Srimath Vazhuthur Andavan Thirunakshatram today

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Thirunakshatram: Aavani PoorattAdhi

Thanian: GOpaala dEsika pathaabhja madhuvrathasya Pragnyaa virakhthi

karuNaa muKHa sath guNaabhDHe: VEdaantha lakshmana munE sritha

BHaagha DHEyam Paadhaara vindha yugaLam sharanam prapadhyE

Today (Aug 31st 2004) is the thirunakshatram of Srimath Vazhuthur

Andavan Sri Vedhantha Ramanuja Mahadesikan who adorned Acharya peetam

as the first Andavan in the Munithraya Sampradayam Aacharya Lineage.

Sri Vazhuthur Swamy was born in the year Rudrokkari (1743-1744) Avani

madham Poorattadhi nakshathram in Naithruva Kasyapa Gothram to

Srimathi and Sri Srinivasa Raghavachariar at Vazhuthur, a small

hamlet near Tanjavoor in Tamilnadu. Vazhuthur swamy was initiated

into thureeyasramam (Sanyasam) by Sri Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Swami

who was a satheerthar and a sishya to the famous Sakshadh swamy. Sri

Saakshath Swamu was also the acharya for Thirukkduanthai Desikan Sri

Gopalarya Mahadesikan. Vazhuthur swamy, after taking sanyasam, was

known to be called by the name Sri Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha Desikan.

Sri Vazhuthur Swamy had a dream in which Lord Aravamudhan appeared

and told him that after entering into sanyasa ashramam, he must join

as a sishya to Sri Gopalara Mahadesikan, also known as

Thirukkudanthai Desikan. Two other yatheeswaras namely

Vathirayiruppu Srinivasa MahaDEsikan (An amsam of Nathamuni) and

Cheeyalam Ranganatha

Maha Desikan (An amsam of Yamuna muni) who were contemporaries of

Vazhuthur swamy (an amsam of Ramanuja Muni) had also similar dreams

in which they were ordered by Lord Aravamudhan that they should

become sihsyas of Gopalarya mahadesikan to spread Sri Vaishnava

sathsampradhayam. Accordingly all 3 Yatheeswaras after doing

mangalasasanam to the Thirukkudanthai Amudhan, expressing their

dreams to each other, approached the holy feet of Gopalarya

Mahadesikan and became sishyas of Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan and

learnt Grantha chathushtyam and other sath sampradhaya granthas. They

had their Bharasamarpanam performed by Sri Gopalarya maha Desikan

through acharya nishtai at the holy feet of Lord Amudhan at

Thirukkudanthai. Later they were instructed by the Acharya to do

sampradhaya Pravachanams to their disciples from their respective

places. Many bhagavathas becames sishyas of Srimath Vazhuthur

Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha Desikan during these pravachanams. It

is told that Sri Gopalarya Maha Desikan blessed Vazhuthur swamy that

"Neeray num sampradhaayathai Aala vandha Andavan" meaning " you

alone are going to guard, rule and spread our sampradhaayam". From

that day he was known to be called as Vazhuthur Andavan and

sampradhaayam was called as Srimath Aandavan Asramam Sampradhaayam.

Vazhuthur swamy was living in Srirangam in a small hut teaching

kaalakshepa granthams to devoted and deserving sishyas. From Him

sampradhaayam spreaded into many branches. Prominent among them are

as follows:

Srinivasa Ramanuja Maha Desikan - Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan also

known as Vilakkudi andavan (Andavan asramam)

Annarya Maha Desikan - also known as Navalpakkam Swamy who was in

gruhasthasramam spreading sampradhayam at Thirukkudanthai,

Thiruvaheendapuram and Navalpakkam.

Vangipuram Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha desikan (Aandikadu Swamy in Srirangam)

Through these 3 acharyas who were sishyas of Srimath Vazhuthur

Andavan, the sampradhaayam has spread to a very great extent like a

big banyan tree.

The history of Vazhuthur Andavan is based on earlier publications of

Srirangam Srimath Andavan PeriAsramam and Asram Devotees and as well

as from the publication of Srimad Poundarikapuram Aashram .

Vazhuthur swamy after taking Sanyasam from Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Maha

Desikan, approached Thirukkudanthai Desikan as ordained by the

Almighty in dream . At the time of prostrating before Thirukudanthai

Desikan swamy, Vazhuthur swamy recited Pasurams from Nammazhvars

Thiruvoimozhi 5-8-10 . ie

Vara Varuvaay varumen maayaa maayaa moorthyaai

Aravamudhaai adiyen Aavi agamey thithippaai

Theera vinaigal theera ennai Aandaai thirukudanthai Oora!

Unakkaatpattum adiyen innam uzhalveno?

( Free translation: Aandaai refers to the yeenai aala vandha andavare)

("Thirukkudanthai oora- here , refers to Thirukkudanthai Desikan

Unakkaatpattum Adiyen innam uzhalveno?- Will I ever suffer , even

after becoming your disciple?)

Hearing this ,Thirukkudanthai Andavan blessed him " neeray pradhana

pravachakar , num sampradhyathai bhashyakarar pol pravachanathinal

Vishesha Abhiviruthy pannum " It is to be noted that srimad vazhuthur

swamy was a sanyasin at that time and sri gopalarya Mahadesikan was a

grahastha. With this conferment on vazhuthur swamy by Thirukudanthai

Desikan, this sampradhyam is known to be called as Aandavan

Sampradhaayam and yatheeswarars of this sampradayams are known as

Andavan.

In this connection the following references enunciate the events.

Ref No 1. Page No 33- Munithraya Sidhanthamum Adhan Sthaapanaachaarya

Charithramum by V. Srinivasa Dasan published in 1952-

Ref No 2. Page No 20. Srimad Andavan Asrama Varalaru - published in 1967

Ref No 3 Page No 50-Munithraya Sampradhayaa Guru Parambaraa

Praabhavaha- in - 300th birth anniversary of Sri Gopalarya

Mahadesikan Souvenir- Published by Srirangam Srimad Aandavan Ashram

-Nov.2000

Ref no 4 Page No 85 -300th birth anniversary of Sri Gopalarya

Mahadesikan Souvenir- Published by Srimad Aandavan Poundarikapuram

Ashram- Oct 2000 dasan,

dasan

Venkat Sreenivasan

Srimath Andavan Thiruvadi

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