Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sri Ramanujar & Sri Manavala Mamunigal

Apart from the 12 vaishanava saints there are 2 more superior saints Sri Ramanujar & Sri Manavala Mamunigal...

Sri Ramanujar:


Ramanuja (also known as Ilaya Perumal) was born to Kesava Perumal Somayaji Dikhsitar and Kanthimathi Ammal at Sriperum pudur. He was born in Kaliyuga year 4119 which corresponds to1017 AD. PPM fixes even the exact date as 13th April 1017 AD, interms of English Calendar (the date of birth is placed differently by different authorities). Within 16 years of age, he had mastered all the Vedas and Sastras. At age 17, he married Rakshakaambaal ( Tanjammal, in Tamil). Ramanuja was placed under the Advaitic Sannyasi called Yadava Prakasa at Tirupput kuzhi for training in Advaita Purva Paksha Sastra of Vedanta. Very many occasions arose when the Ramanuja clashed with Yadava when he misinterpreted Vedantic statements. Ramanuja fearlessly pointed out the errors in his Guru's interpretations and corrected him. This enraged the Yadav. Fearing that one day, Ramanuja would demolish Advaita philosophy, he plotted to kill him by drowning him in river Gangess while on a pilgrimage tour of the country with his disciples. Learning of the design through one Govinda, another disciple who was also related to him, Ramanuja slipped out into the forest at dead of night and escaped death.


Once during this period, Alavandar who desired nominating Ramanuja to succeed himself visited Tirupput kuzhi, met with him but had no opportunity to speak to him and had to return to Srirangam. When Alavandar was old and sick he sent Periya Nambi to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam. However, before they could reach Srirangam, Alavandar attained Vaikundam. Ramanuja returned to Kanchi after promising to satisfy the three requests from Alavandar:

1. Compose a commentary on Upanishads, Vedanta Sutras and Bhagavad Gita

2. Compose a commentary on Tiruvaymozhi of St. Nammaazhvaar

3. The name of Parasara, should be commemorated on the earth by giving it to a person worthy to bear it.

Ramanuja returned to Srirangam after taking up the ascetic order. Ramanuja's two important disciples, Koorathazhcan and Mudaliandan accompanied him and stayed with him at Srirangam. While in Srirangam he made sure that Alavandar's teachings and his desires are met. He became popular and converted many to Sri Vaishnava Sampradhayam, including Yadava Prakasa, who became his disciple.

While in Srirangam he composed many works such as Vedanta Sangraham, Vedanta Sara, Vedanta Deepam, and Geetha Bashyam. During Panguni Uttram, he did Prapatti before the Divya Dhampathi in Serthi and submitted his famous Gadhyatrayam

(comprising Saranagathi Gadhyam, Sriranga Gadhyam and Sri Vaikunta Gadhyam ). Later, he wrote a Grantha called Nityam detailing the Tiruvaradhana Kramam.

In order to fulfill his promise to Alavandar, Ramanuja and Koorathazhvan went on a pilgrimage to North India. There they studied the text of Vedavyasa's Brahma Sutram. With the help of Koorathazhvan's memory, he was able to write a commentary, Sri Bashyam for the text. Thus he fulfilled the First promise made to Alavandar.

One day, while he was meditating in silence, on one of the paasurams of Tiruvaimozhi, one of his disciples called Pillan walked in and inquired if he was meditating on the particula hymn. Sencing the vision of Pillan, Ramanuja entrusted the task of writing a commentary on Tiruvaimozhi to Pillan. When the commentary was written, Ramanuja titled him Tirukkurugai Piraan. Thus his second promise to Alavandar was fulfilled.

When koorathazhvan had two children, both boys, Ramanuja and Govinda visited him. Ramanuja was very happy to see the two bright boys and ordered Govinda to perform pancha-samskaram and name them as Parasara Bhatta and Vyasa Bhatta, thus fulfilling the third and the final wish of Alavandar.

Ramanuja, restored many temples to the Vaishnava tradition, including Tirumala, Melukote (Tiru Narayanapuam). He was a great social reformer, and converted many irrespective of cast origins to Sri Vaishnavam and taught them Divya Prabandam. He established a list of 74 Simhasana Adhipathis for the sole purpose of promoting and teaching Sri Vaishnavam. With his head on the lap of Embar and his feet on the lap of Vaduga Nambi, Ramanuja breathed his last in 1137 AD listening to the recitation of the Divya Prabandam

He wanted to know the meaning for the secret mantra, known as tirumantra. So he approached Tiruk kottiyur nambi, a disciple of Alavandar. Nambi refused to grant his request and made him go back to Srirangam. This continued for about 17 times. On his 18th attempt, Nambi oblidged Ramanuja's request and started teaching him the meaning of the mantra. At the end of the upadesam, Nambi extracted a promise from Ramanuja that he would not reveal the mantras to those unqualified to receive them.


However, the following day, Ramanuja went to the nearby temple hall of terk kazhvan at tiruk kottiyur and announced the sacred mantra to all those assembled there. When Nambi heared this, he demanded an explanation from Ramanuja for his direct disobedience. To this, Ramanuja, replied that if the act of his results in thousand souls reaching Vaikundam, he would be glad to be burned in hell (Burning in hell is the punishment for those who disobey their guru's commands). On hearing the explanation, Nambi was speachless and embracing him gave him the title Emperumaanaar. Since then Ramanuja's followers are known as Creed of Emperumaanaar. Sri ramanujar is the initiator of Ashtakshara mantra — Om Namo Narayanaya — is simple to utter, but potent in power....!!!!




Alwar emberumanaar sri ramanujar thiruvadigale saranam...!!!

Manavala Mamunigal:



1.Swamy Avatharam :


Birth Place Alzhwar Thirunagari (Near Thirunelveli)
Date of Birth (Adisesha Abravatharam of Swamy Ramanujaar)
Day: Thursday
Star: Moolam
Thithi: Chathurthi
Yoga: Sukarma
Month: Thula (Iypasi Tamil Month)
Date: Thula 26
Year: Saadarana Naama Samavatsaram 1370 AD

2. Entered Grihasthashramam (married life) at the age of 16 years Krodhana Samvatsaram,Makara Masam 1386 AD (February)

3.Receiving Scholarly award in Sanskrit at his 31st age Vikarma Samvatsaram

4. ADMINISTRATOR of Srirangam Ranganatha Temple.
At his age 45 Jayanama Samvatsara

5. SANYASA At his age 45 Vijiyanama Samvatsara
1415 AD April In “Periya Thiru Mandapam” From Sri Sri Sri Swamy Satakopa Mamuni Jeeyar

6. Swamy Vaibhavam:
Sri Sailesa Dayaapaathram Thaniyan(By Namperumal Sri Ranganatha), Yatheendra Pravanar, Periya Jeeyar,Alagzhiya Manavalan,Visadavak sikamani, Varavara muni.
ONE year disclosure on subject “EeDU Kalakshebam” Ended on Sunday Morning Moolam Poornima Mithuna Maasam ,Ananda Samvatsaram At the age of 65.

7. ACHARYAN:Swamy Thiruvoimolzhi Pillai alias Sri Sailacharya alias Swamy ThirumalaiAlzhwar

8. AARADHANA PERUMAL Sri Ranganathan with Ubhaya Nachiar and Sri Ramanujar

9. Swamy Nishtai in particular:
He became Acharyan to Sri Ranganatha Perumal At the endof his One year ThiruvaiMozhi disclourses .In 1430, Swami Mamunigal was summoned by Lord Ranganatha to Srirangam and was asked to give a discourse on thiruvaimozhi based on Swami Nampillai's Eedu Muppatharayairam, the celebrated commentary on Nammalvar's Thiruvaimozhi.

The discourse was done over a period of one year, over which all the festivities of the temple was put oh hold as ordered by Lord Ranganatha. On the last day of discourse, Lord Ranganatha impressed by Swami Mamunigal's exposition, took the form of a priest child and presented himself in front of the gathering and rendered a benedictory verse or thaniyan, honoring Swami Mamunigal and disappeared into the sanctum sanctorum.

The benedictory verse given below, is recited in almost all the divyakshetrams, before the commencement of Divya prabhandham as ordered by lord Ranganatha.

When he was 60, Sri RanganAthA wanted to honor Sri ManavALa Maamunigal for all his kaimkaryams in spreading the message of NaalAyira Dhivya prabhandham. He commanded Sri MM to conduct a year long lecture series on SatAri Soori's ThiruvAimozhi at Srirangam in His presence. All the regular uthsavams for the Lord of Srirangam was cancelled that year, while He heard the pravachanams on ThiruvAimozhi based on all the five commentaries starting from aRAyirappadi. At the conclusion of these pravachanams, a small boy with dhivys tEjas came from the back of the sadas and sang a verse that has come to be known as the Taniyan for Sri MaNavALa MaamunigaL:

Srisailesa dhaya pathram dheebhakthyadhi gunarnavam Yatheendra pravanam vandhe Ramyajamataram munim

Meaning : I offer my respects to Sri Manavalamamuni, the receptacle of Srisailesa’s (Tiruvaimozhipillai’s) grace. He is the abode of jnana, bhakti and all other good qualities, and is forever lost in meditation on Sri Ramanuja

This is an instance of Lord showing his respect and devotion to his acharya. This event concludes a beautiful circular symmetry in the history of Srivaishnavism, for with this thanniyen the first acharya (Sriranganatha) becomes shishya to the last (Manavalamamunigal). At homes and temples, the divya prabhandam chanting concludes with Srimathe Ramyajamamathru muneendhraya Mahathmane Sriranga vasine bhooyath nithyasri nithya mangalam. This is an auspicious verse showing special love towards Sri Rangam and our beloved Acharyan VaravaraMuni.

Established 8 Mutts and appointed “Ashtadiggajas”
Moksha Samskara to Tamrind Tree near Dharba Sayana.
Establishing Visistadwaita in “Mathura” North India
Estabilished Ashtadiggajas: Eight famous disciples are known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions) by swamy:
Vanamaamalai Jeeyar,
Paravasthu Bhattar Piraan jeeyar,
Tiruvengada jeeyar,
Koil kanthaadai annan,
Prathivaadhi bhayankaram annaa,
Erumbi appaa,
Appillai
Appillar

10. Incomperable commentaries on below Granthams:

Sri Vachana Bhushanam
Thathvathrayam
Mumukshappadi
Aacharya Hridayam
Periyaalwar Thirumoli
Ramanuja Noothandadhi
Jnanasaram
Prameyasaram

11. Alzhwar Arulicheyaal:

Upadesa Rattnamale
Tiruvoimoli Noothandadhi
Tiruvaradhana Kramam
Pramana Sangraha krithi
Iyalc ChaaRRu
YathirAja Vimsathi
DevarAja MangaLam
Sri Kanchi DevapperumAL SthOthram
Aaarthi Prabhandham, his last grantham .

12. AVATHRA SAAMYAPATHI, Attained Sri Vaikuntam Saturday after sunset:
Star: Sravana
Thithy: Dwadasi
Paksam: Krishna
Masam: Kumba (Maasi tamil Month Theertham)
Samvatsaram: Ruthirodari
Feb-March of 1444 AD.

He lived for 73 years on this earth performing many Kaimkaryams and undertook many pilgrimages to many Sri VishNavite Dhivya dEsams. Most of his life was spent however at Srirangam. The work known as "YathIndhra pravaNa PrabhAvam" records the life and accomplishments of this important AchAryA.

His devotion to AchArya RaamAnujA, Swami NammAzhwAr and NammperumAL was extraordinary. He spent a significant portion of his life at Srirangam worshipping Sri Ranganaathan and peforming KaalakshEpams on AzhwAr-AchAryAL aruLiccheyalkaL.

The audience and Sri MM were wonderstruck after the small boy disappeared as fast as he came on the scene. Later, through His archakAs, Sri RanganAthA revealed that it was He who appeared as a boy to pronounce the famous Taniyan for Sri ManavALa Maamunigal, who is considered as a reincarnation of AchArya RaamAnujA. Earlier at Thirukkurungudi, the Lord had appeared before RaamAnujA and requested for UpadEsams on rahasyArhtams and took on the name of Sri VaishNava Nambi as a result of these upadEsams.


"Om Namo Narayana..."

Alwar emberumanaar sri Manavala Mamunigal thiruvadigale saranam...!!!

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