Kripamatra Prassanacharyar -Ramanujar

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The Greatness of PERUMBHUDHUR MAMUNIVAN -Vyasam 1

 

AVATARA PERUMAI

 

Let us now have a small dip in the ocean of the greatness of Swami

Ramanujar born in the star Tiruvadhirai in the month of chitirai

 

"Alvarkal thangal avatharitha nalkalinum

vazhvana nal namakku Mannulakeer

Ezhparum uyya Yathirasar udhitarulum citiraiyil

Seiya thiruvadhirai" (Upadesa RathnaMalai of Sri ManavalaMamunigal)

 

Thus by remembering the verses of Sri Mananvalamamunigal let us

think about the greatness of the Chitirai Thiruvadhirai. Swami

Mamunigal in his Aarthi Prabandham has written the greatness of

this day ( Chitirai Thiruvadhirai)

 

"Sankara Bakkara yadavabhatta prabakarar thangal madam

Saivuravadhiyar maikuvarendru sathumarai vazhinthidu nal

Venkali ingini veerunamakkillai endru mikathalar nal

Medhini nanjumai yarumena thuyar vittu vilangiya nal

Mangayarali Parankusa munnavar vazhvu mulaithidu nal

Manniya thennarangapuri mamalai matrum uvandhidu nal

Senkayalvavikal cul vayalnallumchirandha Perumbhudur

Seeman Illayai Azhvar Vandhuaruliya Nal Thiruvadhirai nalle

 

Before the birth of Emperumanar , the preceptors of other schools of

religion started interepreting the meanings of Vedas in their own

way, by regarding some of the vedic verses as un important , and in

certain cases to establish their thoughts they tried to preceed some

verses on the other. Thus all the vedic verses were not considered

at par while giving meaning to it. The Vedas were themselves

worried for their poor condition. However after the birth of Swami

Emberumanar their was an end to the sufferings of the Vedas . All

the verses of Vedas and vedantha were regarded as important and its

exact meaning was brought to light only by Swami Emberumanar. The

Vedas regained its greatness after the birth of Swami Ramanujar,.

 

The feelings of Vedas after the birth of Sri Ramanujar is described

by Thiruvarangathamudanar in his Ramanuja nootrandhadhi

as "Narananai kattia vedam kalliputtrathu"

 

The Kali Purushan (Evil doers) dominating the country was

frightened to hear the birth of Sri Ramanuja, and it appeared as

though the words of our Purvacharyas are becoming true "Kalium

kedunkandu konmin" This Kali purushan could forsee his end because

of the birth of Swami Ramanuja. The same idea is conveyed by

Amudhanar by following verse " Iranthathu Venkali"

 

The Bhuma devi bears the entire earth, and for which she is known

as "Sarvam Saha", When the Kali Purshan (Evil doers) were ruling

the country ,she could not bear the sinners and thus appeared very

weak. Soon after the birth of Swami Ramanujar she regained her

strength realizing that she need not suffer any more as When Swami

Ramanujar is in this earth their will be no bad people and everyone

shall become Sadhu (Good) This is conveyed by Tiruvarangathamudanar

by the following verse "Palkalayor tham vandha Iramanusan"

 

The efforts of our Alvars and Acharyas in expressing the

relationship that existed between the Jiva and Paramathma went

unrealized . It was Swami Ramanujar who re-established the

Visistadvaita philosophy and brought into light the works of all the

preceptors . These Perceptors cherished the birth of Swami

Ramanujar for giving a value to their efforts.

Amudanar has conveyed this by the following verse " Then Kurukai

vallal vattamila vantamilmarai vazhnthathu"

 

The Supreme Lord , has five forms they are Para ,vyuha

Vibava,antharyami and Archai.

The Para form where –in Lord resides in his Supreme abode

(Paramapadamam and enjoys the Kainkaryam of the nithyas & Muktas) ,

Then vyuha form - he lies in the serpent bed in the ocean of milk

(Thiruparkadal) where in he can hear the voices of his vassals.

The Vibava form – Supreme Lord took many Avatarams to protect his

vassals from the Asuras like Ravana,kamsa etc.,

 

]Then the Antharyami ,his omnipresence is revealed , he resides in

every jiva.

 

Finally the Archa form, where in he appears in the form desired by

his vassals . This Archa is one which is easily adored by all the

devotees and is not restricted by time ,place unlike the previous

forms of Lord. "Pinnar vanngum jothiyai amainthathu"

The Places where Emperuman appears in the Archa form is called as

Divya Desams ,but due to wordly cause their needed a reform even in

these Divya Desams, It was Swami Ramanujar who reformed all these

Divya Desams. The Archa Emperuman also cherished the birth of

Swami Ramanujar ,as the Kainkaryam in these Divya Desams were re

established.

"Sarva desha Dashakaleshu avyahatha parakrama ,Ramanujarya

Divyagnya Varthatham Abhivarthatham .Ramanujarya Divyagnya

prathivasarmujvala ,Digantha vyapini Bhuyath Sahilokahitaishini" ,

these verses are chanted by all the Sri Vaishnavas throughout , in

recognition of the reforms made in the Divya Desam . The Emperuman

in Archai cherishes the Chitirai Thirunal (Emperumanar's Avatara

nal)

 

Thus for the contentments of the Vedas , the end of the diplomatic

rule of evils(Kalipurusha) ; for the happiness of the mother earth ,

for the brightness of the preceptors and the joy of Emperuman

himself : Swami Ramanujar decended to this earth on this Chitirai

Thiruvadhirai.

 

It is said by our Purvacharyas that Swami Ramanujar is the

incarnation of the Adhiseshan and as well the five weapons of

Emperuman, and as well regarded as the incarnation of

the "Vishvaksenar" (Chief soldier of Emperuman).

 

In the Ramanjua Nutrandadhi Thiruvarangathamudanar by the verses "

Adayar Kamalathalarmagal kelvan kaiazhi ennum padai odu nandagamum

padar thandum On sarnga villum pudayar purisangamum Indha Bhuthalam

kappadark endridaye Ramanusa Muni ayina vinnilathe" Conveys that

Swami Ramanujar is the incarnation of the five weapons of Emperuman

 

The same idea is also conveyed in the Yathiraja Sapthathi of Swami

Desikar where in Swami Ramanujar is described as incarnation of the

five weapons of Emperuman and in yet another verse he is also

described as incarnation of Vishvaksenar.

The Verses are " Prathyan Vimadeshudeekshan Pavam Prapursmath

Parirakshane Yathindraha Apruthak Prathipann yanamayadvaihi

vavruthe Panchaprayuthair Murarehe" and by the verse " Visvam

thrathum Vishayaniyatham vyanjithanugrahasan vishvakseno

yathipathirbhuth vedrasaras thridandaha."

 

Swami Emperumanar is described as the incarnation of the

Adhisesha , this is expressed by Garuda Vahan pandithar. Garuda

Vahana Pandithar is an ardent devotee of Swami Ramanujar , by the

unconditional grace of Swami , this devotee of him,composed a Kavyam

on the life of Swami Ramanujar, and in his kavyam in the 17th

sargam he has conveyed the greatness of Emperumanar and has stated

that Swami Ramanujar is incarnation of Adhisesham. Yet another

disciple of Emperumanar by name Vaduga nambi in his work "yathiraja

Vaibava Grantham" describes Ramanujar as incarnation of Adhisesham

The verses reads "VEDANTHA SIDDANTHA SAMARTHADANAY BAHYANTHRAPRANTHA

MTHANUPATHYAI SESHAMSAKAH : KESHVAYAGVA DEVYAM TEJONITHI KACHI

DIHAVIRASITHAHA"

 

In the commentary to the 80th pasuram of Ramanuja Nuttrandhadhi -

"Nallar Paravum Ramanusan" it is illustrated with the

verses "Anantha Prathamam Rupam, Lakshmanasthu thadah param,

Baladras thrithiyasthu Kalou Ramanujas samrudha"

 

On seeing the greatness of this great Acharya we may even have a

presumption that he is the incarnation of all the nithyas and

mukthas put together.

 

In our Srivaishnava Sampradayam it is believed that it is only by

having an association with Swami Ramanujar all our preceptors

attained the eternal bliss, The Acaryas who were born before

Emperumanar had the association with the Swami's thirumudi ,and

those who were born after Ramanujar attained the eternal bliss by

holding his pair of feet. (Thiruvadi Sambandham).

 

The Divya Mangala Vigraham of Swami Ramanujar was so appealing

that it was like a nector to his vassals. His beautiful

appearance is described by the following verse

 

"KASHAYA SOPI KAMANEEYA SIKANIVESAM DHANDHRAYOJVALKARAM

VIMALOPAVEETHAM UDDHYATHINESIPAMULLASAURDVAPUNDRAM

ROOPAM TAVASTHU YATHIRAJA DRSHO MAMAGRE"

 

Embar (Govinda Bhattar ) describes the beauty of the Divya

Mangala Vigraha and states that Since Emperumanar's Divya Mangala

Vigraha fills his heart there is none to defeat him:

 

"PARPAMENA THIGAZH PAINKAZHAL UNDAN PALLAVAME VIRALUM

PAVANAMAKIYA PAINTHUVARADAI PADINTHA MARUNGAZHAKUM

MUPPURI NOOLODU MUNKAIYIL ENDHIYA MUKKOL THAN AZHAGUM

MUNNAVAR THANDHIDU MOZHIKAL NIRAINTHIDU MURUVALNILAVAZHAKUM

KARPAGAME VIZHI KARUNAI POZHINTHIDUM KAMALKANN AZHAGUM

KARI SUDHAN KAZHAL SOODIYAMUDIYUM KANANARCHIGAI MUDIUM

EPPOZHUDUM ETHIRASAN VADIVAZHAKU EN IDAYATHULATHAL

ILLAI ENAKEDHIR ILLAI ENAKEDHIR ILLAI ENAKEDHIRE"

 

Emperumanar Thiruvadigale sharanam

 

Translation of PBA Swami's Emperumanar Perumai –Vyasam 1

 

 

Adiyen Srivaishnava Dasi

 

Vasumathi Sampath kumar