Hindu article

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[THE HINDU]

 

January 25, 1997

SECTION: Regional

 

 

Thiruppavai conference inaugurated

 

25-01-1997 :: Pg: 05 :: Col: a

 

From Our Staff Reporter

 

SRIVILLIPUTTUR, Jan. 24.

 

Sri Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami, the head of the

Nanguneri Vanamamalai Madam, said here on Thursday that

one should never forget his kinship to God.

 

Presiding over the sixth Thiruppavai Conference here,

organised by the Sri Andal Thiruppavai Mahothsava Sabha

of Thanjavur, the Jeeyar said when one realised that one

was indebted to God, he would feel rightfully entitled

and fit to approach God with love.

 

Explaining the significance of the sixth Thiruppavai

Conference organised by Sri Kalyanapuram Aravamudhan in

Sri Andal's birthplace, Sri Jeeyar said the number `six'

was of special significance to Vaishnavites, more so to

the Vanamamalai Madam. Every six years Lakshadeepa

Mahothsavam was conducted there and this year it would

be celebrated for three days next month. The Vedangas

are six in number as spelt out by Sri Manavala Mamunigal

in his `Upadesa Rathinamalai.' Gita's 18 chapters could

be divided into three `Shadkams' or six chapters. Sri

Thirukachi Nambigal, a great Vaishnavite Acharya, had

spelt out the essence of Sri Vaishnavism in his `Aaru

Vaarthaigal' or six words.

 

The Acharya called on the devotees not to stop with

reciting Andal's Thiruppavai and other Prabandams of

Azhwars, but go through the commentaries written for

them by great Acharyas with the help of a good teacher.

Sri Andal considered her father Periyazhwar as her

Acharya and she had repeatedly referred to herself as

`Bhattarpiran Kodai', `Veyar Pugazh Villiputhoor

Poonkodhai' etc., and this only showed her real

indebtedness to the Acharya.

 

Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikan, Srimad Andavan of

Periyasramam of Srirangam, who inaugurated the

conference, said like the number six, the number 18 also

had special significance. Mahabharata has 18 chapters,

and of them the 18th chapter is the most important as it

contained the `Charamasloka'. It was to understand the

real meaning of this that Sri Ramanuja made 18 trips

from Srirangam to Thirukoshtiyur. When Sri Ramanuja was

going round the main streets of Thirukoshtiyur one day

reciting the 18th Thiruppavai verse, he went near

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi's house and when he recited the

concluding portion ``Nappinnai, please open the door!'',

Nambi's daughter opened it to offer `Bhiksha' and the

saint fell at her feet as he was so absorbed in the

song. This earned for him the title of Thiruppavai

Jeeyar.

 

The Acharya said the sixth song of Thiruppavai explained

how one could attain the Lotus Feet of the Lord by

gaining real knowledge and by behaving well.

 

The conference is being held for six days from January

22 during which eminent scholars from far and near are

giving discourses on each song of Sri Andal's

Thiruppavai.