An appeal from Ubhaya Vedanta Sabha

[Guest guest]

Dear bhAgavathas:

 

With His Kindness, My family and I had the good fortune to start

off the new milennium in India. This particular visit was by far

the most memorable, as it provided me with the opportunity to

meet several devout bhAgavathas and learned scholars. Among them

was the noted scholar and devotee, Sri N.V.L.N. Ramanujacharyulu

of Pentapadu, Andhra Pradesh, who attended my wife's cousin's

marriage along with an entourage of learned scholars of Andhra

and Tamizh Nadu.

 

Sri N.V.L.N Ramanujacharyulu is the Secretary of the Ubhaya

Vedanta Sabha, an organization that is actively propogating

SriVaishnavam by publishing books and performing kainkaryam to

such learned achAryans as HH Sriman Narayana Ramanuja Jeear

Swamy. The Sabha is now engaged in an ongoing project to

propogate the vaibhavam of the AzhwArs and the Prabhandam by

publishing articles from scholars in all languages. Its current

project is dedicated to Thirumangai AzhwAr. The sabha seeks the

financial support from the bhAgavathas in this forum. I think

Sri NVLN Swamy's words will speak for themselves:

 

Ramanuja Dasan

Mohan

---------

 

WITH THE BLESSINGS OF HIS HOLINESS SRI TRIDANDI CHINA

SRIMANNARAYANA RAMANUJA JEEYAR SWAMI VARU

 

In the age of Kali, Alwars are the forerunners of the traditions

of Bhakti and Prapatti. They are the great devotees totally

immersed in experiencing God. As they did not want their divine

experiences to be confined to themselves, they shared the same

with the rest of the world in the form of beautiful Tamil stotras

on the Almighty, called Divya Prabandhas. These Divya Prabandhas,

also known as Tamil Veda, are flawless justlike Sanskrit Veda.

Among these Alwars, Nammalwar and Thirumangai Alwar are the most

important ones. While Nammalwar blessed us with four Prabandhams

summarizing the four Sanskrit Vedas, Thirumangai Alwar composed

six Prabandhas, considered to be the six Vedangas for the four

Tamil Vedas of Nammalwar. The meanings of various Vedic

statements can be better decided by understanding the Vedangas.

Similarly, it is advisable to study and understand Nammalwar's

Srisooktis along with Thirumangai Alwar's Srisooktis.

 

These two Alwars did mangalasasanam to most of the 108

Srivaishnava Divya Desas. While Nammalwar sang on various Divya

Desas from Alwar Thirunagari itself, Thirumangai Alwar visited

different holy places, worshipped the deities therein, and sang

in Their praise. Also Thirumangai Alwar scores a few points over

Nammalwar from two aspects. Firstly, while Nammalwar longed for

Bhagavata Seshatvam or servitude to His servants, Thirumangai

Alwar obtained it. Secondly, Srimannarayana Himself taught

Thirumantram to Thirumangai Alwar. These two Alwars showed great

interest in singing on the Lord at Kumbhakonam Divya Desam, Tamil

Nadu. While Nammalwar addresses Him as Aravamudhan or insatiable

nectar in his Thiruvaaymoli, Thirumangai Alwar salutes Him at the

very beginning of his Periya Thirumoli and end of

Thirunedunthandakam.

 

The Vaibhavam of Thirumangai Alwar is commemorated in

Srivaishnava temples of both Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra Agamas by

celebrating a festival called "Chorotsavam" during Brahmotsavams.

 

Last year, Ubhaya Vedanta Sabha, Pentapadu, grandly celebrated

the birth year of Nammalwar at Adikesava Emberumanar Temple,

Narsapur (AP)

and published a book titled "Sri Parakala Srisookti Sudha" with

articles from several Srivaishnava scholars in Telugu, Tamil,

Sanskrit and English. This year, the sabha plans to publish

articles by erudite scholars on various topics contained in the

six prabandhas of Thirumangai Alwar and celebrate Thirumnagai

Alwar's Thirunakshatram

(10th Dec, 2000) in a grand manner. This project costs around Rs.

3-4 lakhs.

 

Hence we appeal to all devotees of Lord Vishnu to support this

kainkaryam of the Sabha by contributing generously.

 

At the service to the

Lotus Feet of Lord Sri Hari

 

N. V. L. N. Ramanujacharyulu

Secretary

Ubaya Vedanta Sabha

Pentapadu (AP)

 

PS: For sending your donations, you can contact

 

1. Sriman Mohan Sagar

Ph: 303 696 1359

Email: msagar

 

 

2. Dr. Ranganath Vedala

Email: rangaxray

 

3. Sriman N.V.L.N.Ramanujacharyulu

Secretary

Ubhaya Vedanta Sabha

Pentapadu (P.O.)

W.G.Dist. (A.P.)

India - 534166

Ph. 91-8818-23963

Email: sriramanuja