First Andavan: Srimath Vazhuthur Andavan

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Sri:

Srimathe Rangaramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

Srimathe Vedhantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

 

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 25) 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 are alone going to guard, rule and spread our

sampradhadhaayam". From that day he was known to be called as Vazhuthur

Andavan and sampradhadhaayam was called as Srimath Aandavan Asramam

Sampradhaayam.

 

Vazhuthur swamy was living in Srirangam in a small hut teaching

kaalakshepa grandhas to devoted and deserving sishyas. From him

sampradhaayam spreaded into many branches. Prominent among them are as

follows:

 

1. Srinivasa Ramanuja Maha Desikan - Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan also

known as Vilakkudi andavan (Andavan asramam)

2. Annarya Maha Desikan - also known as Navalpakkam Swamy who was

in gruhasthasramam spreading sampradhayam at Thirukkudanthai,

Thiruvaheendapuram and Navalpakkam.

3. 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.

 

dasan,

Srimath Andavan Thiruvadi