A glimpse on Uttara and Poorva Dinacharya - Part 1 by Srinidhi Swamin

[Guest guest]

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah

 

Uttara Poorva Dinacharya by Sri T.A. Srinidhi - Kanchipuram

 

When a new topic is started as a series of lectures, it is customary to give a

brief introduction to the work (avatArikai) , the subject of the work and the

author of the work. In the first lecture on this series, Sri. Srinidhi Swamin

covered all these points beautifully and to the point. Uttara and Poorva

dinacharya are the works of Erumbiappa about Swami Manavala Mamunigal describing

his daily routine. Following is a humble attempt to cover some of the salient

points covered by Srinidhi Swamin for the benefit of those who were not

fortunate enough to listen that day:

 

· Aipassi (solar Aishwaija) month is even more special than margazi which Kannan

refers to in Bhagavad Gita as “mAsAnAm margashIshoham”. It brought us the birth

of three Mudal alwars, and five Acharyas namely Swamy Lokachariar, Maamunigal,

Visvaksenar, Tirukuruhaipiran, and Koorakulottamar dasar. This makes a total of

8 signifying each akshara of tirumantram.

.. To redeem us of this samsaric cycle, He gave us the karaNa kalEbara(body

and the senses that go with it) and shAstrAs out of immense grace towards us.

ShastrAs, as the name itself indicates (shAsanAth shAstram), prescribe the do's

and don'ts of how one should conduct onself in life. But we, the samsArIs,

ignored that because we were enamored due to vishaya chApalya(attachment to

mundane things).

· Although He is surrounded by Nityasuris and Muktaatmas in Paramapadam.

just like a father with many sons, who thinks about the son who lives far away

during festivities, Emberuman always thinks about us (recall "deshAntara

gatanAna putran pakkalile pitruhrudayam kidakkummAppOlE"- SVB)· Like a parent

jumping into a well to rescue the fallen child, Emberuman comes down to this

earth to help us out. The conversation between the Jeevan and Namperumal can be

recalled here as depicted by Swami Parashara Bhattar(Twam mE ham mE..). All

avatars of Bhagawan are absolutely real and as Swami NammAlwar and others say,

His avatAra itself is a result of His Sowsheelyam. KoorathAlwan does

mangalAshasanam for this sowsheelya gunam.

· When He takes avataras, He adopts himself to the caste/race He is born into.

For example, in VarAhAvatAra, He made the pigs comfortable with one of their

kind around them and in rAmAvatAra Sri Rama was so very human (recall “na devO

na yakshO....”). Piratti also follows Him in every avatAra.

· After Krishnaavataram, He closed the Paramapadam door as He was sad that

nobody went along with Him to Paramapadam. He felt that He had failed, and

decided to shower His kripa further on the JeevAthmas and thus came the Alwars.

Just like a thorn needs to be removed using a sharp object, He thought of using

other souls to uplift us.

· Why did He choose only a few people to be alwars? Why not one of us? Both Sri

Alagia Manavala Perumal Nayanaar and Swamy Sri Vedantachariar give examples.

When the king gives a garland to an elephant and announces that who ever the

elephant garlands becomes the leader, the elephant has complete

freedom/swatantryam to garland anyone. Another example quoted is that of a king

who has many wives but chooses one among them as his most beloved. Just as the

elephant and the king cannot be questioned, one cannot question Emberuman.

· Ever since nammAlwAr came and went back, paramapadam doors were re-opened

because along with NammAlwar others will follow. That is the significance of

VaikunTa Ekadashi, the day NammAlwAr attained paramapadam.

· Acharyas came to explain the works of AlwArs. Among the achAryas Swami

EmberumAnAr is like the madhya maNi (central jewel) also referred to as naDu

nAyakan. Acharyas were of two kinds.

· Anivrutti Prasannaacharyas: Acharya who makes sure of the genuine interest

possessed by the sishya before giving the rahasyas (Ex: Tirukkottiyoor Nambi).

· Kripaamaatra Prasannaacharya : Acharya with his kripa transforms the person

and gives him the knowledge. Examples are Emberumanar, Lokachariar, Maamunigal.

· Perumal ordered Adi sEsha to be on this earth for 200 years as Ramanuja. But

Swamy returned to paramapadam after 120 tirunakshatrams (years). EmberumAn sent

him back as ManavALa MamunigaL for the remaining 80 years.

· Maamunigal was born at Alwar Tirunagari in Saadhaarana year, aipassi month,

tiru-moola nakshtram, Thursday, Sukla paksham (4th day). Three mahApurushAs were

born in Alwar tirunagari – nammalwar, EmberumAnAr (as Bhavishyad Acharyan), and

Manvala MamunigaL. If MamunigaL’s avatara had not taken place, we would have

had no vyaakyanams on the works of alwars and acharyas.

· In Satya yuga He came as a Brahmin (Dattatreya, Parasurama)

· In Treta Yuga He came as a kshatriya (sri Rama)

· In Dwaapara Yuga He came as a Vaishya (Sri Krishna)

· In Kali Yuga He came as a shudra (Nammalwar)

· Aaye Jananaacharya questions Maamunigal whether he was Perumbudoor Muni, or

Nammalwar or Kannan Himself...

· As described in YatIndra PravaNa Prabhavam, Maamunigal had 8 sishyas –

ashtadiggajas - to carry the torch and spread the sampradAyam. Of which three

are sanyasis (Vanamamalai, Tiruvengada , Battar Piran Jeeyars) and five

grihastas (Koil annan, Erumbiappa, Apillar, Appullar, Prativaadi Bhayankara

Annan)

· Dinacharya is the grand work by Erumbiappa (dEvarAjaguru) explaining the daily

routine of Maamunigal who is the giver of divya gyaana. Just like the

self-luminating gem is covered by dust, so is this atma. When the layer of

dust is removed the gem sparkles, this is the divya gyaana.

· After several janmas of Surya bhakti leading to Shiva bhakthi and several such

janmas of Shiva bhakti, one is gifted with a srivaishnava janma.

· The main causes for one to become a srivaishnava are: Iswara kripai, punyam ,

advEsham, satvika guna, Bhaagawata abhimanam/shEshatwam, anukoola to Emberuman.

This results in acharya praapti.

· Erumbiappa went to Srirangam and returned to Erumbi after sevai of Periya

Perumal and listening to Maamunigal's discourse. At that time, he did not care

to become a desciple of MaamunigaL.

· Next day as he prepared for the morning tiruvaradhanai, the kovil alwar ( the

container for sAligrama and vigrahams) did not open. So he could not do

aradhanai that day and felt very dejected. In his dream Emberuman appeared and

instructed him to go back and surrender to Maamunigal. Feeling guilty about the

apachaaram committed, He returned to Srirangam, and as he walked in to the

ashram he saw Maamunigal (the dazzling tirumeni) coming towards him.

 

Sloka 1

Similar to EmberumAnAr's mangala shlOkam in the beginning of SribhAshyam,

Erumbiappa starts with a managala shlokam (angE kavEra..)

 

· Sukhaaseenam: Prior to Maamunigal’s time, historically there were too many

troubles in Srirangam for sampradayam, Hence the author uses the word

sukhaaseenam. Srirangam is like a root which is the most important part of a

tree. Emberuman appeared on AlaththeElai, dEvaki jaTaram, Piratti tirumarbu,

nammAlwar vakku and then in Ranga Griham. It is said that the PerumALs from all

other divya dEsam come to Srirangam after shayanotsava. (recall

paLLikoLLumiDaththu aDikkotiDa...). TondaradippoDi AlwAr says achchuve

perinumvEnDEn...

.. Swami Tirumalai AnDAn questions whether EmberumAn has 4 bhujam or 2 bhujam (in

Paramapadam?) and then reflects that if He has two it would be like Periya

PerumAL and if He has four it will be namPerumAL

· All three main acharayas appeared at Alwar Tirunagari: Nammalwar, Swamy

Emberumanar as Bhavishyad acharaya given to Madhurakavi Alwar, and Maamunigal.

· Bhattar tells Namperumal and his shishyas that after reaching Paramapadam if

he did not witness Namperumal utsavams there, he would dig a hole and come right

back to Srirangam. This is the speciality of Srirangam -the roots of

sampradayam. Hence he does mangalasasanmas to Srirangam in the opening sloka.

.. PrativAdi Bhayankara Annan says in ShrishailEshadayApAtra stOtram that if he

does not find MaamunigAL doing kAlakshEpam in paramapadam, he would come back.

He did not come back ...so it means maamunigaL continues to do kAlakshEpam

there!

 

Sloka 2-13 cover tirumEni soundaryam (enchanting form )of MaamunigaL.

 

 

We humbly request you all not to miss this devotional nectar...

 

Vedics Team

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--------------------------

 

Sri Manavaal Maamunigal Vaibhavam - Uttara and Poorva Dinacharya

Time: 5 Consecutive Saturdays - starting October 16, 8:00 PM CST.

Bridge# : 1-702-835-5000 code : 91544#

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheela V.Belur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Sri Parthasarathi thunai

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

Srimad Vara Vara MunayE Namaha

Sri Vanachala maha munayE Namaha

 

Dear Sheela mami,

 

Thanks a lot for your great service. Through this writeup all of us who miss

that excellent opportunity to listen to the wonderful upanyasam series delivered

by a great scholar that too about our dear mAmunikal at this very time,

(mAmunikal thirunakshatram fast approaching) based on the divine work of Sri

erumbiappa the satshisya of mAmunikal, taste the nectar to an extent. Though we

have been blessed to be in a divya desam and have the opportunity to listen and

enjoy lot of bhagavat vishyam and sevai still we miss the bhAgavata satsangam

and telebridge upanyasams very much. Thanks once again.

 

Here is the link to the photos of :

 

1. Srinidhi svami: http://www.pbase.com/svami/image/35487871

2. Poigai Azhvar: http://www.pbase.com/svami/image/35488029

3. Pillailokachariar: http://www.pbase.com/image/35488049

4. Ponnadikkal jeer: http://www.pbase.com/image/35488105

5. Mannathan: http://www.pbase.com/image/35488174

 

The first link shows Sri Akkarakani srinidhi swamy who does a excellent service

to our Srivaishnava community at this very young age. Swamy in his upanyasams

has talked about what all emperuman does to uplift jeevatmas. Emperuman due to

his nirheduka krupai keeps on gifting us with great Srivaishnavas/acharyas like

swami who are filled with jnana and bhakthi who are capable of lifting all

innocent souls to high levels. To whom should we do mangalasasanams to the

golden ornaments (Srivaishnava acharyas/scholars) or the emperuman who gifted

such priceless gems to us?

 

Quote

 

// Aipassi (solar Aishwaija) month is even more special than margazi which

Kannan refers to in Bhagavad Gita as "mAsAnAm margashIshoham". It brought us

the birth of three Mudal alwars, and five Acharyas namely Swamy Lokachariar,

Maamunigal, Visvaksenar, Tirukuruhaipiran, and Koorakulottamar dasar. This

makes a total of 8 signifying each akshara of tirumantram.//

 

The photos of Poigai Azhvar, peyAzhvar and Pillai loka charya of thiruvallikeni

and peyazhvar of mylapore (madhavan and kesavan sannadhis) take during their

thiruavatara thirunal have been uploaded in the site.

 

Quote

 

//· As described in YatIndra PravaNa Prabhavam, Maamunigal had 8 sishyas -

ashtadiggajas - to carry the torch and spread the sampradAyam. Of which three

are sanyasis (Vanamamalai, Tiruvengada , Battar Piran Jeeyars) and five

grihastas (Koil annan, Erumbiappa, Apillar, Appullar, Prativaadi Bhayankara

Annan)//

 

The first and foremost disciple of Swami manavala mAmunikal, who undertook

sanyAsam even before his acharya due to his utmost acharya bhakthi, Sri

ponnadikkAl jeeyer swamy, the first pontiff of Sri Vanamamalai mutt (onnAna

swamy), one among the ashtadiggajas was born on the auspicious day of kanyA

punarvasu. Photos of swamy during his thirunakshatra mahotsavam in

thiruvallikeni vanamamalai mutt this year (2004) has been uploaded in the site.

The link to one of the photos is given above.

 

Quote

 

// Bhattar tells Namperumal and his shishyas that after reaching Paramapadam if

he did not witness Namperumal utsavams there, he would dig a hole and come right

back to Srirangam. This is the speciality of Srirangam -the roots of

sampradayam. Hence he does mangalasasanmas to Srirangam in the opening sloka.//

 

Namperumal, Sri ranganatha, Azhagiya manavalan was attracted by the divine

beauty of bruhu putri, Sri Vedavalli thayar and hence he came running to

thiruvallikeni, BrindAranya kshetram and married Vedavalli thayar. Thayar

accepted emperuman as "mannAthan" and thus with the same name emperuman resides

in thiruvallikeni giving divine darshan even today. During the navarathri,

special utsavam is celebrated for Sri Vedavalli thayar with special archanai and

purappadu. Each evening thayar undergoes purappadu (inside the temple premises

only, thayar-padithAndA paththini) amidst the divine Siriya thirumadal ghosti

piercing through the sky. When the ghosti (to see so many small small kids

chanting the prabhandam with great enthusiasm "Ayiram kan pOrAdhu pArkka, Ayiram

sevi pOrAdhu kEtka") finishes the prabhandam "seerAr thiruvEnkatamE!

thirukkOvaloorE!......" it is for sure that all the divya desa perumals will

here the sound of this ghosti and run to thiruvallikeni. The highlight is

"ArAmam soozhindha arangam" that is recited two times and sure Sriranganatha

cannot lie there in Srirangam on hearing this. Nine days thayar alone undergoes

purappadu but on the last day (maha navami) mannathan comes out in thiruveedhi

purappadu and when he returns back thayar joins him and then undergoes purappadu

inside the temple premises amidst the madal ghosti. On this grand day the

divine dampathis, bless all the devotees with 'vettrilai pAkku'. This year this

day happened to be the thirunakshatra dinam of poigai azhvar, the first among

the mudal azhvars. So Poigai azhvar underwent thiruveedhi purappadu along with

mannathan (usually Sattrumarai purappadu for all azhvar, acharyas is only with

parthasarathi except for such special occasions). The link to the photo of

mannathan taken during that purappadu is also given above.

 

Hope all of you will enjoy viewing the photos. Just wanted to share our joy

with you all.

 

Azhvar emperumAnAr Jeeyer thiruvadigalE sharaNam

Adiyen ramanuja dAsan/dAsee

Varadarajan/Sumithra