Ippasi Mulam - Ramanuja Keerti Mulam - 4

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mAsaru gnaaniyar sErethirAsartham vAzhvu muLaithhidu nAL

 

mAsaru gnaaniyar - blemishless, pious, knowledgeable disciples like

koorathalwan, mudaliandan, embar

sErethirAsar-ramanuja who is always sought after by such disciples

vAlvu mulaithhidu nAl-the day when Ramanuja's glory got propagated.

 

This phrase brings to light that it was Swamy Manavala Mamunigal who was

instrumental in the propagation of the glory of Ramanuja. After Swamy Ramanuja

reached Sri Vaikuntam in the year 1137 AD, due to passage of time, knowledge

levels deteriorated. Like the light of the sun hindered by clouds, the light of

Srivaishnavism, Visishtadvaitam and Acharya abhimanam were also masked by the

misinterpretors of the samskrita and dravida vedas. Swamy Manavala Mamunigal,

through his continuous outpour of discourses and his rahasya commentarieas

recharged and rejuvenated Srivaishnavas and ended the progress of veda baahyas

and kudrushtis.

 

Embracing sanyasaashrama, he was promptly glorified as yatipunaravataara

(reincarnation of Swamy Ramanuja). It is a known fact that both Swamy Ramanuja

and Swamy Manavala Mamunigal are the incarnations of Adisesha. Swamy Manavala

Mamunigal drove home the point that it was Swamy Ramanuja who grants moksham.

 

The second rahasya - the mantra ratnam - dvayam, is in two parts. The first

vaakya stands for absolute surrender to the Lotus feet of Sriman Narayana -

Sriman Narayana charanou sharanam prapadye.

The second vakya requests unhindered service to the Lotus Feet of the Divya

Dampathis. Swamy Manavala Mamunigal to bring out the concept of "acharya devo

bhava", wrote two prabandhams - yatiraja vimshati in sanskrit and arthi

prabandham in tamil.

 

Yatiraja Vimshati stands for absolute surrender to the Divine feet of Swamy

Ramanuja. Arti prabandham requests for service to the Golden feet of Swamy

Ramanuja. Thus, with these two prabandhams, Swamy Manavala Mamunigal rephrased

dvayam as -

"Srimad Ramanuja charanou sharanam prapadye Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:"

 

These two prabandhams stand as a testimony to the fact that Ramanuja Sampradayam

was recharged by Swamy Manavala Mamunigal and he was rightly praised Yatindra

Pravanar.

 

In his last verse of Upadesa Rattina Malai - "Inda upadesa ratthina malai

thannai sinthai thannil nalum sindippar yanda ethirasar innarulukkennumilakkaagi

satiraga vazhnthiduvar tham" - one who recites upadesa rattina malai would be

benefitted by the grace of Swamy Ramanuja. Swamy Manavala Mamunigal is so humble

and honest to guide every one of his devotees to Ramanuja's Lotus Feet.

 

So Ippasi MUlam is the root for the propogation of Ramanuja Darshanam, Ramanuja

Sampradaya. Let us hail Ippasi MUlam.

 

 

Swamy Manavala Mamunigal thiruvadigale SaraNam