Tirunakshatram of Poundarikapuram Andavan

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

Today is the Tirunakshatram of Sri Srinivasa Maha Desikan, the founder

of Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam, Srirangam. I humbly submit a brief

write up on the life and times of this great Mahan.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

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SRIMAD POUNDARIKAPURAM ASHRAMA ANDAVANS

(who were common to Poundarikapuram Asramam and Periyaasramam):

SRI SRINIVASA MAHA DESIKAN (Adi-Pooradam) (26-8- 1847 - 20-10- 1934 AD)

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(VED): "Among the famous Divya Kshetras is Tiruvinnagar whose presiding

deity is Lord Srinivasa. His praise has been sung by Peyalwar, Nammalwar

and Tirumangai Alwar. Nearby is situated Poundarika Puram, a fertile

village set in sylvan atmosphere. It is inhabited by Sri Vaishnavas

devoted to the Lord of Oppiliappan Koil. Among these pious souls were

one Sri Perumal Iyengar and Senkamalth ammaal to whom was born as the

7th son in the year Sowmya, Adi month

and Poorada Nakshatramand named after Lord Srinivasa, the presiding

deity of Oppiliappan Koil. Later, he was given in adoption to his

paternal uncle.

 

After Upanayana Samskara, he learnt Sanskrit under one SriRangachariar

Swami. Later, he studied Alankara, Vyakarana, logic and Mimamsa Sastras

and Sri Bhashyam under many distinguished teachers (e.g.) Tarkam

Narasimhachariar, his father Rangachariar, Kurichi Ranganathachariar

and Sogattur Vijayaraghavachariar.

 

He became an accomplished scholar in all these Sastras. He received his

Pancha Samskara from Gattam Sri Varadachariar Swami, one of his

teachers. He sat at the feet of Velianallur Andavan Sri Narayana Maha

Desikan and specialized in Vedanta Sastras. Later, he went n a

pilgrimage to all Divya Desas from Kanyakumari to Tirupati.

 

He married one Vadakarai Komala Ammaal and stayed at Poundarika Puram.

Though born in a wealthy family, he led a simple austere life. After the

passing away of his mother at a ripe old age, he arrived at Srirangam

and settled with his family, practicing a strict code of conduct

characteristic of a devout Srivaishnava. Many disciples from far and

near flocked to him to study Sahitya, Alankara, Logic, Mimamsa Sastra,

Sri Bhashya and other subjects.

 

Once, he felt a demanding inner urge to shake off his worldly

attachments. He made adequate provision for his wife’s maintenance and

also for expenses in connection with the feeding of Srivaishnava

pilgrims at Oppiliappan Koil.

 

Then, he proceeded to Vennar Bank and prostrated himself at the feet of

Sri Veliyanallur Anadavan. The Acharya acceded to his repeated

entreaties and administered Prapatti Prayoga and admitted him into the

holy order of ascetics.

 

He proceeded to Srirangam and stayed at Periyaasramam where he collected

a good number of disciples around him. But, he felt greatly anguished

when obstacles were put in his path of discharging his duties as an

Acharya. He decided to leae Srirangam and go to another place which

would be congenial to him. When the disciples came to know this, they

prevailed upon him to continue his stay at Srirangam. Through their

efforts, a separate Asrama was set up and it came to be known as the

"POUNDARIKA PURAM ANDAVAN ASRAMAM".

>From here, he continued his mission. The Asramam under Sri Srinivasa

Maha Desikan was a center of religious activities and philosophical

discussions.

 

The Acharya was an erudite scholar in Vedaanta Sastras; he possessed an

extraordinary power of mind by which he could accurately recall any

passage, sloka or Sutra with ease.

 

Our Swami was well known for his Mantra Siddhi. When the present

Sri Rangapriya Swami was a child, he was deaf-mute. Once, when his

parents went to offer their respects to our Swami, the boy ran into the

Acharya who was delivering a Kalakshepam. The parents explained the

plight of the boy. Our Swami took the boy on his lap and recited Swami

Desika Tanian " Sriman Venkata Naathaarya" and Hayagriva Mantram

‘Gnaanaananda Mayam Devam".

 

To the astonishment of onlookers, the boy who was totally deafmute and

could not utter a word so far, suddenly started speaking and repeated

the Mantrams. Later, our Swami did his Akshrabhyasam.

 

It is this boy who grew up to be celebrated as Sri Rangapriya Yathi who

has his Ashtanga Yoga Vignaana Mandiram at Bangalore.

 

Many learned scholars came to study Adhyatma Sastras under his feet.

Among them was one ANBIL GOPALCHARIAR SWAMI, a renowned Sanskrit scholar

who spent nearly 42 years at the feet of Srimad Andavan listening to his

elucidation of Sri Bhashya and other Granthas. As a

tribute to the Acharya’s profound knowledge and understanding, Sri Anbil

Gopalachariar instituted an endowment under a trust to conduct an Annual

Vidwad Sadas known after Sri Srinivasa Maha Desikan. A scholar of great

merit, Sri Anbil.V.Gopalachariar brought out the publication of many

Granthas based upon the knowledge and clarifications he received from

Srimad Andavan.

 

Kozhiyalam Raghavachariar Swami came to Srirangam and sought Sannyasa

Sweekaranam. Our Swami initiated him into Turiya Asramam in 1920-

Roudri- Ani- Pournami.

 

The Aasthaana Vidwan of Tirumalai- Tirupati Devasthanam, Kapisthalam

Desikacharya submitted his Grantham- " Adhikarana Ratna Maalai" which

our Swami approved.

 

A firm adherent of the "Satsampradaya" as enunciated by Swami Desikan,

Srimad Poundarika Puram Andavan was an exemplar of ethical excellence,

ceremonial purity and righteousness. He attained the lotus feet of his

Acharya in Chaturdasi in the year Bhava-month of Aippasi, that is on

20th October 1934.

 

His Tanian reads as follows:

Sri Narayana Yogindra Varadaarya Kripaasrayam /

Rangesa Paada Vinatham Srinivaasa Munim Bhaje //

(meaning)

" I hail Srinivasa Muni who obtained the full grace of Sri Narayana

Yogindra Varaaarya, who always bowed at the feet of Lord Ranganatha"

 

[Authority: VED: Veda Malar issued in connection with the Centenary

Celebrations of Vennatrankarai Andavan and VMM: Vedanta Madukara Malar

issued in connection with the 151st Tirunakshatram Celebrations of Sri

Srinivasa Maha Desikan, the founder of the Poundarikapuram Andavan

Ashramam]

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[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

Sri Gopalarya Desika MahadesikAya Nama:

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

I was away on business related travel for the past couple of

days. Upon my return this morning, I was delighted to see this

wonderful note from Sri Anbil Swamin. I wish to express my heartfelt

thanks to Sri Anbil Swamin for sharing with us the greatness of the

founding father of Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam. It is the

compassion of this great Mahan, Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan Swami,

for Bhagavatas which resulted in clearing the wild bushes and

thorn-filled path leading to the Sannidhi of Sri Bhoomidevi Sametha

Sri Oppiliappan Swami. The tradition of Kaimkaryam to Sri Oppiliappan

Koil established by this Acharya has been followed by successive

Acharyas in the line of Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Swami

and continues to this day. Thanks again to Sri Ramaswamy for reminding

us (me in particular) of this great Purvacharya.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

 

 

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