Sri Nampillai's Life Sketch Part 4 By U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

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Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah:

 

Part (4) of Sri Nampillai's Life Sketch

 

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

 

This article is a direct translation - from Sri Guru Paramparai -

(translated by U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy into English)

 

Sri Parashara Bhattar said to Sri Namperumal when He granted him

Moksha, that he (Sri Bhattar) would go to sri vaikunta but if he did

not see the bright charming face with Kasturi Tilaka on the forehead

as that of Sri Namperumal he would cut asunder a corner of the sky

and would jump down to Srirangam. Perhaps our Jeeyar, remembering

Sri Parashara Bhattar's strong conviction, is not ready to go to

Paramapada where he is sure to miss the bright and charming face of

Sri Namperumal along with Kasturi Tilaka.

Sri Nampillai having heard all these explanations looked at the face

of Sri Pinbazhagaram Perumal Jeeyar and with a smiling face

questioned him – "Do you agree with all these explanations?" The

disciple humbly submitted to the teacher- "No not certainly all

these are not in my heart."

Sri Nampillai observed, " I know your heart". Sri Jeeyar on hearing

this submitted humbly – "oh! Revered Master! There is nothing that

is unknown to you as you are omniscient. However if you so desire

that I should give an explanation to my strange conduct, I will do

so at your behest". Permitted by the teacher, the pupil

continued. "Holy Swamin! Your revered self used to take your holy

bath every day according to the prescribed rites. After that your

good self used to wear very pure and immaculate clothes and then

wander about at your mansion. At that time beads of perspiration

used to appear on your very charming and illuminating face. I used

to go round your good self fanning you all that time. How I can

forego this rare service by going to the other world. Hence I

requested the Srivaishnavas to pray to Lord Almighty to elongate my

stay here in your company". Hearing this all Srivaishnavas exclaimed

with great astonishment. They remarked unanimously, "This body which

is made up of five elements is dead against all virtuous acts. Our

Jeeyar swamy has vanquished this enemy and is doing wonderful

service to our Acharya which is really the greatest wealth for a

disciple."

Note- this particular episode is recorded by Sri Swamy Manavala

Mamunigal in his "Upadesha Ratna Malai". Please read stanza no

66 "Pinbazhagaram Perumal Jeeyar" along with its super commentary by

Sri Pillai Lokam Jeeyar.

One day Sri Nampillai concluded his Bhagavad Vishaya Kalakshepam and

the assembly got dissolved. His earnest disciple, Sri Pinbazhagiya

Perumal Jeeyar requested him to clear this doubt.

"What is the Swarupa (Nature of the soul)? What is the best means of

salvation suited to the nature of the soul (Upaya)? What is the

fruit (Purushartha) that the soul is expected to derive from God,

suited to his Swarupa?" Thus being questioned Sri Pillai answered-

"Ichchai (the desire to serve God is the Swarupa of the soul),

Irakkam (the mercy of the Lord) is the sole means of salvation,

Inimai (the happiness that the Lord gets by the service of the sole

is the fruit) namely Purushartha.

Having heard this answer, Sri Jeeyar, the pupil said humbly. "The

answer is not acceptable to my mind". The teacher with a smile

said "If so you have some special definitions for these three

namely, Swarupa, upayaa Purushartha of the soul? If so please tell

me your different line of thinking". "My swarupa (Nature of soul) is

being servant of your devotees. The means of salvation (Upaya) is

their affection for me. By my service to them, if their lotus like

faces blossom, that done is the end or fruit that I achieve

(Purushartha)" – Sri Jeeyar submitted humbly. On listening to this,

Sri Pillai's joy knew no bounds.

Note- The Acharya's idea of Swarupa, Upaya and Purushartha are in

relation to Sriman Narayana whereas Sri Jeeyar's conception of the

three is in relation to his Acharya's devotees or disciples. The

first one is called "Prathama Parva Nishtai" initial stage or first

stage as regards these three. The latter one is called "Charama

Parva Nishtai" final stage.

Every day Sri Nampillai's kalakshepam or discourse was conducted at

Srirangam Temple. On a certain day the discourse was over and the

huge assembly got dispersed. The Chola king who was a Srivaishnava

happened to visit the temple at that time on that day. He beheld the

huge crowd of Srivaishnavas and exclaimed with great amusement- "Are

these Srivaishnavas returning after listening to Sri Nampillai's

Kalakshepam or after attending the great festival of Sri

Namperumal?" From this we understand that this kalakshepam attracted

a huge crowd even as Sri Namperumal's fascinating appearance

attracted the people.

Thus Sri Nampillai was happily spending his days at SriRangam with

great wealth of Srivaishnava attendance. There lived at SriRangam at

the same time Sri MudaliAndan's (nephew of Sri Ramanuja) grandson

and the son of Sri Kandadai Andan by name Sri Kandadai Tholappar.

Unfortunately he was seized by jealousy on seeing the popularity and

greatness of Sri Nampillai, which were at their Zenith. One day

near the Sanctum Sanctorum of SriRanganatha as Sri Tholappar was

worshipping Him, Sri Pillai also arrived on the scene accompanied by

a huge host of Sri Vaishnavas. Sri Tolappar could not brook this

sight of grandeur and became crimson in his face. Possessed by

anger, he scolded Sri Pillai by using very harsh and bitter words

that were at his command. Sri Pillai heard this with a trembling

frame. After worshipping the Lord, he retraced his steps towards his

home silently.

This news reached the ears of Tolappar's wife who was gifted with

more wisdom than her husband. She became extremely sorry for her

husband's misconduct. She got disgusted with her husband and ceased

to attend to her domestic chores. Sri Tolappar returned to his

mansion duly after worshipping the Lord. The wife did not accord as

usual a warm welcome to him and also did not do any service to him

as she used to do every day. Sri Tolappar, struck with wonder

addressed his wife; "From the marriage day onwards you used to

revere me as your Acharya. Today you have disregarded me. Why this

strange behavior?" She replied, "Sri Nampillai is supposed to be

the very incarnation of Swamy Nammazhwar by the entire SriVaishnava

world. Further he is the very life of SriNamperumal. You have abused

him in His very presence unhesitatingly using very bitter and cruel

words. After that you are not even stricken with remorse for your

misconduct. Still you hope to achieve salvation. Therefore I have no

truck with you. If you are disgusted with me, you can do whatever

you like with my body. Only that was handed over to you after being

reared up by my parents. I am well off with my soul as my Acharya

already accepts it. You know very well the verdict of Sri Varaha

Perumal as expressed to his consort Sri Bhumi Devi. "My devotee may

belong to the family of a Chandala (outcaste). However if people

abuse him, I will not spare them for any length of time."(Madbhaktam

….etc – Sri Varaha Purana). Even though you know very well this

dictum of the Lord, you pretend to not be aware of this. Hence I

have no association with you. It is humanly impossible to stitch the

earth that got divided into two parts by the earthquake. So also it

is impossible to control the ebbing sea by the construction of a

huge and high wall. Similarly the tall mountain breaks in the middle

and falls down, the consequent devastation is unbearable. Similar to

all these is the sin of the Bhaagavatha apachara and that too

without repentance after its commitment. You cannot wash it

(Bhagavatha Apachara) by having recourse to any expiatory act or

ceremony. Therefore please permit me to live the life according to

my own sweet will and pleasure. Sri Tolappar was also taken aback by

the advice of his wife for a while and pondered over the whole

incident as he was an erudite scholar and was the scion of an

illustrious family. The confusion that was the result of his

jealousy vanished. With a clear mind he approached his wife and

said, "all that you have said is quite correct. I have committed a

great blunder. What shall I do now?" The wife also feeling sad for

his condition observed, "If one has lost his property while bathing

in a river, he cannot search for the same in a pond. So it is

commonsense that he has to search for it in the river only. So also

you have to beg the pardon of Swamy Nampillai who is the very

receptacle of mercy and thereby safeguard your interest". Sri

Nampillai in the presence of Sri Ranganatha and that too in the

midst of huge congregation of Srivaishnavas. Now how can I approach

him to seek his pardon without fear or shame? You please accompany

me and request him on my behalf to pardon me". She also agreed to

this and both of them quickly started to go to Sri Nampillai's

mansion.

Meanwhile, Sri Nampillai went to his mansion after this ugly and

unfortunate event in the temple. After bidding farewell to all

SriVaishnavas who accompanied him to the temple, Sri Nampillai

fasted the whole day and stayed within his mansion. When the evening

came, he performed all the due rites (like Sandhya vandana etc) and

covering his body from head to foot with a single cloth came to Sri

Tolappar's mansion and slept on the verandah of Sri Tolappar's house.

Sri Tolappar and his wife lighted a lamp and come out of their house

with the intention of going to Sri Nampillai's mansion. On coming

out of the house they saw some white object lying on the pial. Sri

Tolappar asked, "who is there lying?" Sri Pillai replied, " I am

Thirukkalikanri Dasar" Sri Tolappar suspected him and observed, "Oh!

You have come here to create a scene thinking that you are a highly

reputed person and is it proper on the part of Sri Tolappar to

insult me in the august assemble of Sri Ranganatha." Sri Nampillai

with a trembling tone told him, "Swamin! Certainly it is not so, I

have not come here as you imagine me to be". Sri Tolappar

retorted, "Then why should you come here and sleep?" Sri Pillai

replied, "I am a great sinner. I am totally responsible for the

mental confusion of your revered self, the grandson of Sri

Mudaliyandan and that too in the presence of Sri Namperumal. (Whose

presence will quell all mental disorders) For such a worst sinner,

(myself) there is no other place to which I can resort except your

noble self's mansion.

Sri Tolappar who came out of his house with a firm resolve to

apologize to Sri Nampillai was astonished to see the pathetic

condition of Sri Nampillai. He was also moved very much by his words

of humility. With overflowing affection he lifted up Sri Nampillai

from the ground having embraced him tightly exclaimed, " so far I

was under the impression that you are an Acharya to some

SriVaishnavas at Sri Rangam. Only today I understood that you have

every qualification to be the Acharya of the entire world. So saying

he named him "LOKACHARYAR". He took him with great awe and respect

inside his mansion and along with his wife he entreated him in

manifold ways and thus made him highly pleased. He put several

questions to Sri Nampillai and cleared his doubts as regards

Sampradaya Rahasya Arthas. (Secret messages hidden in the doctrines

of Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya) and became a devoted disciple to him.

Sri Nanjeeyar, the revered Acharya was immensely pleased to see the

ascending glory of Sri Nampillai, his dearest disciple. The Acharya

completed 100 years. Then towards the close of his life he was

afflicted with a disease and was bedridden. One of his disciples by

name Kutti Kuri Ilaiazhwar came to him. He beseeched him, "May I now

request you Swamin to chant "Dwaya Mantra"? Sri Jeeyar who was also

known as Periya Jeeyar "Why do you recommend the chanting to me? Do

you not want it?" Is it (Dwayam) to be chanted only by a bedridden

man and not by a wandering soul?" The disciple on hearing this

became dumb founded and felt ashamed of himself. From this episode

we understand that "Dwaya Mantra" is to be chanted by all times

irrespective of their condition.

Sri Terkalzhwan Bhattar, a disciple of Sri Nanjeeyar happened to

hear this (i.e. the dialogue between Sri Nanjeeyar and Sri kuttikuri

Ilaiazhwar) he thought that there was some secret desire lingering

in the mind of Sri Nanjeeyar. He approached him and asked

respectfully what his longing was? Sri Jeeyar replied, "I have a

strong desire to behold Sri Namperumal's Archavatara body. This is

what I think that He can give me and it is equal to the wealth of

the entire world. Sri Terkalzhwar Bhattar carried this news to Sri

Tirumalai Thandha Perumal and he in turn reported this humbly to

Namperumal. Namperumal accordingly set out of his Sanctorum with due

pomp and grandeur and arrived in front of Sri Mutt of Sri Nanjeeyar.

And He having cast off his garments exhibited his very exhilarating

divine Archa Vigraha to Sri Nanjeeyar that was "Sarvasvam"(the

wealth of entire world) for him. Sri Jeeyar too enjoyed with great

exuberance of Joy. The Archa Tirumeni with his un winking eyes. Then

he turned round and looking at his disciples Sri Nampillai etc and

addressed them. "Namperumal has fulfilled my wish by displaying His

Archa Tirumeni to me which is the world wealth for me. Now I am

prepared to do Sarvaswatana to you all. (Here Sarvaswatana means

whatever knowledge I came to possess by the blessing of my learned

Acharya Sri Bhattar, is my wealth that is sarvaswam). Those who have

thirst for knowledge can quench their thirst by questioning me. Sri

Nampillai requested him, "Oh! Swamin! Tell me something which I

should ever remember as the sole refuge". Sri Jeeyar said, "Your

question is just like using thorns while decorating the body of a

bride at the time of marriage with jewels. I have not kept any

message handed down to me by our ancestors. I have already disclosed

every thing to you and thereby decorated your soul with the ornament

like Sampradaya doctrines. (Therefore your question is distressing

to me) However reiterate the following – Do not think that the Lord

is for the sake of the soul but think that the soul is for the sake

of the Lord.

But Sri Nampillai was not pleased by this exhortation and so kept

silent. The Guru understood the displeasure of his disciple from his

facial expression and silence and demanded his pupil to cough out

his expectation. Sri Pillai then posed this question, "What should

be the feeling and behavior of Srivaishnavas when they get separated

from the company a Srivaishnava by his departure to Sri Vaikunta

Loka from this mortal world?"

 

TO BE CONTINUED......