Why do we Celebrate the Thirunakshathrams for our AchAryAs ?

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

SrI Ramanuja Mission will be celebrating AchArya

Thirunakshathram at SrI RanganAtha Temple in a grand manner

tomorrow from 8 A.M to 1.00 P.M with Multiple PaarAyaNams

and aarAdhanam for the dhivya PaadhukAs of Prakrutham

AaNDavan .

 

Here are some thoughts on this occasion on " Why do we celebrate

the Thirunakshathrams of our AchAryAs? ".

 

AchArya Vaibhavam & MahOpakAram to SishyAs

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Gurubhya: tadhgurubhya: cha namOvAkam adheemahE

vruNeemahE cha tathrAdhyou Dampathee jagathAm Pathee

 

Thus starts the thundering statement about the need for salutations to

our Guru ParamparA starting from our immediate AchAryAs

all the way up to the dhivya Dampathi as UpAyam and Phalan.

 

The key sections of the slokam are:

 

" Gurubhyasccha Tadh-gurubhyasccha namOvAkam adheemahE "

 

To our immediate AchAryAs and their AchAryAs , we extend

our reverential and grateful salutations for the immeasurable

upakArams extended to us out of their DayA Svaroopam

and SvabhAvam .

 

We invoke the Gurus as the means (uPayam ) as well as

UpEyam ( Phalan ).

 

Why do we invoke them as Means and Fruit of Nama: sabdham ?

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The skeptic may ask : " What did they do for us ? Why should

we go out of our way to offer our reverential salutations at every

available opportunity in general and during their Thirunakshathrams

atleast in particular ?

 

The convincing answer is that Moksham is outside the reach of

those , who do not have AchArya sambhandham (AchArya

SamAsrayaNam). This way to Moksham shown by AchAryAs

has been recognized as the " nall vazhi and thol Vazhi "

by Madhura Kavi AzhwAr. The "Nall Vazhi " is the path

to Moksham ( Prapatthi and Bhakthi yogams) . "Thol Vazhi "

is the anAdhi vazhi or mArgam ( ancient , timeless path)

established by anAdhi Vedams .

 

The necessity of AchAryAs have been emphasized by the Upanishads:

" tath Vij~nArTam sa gurumEvAbhigacchEth " ( To know about the Supreme

Brahman , You must seek an AchAryan). " AchAryavAn PurushO Veda"

( Only the disciple , who has been blessed with a SadAcharyan

can know about Brahman). The RahasyAmnAya BrahmaNam

refers to the whole Guru Paramparai that one should revere :

"sa cha AchAryavamsO jn~EyO: asou asou ithi Aabhagavattha: "

( This AchArya Paramparai should be clearly comprehended

in a hierarchical manner all the way up to BhagavAn).

 

The durable ( asanchala ) Bhakthi to one's AchAryan is therefore

a must for our upliftment .The manthra Sampath ( the spiritual

wealth acquired from Manthra Japam ) and the Jn~Ana sampath

will diminish , when one does not elevate and celebrate one's

AchAryan ( aprakAsa prakAsAbhyAm ksheeyathE sampadhAyushi).

That is why the AchAryans are revered as " Yennuyir tanthu aLitthavar"

( Those who blessed us with the Seshathva Jn~Anam and saved us from

downward descent in to Samsaric pit).

 

In the second slOkam of NyAsa Vimsathy , Swamy Desikan gives us

8 Reasons for us to celebrate our AchAryAs and consider them in status

to Bhagavan Himself : (1) AchAryan thru sadhupadEsams removes

the false knowledge (a j~nAnam and Vipareetha Jn~Anam) of the Sishyan

(2) AchAryans correct the Sishyans from engagement in sins and cleanses

them of Paapams (Thirutthi PaNi koLvAn), (3) AchAryan labors to inculcate

Jn~Anam , GuNam and anushtAnam and lifts up the Sishyan to his level

(4) AchAryan blesses the sishyan with Tatthva Thraya Jn~Anam and

creates Jn~Anap-piRavi for the sishyn (5) AchAryans cast their dayA

dhrushti on the Sishyans and thru caring instructions prepare them for

the Sadhgathi of Moksham (6) AchAryans' mercy extends to one and all

independent of their birth status or wealth (7) AchAryans stay as the nectar

to be enjoyed in this and the other world (8) AchArya-sishya relationship

is indivisible and can not be cast aside ( Ozhikka OzhiyAthu).

 

That is why we celebrate our AchAryans and their AchAryans .

AchArya LakshaNam and Bhagavath LakshaNam are almost inseperable.

That is why Madhurakavi claimed that he does not know of any other God

than his AchAryan ( dhEvu maRraRiyEn) . His AchAryan was Swamy NammAzhwAr

( SrI RanganAtha PaadhukA ).

 

SrImath AakkUr Andavan's gist of AchArya Vandanam a la Chithra Paddhathi

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There are abundant insights in to the Vaibhavam of AchAryAs in chithra

Paddhathi ( A picture is worth thousand words) . We will highlight some of

SrImath Andavan's insights & UpadEsams to understand

why we celebrate AchArya Thirunakshathrams :

 

1. Through their Svaroopam ( inherent nature) , Roopam ( ThirumEni & tEjas) ,

GuNam ( auspicous attributes ) , VyApAram ( benovolent activities driven by

DayA for those who seek their protection ) and their love for the Lord and

their own Prapatthi , the SadAchAryAs have SarvEswaran under their control;

The influence thay have over the Lord enables them to chase away the arguments

of scholars with distorted views and establish the relations between

Sareeram (body) , aathmA ( Jeevan) and Iswaran ( antharyAmi of the Jeevan) .

Through the upadesam on the SarirAthma bhAva sambhandham , they enable

those who seek their protection to gain Parama PurushArTam of Moksham.

Such is the power and Vaibhavam of AchAryAs ! That is why we celebrate

their Thirunakshathrams.

 

2. SadAchAryAs are like MahA Lakshmi (MangaLa nidhi) and are PurushakAra

BhUtharhaL like MahA Lakshmi with Her Divine consort . They succeed in

interceding for us with the Lord and make us eligible for His anugraham .

That is why we celebrate AchArya Thirunakshathrams and AchArya Paadhukais.

 

3. We belong to the category of "ananya SaraNa:" ( with no one else to protect

us)

and are " UpAyAnthara-rahitha: " ( with out any UpAyam to protect ourselves).

For us of this description , there are no recourse except AchAryAs to get us

across the SamsAra Saagaram. That is the reason for clinging on to AchAryA's

ThiuvadikaL and celebrating them partcicularly on their Thirunakshathrams.

 

4. As SamsAris , we are Aj~nAs , akinchanaas and AasrithAs . AchAryAs

are very dear to BhagavAn and are adheenam to Him. They are objects of

endearment to Him. By clinging to the ThiruvadkaL of AchAryans , we

gain Tatthva Jn~Anam and benefit from their PurushakAram with the Lord

on behalf of us.That is why we celebrate AchArya Thirunakshathrams !

 

5. AchAryAs are incarnations of eternally liberated jeevans (nithya Sooris)

and as such are DhivyAmsams. They have therefore the power to remove our

Aathma VyAthis and protect us . They incarnate on this earth during the Vibhava

and ArchA avathArams of the Lord and help their Lord in lOka rakshaNam .

That is why we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams !

 

6. SadAchAryAs must be meditated upon on UpAya and Phala

dasais.It is through their anugraham , UpAyam is realized.PurushArTa

Kaashtai ( the boundary of Bhagavath UpAsanam) is gained through

the adoration of AchAryAs .That is why we celebrate the ThiruavathAra

dinams of AchAryAs .

 

7.AchAryAs are deeply rooted in Para Brahmam ( SthiraPrathishtithAL).

They follow the command of the Lord and protect the world and its beings.

AarAdhanam of them is UpAya Kaashtai ( the end boundary of UpAyams

for PurushArTam) . Kaimkaryam to them is PurushArTa Kaashtai.With their

powerful glances alone , they remove the sins of the world ( Tath dhrushti-

gOcharA: sarvE muchyanthE sarva kilBhishai:).Among all their auspicious

GuNams , the DayA GuNam towers over all guNams.That is why we celebrate

their Thirunakshathrams and perform the aarAdhanam of their PaadhukAs and

partake PaadhukA theertam .

 

8. AchAryAs generate Jn~Ana PrakAsam in SamsAris (aj~nAs). They

have soulabhya guNam ( easy of access by one and all ). With very

little kaimakryam form our part , they rush to our rescue and become

joyous in protecting us ( KaTamchith upakArENa kruthEnaikEna

thushyathi ). Their svalpa KatAksham and our insignificant service

(Svalpa sisrooshai) to them blesses us with parama srEyas.That is why

we celebrate the Thirunakshathram of such DayALus!

 

9. AchAryAs have the skills to conduct BhagavAn's missions

( Bhagavath Kaarya nirvAha SaamarTyam) , Travel across the land

to perform SamAsrayaNam , BharanyAsam with their AarAdhana

Moorthys ( LokAnugrahArTa SanchAra seelathvam) , freedom from

malice ( asooyAdhi dhOsha-rahithathvam) and deep freindship with

sishyAs ( Parama Maithrathvam). That is why we celebrate AchArya

Thirunakshathrams and pray for the development of Parama Bhakthi

towards them.

 

10. AchAryAs propagate Bhagavath Saasthrams . Through their

exemplary anushtAnams , they establish the auspicious path

(SanmArgam) for their disciples.They seek Bhagavath BhakthAs ,

bless them and prepare them for samarpaNam of their AathmAs

( BhagavAn's property ) at the Lord's sacred feet . The AchAryAs are

NipuNars in this activity . That is why we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams !

 

11. SadAchAryAs in their state as Nithya Sooris or during their incarnations

amidst us or during their presence as ArchA Moorthys ( consecrated images

at AzhwAr Sannidhis) have blemishless mahimai . They remove all anishtams

( inauspiciousness) and bless us with sarva MangaLams that we desire.

They are in a sense Abheeshta Varadars. They are fit to be eulogized by

all with Keerthanam and vandhanams . That is why we celebrate their

Thirunakshathrams !

 

12. After enchanting the Lord with their Prapatthi ( KshaNikOpAyam)

and having Him in their control, they make it possible for all others to gain

Him and perform nithya kaimkaryam to Him . That is why we celebrate

the AchArya Thirunakshathrams !

 

13. By mere meditation of the Taniyans of AchAryAs , they remove all

obstacles that we face . When a sishyan perfroms Naama Japam of

their AchAryans without let ( GurOrnAma SadhA JapEth) , they save

him/her even if they are MahA Paapis. They remove all pApams

through Bhagavath Prapatthi .They show us the sacred feet of

the Lord and make us attain His sThAnam (BhOga Saamyam) .

That is why we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams.

 

14. The AchAryAs have immense mercy for those who follow

SishtAchAram ( the anushtAnam of our sacred predecessors).

For those following SishtAchAram , the AchAryAs confer all

boons desired and remove all obstacles. One of the SishtAchAram

is the celebration of the Thirunakshathrams of SadAchAryans

starting from Prakrutham AchAryan.

 

15. Through their SanchArams around the nation and their

KaalakshEpams , the SadAchAryAs banish the fog of Ajn~Anam

through their Jn~Ana PrakAsam . They chase away the darkness

in the minds of those who seek their protection . That is why we

celebrate their Thirunakshathrams.

 

16. AchAryALs are "sarvathO Bhadra Moorthys"( all around auspicious

MoorthykaL) . They protect the Mumukshus ( those who desire Moksham).

They remove the three kinds of Taapams (SamsAric afflictions). They

perform hithOpadEsam to protect the wealth blesed by BhagavAn and

to use it for Bhagavath-BhAgavatha-AchArya Kaimkaryams . Whether

one is a Paapi or PuNyasaali, the AchAryAs come to their rescue in

an unfailing manner . They travel to the side of the Lord during the times

of their MahOthsavams ( Kaanchi Garuda Sevai, Thirumalai BrhmOthsavam ,

Panguni Uttharam at SrIrangam et al) for the purpose of lOkAnugraham.

That is why we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams!

 

17. AchAryAs are avathAra PurusharkaL. They are free of Sins by

their SvabhAvam. They sanctify those who help their ThiruvArAdhanam

with their SrI Paadha Theertham . That is why we celebrate the AchAryA's

Thirunakshathrams !

 

18. The AchAryAs are Sarva vidha BhandhukkaL for their sishyAs.

They consider the sukha-dukkhams of their SishyAs as their own

and through the Phala MantrAkshathai , they remove our sorows.

Their aasritha Vaathsalyam has no boundaries .There is nothing that

they need in this world or from their sishyAs .That is why we celebrate

their Thirunakshathrams !

 

19. For those sishyAs , who practise the doctrine of " AachAryAdhiha

DevathAm samadhikaamanyAm na manyAmahE " ( There is no one

who is equal to or superior to AchAryan/thEvu MaRRaRiyEn ), the AchAryAs

grant Parama PurushArTa paryantha sukhams ( upto MokshAnugraham).

That is why we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams !

 

20. AchAryAs are filled with Bhagavath Bhakthi, Sarva BhUtha Dayaa ,

SadhanushtAnam nas SrEshta Jn~Anam . They bless those who

perform AaarAdhanam to the Lord allowed by SaasthrAs ( SaashtrOktha

AarAdhanam ) and recieve the worship( aarAdhanam ) to them performed by

such PuNyasAlis . That is why we celebrate the Thirunakshathrams of

Such SadAchAryAs !

 

21. SadAchAryAs destroy the aathma chathrus of those , who seek

their protection and help in the perforformance of Aathma Yaagam,

which the jeevans missed to perform in poorva Janmams.Only Tatthva-

jn~Anis and avathAra PurushAl like SadAchAryAs can successfully

conduct the Aathma Yaagam , where the havis of the AathmA

in the fire( Agni) of BhagavAn can be offered as homam.Saasvatha

(Lasting) KshEmam results from that Aathma SamarpaNam . Only

SadAchAryAs can facilitate this Aathma SamarpaNam and that is why

we celebrate their Thirunakshathrams !

 

22. We celebrate the Thirunakshathrams of SadAchAryAs because of

their many auspicious attributes: (a) Paavanathvam/Sacredness

(b) AarAdhyathvam/being fit for worship © NigrahAnugraha SamarTathvam

( SaamarTyam in blessing the AasrithAs and destroying aathma chathrus

(d) tEjOvathvam ( having Brahma tEjas to attract us and hold us ) and

(e) PurushakAra Vaibhavam ( power to intercede witht he Lord to forgive our

trespasses ) .

 

23. AchAryAs are Lord's PaadhukAs. As such they share many

auspicous attributes:

 

(a) Sarva-kaalaanuguNa sarvAdhikAri yOgya sarva Phala pradha sukara

srEshTopAya prakAsakthvam( They highlight the auspicious and unnatha

upAyam of SaraNAgathy and demonstrate that people with all backgrounds

and qualiifcations are eligible to recieve the fruits of SaraNAgathy

at their Lord's sacred feet .

 

b) SarvalOka Maanyathvam: Vaibhavam to be glorified by all the world

 

c)( Uthkrushta-Janai: archaneeyathvam/ fit for worship by the evolved souls ,

dhanyathvam/Modesty, Uthkrushta SrEyas-Saadhanathvam/Ability to confer

the highest status among men

 

d) Sarva MangaLAvahathvam/ granting of all MangaLams including

the destruction of the cycles of births & deaths

 

e) anantha klEsApahathvam/ power to remove all samsAric agitations

 

f) Sarva PrAyascchittha Roopathvam ( being the embodiment of all

PrAyscchitthams)

 

g) BhagavadhanuroopAvathArathvam ( ability to incarnate in a manner

complimentary to the Lord's avathAram to help Him fulfil His avathAra Kaaryam) .

 

24. The AchArya Vaibhavam that propells us to celebrate them every

moment of our lives for their MahopakArams and special celebrations

on their Thirunakshathram days is limitless . Here are some more reasons

why we become sanctified thru such celebrations :

 

a) Bhava-peeDitha sEvyathvam( Fitness to be worshipped by those

afflicted by SamsAric illness).

 

b) Bhagavath Sahacharathvam , SruthiprathipAdhyathvam ,

aasritha Paalanathvam ,sanchAra SaamarTyathvam and Saadhu-

sangama seelathvam ( ability to move with the niyamanam of

Their Lord , celebrants of VedAs , protectors of those who seek

their refuge , Ability to travel around with their aarAdhan Moorthys

to bless the sishyAs with SamAsrayaNams and Bhara NyAsams and

ease in mingling with saadhu janams ).

 

c) Saashtra Pravarthakathvam ( ability to intrepret and spread

Bhagavath Saasthrams ) and SanmArga nishtathvam ( power of

observance of the rigors of righteous ways prescribed by Bhagavath

Saasthrams).

 

d) Bhagavath Sadhrusa GuNathvam ( Having guNAs similar to their Lord).

 

e) UpAya VirOdhi Paapapahathvam ( power to destroy the obstacles

standing in the way of observing Bhakthi & Prapathti yOgams).

 

Instead of going on further , adiyEn stops here to make the case for

celebration of the Thirunakshathrams of AchAryAs and recital of

their Taniyans .

 

SrImath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam .

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

 

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