Emperumanar Thiruvavathara Uthsavam 2023 - day 1 Morning purappadu

Celebrating the birth of Swami Ramanuja –

Thiru Avathara Uthsavam 2023

 

Blessed are We, the present generation –  we celebrated 1000 years of Swami Ramanuja on  1st May 2017 -   thiruvathirai nakshathiram in the month of Chithirai. ..  Thiruvavathara Uthsavam of Udayavar culminating in sarrumurai on ‘Chithiraiyil Thiruvathirai’ – the 10 day annual brahmothsavam of Swami Ramanujar started today.  Vellai sarruppadi is on 21.4.2023 and sarrumurai is on Tuesday, 25^th Apr 2023.

 ‘Ananthah sarasi dhere  Ramye  Bhoothapurivare’ – on the bank of Ananthasaras the temple pushkarini, is the temple of Sri Adhi Kesavar.   Boothapuri, better known now as Sri Perumpudur is the most divine place for us –  the place where our Greatest Acharyar “Emperumanaar, Bashyakarar” the reincarnation of Aadi Sesha and Sri Lakshmanar was born,  in the year 1017  to Kesava Somayaji and Gandhimathi couples.   Ilayavalwar as he was known at birth, Ramanujar was born in the year of grace of Pingala corresponding to year 939 of Salivahana era  and lived for a period of 120 years.   He was named Illayazhwar [denoting Lakshmana] by his uncle Srisaila Purnar foreseeing his wisdom, infinity and eternity.   

Our Srivaishnavism hails Ubhaya Vedanta – there are philosophies restricted to having their scriptures in either Sanskrit or Tamil ~ Sri Vaishnavism has Sanskrit and dravida vedantha in equal parlance. .. .. and we have the noblest of preceptors  - Swami Ramanujar – the King of all hermits guiding us the path.   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.     Worshipping Sri Ramanujar will cure us of all sins.  

Our Acaryar Swami Manavala Mamunigal was so attached to 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.

नित्यं यतीन्द्र तव दिव्यवपुस्स्म्रुतौ मे सक्तम् मनो भवतु वाग्गुणकीर्तनेSसौ

क्रुत्यञ्च दास्यकरणं तु करद्वयस्य व्रुत्त्यन्तरेSस्तु विमुखं करणत्रयञ्च ॥ (4)

நித்யம் யதீந்த்ரதவ திவ்ய வபு:ஸ்ம்ருதௌமே!ஸக்தம் மநோபவது வாக்குணகீர்த்தநேSஸௌ |

க்ருத்யஞ்ச தாஸ்யகரணம் து கரத்வயஸ்ய வ்ருத்யந்தரேSஸ்து விமுகம் கரணத்ரயஞ்ச ||

 

O Emperor of Yathis ! Pray  my mind be blessed to meditate on your beautiful body (divya MangaLa vigraham) !  May my speech be engaged always in talking about your excellent attributes ! May my  two hands  be always engaged in serving you as your dAsA ! May my three karaNAs ( manas , Vaak and Kaayam ) be diverted from any other activities ! ~ and be directed in kainkaryam to YOU.

Today  16.4.2023 (Chithirai 3) is day 1 of the Thiruvavathara uthsavam  of Swami Emperumanar.   Falling at the feet of Udayavar is the only way, we cleanse and lift ourselves towards higher things – the kainkaryam to Lord.  Here are some photos of today’s morning purappadu at Thiruvallikkeni divyadesam.

adiyen Srinivasadhasan. 
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
16.4.2023