Sri Nampillai's Life Sketch Part 3 By U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah:

 

Members, Please note: This is NOT a translation, it is an article authored by

Sri ESBV Swamy himself in English and sent to us only to post and share with

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Part (3) of Sri Nampillai's Life Sketch >>

 

By: U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy>>

 

Once Sri Nanjeeyar out of unbounded affection towards SriNampillai voluntarily

came out with a great truth that should get embedded in the hearts of all

Srivaishnavas:>>

Bhagavadanubhava: Enjoying the virtues, acts and Handsome appearance etc., of

the Lord >>> >> >

a). A Srivaishnava should become the target of the eyes of the Lord. (Vasudevan

valayule says Nammazhvar.) >>

 

b). A Srivaishnava should always admire the strong shoulders of Madhavan who

churned the milky ocean, erecting the Manthara mountain as a churning rod and

used Vasuki, the serpent king for the rope. Thus fulfilled the desire of angels

deity of Thirumalirumsolai malai by name Sundarabahu.("Mantaram Naatti" etc –

Sri Andaal's Nachchiyar Thirumozhi.) >>

 

c). A Srivaishnava should consider Lord Ranganatha alone as his intimate and

pleasant companion and guard. (Arangathuraiyum inthunaivan –Kaliyan)>>

d). A Srivaishnava should quench his thirst by drinking the ever sweet nectar

namely Aravamudan of Thirukkudandhai alone is his intimate pleasant companion

and quard. (Arangathuraiyum inthunaivan – Kaliyan) Aravamudhan of Thirukkudan

Dai (Kumbakonam) ("appozhuthaikkappozhudu ennaravamuDame" – Nammazhwar's

Thiruvaimozhi)>>

e). A Srivaishnava should always consider the Lord as the fruit of four Vedas

("Nanguvedappayan…")>>

 

>>

 

>>

Vishayaanubhava: Enjoyments of worldly pleasures or objects of senses.

(Bhagavadanubhava and Vishayaanubhavam are always at loggerheads. They can never

go together. This is very well enunciated and substantiated by Alwars in their

Divya Prabhandams)>>

a). He should not be ensnared by the net of bewitching eyes of beautiful

damsels. {Madaraar kayarkan yennum valai. (Valai – net, kayal – a kind of fish)

kayal like eyes of women says Thondaradippodi Azhwar}>>

 

b). As opposed to this he is not expected to be lured away by the charming

shoulders of ladies whose soft bosom is covered by thick perfuming sandal paste.

(Chanthenthu menmulaiyar tadantholile akappadudal) Thirumangai Azhwar.>>

 

c). As opposed to this he should not think that the teenaged damsel's fatty

bosom is the companion. ("Aviye amude panai mulai thunaiya" – kaliyan)>>

d). On the other hand if he tastes the lips of ladies by kissing them taking it

to be nectar, he would only secure his downfall. ("pavaiyar vayamudam" –

kaliyan) >>

e). Quite against this he thinks that he has taken a birth in this world only to

enjoy the enchanting breasts of ladies, he is digging his own grave. ("Madaraar

vanamulai payan"- kaliyan)>>

 

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To conclude Azhwars have thus clearly chalked out the path to be walked by the

Srivaishnavas. Thirumangai Azhwar has categorically declared that a

Srivaishnava should first of all reject by all means the company of girls of

graceful gait like swans and then only have recourse to the Lord's Holy feet. He

also exhorted them to eschew first of all the carnal desires. Hence my dear son,

(said Nanjeeyar to Nampillai) a Srivaishnava should give up totally all petty

worldly pleasures and then only he will be acceptable to God. >>

 

On hearing this advice of his teacher, Sri Nampillai was overwhelmed with great

jubilance and became more and more devoted to his Acharya and never left his

company even for a while. Sri Nanjeeyar conducted discourse (kalakshepam) on

Tiruvaimozhi while at Srirangam and completed 100 times of the same. As this is

a rare phenomenon in the life of a man the disciple Nampillai celebrated it by

conducting Satabhishekam Festival with due pomp and glory.>>

 

All Srivaishnava sampradaya doctrines dwelt in the heart of Nampillai more than

the heart of his teacher. Thus he shone like a bright illuminating torch lighted

in a lamp and so he was able to guide all the Srivaishnavas in the proper

manner. Observing this, Sri Nanjeeyar thought that he had fulfilled his mission

in life.>>

 

Several Srivaishnavas admiring the great traits of Sri Nampillai were attracted

towards him as bees to the flowers and bats to the fruits and became his ardent

disciples. Among them 1. Peria Vaachchan Pillai, 2. Vadakku Tiruveedhi Pillai,

3. Pinbazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar 4.Eyunni Madhava Perumal etc. were the foremost.

>>

 

Among the four important disciples of Sri Nampillai, Pinbazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar

did not care for either his food or sleep. Served his Acharya, Sri Nampillai

without any lapse. At one time he became bedridden afflicted by a certain

disease. Consequently he summoned some of his close associates and requested

them as follows "Oh! My dear friends, I do not wish to die now. I would like to

live for some more time. Hence you please go to Sriranganatha's Temple and going

round in circumambulation recite the divine songs of Sri Kaliyan "Yezhai

yedalan" and that of swamy Nammazhwar's "Azhi yezha" etc and pray to Him for my

longevity of life." They did so and Sri Jeeyar's normal health was restored to

him by the grace of Lord.>>

 

On hearing this some Srivaishnavas went to Sri Nampillai, saluted him with

obedience and requested him to enlighten them in this regard. They said, "Oh!

Dear Master! Pinbhazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar is famous for his supreme knowledge

and he is also aged. Does this kind of seeking longevity of life suit his

swarupa? The mortal should always leave it to the sweet will and pleasure of the

Lord. Why this unusual behaviour of our Jeeyar?" Sri Nampillai answered this

query – "I do not know his mind. Sri Pillai Engal Azhwan understands the inner

meaning of all sastras without an iota of doubt. All of you please go to him and

get it clarified. >>

 

As per the order of the Acharya Srivaishnavas approached Pillai Engalazhwan and

beseeched him to explain the cause for the odd behaviour of Pinbazhagiya Jeeyar.

Engalazhwan came out with an explanation "It may be due to his strong attachment

for Sri Ranganatha and desire to live at Srirangam enjoying all festivals in the

company of Srivaishnavas.">>

 

Sri Nampillai, duly reported by the Srivaishnavas said, "Well! This is good. The

Araiyar Swamy gave an explanation that it may be due to non completion of the

service to Lord which the Jeeyar had commenced.>>

 

Sri Nampillai not being satisfied by this reasoning directed the Srivaishnavas

to search for an answer from Sri Ammangi Ammal. Sri Ammangi Ammal said "Can a

Srivaishnava attending the lectures on Bhagavadvishaya by Sri Nampillai evince

an interest in departing to Sri Vaikunta Loka?">>

 

Sri Nampillai listened to this also and commanded the Sri Vaishnavas to get a

clarification from Sri Ammangi Periya Mudaliar. Sri Ammangi swamy also came out

with his own explanation.>>

 

- - - - - - -to be continued>>

 

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