Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan- Sri Mannaargudi Andavan Thirunakshathram

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Regards

Narayana Narayana

NarayaNa dAsan madhavakkannan

 

 

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:

SrimathE Srinivasa Mahadesikaya namah:

SrimathE Ranganatha Mahadesikaya namah:

 

Today is Sri Mannargudi Andavan (Sri Ranganatha Mahadesikan)Thirunakshathram

(Vaikasi Mrigaseersham). Let us be blessed to enjoy reading the life history

of Sri Mannargudi Andavan. (This is from Sri Anbil mama’s article- thanks to

Sri Anbil mama for his permission))

 

Sri Mannargudi Andavan

(Vikrama- Vaikasi- Mrigaseersham)

(8-6-1880 - 17-11-1954)

 

There was in Mannargudi one Ramanujacharya Swami, one of the

descendants in the lineage of Nadadur Ammaal, one of the immediate

disciples of Sri Bhashyakara. He belonged to Srivatsa Gotram and was a

well known Vedic scholar. His forefathers were famed for their

proficiency in Vedic recitation which would charm the ears of the

listeners. Sri Ramanujachar Swami organized and led the Veda Parayana

Goshti during the festivals of Sri Rajagopala Swami. He was married to one

Senkamalathammaal. To them was born on 28th Mrigasirsha, Vikrama, Vaikasi

(8th June 1880) a male child who was given the name of

Srinivasagopalan.

 

After Upanayana Samskara, he started his early studies at the feet of his

father who also administered the Pancha Samskara. Later, he learnt

Vyakarana Sastras under the famous Vyakarana Pandit Uruppattur Sri

Rangachariar Swami (who later became the 39th Pontiff of Sri Ahobila Mutt).

 

In the beginning he served as Adhyaapaka in the Sastra Patasala at

Orattanad. Sri Srinivasa Gopalan married at the early age of 10 to one

Nachiyar Ammaal who belonged to a very orthodox Sri Vaishnava family. He

arrived at Srirangam with his wife and fell at the feet of Srimad

PoundarikaPuram Andavan and was given a room in the rear of the

Asramam. He studied under the Acharya the Grantha

Chatushtayam. At the end of his studies, he received Bharanyasa from

his Acharya. On hearing about his proficiency in Vyakarana Sastras, the

authorities in Kerala Sanskrit College invited him to serve as Professor

of Vyakarana. Sri Srinivasa Gopalan served in the Sanskrit College at

Pattambi for 20 years.

 

Then, when he completed his assignment at Pattambi, he visited Srirangam.

Srimad Poundarika Puram Andavan, considering the Vairaghya and

scholarship of Sri Srinivasa Gopala Swami desired that he should succeed him

and accordingly he was given Preksha Mantropadesa and admitted into the

holy order of ascetics and was given the new name of Sri Ranganatha Maha

Desikan. He was just 54. When Srimad

Poundarika Puram Andavan attained the lotus feet of his Acharya on 20th

October 1934 (*Bhava- Vaikasi- Pournami day* ), Sri Ranganatha Maha

Desikan took charge of the Ashramam with all sincerity and seriousness.

 

Many scholars who had intimately known and moved with the Swami in

his Purvasrama came to study at his feet, notable among them are Sri

Tatachariar Swami of Cuddalore, and Sri Ramaswamy Iyengar of Thanjavur.

Srimad Andavan spent his leisure hours in meditation and Ashtakshara Japa.

At the conclusion of every 10 million japam, a _Thadeeya Aaraadhana_

used to be held. He advised the disciples to celebrate the Tirunakshatra

day of Srimad Poundarika Puram Andavan

in their own homes so that more and more Srivaishnavas could come to

know of Swami's greatness. Srimad Andavan was averse to receiving gifts in

cash or kind. Once, when he was presented an amount of Rs.4,000, he handed

over the amount to Sri V.R. Ramaswamy Iyengar, Advocate, Thanjavur with a

request that the money should be utilized to bring out a new edition

of Rahasya Traya Sara in Devanagari script. The instruction was

complied with and today we have this beautiful edition in our hands with the

superb commentary of Vangeepuram Navaneetham Sri Rama Desikachariar

Swami. It remains a monument to Swami’s vision and generosity and devotion

to Swami Desikan.

 

Srimad Andavan Ranganatha Maha Desikan attained the lotus feet of his

Acharya on 17th November 1954 ( Jaya/ Kartigai/ Krishna Saptami) when he was

75.

 

His Tanian reads as follows:-

 

Aadhya Srinidhi Yogi Labda Manuraat Sri Vaatsya Raamaanujaath

Sampraaptanguna Mantra Jaatham /

Apara Sri Vaasa Yogi Swaraat Gnaanaabdim Suguna Karam

Munivaram Sri Ranganatham Bhaje //

 

(meaning)

I take refuge at the sacred feet of Sri Ranganatha MahA Desikan, the ocean

of Jn~Anam and the treasure house of all auspicious attributes, who received

his manthrOpadesam from the first SrinivAsa MahA Desikan, his samAsrayaNam

from Sri RaamAnuja MahA desikan of Srivathsa gOthram and his Bhara

SamarpaNam, thuriyAsramam and Ubhaya VedAntha Isvaryam from the other

Srinivasa MahA Desikan .

 

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

Srimad Andavan Thiruvadi

 

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