Arthi Prabandham-4 (Part-2)

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha | Sri Vara Vara MunayE Namaha I

 

Sri manavAla mahAmuni (azhagiya manavAlan at that time) was studying under

thiruvAimozhi pillai at that time. The greatness of all our poorvAcharyas is

that they never considered themselves to be a master instead they always

considered them to be a shisya of their own acharya and their shisya also to be

only their acharya’s shisya. So thiruvAimozhi pillai told Sri manavAla mahAmuni

to consider rAmanuja to be his acharya and not himself. By the order of his

acharya, Sri manavAla mahAmuni then sung the 21 excellent slokas on ethirAja,

the “YethirAja vimsathi”. ThiruvAimozhi pillai was highly pleased, with the

love and respect Sri manavAla mahAmuni had for ethirAja, which he has expressed

in simple slokas, but with indepth meaning. At that time, thiruvAimozhi pillai

presented his thiruvArAdha rAmanuja vigraham to Sri manavAla mahAmuni and asked

him to always remain with same prathipaththi (gratefulness) towards ethirAja.

 

This is the reason why Sri manavAla mahAmuni in his arthi prabhandam cried to

ethirAja to grant moksha, washing all his sins with swamy’s krupa. But never did

Sri manavAla mahAmuni forget that, he falling into the feet of ethirAja happened

only due to the grace of thiruvaimozhipillai(Arthi prabhandam-58).

 

Sri manavAla mahAmuni says, "Due to the grace of thiruvAimozhi pillai Oh

ethirAja! Now I know the relation between you and me. After that how can I stay

without thinking that you are everything for my soul?"

 

So each of our acharyas put us all into their acharya’s feet and they inturn put

us to the feet of Sri rAmanuja who is the udaiyavar who grants us all moksha

(“vishnulOka manimantapa mArgathAyi”). Since thiruvAimozhi pillai instructed Sri

manavAla mahAmuni to consider Sri rAmanuja as his sole refuge, Sri manavAla

mahAmuni, with the gratefulness towards his acharya, in his mind, surrenders to

the divine feet of ethirAja. That’s why in his upadesa ratnamalai he says, "iam

talking as per the instructions of my jnana pitha sri thiruvAimozhi pillai".

 

 

There is one other legend in the life history of Bhagavad Ramanujacharya, which

confirms that ramanuja sambhandam will surely grant us moksha.

 

 

Let's see in the next posting.

Jai Srimannarayana | Adiyen Ramanuja dasyai, Sumithra Varadarajan |