குணமணி நிதயே! நமோ நமஸ்தே; Acaryar Manavala Mamunigal 1 - 2024

Srivaishnavaites  are ecstatic.  Today  27^th   Oct 2024 (Aippaisi 10)  started the grand uthsavam of Swami Manavala Mamunigal uthsavam – it is Mamunigal’s  654^th   birth day celebrations.    In 4 days’ time it is Deepavali - and  19^th of Aippaisi ~ 5.11.2024 – 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 been some good rains at the start of the season itself. On day 1  – and after Sri Periyazhwar’s Thirupallandu and Periyazhvar thirumozhi rendering in the afternoon, evening at 0645 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 work  to Varavaramuni Sathakam  extols Acaryar Mamunigal :  

குணமணி நிதயே!  நமோ நமஸ்தே;  குருகுல துர்ய நமோ நமோ நமஸ்தே |

வரவரமுநயே நமோ நமஸ்தே ; யதிவர தத்வ விதே நமோ நமஸ்தே ||  

சிறந்த குணங்களுக்கு நிதியாக இருப்பவரின் பொருட்டு வணக்கம். ஆசார்யர்களில் சிறந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.    மணவாள மாமுனிகளே உமக்கு வணக்கம். யதிராஜரின் திருவுள்ளம் அறிந்தவரே உமக்கு வணக்கம்.  

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 (27.10.2024)  is day 1 of Sri Manavala Mamunigal Thiruvavathara uthsavam –  and it was  purappadu of Mamunigal in Sesha vahanam. Here are some photos taken during the purappadu.  

ஸ்ரீமதே ராமானுஜாய நம: ஸ்ரீமத் வரவரமுநயே நம:

 
~ adiyen Srinivasa dhasan.
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
27.10.2024