharaNam(SaraNam) YathirAjameedE ||

Mamunigal draws comparison to   King Swan at the feet of Sriranganatha,  great beetle settled to drink honey at the feet of  Nammalvar, Sun who makes the lotuses blossom – I fall at the feet of Sri Kuresa, who is the mark of Srivatsa, Yatiraja – I worship. Mamunigal eulogises  the emperor of SanyAsis , RamAnujA , who has chosen the lotus feet of Sri RangarAja as the seat of his permanent residence , just as a king swan would seek a beautiful lotus for its place of rest .

The NIlamata Purana,  (नीलमतपुराण)  an ancient text of Kashmir contains  information on its history, geography, religion, and folklore.. .. much has changed in Kashmir since.  National security was catapulted into being the primary issue for this general election for the first time with the car bombing in Pulwama in mid-February and its aftermath in an aerial confrontation between India and Pakistan in the Balakot-Naushera episode.   First Kashmir, is not what it has all along been  portrayed it to be ~  it has a glorious history .. ..  Utpala dynasty, a Kashmiri Hindu kingdom, ruled over the Kashmir region from 8th to 10th century CE.  The cities of Avantipur and Suyapur were founded during the reign and many Hindu temples dedicated to both Vishnu and Shiva.  Sadly the same Kashmir towards the end of last century became barren and devoid as Kashmiri pundits were driven out in pogrom.  5^th Aug 2019 will remain a gold lettered day in the annals of Indian Nation, as the special status was revoked. 

Nearly a thousand year ago, our Acaryar Sri Ramanujar on a pilgrimmage visited Srinagar searching for manuscript of Bodhayana-vritti, a commentary  on the Brahmasutra by Bodhyana.  His ardent disciple Kuresar was able to memorise it in one glance; the commentary of Udayavar is known as Sri Bashyam ~ Goddess of learning Saraswathi approving Sri Bashyam conferred the title  ‘Bashyakara’ on Sri Ramanujar.  Thus was fulfilled the main desire of Alavandhar – writing of an authoritative and illuminating commentary on Brahma sutra.

Sri Ramanujar @ Sriperumpudur 

Today 28.4.2020 would have dawned so happily to us -  Emperumanar 960 was grandly celebrated in 1977 – one may not have good memory of that;  in 2017  it was 1000 and this year 1003 – the modern day equipment & technology  ensure capture by way of photos and videos of the grand celebrations  at Thiruvarangam, Thirumala, Thirukachi, Sriperumpudur, MelukoteThiruvallikkeni and at many many more places.  So many places – Thiruvarangam, Thirumala, Thirukachi, Thiruvallikkeni, Sriperumpudur, Thirukurungudi, Melukote, Mathura, Pushkar, Kashmeeram, KOngunadu and more are associated with Him as he traversed the Nation by foot, propagating vishitadvaita concept.

Life has changed for the Globe – 2020 has been far different – nothing prevents us in reminiscing and celebrating the Birth of Swami Ramanujar at home forgetting Covid and thinking of Acarya alone !

                                                                         Sri Ramanujar @  Thiruvallikkeni

இன்று நன்னாள் ~ எம்பெருமானார் அவதார திருநாள் ..இராமானுசர் 1003  இன்று. நமது பாரததேசம் புண்ணியபூமி.  ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவர்களான நமக்கு வேதமும், ஆசார்யர்களுமே பிரதானம். அநுதினமும் நாம் அநுஸந்திக்கும் தனியனில் எம்பெருமானையும், ஆழ்வார்களையும்,  எம்பெருமானாரையும், நமது ஓராண்வழி ஆசார்யர்களையும் தொழுது – ஸ்ரீமன் நாராயணனுக்கே அடிபணிபவர்கள் நாம்.  தீமனம் கெடுத்து, ஸ்ரீமன்நாராயணனை தொழும் மனமே தந்து, அறியாதன அறிவித்து, பரமபுருஷனைக் காட்டிக்கொடுக்கும் ஆச்சார்யர் மிக உயர்ந்தவர்.  அவர் நமக்கு உலாவும் பெருமான். ஆச்சார்ய ரத்னஹாரத்தில் நடுநாயகர் ஆன நம்சுவாமி எம்பெருமானார் சாற்றுமுறை!  சித்திரையில் செய்ய திருவாதிரை-  இன்று,  இந்த நல்லுலகமே எதிர்பார்த்துகாத்து இருந்த ~  சீரியநாள் – ஒப்புயர்வற்ற நம்மிராமாநுசமுனியின் ஆயிரத்து மூன்றாவது  பிறந்தநாள் சாற்றுமுறை.  அவரது சாற்றுமுறை புறப்பாட்டில் திருவல்லிக்கேணி வீதிதனிலே அத்யாபகர்கள்  'வாழிய ராமானுஜன்; அவரடித் தாளினை வாழி' என  விஜயீபவ ; விஜயீபவ ; விஜயீபவா எத்சரிகை' என 'வெள்ளைவிசிறி'  [தங்கள் உத்தரீவங்களை விசிறி]  ஆர்ப்பரிப்பர்.  (that is the photo at the start, adhyapaks hailing the birth of Ramanusa by throwing up their uthareevams)

art work by Gopulu

Of the three great exponents of Vedanta philosophy, BhagwadRamanuja with his aesthetic beautiful interpretations occupies the central place.  Sri Ramanujar has the pride of place in the list of our Acharyars; he is hailed as Udayavar, Emperumanar, Bashyakarar, Ilayazhwaar, Yathirajar, ThiruppavaiJeeyar, NumKovilannan, amongst other names was born in the year 1017 at Sri Perumpudur on ‘Thiruvathirai’ thirunakshathiram in the month of Chithirai.  

Our darsana Sthapakar, Sri Ramanujar  rightly reverred as ‘YathiRajar’ ~ 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.  He was a great administrator too. Our Acharyar formulated a faith in which none were devoid of Divine Grace.  The great social reformer, had the vision of introducing most acceptable way of life for every baktha inculcating respect and love among fellow human beings.  Today we talk of codes and SOPs – thousand years ago, this Great Acharyar  gave us Niyamanappadi ~ the manual for the services to be performed in the Temple, all supported by endowements in his blue book.  When Sri Ramanujar went to Melukote, he was 82 and he returned to Thiruvarangam at ripe age of 94. – and more was to happen in Srirangam, guided by his indomitable spirit of service to Lord. He created flawless systems, corrected the administration of Sri Rangam ensuring the proper maintenance of the wealth of Lord Ranganatha and creating teams to properly continue all kainkaryams to the Lord.

Sri Ramanujar @  Melukote Thirunarayanapuram  

                      The fountain of knowledge, he was,  handed over to the generation his wealth of knowledge through his many works which include the Magnum Opus ‘Sri Bashyam – the Vishishtavaida commentary of Brahma sutram of Vyasa Bhagavan.; VedanthaDeepam, Vedanta Saram, Vedanta Sangraham, Gadyathrayam and many many more …. The  3 Gadyams – Saranagati Gadyam, Sriranga Gadyam and Vaikunda Gadyam are collectively known as ‘Gadyatraya’ ~ are in someways considered to be swan song of our Acharyar.  The Saranagati Gadyam is live exposition of the doctrine of ‘prapatti’ – the total saranagati.  Sri Ramanujar prays that thee Lord may be pleased to bless his sincere and true saranagati at the lotus feet of Srimannathan be accepted as truly and well-performed and lead to the desired end without any interruption.  Our Acharyar describes the unique qualities of NamPerumal  with words ‘Sathyakama, Sathyasankalpa’ which would mean the most loveable quality of resolve to protect His devotees and the will to be incarnated in any form to come to the succour of devotees – He is Creator, Protector and Sustainer. 

On his sarrumurai day,  after morning purappadu there would be mangalasasanam, rendering of Gadyatrayam ~ then Thirumanjnam, Thirumozhi sarrumurai .. and .... more celebrations in the form of periya mada veethi purappadu with Sri Parthasarathi Perumal.

Let us fall at the lotus feet of our Acharyar which only  will relieve us of all our sins and steer us towards good thinking, good deeds and towards salvation through service to Lord and His bakthas.   

அடியேன் – ஸ்ரீனிவாசதாசன் (மாமண்டூர் ஸ்ரீனிவாசன் சம்பத்குமார்)

28.4.2020.