Srimad (43rd) Devanarvilagam Azhagiyasingar Vaibhavam - Part I

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Srimath Sriranga Pruthviswara Sataripuna Samyamintherana Drishtam

Nyasyathmanam Nrusimhe Narahari Shatajith Yoginethu Prasadath

Pragyna Srirangakari Prabhavayathipathe Praaptha Lakshminrusimhasthanam

Seve Yathindram Sakala Gunanithim Veeraragvitsatarim

Srimathe SriLakshminrusimha Divya PAduka Sevika

SriVan Satakopa SriVeeraRaghava Satakopa Yathindra MahaDesikAya Namaha

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Inspired by Sri. V. Satakopan's outpourings on our Srimad Injimedu

Azhagiyasingar, adiyen would like to start writing series of articles

(taking the sources of 1951-54 Srinrusimha Priya) on our Srimad 43rd

Azhagiyasingar.

 

It is almost 100 years ago that our Srimad 43rd Azhagiyasingar was born.

Arrangements for his centenary celebrations are in full swing in Sri

Ahobila Mutt, Devanarvilagam, Naimisaranyam and in US. Thinking about

these celebrations, adiyen is presenting some articles on his life - though

not eligible to write about him - adiyen will refer to lot of articles from

U.Ve Purisai Krishnamachariar, Sri. U.Ve. Melpakkam Narasimhachariar, Srimad

45th AzhagiyaSingar in his poorvasrama, Sri. U.Ve. V.N.Vedantha Desikan ,

Sri. U.Ve. V. Satakopan and many others). Any errors are mine and any good

things are attributed to these mahans.

 

Srimad 43rd Azhagiyasingar was born to Sri. U.Ve Paruthipattu Vangipuram

Devanarvilagam Thiruvenkatachariar and his wife Rukmini, on the auspicious

day of Puradam Constellation of Karthigai month in the Plava varusham (1901)

in Bharadwaja Gothram. The place he was born is a hamlet called

Devanar-Vilagam, a couple of furlongs east of Oppiliappan Sannidhi

(Thiruvinnagar). Adiyen vaguely remembers that this is the village in which

Devas assembled to witness the marriage of Oppiliyappan with Bhoomi Devi.

Thiruvinnagar is situated on the banks of "Nattaru" which is compared to

Viraja Nadhi of Vaikuntam. Infact,in sanskrit, this sthalam is called "AkAsa

Nagaram /VyOma Puri". Their family belonged to the "Vangipurathu Nambi"

vamsam. The child was named "Sri. LakshmiNarasimhan". It is very apt to say

that this Acharyan was born near Viraja and went back to Viraja.

 

As the eldest son of a wealthy family, he was brought up with very great

affection. Even in his childhood , he spent his time playing with God's

idols along with other children. To enthuse the kid further, his parents

would prepare huge quantity of food to be offered to the idols with which he

was playing. Upanayanam for Sri. Lakshminarasimhan was done during his

garbashtamam. He learnt Veda-Prabandha-Kavya Sastras. His parents performed

panigrahanam to a StriRatnam from Neduntheru (near Kumbakonam) named Sou.

Ranganayaki. He led a happy married life.

 

Sri. LakshmiNarasimhan had PanchaSamaskaram from Srimad 40th Azhagiyasingar.

He did Sri Bhashya Kalakshepam under the feet of Srimad 40th Azhagiyasingar.

When Srimad 40th Azhagiyasingar ascended paramapadam, Srimad 41st

Azhagiyasingar taught him the other kalakshepa granthas.

Sri.LakshmiNarasimhan performed Bharanyasam under the auspicious feet of

Srimad 41st Azhagiyasingar. Admiring the intelligence, bhakti and Vairaghyam

of his disciple, Srimad 41st Azhagiyasingar had ordained in his mind, that

he deserved to become a future Acharyan in the lineage of Sri Ahobila Matam.

During the reign of this pontiff, Sri LakshminarasimhAcchAr had the divine

opportunity to perform thiruvaradhanam for Malolan (the presiding deity of

Sri Ahobila Mutt) for some period of time. He earned Nyaya Siromani title at

Thiruvaiyaru College. He was also appointed as the Asthana Vidwan of Sri

Ahobila Mutt during 42nd Azhagiyasingar's period. During these days, he

performed a yeoman service to Sri Ahobila Mutt by performing kalakshepams on

various veda granthas. Present day Sri Vaishnavite stalwarts like Sri. U.Ve

Purisai Krishnamachariar, Late. Sri. U.Ve. Melpakkam Narasimhachariar and

others were among his disciples attending these discourses.

 

An interesting incident regarding his teaching of GitaBhashyam to students ,

mentioned in an article by Sri. U.Ve Melpakkam Swami is as follows:

 

Swami was once giving discourse on Gita Bashyam in the backyard of his

house. All his disciples were listening to the kalakshepam with great

interest. Suddenly from somewhere a snake appeared nearby the pandal where

kalakshepam was going on. All the disciples were perturbed and afraid. Our

Swami intervened and told them that "Ondrum Padaravendam. Sri. Bhashyakar

inda kalakshepa-prakriyaiai kadaakshithuvittu pogirar" (Sri Bhashyakar has

come to bless this kalakshepa prakriyai. So, do not be afraid). After a few

minutes, the snake went away as it came. All the disciples were stunned by

this incident.

 

Though the family had lot of lands and wealth in abundance, he was detached

like Sage Janaka. He totally devoted each day for Bhagavath kaimkaryams.

Rising early, he would perform SandyaVandanam, Oupasanam, then pluck the

flowers from the garden in house to do Abhigamana Aradhanam. Then he would

engage in kalakshepam. After this, he would do veda pravachanam by himself.

The disciples lived in his house during this time and all their needs would

be taken care of. Then he would do Ijyai Aradhanam, Vaiswadevam and have

lunch with family members and students. In the afternoon again, he will do

reading of Ramayanam and other works. Then would look after a bit of lowkika

activities. Then he would perform Kalakshepam to disciples. Then in the

evening, he would do Sandyavandhanam and perform the evening

thiruvaradhanam and then have a light supper. The house in which he lived is

called "Malola Bhavanam". There are Vigrahams of Adivan Satakopan Swami,

Swami Desikan, Swami Nammazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar and Kumudavalli

nachiyar, Andal, Ramar, and Krishnar and Saligrama perumals. Many of the

stalwarts , who did kalakshepam under this Swami and who have experienced

the bhagavath vishayam in SriAhobilaMutt used to call this house as "Chinna

Matam". The celebrations of Azhwar and Acharya Thirunakshathrams would also

be done with intense devotion at "ChinnaMatam ". If in case, for some

reasons, thiruvaradhanam could n't be done by him or by his brothers or

other family members, Aradhakars from outside places would be summoned to do

the thiruvaradhanam.

 

SWami also created a Nandavanam (garden) in his house so as to do Nandavana

Kaimkaryam for Sri Bhoomidevi Samedha Sri Oppiliyappan. Not satisfied with

this, he would perform utsavams to Sri Bhoomidevi Samedha Sri Oppiliyappan

by doing purappadu from koil to his house and then resting the perumal in

the Nandavanam of his house. He also participated in the goshtis of

Oppiliyappan utsavams.

 

- To be Continued.

 

Sources: Srinrusimha Priya magazine : 1951 - 1953 issues.

Articles written by Srimath Idanim Azhagiyasingar, Sri. U.Ve. Purisai

Nadadur Krishnamachariar, Sri. U.Ve. Melpakkam Narasimhachariar Swami,

Sri. U.Ve Vedantha Desikan and others. Many thinks to Sri. Oppiliyappan Koil

Varadachari Satakopan for his inputs and corrections on this article.

 

Refer to http://www.devanarvilagam.com for his life history in brief.

 

Vachaka Dosham Kshantavyaha:

 

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan

Lakshminarasimhan S.

 

 

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srimadh rangasatari samyamivaraat labdhaaga maandhathdvayam |

srimadhveera ragoothvahathya sadajith paadhaaravindhasrayam ||

srimadh vedhavadhamsa desikayathe kaarunyaveekshaaspatham |

seve rangathureena saasanavasam naarayana yoginum ||

 

Srimathe Lakshminrusimha divya pAduka sevika

srivan satakopa Sri Narayana Yathindra MahadesikAya Namaha

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