Part II Acharyas-Section 3.6 to 3.12

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Dear Bhagavatas,

Please find enclosed Part II Section 3.6-3.12 on Acharyas. I have posted

earlier Part I- Section 2.5 (1) on Nammalwar to be followed by 2.5

(2).Kindly inform me by privte mail any corrections you may find necessary.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Part II Acharyas - Section 3.6 -3.12

 

3. 6. Embar

He was a cousin of Ramanuja. His earlier name was Govinda. He studied under

Yadava prakasa along with Ramanuja. It is he who rescued Ramanuja from the

plot , the Guru Yadavaprakasa hatched to kill Ramanuja. Subsequently, as he

was taking bath in a river, a Sivalinga (an icon in the phallic form of Siva

) mysteriously landed on his palm. He became a Saivite for a while. Later, on

the advice of his uncle, Tirumalai Nambi and Ramanuja he returned to

Vaishnavism and closely followed Ramanuja in all his itineraries assuming the

name of ' Embar'.

 

3. 7. Parasara Bhattar

He was the son of Kurathalwan. His Acharya was Embar. He learned the Sastras

so well that he came to be called a 'walking university'. His works include

his commentary on Vishnu Sahasra Nama Bashya ( 1,000 names of Vishnu ) also

known as 'Bhagavad Guna Darpanam', Rangaraja Stava, Ranganatha Ashyaka, Sri

Guna ratna Kosam, Kriya Deepam, Ashta Sloki, Satusloki, Dvisloki, Tanisloki

etc.

 

While he was a kid, a haughty Advaita exponent by name 'Vidvad Jana Kolahala

Punditha' was being carried on a palanquin to engage in a debate with

Ramanuja. The boy stopped him on the way. Holding a handful of sand in his

closed fist, he asked the Punditha how much of sand was there in his palm.

The Punditha was nonplussed and asked how could anyone count the sands.

Parasara retorted saying that if he could not answer that it was just a

'fistful' how did he propose to win an argument with the great Ramanuja. The

Punditha praised the boy, his father Kuresa and his Acharya, Embar. The

Punditha subsequently became the disciple of Parasara assuming the name of '

Per Arulala Perumal Emperumanar'

 

3. 8. Nanjeeyar

He was the disciple of Parasara Bhattar who won him over in an argument. He

entered Sannyas assuming the name 'Nam Jeeyar'. He wrote the famous 9,000

padi commentary of Tiruvoimozhi. His other works include the 2,000 padi

commentary of Tiruppaavai, Tiruvantadhis, Kanninun Siruthambu, Tirup

pallaandu, 108 explanations of Rahasya Traya, commentary on Saranagathi

Gadhyam, Srisukta Bashyam etc.

 

 

3. 9. Nam Pillai

His original name was Varadarajar. He was a confidant and disciple of

Namjeeyar who gave him the name of ' Tiruk Kali Kanri Dasar'. Kantadai

Thozhappar called him' Lokacharya'-

'the universal preceptor'.Vaatsya Varadaachaarya wrote Tattvasaara,Tattva

Nirnaya, Prapanna Paarijaatha,and Prameyamaala. It is Nampillai who dictated

for transcription to one ' Vadakku Tiru Veedhi Pillai' his commentary on

Tiruvoimozhi hailed as 'Eedu' or 36,000 padi considered to be the best

commentary on Tiruvoimozhi.

 

Another disciple of Nampillai was the famous 'Periya Vachan Pillai' who wrote

extensive explanations to all the 4,000 hymns of Divya Prabandam and was

renowned as the 'Vyakhyana Chakravarti'- Emperor among commentators'. With

the blessings of Nampillai, he wrote also the 24,000 padi commentary on

Tiruvoimozhi. His works include Tanisloki, Prabanda Rahasyam, Manicka maalai,

Navaratna maalai, Sakala Pramaana Taatparyam, Abhaya Pradaana vyaakhyaanam,

Charama Rahasyam, Anusandhana Rahasyam, Niyamanappadi besides commentaries

on Jitante Stotra,Ramanuja's Gadhyatraya, Chatusloki etc.

 

3. 10. Pillai Lokacharya

He was the foremost Acharya of the Tenkalai branch of Srivaishnavas. He

worked with the great Vedanta Desika in rescuing the idol of Lord Ranganatha

during the raids by the muslim predator, Malik Kafur. The most important of

his works are Mumukshuppadi, Sri Vachana Bushanam, Sara Sangraha,

Sriyahpathip padi, Prabhandhap padi,Yaadrichikap

padi,Tattvatrayam,Arthapanchakam and other Rahasya granthas.

His younger brother, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar wrote Acharya Hridayam

as per the advice of Pillai Lokacharya.

 

3. 11. Aadhi Van Satakopa

His original name was Kidambi Srinivasachariar. He was born at

Tirunarayanapuram.( in Karnataka). When he was a student, Lord Narasimha of

Ahobilam ( in Andhra Pradesh) beckoned him to come to Ahobilam. Initiated

into Sannyas, he assumed the name of Aadhi Van Satakopa Jeeyar. Malola

Narasimha came into his hands on his own and bade him to travel throught the

country, establish branches of the Ahobila Mutt everywhere. He and his

successors have been doing this successfully over the centuries.

 

 

3. 12. Manavala Mamunigal ( Aippasi - Moolam )

He got his Sannyas from Aadhi van Satakopa jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt. He was a

great Acharya of the southern branch of Srivaishnavas. He was also known as

Yateendra Pravanar and Periya Jeeyar. He left his native Alwar Tirunagar and

moved to Srirangam for delivering religious discourses. He wrote several

works including commentaries on Sri Vachana Bushanam and Acharya Hridayam.