ramaanusa nooRRandhaadhi

[Guest guest]

K. Sreekrishna asked if raamaanusa nooRRandhaadhi (RN)

was only in the Vadagalai divya prabandham. Technically

speaking, this is true, in that according to the

Vadagalai sampradaaya numbering system, RN is included

in the 4000 to make the total even out properly. In

addition, it was probably felt appropriate to add a

work in praise of Ramanuja as an official part of the

divya prabandham.

 

However, the RN is included in every Thengalai edition

of the divya prabandham that I have seen, even though it

is not officially part of the 4000. It is purely a

difference in the way the lines of the periya thirumadal

and siriya thirumadal of Thirumangai Azhvaar are numbered.

According to the Thengalai count, 4000 is achieved without

using the RN at all.

 

The number 4000 almost definitely came into prominence

after Ramanuja's passing, as disagreements on numbering

the paasurams would otherwise have been settled in the

days of Nathamuni himself.

 

Mani