Magnanimity II-6

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maNakkAl nambi

thUdhuvaLaik-kERai.

 

 

The shishyAbhimAnam manifesting into magnanimity was seen in

thriukkOshtiyUr nambi taking pains to select Sri kiDAmbiAchAn.

 

The AchAryabhimAnam reflecting Sri maNakkAl nambi's actions is indeed enthralling.

 

Once, Sri maNakkAl nambi was the disciple of vuyyakkoNDAr. Since, Sri

vuyyakkoNdAr's dhEvai had left for thirunADu, Sri maNakkAl nambi took

up the task of upbringing the children. He went to the extent of

taking care of the thirumALigai, bathing the kids and escorting them

wherever they had to go. Once, on the way a canal had to be crossed

and the children were blinking how to cross over. Sri maNakkAl nambi

laid himelf on the water and sand mixed canal and made the children

to cross through his body as a bridge.

 

Sri vuyyakkoNDAr who was extremely emotional after this dedicated the

dharsanam unto him and commanded that Sri nAdha-munigaL's grandson

should be made the next AchAryan in the lineage.

 

Sri yamunaith thuRaivar who was born as the son of EswAra munigaL -by

his great education, knowledge and poetic prowess become the owner

and got into his possession half the kingdom and also the name 'ALa

vandhAr'

 

However, this royal coterie was a barrier for Sri maNakkAl nambi to

meet ALa vandhAr and to impart him the secrets and rahasyArtham

handed to him from Sri vuyyakkoNDAr. He was also concerned, for

without meeting him, he could not fulfill the command of Sri

vuyyakkoNDAr in making him the next AchAryan in our srEvaisNavic

lineage.

 

Though crestfallen on not able to enter the palace, he did not get

demoralised. He started supplying thudhuvaLaik kERai after having

ascertained that ALa vandhAr had a great liking for the spinach. He

supplied this green vegetable continuously for a period of six months

and suddenly stopped for a few days. ALA-vandhAr -meanwhile enquired

the reason for the break and when nambi went there again he was

introduced to yamunaith thuRAivar who declared that he was in

possession of the treasure left over by his predecessors. He started

with bhagawadh gEthA which kindled the eagrness of ALavandhAr and

increased the yearning and thirst resulting in him reaching periya

perumAL and the commencement of the great SrevaishNavic AchAryA

kingdom under the auspicies of Sri ALa-vandhAr.

 

Sri maNakkAl nambi's lying on the sand and water as a bridge reflects

his AchArya abhimAnam and he choosing astutely the thUdhuvaLai kERai

as the bridge to reach yamunaith thuRaivar indicates not only his

shishyAbhimAnam but also the dedication towards our dharisanam.

 

The acts springing out of the abhimAnam-s of Sri maNakkAl nambi

resulting in invaluable maganimity. Is it not?

 

dAsan

vanamamalai padmanabhan