SRI RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 14 DATED 3rd AUGUST 2001

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SrIman! SrI Ranga Sriyam anubadravam anudhinamsamvardhaya//

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SRI RANGA SRI VOL. 2 / 14 DATED 3RD AUGUST 2001

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SPECIAL ISSUE "KNOW THGIS ACHARYA"

CELEBRATING THE TIRUNAKSHATRAMS OF –

 Sri Srinivasa Maha Desikan, founder of Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan=

 

Ashramam Adi, Pooradam (2nd August 2001)

 Sri Yaamuna Muni, (Aalavandaar) Adi – uttraadam (3rd August 2001) =

 

and

 Sri Padmavilochanar (Pundareekaakshar aka Uyyakkondaar

(Adi - Sravanam - 3rd August 2001)

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EDITORIAL

 

Dear Bhagavatas:

 

IN THIS ISSUE:

 

With the kind permission of Sri Madhava Kannan Swami of Singapore,

one of the Chief Sishyas of Poundarikapuram Swami Ashramam and the Co-

ordinator of the Ashramam Kainkaryams in the Eastern hemisphere, We

are glad to present two of his excellent informative articles on the

founder of the Ashramam, Srimad Srinivasa Munigal.

 

The articles on Sri Pundareekakshar, and Sri Yaamuna Munigal are from

my series on "Acharya Vamsa Vriksham" housed in Saranagathi Journal

and archived at www.srivaishnava.org/sgati

 

{Pundareekakshar: Saranagathi Vol.1.007 d/ 22nd November 1997

Yamuna Muni: ibid. Vol.2.008 d/ 29th November 1997}

 

We are glad to inform you that the membership of Sri Ranga Sri has

risen to 600 mark thanks to the numerous members who have encouraged

their friends to join and / or recommended to us to include them in

our mailing list.

 

A REQUEST:

IF you are satisfied with the form and content of the Journal, please

spread the word among those interested and encourage them to join by

sending an email to –

"Srirangasri_"

Alternatively, You may suggest us the email addresses of friends,

who may be REALLY interested, so that we can directly add them to our

mailing list.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Editor & Publisher

"Sri Ranga Sri"

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The month of Adi is special. It is the first month of Dakshinaayanam,

which starts with "Adippandigai"- Adi festival. Among the Azhwaars,

Andal, an incarnation of Mother Earth (Bhoomi Devi) appeared as the

foster-daughter of Periyaazhwaar. Among the Acharyas, like the three

Mudal Azhwaars who were born on successive constellations, 3 great

Acharyas viz. Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Maha Desikan, Pundareekakshar

and Yamuna Muni and were born in Pooradam, Uttiradam and Tiruvonam

respectively.

 

>From Sri Madhava Kannan's posting:

 

SRIMAD SRINIVASA MUNI,

FOUNDER OF POUNDARIKAPURAM SWAMI ASHRAMAM

(Sri Madhava Kannan, Singapore)

 

SrImathE Goapladesika mahadesikaya namah:

SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:

SrImathE Ranganathadesika Mahadesikaya namah:

SrImathE Srinivasadesika Mahadesikaya namah:

SrImathE Gopalarya Mahadesikaya Namah:

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 Varadaarya, who always bowed at the feet of Lord

Ranganatha".

 

It is pertinent to mention here of just two sweet anecdotes

illustrating Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Swamy's depth of

knowledge and a wealth of interpretations whether it be Swamy

Desikan's Srisukthis or Bhagavath Bhashyakarar's Sri Bhashya or Gita

Bhashya or any grantha whatsoever. The article will remain incomplete

without recalling these incidents. One relates to Sri CM

Vijayaraghachariar's personal experience.

 

Late one night at Srirangam, East Utthara Veedhi Sri

Vijayaraghavachariar while bringing back to his mind the explanation

of Acharya Srimad Andavan on the Abheethi sthava sloka 7:

`ramaa dhayitha rangabhUramaNa na thasya

yamavasyathaa narakapaatha bhIthi krutha:"

 

It proclaims Swamy Desikan's declaration of Lord Ranganatha's certain

protection to Prapannas from falling into the clutches of

Yamakinkaras if they chant this sloka.

 

Sri CMV Swamy could not digest it. He found it difficult to

understand as to how one sloka could be so specific to Sri

Ranganatha's protection! Perhaps, Swamy would have said this due to

Bhagavath Abhimaanam and abhimaanam towards Swamy Desikan's abhIthis

sthavam. Thus, he was pondering and was having a sleepless night.

 

Srirangam Divya Dampathi appeared in Acharya Srimad Andavans dream

and said,

"Your sishya has got a doubt on SrI Vedantha Desikans sthuthi on Us.

Go and explain the greatness and specialty of this sloka".

 

Within an hour, Srimad Andavan knocked at the door of Sri CM

Vijayaraghavachariar and right there at the door step, explained the

meaning of the sloka and the greatness of the compassion of Divya

Dampathi with tears rolling down his cheeks. This is a proof of his

depth and clarity and explains how Lord Himself was prathyaksham

(visible to his eyes) to him. Swamy Desikan has packed into this

Sloka all the Beejaaksharaas contained in the Praanaprathishta Mantra

and Saannidhyaachana mantra installation and energizing mantras

pertaining to Lord Ranganathan.

=====================================================

About this Great mahaan, there are two Slokas composed by Sri RV

Krishnamachariar:

I am giving only the translation (Please forgive my translation as

well):

 

For those who take to sanyaas (renunciation), there could be many

reasons. Poverty, disinterest in samsaaric afflictions, mental

worries, non-cooperation from spouse etc. But, this Swamy (Sri

Poundarikapuram Andavan Swamy), had lot of wealth (inherited), an

extremely cooperative Pathivratha dEvigaL (spouse), and was himself a

great VidwAn of the first kind. Simply due to his vairAgyam alone, he

took to sanyaasaasramam.

 

What kind of vidvathvam he has!

He is PaNinI in vyAkaraNam.

GaNAdhar in mImAmsA.

Vedantha Desikan in Vedantha!

 

Those VidwAns and scholars who acknowledge the above whole heartedly

also do not speak in front of Him (with respect and fear- bhayam

kalandha mariyAdhai)

 

May He reside forever in the hearts of such Great scholars and

vidwAns! (in order to bless them as he does always!)

 

This day about one hundred and fifty five years ago, our land

witnessed the holy birth of a mahaan in Poundarikapuram; truly it was

an avtaar of Sriman Narayanan Himself, who out of His benevolence,

and sincere determination, Dhrida vratha, to save all human beings

comes into this world. And the Lord also chooses the time, the place

and the parents to take birth from. He preordains it all.

 

It was the day of days- Adi PoorAdam- Sowmya year, August 1847, a

child prodigy was born in Poundarikapuram village. This village

with its sylvan surroundings is very near to the famous Oppiliappan

Koil Divya Desam, whose praise has been sung by Peyazhwar, Nammazhwar

and Thirumangai Azhwar. Enjoying, so to say, the Divya kataaksha of

the Lord, this cozy village has been the birth of many great

personages. Among them were the couple- Sri Singaperumal Ayyangar, an

effulgent scholar and a man of unswerving principles of personal

practice and conduct and Smt Senkamalam Ammal, his wife. No wonder

that Sriman Narayanan chose to take His birth from this noble couple

as their seventh son and was named him after Lord Srinivasan. How so

true this about Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Mahadesikan

needs no elucidation to the Srivaishnava world, more so to those

unnumbered beneficiaries. This multifaceted genius was a repository

of erudite scholarship endowed with an uncommon acumen, which helped

not only acquisition of knowledge of Kaavyarthas, Saasthras,

Vedanthaarthas, Granthachathushtayam, besides the Vedas and the Divya

prabandhas but also in the exposition of these to a never ending

chain of disciples who flocked to him all the year around and down

the years.

 

A quick review of his biographical details will inform us how great

personages (in our Acharya parampara) are born great and tower far

above the commonality!

 

Young Srinivasan was given in adoption to his father's younger

brother. After his upanayanam at 7, he promptly sought to learn

Sanskrit from illustrious Sri Rangachariar Swami, father of reputed

Tharka scholar Sri Narasimhachariar. Soon followed his higher

education from mahavidwans like Ghattam Varadachariar Swamy, Sogathur

Vijayaraghavachariar Swami, Perumal koil Thirupputkuzhi Swami,

Kuricchi Rangachariar Swami at Mannargudi, and in matter of time, he

became an accomplished scholar, a mahaa vidwaan himself. having

mastered Alankaara saasthra, Tharkaam, vyAkaraNam, and mImAmsa

besides the Vedas and Prabandhams.

 

He had his Pancha samskaaram from Sri Ghattam Varadachariar Swami and

Vedantha Grantha kaalakshepam and BharasamapraNam at the feet of

Srimad Andavan VeliyanallUr Narayana Mahadesikan Swamy, an act

indicating possibly things to come, as later he succeeded Sri

Narayana Desika Mahadesikan Swamy. He undertook pilgrimages to all

divya desas from Tirupathi to Thiruvananthapuram. In due time, he

married Smt Komalavilli Ammal hailing from Vadakarai, a nearby

village and led his grihasthAsramam at Poundarikapuram in a manner

that was remarkable for its simplicity and austerity in spite of

belonging to a family as affluent materially as erudite in

scholarship.

 

When his (adopted) mother Srirangammal passed away, he migrated to

Srirangam and settled down there. He led his life strictly as

ordained by the elders, performing Pancha kaala kriyas, the

observance of which gives no room for accepting any material gift

whatsoever it be nor aspire of ill-gotten wealth. His scholarship and

mastery in Sahithya, Alankara, Tharkka, mImAmsA, Sri Bhsahya and

vyAkaraNa was legendary and little wonder that those who aspired to

gain knowledge of these sought after him and learnt at his Feet.

 

In good time, he heard the call, the divine call for taking up

sanyaasa Ashramam and to become a "light house, guiding the parched

souls tossed about in the samsaara saagara. It was a definite call

and he went and prostrated repeatedly at the feet of Srimad Andavan

Veliyanalloor Narayana Mahadesikan who after thorough scrutiny of his

disciple's genuineness, offered him upadesa of Presha mantra and

Prapatti Prayoga and admitted him to Sanyaasa Asramam, more fittingly

called ThurIya Asramam (the fourth stage). Thereafter he went to live

in the Srimad Andavan Asramam at Srirangam hallowed by the footprints

of Srimad PeriyANdavan and spent years there offering Samasrayanam,

BharaNyAsam, and daily kaalskhepa Goshtis to the innumerable

disciples thirsting spiritually.

 

But as there were hindrances to the peaceful functioning of Asramam,

he decided to move out of Srirangam itself so as to carry on with his

spiritual mission more effectively. When the disciples came to know

of 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 "Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam", in the same line

of Srimad Periyandavan Guruparampara, verily because Sriman Narayana

willed it so there shall be another illustrious seat of munithraya

Sampradayam, to cater to the spiritual needs of the ever growing

Sishyavarga, ever seeking new nuances and creeping in to the crevices

of the Sampradaya. And so, from this center this great Acharya

traveled on foot across South India at the request of countless

disciples who considered that their places became sanctified by the

very touch of the Acharya's feet. Eventually he stayed at Srirangam

itself following the footsteps of Emeprumaanaar Sri Ramanujacharya.

 

Thus started a great era, a Saga of monumental service to the Lord.

Not a day passed without a Kaalakshepa Goshti in the Asramam. It

became the confluence of great minds seeking more and more

scholarship in Sribhashyam, Bhagavath vishayam, and all else with a

thirst and enthusiasm as witnessed never before.

 

Sri Poundarikapuram Swami had a large stock of affluence in his

grahasthAsramam. He left off all in his supreme self-denial and

became an ascetic by almost compelling his preceptor to grant him the

saffron robe. He swayed, as spiritual king, the Srirangam town for

almost five decades. He was no ordinary scholar, nor an ordinary

ascetic, nor even an ordinary pontiff at that. He taught many;

taught Sri Bhashya every day; believed that it was his chief goal

and inaugurated the present headquarters of the Asramam on the

banks of the Coleroon river, a few yards west of Sri

Dasavatharam Sannidhi (of Sri Ahobila Mutt).

 

A special kind of link between the Ahobila Mutt and Sri

Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam deserves mention in this connection.

Down from 1750 to this day the Acharya hierarchy is unbroken,

uniquely continuous in this Asramam. The Acharyas are also native to

the school; inbred and brought up by Kalakshapam / invitation by

earlier Pontiffs at some time. Once a gap occurred in the Ahobila

Mutt; for some five years (1900-1905). The Poundarikapuram

Andavan of this Asramam had proudly helped in securing a deserving

candidate and giving him Sannyasa order and installing him as the

Pontiff (the 38th). This happened in 1905.

 

Thus, from Srirangam, 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

Vedanta Sisters; he possessed an extraordinary power of mind by which

he could accurately recall any passage, slouch or Sutra with ease.

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

Apart from the saamaanya sishyas and countless extraordinary sishyas,

mention must be made of a few outstanding sishyas who distinguished

themselves by their startling mastery of the sampradaya granthas in

all their facets and left an indelible mark in the form of permanent

contributions to the growth and spread of the Munithraya sampradayam.

And thus the three Acahrays who succeeded him after, Srimad

Ranganatha Mahadesikan, Srimad ViNNaRRankarai Srinivasa Mahadesikan

and Sri Gopaladesika Mahadesikan are manifestations of the Great

AchArya Himself as they follow his footprints in the sands of time,

offering spiritual succor to the ever growing disciples. In their

succession lies the clue to great Acharya's prophetic gift, the

Visionary that he was.

 

In 1934, in the month of Vaikasi on Pournami day, the AchArya's look

finally fell kindly on the great scholar disciple from Mannaargudi as

he had decided that he should succeed him and carry forward the

intellectual and spiritual service that he had so deftly given a new

dimension to. Thus Sri Mannargudi Anadavan, (followed then by Sri

ViNNaaRRankarai Andavan) succeeded Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan

(Poundarikapuram Anadavan). And Prakritham Andavan is Srimad Andavan

ParavaakkOttai Gopaladesika Mahadesikan, whose 81st Thirunakshathram

was celebrated recently.

 

While this was the Great Acharya's work to keep the line of

succession continuous, he did not rest content there; he knew the

coming days would demand more than this. that the future upkeep of

our sampradaya would need not merely "ships" and "light houses", but

also, pillars and foundation Structures. Among the many hundreds of

Ashthikas/Sishyas, mention should be made of Sri Anbil .V

Gopalacharyar of Anbil, of Sri Krishna thathachariar Swamy of

Bangalore, and of Sri C.M Vijayaraghavachariar Swamy also of

Bangalore, not because others were less equal, but because these

scholar disciples carved for themselves a unique position.

 

Sri Anbil .V Gopalacharyar was at the feet of this great Acharya for

42 years of his life, practically everyday learning the nuances of

our sampradayam. A man of shrewd intellect, a lawyer matchless in his

profession at Tiruchi and affluent, learned in Poorvapaksham forms of

Advaita found full enlightenment from Acharya's responses and answers

to his full load of doubts and questions. Srimad Andavan well versed

in the intricacies of Advaita completely and fully satisfied the

disciple's lurking doubts so well that Sri Anbil Gopalcharyar Swami

was enabled to author many books in elucidation of Advaitha

philosophy, - a contribution of very crucial importance for the very

understanding of Greatness of unparalleled and unambiguous

Visishtadvaita; he also brought out a few other granthas. He

perpetuated the memory of this great Mahan thus, in the form of

granthas and idealized it by instituting the "Srinivasa Mahadesikan

Vidhwath Sadhas", munificently endowing for its conduct. It is an

annual feature since then, in this Asramam that brings in

congregation scholars of repute, for intellectual and philosophical

discussion, disputation and authoritative assertion of our sampradaya

Gnana.

 

What Sri Anbil V Gopalachariar had done – the Granthas he brought out

and the vidwath sadhas he instituted standing "concretized" in the

form of an elegant front mandapa named after the great Savant,

reverberating with the sonorous voices of the great scholars who

congregate there- will for ages speak of the glory of his master –

Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Swamy.

 

So was the great scholar from Bangalore, Sri Krishna Thathachariar

who sat at the feet of the great Acharya for several years and in

turn, imbibed with a sense of purpose and mission, he

enthusiastically undertook the propagation of our Munithraya

Sampradaya by teaching many disciples in and around Bangalore- a

contribution of great value requiring Bhashanthara Gnana to cater to

the Spiritual well being of the Kannada Desa sishyavarga so dear to

Srimath Bhashyakarar and Swamy Desikan.

 

Equally great was the life of Sri CM Vijayaraghavachariar of

Bangalore. It was all a divine dispensation; how else could a retired

police circle inspector who had casually gone to prostrate at the

feet of this Acharya, get transformed, metamorphosed, so to say into

an erudite scholar with such depth, thoroughness and accuracy of

knowledge as to be able to write and publish many of our sampradaya

granthas in Kannada language for the invaluable benefit of the

disciples in kannada desa.

 

And you will be wonderstruck to know this: This Swami, (Sri C.M.V

Swamy) after ten interesting and enlightening years of Gurukulavasam,

at Srirangam Poundarikapuram Ashramam and gratified at the Acharya's

commitment with which he taught him all these years right from

Sanskrit alphabet to Vedanthas and Saathras in great depths, offered

even in those days, an enticing Rs 10,000 as Guru dhakshiNa. Srimad

Andavan looked up and asked him,

"Is this what you have learned and understood me?".

The disciple persisted in offering it as a token of his gratitude.

The Acharya consolingly told him,

"If I accepted this from you, great harm will follow- in future, our

disciples may stop coming to learn from me unable to make a

GurudhakshiNa; also this may incite in me an expectation of the same

too".

 

The disciple knew that the Acharya was sincere but still he

persisted.

Now the Acharya spoke-

"Think what one in my state can do with this money; with you perhaps,

it may find immense use in making available our Sampradaya Granthas

so much needed for the future". This was the divine spark that

impregnated in the mind of Sri CM Vijayaraghavachariar the passion

and the spirit for writing many books in kannada language which are

available even today as source books for reference and research in

Karnataka – something which Bhagawan Ramanuja would have approved of.

Words do not suffice to extol the importance of this service to

Srivaishnava community. Srimad Andavan was noted for his vairAgya –

unassailable spirit of total renunciation of worldly, material

things. It was Bhagawath Sankalpa that in this manner a whole range

of our Samparadya Granthas should be born in Kannada language.

 

Another famous anecdote: Srimad Andavan had tremendous Sri Hayagriva

Mantrasiddhi. One there was a young Boy of five years walking in

front of Swamy when the parents of the boy came to the Ashramam for

offering their obeisance and dhaNdavath praNamams to swamy. The boy

walked towards where Swamy was delivering his kaalakshepam. Swamy

looked at the child, pausing the kaalakshepam and asked him, "un

peyar enna?" (What is your name?) The boy did not utter a word. The

Father of the boy told Swamy that he is born dumb (mute). Immediately

Srimad Andavan asked the boy to come near and asked him to sit in

front of him. He taught him "aksharaabhyaasam," and recited,

 

SrImAn venkatanAthAryaH kavitArkika kesarI |

vedAntAcArya-varyome sannidhattAm sadA hRdi ||

 

(May the glorious Venkatanatha, the greatest of teachers of Vedanta,

and the lion among poets and debaters, reside forever in my heart.)?

and

 

jnAnanda mayamdEvam nirmalaspaTikAkruthim |

AdhAram sarva viganAnAm hayagrIvam upAsmahE ||

 

The five-year-old boy repeated both slokas. The one who did not speak

a single word in his past five years spoke due to Swamy's merciful

kataaksham. Today that boy has grown to His Holiness Sri Rangapriya

Mahadesikan Swamy of Bangalore. (Read Sri Srinath Chakravarthy's

excellent posts on this Swamy).

 

The Great Sri Kozhiyaalam Raghavachariar Swami came to Srirangam and

sought Sannyaasa Sweekaranam at the feet of Srimad

Poundarikapuram Andavan who initiated him into the Sannyaasa

Asrama in 1920 in the year Roudri- Aani- Pournami day. The Aasthaana

Vidwan of Tirumalai Tirupati Devasthanam, Kapisthalam Desikaachaarya

submitted to Swami for approval his Grantha "Adhikarana Ratna

Maalai". The Swami accorded his approval.

 

When the affluent devotees of Poundarikapuram village and his

disciples had arranged for renovation and consecration, It was H H

Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan who was invited to lend the 'holy

touch by hand" for karasparsam (by a great man). With what

results! All can see today how the small shrine of Oppiliappn has

grown as Southern Thiruppathi, with gala and festivity, fund-flow and

pomp and fame and attraction, all after 1928! The event has a

precedent in Thirukkudanthai Desikan lending his 'kara-sparsam' to

Araavamuthan some 200 years back!

 

This was Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa Mahadesikan, a

creative genius, a perennial spring who made himself an institution

and a legend with his many sided qualities. He was a great servant, a

teacher unsurpassed, an organizer with an eye for protection, a

missionary with a vision and a visionary with a mission. No wonder

that he was known as Gnana Vairagya Anusntana Sampanna.

 

A little known fact about this unassuming practitioner mentioned by

Sri Navalpaakaam NS Devanathachar who got it authoritatively from

Srimad Andavan ViNNARRankarai Swami. This mahaan made it a daily

practice to chant praNavam even during brief leisure hours following

the precepts of Upanishads, thereby experiencing the thrill of the

union of JivAthmA with the ParamAthmA. That he was practicing this

was not known to anybody. It was not necessary to inform anyone, it

being the individual communion of Jivan with Sriman Narayanan. How

did then others come to know of? It was the custom to invite four

Srivaishnavas and feed them in the Ashramam on the completion of

every one crore (ten millions) of PraNava japam. Such was his

accuracy in keeping count of a small GREAT mantra. Sri

VennaaRRankarai Andavan Swami chanced to notice this and humbly

enquired and got to know the truth.

 

Does this not testify to the unassuming nature and greatness of the

AchArya, his gnAna, anushtAnam and VairAgyam?

 

Whenever there were doubts on Sri Bhashyam Grantham and its

interpretations, Srimad Andavan was always the Judge to pass his final

Judgment as to whom is right. - " was the statement of Srimad

Azhagiyasingar (41st Pattam).

 

What a wonder !

He attained the everlasting Bliss of AchAryan Thiruvadi on 20th

October 1934, a day after completion of one of the many Sri Bhashya

Grantha saaRRumuRais, signifying Sri Bhashya Bhakti.

 

Let us pay our obeisance to this Great Acharyan His Holiness Srimad

Andavan Sri Poundarikapuram Swamy on His 155th Thirunakshathram,

today.

 

Acknowledgement:

1. Biography of Srimad Andavan Poundarikapuram Srinivasa

Mahadesikan- by Prof. P.R. Srinivasan, Perugavazhndhan, Bangalore.

2. Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's write up.

3. Dr. Sri VN Vedantha Desikan Swamin's article

4. Sri Delhi Hari Nagar Rajagopachariar Swamy's article

 

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

Regards

Narayana Narayana

aDiyEn Narayana Dasan Madhavakkannan

=================================================================

PUNDARIKAKSHA (UYYAK KONDAAR)- (CHITRAI- SRAVANAM)

================================================================

He was born as the Amsam of Jayatsenar, one of the Nityasuris in

Paramapadam. He was born at Tiruvellarai. Scholars place his date of

birth differently.; As per GLE: 825AD; as per MKS: 826AD;and as per

PPM : 827 AD. However all are agreed that he was born in the month

Chittirai and in the constellation of Sravanam.. ATA and PPM hold

that he was a 'Puras Sikhaa Srivaishnava'.

 

As ordered by his master, Sri Natha Muni, he escorted Aravindap

Paavai, Sri Natha Muni's wife to her parent's home. There, the

womenfolk known as Vangipurathu Aachis made him sit in an open space

called 'Mutram' and eat stale remnants of food left over.

Pundarikaksha partook the same with relish as it was food offered to

him by the Parijanas (those dear to) of his Acharya. "Tad Uchishtam

Sukhaavaham".

 

On his return, he felt greatly elated when he narrated the incident

to his Acharya. The Acharya was overwhelmed and exclaimed " Nammai

Uyyak Kondeero?"- Oh ! You came to redeem me?" From then on, he came

to be known as Uyyak Kondaar. (PPM)

 

In Sloka 6 of Yathiraja Saptadhi, Swami Desika praises him thus:

Namasyaaam Aravindaaksham Naatha Bhaave Vyavasthitham |

Suddha Satva Mayam Soureh Avataaram Iva Aparam ||

(meaning) Lord Krishna was the 'Sarva Loka Natha'. His Tirumeni is of

Suddha Satva. His eyes are lotus-like. Uyyakkaondar fully understood

the 'Tiru Ullam' of Sri Nathamuni and lived up to it. This is

possible only for one who is full of Sattva Guna untainted by Rajo

and Tamo gunas. Also, the name Pundarikaksha (Lotus- eyed) refers to

Lord Krishna. He looked as if Lord Pundarikaksha of Tiruvellarai

himself was reborn as Uyyak Kondaar. He was a renowned dialectician.

 

A passage from his work is quoted by Swami Desika in his Satadushani.

His Tanian runs as follows: (SAA.p200)

Namah Pankaja Netraaya Naathasree Paadha Pankaje |

Nyastha Sarva Bharaayaa Asmath Kula Naathaaya Dheemathe |

(Meaning) Salutations to the lotus eyed master, who is the leader of

our Kula at whose lotus feet we can cast all our burdens.

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YAMUNA MUNI (ALAVANDAR) – (ADI – UTTRADAM)

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Sri Nathamuni, Sri Yaamuna Muni and Sri Ramanuja Muni are the holy

trio who were the fountainhead of the Munitraya Sampradayam. Sri

Yaamuna Muni is the central piece among them.

 

Swami Desika salutes these three together thus:

Naathopajnam bahubir upachitam yaamunaaya prabandhai:/

Thraathum samyag yatheendrai: idam akhila tama: karsanam darsanam

naha://

Meaning:

Sri Nathamuni discovered and inaugurated the Munitraya Sampradayam,

Sri Yaamuna Muni nourished it well with his several works and Sri

Ramanuja Muni protected it well. Because of them, our Siddhanta is

capable of removing the darkness of our ignorance"

 

Swami Desika in his Guruparampara Saram says about Alavandar:

" neela vandu inru vidhi vagaiyaal ninaivu onriya naam

meela vandu innum vinai udambudanbonri vizhundu uzhalaamal

Alavandaar ena venru arul thanthu vilangiya seer

Alavandaar adiyom padiyom ini alvazhakke"

Meaning:

We are wallowing in this world from time immemorial. Due to some

punya, we chanced to know the great Alavandaar who gave us auspicious

thoughts to adopt the means to avoid the trauma of Samsara. We are

the slaves of Alavandaar, Therefore, we will never ever again indulge

in evil ways"

 

He was the grandson of Nathamuni and son of Iswara Bhattalwan and

Ranganayaki. He is considered the Amsam of Simhavahana, one of the

Nityasuris in Paramapada.(TKP) but as per PPM, he was the Amsam of

Harivaktra, another Nityasuri in Paramapada.

 

His date of birth as per PPM and GLE is 917 AD, the latter specifying

the year in Kali yuga 4017 which tallies with 917 AD and born in the

year Daatu, Adi month, in the constellation of Uttraashada on a

Friday, (But as per MSR and MKS the year is 916 AD). He was born at

Kuppankuzhi (2 Kms from Kaattu mannaar koil- Veeranarayanpuram). As

per TKG his term of life is 125 years which means he should have

lived till 1042 AD.

 

He was named Yamunai thuraivan- Yamuna , for short. The boy grew

apace, a marvel of loveliness and intelligence. He learned all

branches of knowledge, both secular and spiritual.

 

Once a haughty royal chaplain by name Akkiyalvan was challenging and

humiliating learned men. Yamuna accepted the challenge and went to

the court to argue with him. The queen was so impressed with the boy

that she prevailed upon the king to give him half the kingdom if he

won in the debate offering her to be thrown to wild dogs, if the boy

failed.

Akkiyalvan asked the boy to state three propositions positive or

negative, which he offered to counter. And, if he could not, the boy

would be declared the winner. Yamuna posed:

 

( i ) Your mother is a barren woman

( ii ) The king is a righteous and powerful ruler and

( iii ) The queen is a model of chastity.

 

By no stretch of imagination could Akkiyalvan affirm that his mother

was barren, by no assumption of courage could he call the king wicked

and powerless and no way could he allege that the queen was unchaste.

He hung his head in shame. The King now asked Yamuna to disprove his

own statements.

 

Yamuna clarified by observing the following:-

( i ) The sacred laws say that an only son is no son at all. So,

Akkiyalvan's mother was as good as barren in the eyes of the law.

( ii) The king cannot be called righteous when he entertained such an

arrogant person to be his chaplain and his not dismissing the

chaplain showed that the king was indeed powerless.

( iii) According to the Sruti texts, every woman is wedded first to

Soma, then Gandharva and then Agni before marrying her earthly

partner. The queen was no exception and therefore cannot be deemed a

model of chastity.

 

The King fired Akkiyalvan and gave Yamuna half his kingdom as

promised to the queen . The queen hailed the boy as 'Alavandar'-' one

who came to save me'. Thus, Alavandar entered his royal career in

right earnest. This demanded all his attention so much that he could

not attend even to the religious duties properly.

 

Meanwhile, Rama Misra was trying to carry out his promise to his Guru

to install Alavandar as the spiritual successor to Nathamuni. But, he

could not get an audience with Alavandar - the king, to discuss the

matter. He hit upon a curious plan. He made friends with the servants

in the royal kitchen and through them learned that Alavandar relished

a special variety of spinach called "Toodu Valai Keerai". He started

supplying the spinach daily. After a period of about six months he

suddenly stopped deliveries. Alavandar enquired why the spinach was

not being served. The servants replied that an old man who used to

supply had suddenly not turned up. He ordered that the old man be

brought before him when he visited the next time. The very next day

Rama Misra appeared and was duly taken to the king.

 

During this session, Rama Misra explained the purpose of his mission

and requested Alavandar to take over the reins of spiritual

leadership bequeathed to him by his illustrious grandfather,

Nathamuni. Alavandar took to Sannyas and was thenceforward known as

YAMUNA MUNI.

 

He is the one who composed the earliest Stotras of Srivaishnava

Sampradaya (ATA).

 

Alavandar wrote several works that are as lofty in content and simple

in style. They include

(1) Chatusloki

(2) Stotra Ratnam

(3) Siddhitrayam consisting of

(i) AtmaSiddhi.

(ii) Samvitsiddhi and

(iii) Easwara Siddhi

(4) Agama Pramanya

(5 ) Maha Purusha Nirnayam and

(6) Gitartha Sangraha

(7) Nityam

(8) Maayaa Vaadha Khandanam

 

Swami Desika in Sloka 7 of his Yathiraja Saptadhi pays homage to

Yamuna thus:

Vighaahe Yaamunam Theertham Saadhu Brindaavane Stitham |

NirasthaJih Magha Sparse Yatra Krishnah Kritaa Dharah ||

(Explanation)

Alavandar who learned Vedanta Arthas at the feet of Manakkaal Nambi

was not only the one residing on the banks of Yamuna (Yamunai

Thuraivan) by name but was also like the clear flowing waters of the

river Yamuna. Lord Krishna got rid of the cruel Kaalinga from the

river and made its water pure and clear for all to drink. He was most

delighted when he played with the Gopis of Brindavanam in the Yamuna

waters. Likewise, Alavandar vanquished those who misinterpreted the

Vedas and established Vedanta Siddhanta. Just as one can derive

supreme pleasure by bathing in the holy waters of Yamuna, one can

enjoy supreme Bhagavad Gunanubhava by immersing in the lucid granthas

of Yaamuna.

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