Sri Veliyanalloor Andavan Thirunakshathram- Purattaasi ThiruvAdhirai

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

SRI VELIYANALLUR ANDAVAN (Purattasi / Tiruvaadirai)(1825 - 1900 CE)

http://www.munitrayam.org/andavanashram/avv.html

[from Acharya vamsa vruksham written by Sri Anbil Ramaswamy, USA]

 

Among the distinguished disciples of Periya Andavan was one Vedaanta

Tatachariar of Sankarapuram. The Tatachariars who belong to Shadamarshana

Gotram are descendants of Sri Nathamuni. Down their lineage we find such

celebrated Savants as Periya Tirumalai Nambi, grandson of Sri

Yaamunaachaarya. The Tatachariars distinguished themselves by devoted

service to the temple notably the Tirumalai temple. They settled in five

different places viz., Sankarapuram, Bukkapattinam, Satyamangalam and

Surapuram. It was from the Sankarapuram branch that Sri Vedaanta Tatachariar

Swami came and sought the feet of Periya Andavan and studied the Vedanta

Sastras under him. Sri Krishna Tatachar Swami alias Tirup Putkuzhi Swami

expressed his inability to assume Sannyasa Asrama on account of his

hereditary trusteeship of Lord Varadaraja temple at Kanchi. Vedaantachariar

Swami was considered. He was a Naishtika Brahmachari (Confirmed bachelor),

who knew no other God than his Acharya. He prayed for admission to the

ascetic order, so that the remaining part of his life could be fully placed

at the service of his Acharya. Periya Andavan acceded to his prayer and took

him into the holy order. He was named _Sri Narayana Maha Desikan_. Soon

afterwards, Sri Narayana Maha Desikan left on a tour of Divyadesas and

reached Attiyur where he remained discoursing on Ubhaya Vedanta Sastras and

administering Pancha Samskara, Bharanyasa to those who sought his feet.

 

On hearing that Periya Andavan had attained the lotus feet of his Acharya,

he returned to Srirangam and prayed in his Brindavanam. He learnt that his

cousin and co-disciple under Periya Andavan succeeded him as Acharya as

_Chinna Andavan_ in Periyasramam but had also passed away. He was greatly

upset at the passing away of two yathis and desired to stay at Periyasramam

to continue the work of Periya Andavan. But, as he faced many obstacles, he

moved to Singar Koil where he stayed for a few days. Then, he proceeded to

Vennar bank, Thanjavur where he stayed till the end of his life. Here he

organized the annual festivals to Swami Desika whose image had been

installed in Thanjai Neelameghap Perumal Koil by Nainar Acharya. He passed

away in his Asrama on the bank of Vennar and lies interred there. Since

Velianallur Andavan was a cousin of Chinna Andavan (1825-1895 CE) and

slightly his elder and outlived him by a few years, we may place him between

1825- 1900 CE.

 

His Tanian reads as follows:

 

Sri Vaasa Yogeendra Kripaathabotham Sri Saila Ramanuja Labda Sinham /

Vairaaghya Bhaktyaadhi Gunaikadhaanaam Naaraayanaakhyam Munim Aasrayaamah //

 

Meaning: _Let us take refuge in Narayana Muni who was a great Yogi full of

mercy, a hall mark acquired at the feet of Sri Srisaila Ramanuja and who was

full of auspicious qualities like detachment and dedication_

 

Let us pay our obeisance to this "virakthi nEthram" of Periya Andavan - Sri

Veliyanalloor Andavan Swamy on His Thirunakshathram today.

Acharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

dAsan

www.munitaraym.org

 

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