Srimath Vazhuthur Andavan Thirunakshatram today

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Sri: Srimathe Rangaramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha: Srimathe Vedhantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

Thirunakshatram: Aavani PoorattAdhi

Thanian: GOpaala dEsika pathaabhja madhuvrathasya Pragnyaa virakhthi karuNaa muKHa sath guNaabhDHe: VEdaantha lakshmana munE sritha BHaagha DHEyam Paadhaara vindha yugaLam sharanam prapadhyE

Today (Aug 31st 2004) is the thirunakshatram of Srimath Vazhuthur Andavan Sri Vedhantha Ramanuja Mahadesikan who adorned Acharya peetam as the first Andavan in the Munithraya Sampradayam Aacharya Lineage.

Sri Vazhuthur Swamy was born in the year Rudrokkari (1743-1744) Avani madham Poorattadhi nakshathram in Naithruva Kasyapa Gothram to Srimathi and Sri Srinivasa Raghavachariar at Vazhuthur, a small hamlet near Tanjavoor in Tamilnadu. Vazhuthur swamy was initiated into thureeyasramam (Sanyasam) by Sri Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Swami who was a satheerthar and a sishya to the famous Sakshadh swamy. Sri Saakshath Swamu was also the acharya for Thirukkduanthai Desikan Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan. Vazhuthur swamy, after taking sanyasam, was known to be called by the name Sri Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha Desikan. Sri Vazhuthur Swamy had a dream in which Lord Aravamudhan appeared and told him that after entering into sanyasa ashramam, he must join as a sishya to Sri Gopalara Mahadesikan, also known as Thirukkudanthai Desikan. Two other yatheeswaras namely Vathirayiruppu Srinivasa MahaDEsikan (An amsam of Nathamuni) and Cheeyalam Ranganatha

Maha Desikan (An amsam of Yamuna muni) who were contemporaries of Vazhuthur swamy (an amsam of Ramanuja Muni) had also similar dreams in which they were ordered by Lord Aravamudhan that they should become sihsyas of Gopalarya mahadesikan to spread Sri Vaishnava sathsampradhayam. Accordingly all 3 Yatheeswaras after doing mangalasasanam to the Thirukkudanthai Amudhan, expressing their dreams to each other, approached the holy feet of Gopalarya Mahadesikan and became sishyas of Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan and learnt Grantha chathushtyam and other sath sampradhaya granthas. They had their Bharasamarpanam performed by Sri Gopalarya maha Desikan through acharya nishtai at the holy feet of Lord Amudhan at Thirukkudanthai. Later they were instructed by the Acharya to do sampradhaya Pravachanams to their disciples from their respective places. Many bhagavathas becames sishyas of Srimath Vazhuthur Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha Desikan during these pravachanams. It

is told that Sri Gopalarya Maha Desikan blessed Vazhuthur swamy that "Neeray num sampradhaayathai Aala vandha Andavan" meaning " you alone are going to guard, rule and spread our sampradhaayam". From that day he was known to be called as Vazhuthur Andavan and sampradhaayam was called as Srimath Aandavan Asramam Sampradhaayam. Vazhuthur swamy was living in Srirangam in a small hut teaching kaalakshepa granthams to devoted and deserving sishyas. From Him sampradhaayam spreaded into many branches. Prominent among them are as follows:

 

Srinivasa Ramanuja Maha Desikan - Thiruthuraipoondi Andavan also known as Vilakkudi andavan (Andavan asramam)

Annarya Maha Desikan - also known as Navalpakkam Swamy who was in gruhasthasramam spreading sampradhayam at Thirukkudanthai, Thiruvaheendapuram and Navalpakkam.

Vangipuram Vedhantha Ramanuja Maha desikan (Aandikadu Swamy in Srirangam)

Through these 3 acharyas who were sishyas of Srimath Vazhuthur Andavan, the sampradhaayam has spread to a very great extent like a big banyan tree.

The history of Vazhuthur Andavan is based on earlier publications of Srirangam Srimath Andavan PeriAsramam and Asram Devotees and as well as from the publication of Srimad Poundarikapuram Aashram .

Vazhuthur swamy after taking Sanyasam from Paduka Sevaka Ramanuja Maha Desikan, approached Thirukkudanthai Desikan as ordained by the Almighty in dream . At the time of prostrating before Thirukudanthai Desikan swamy, Vazhuthur swamy recited Pasurams from Nammazhvars Thiruvoimozhi 5-8-10 . ie

Vara Varuvaay varumen maayaa maayaa moorthyaai

Aravamudhaai adiyen Aavi agamey thithippaai

Theera vinaigal theera ennai Aandaai thirukudanthai Oora!

Unakkaatpattum adiyen innam uzhalveno?

( Free translation: Aandaai refers to the yeenai aala vandha andavare) ("Thirukkudanthai oora- here , refers to Thirukkudanthai Desikan Unakkaatpattum Adiyen innam uzhalveno?- Will I ever suffer , even after becoming your disciple?)

Hearing this ,Thirukkudanthai Andavan blessed him " neeray pradhana pravachakar , num sampradhyathai bhashyakarar pol pravachanathinal Vishesha Abhiviruthy pannum " It is to be noted that srimad vazhuthur swamy was a sanyasin at that time and sri gopalarya Mahadesikan was a grahastha. With this conferment on vazhuthur swamy by Thirukudanthai Desikan, this sampradhyam is known to be called as Aandavan Sampradhaayam and yatheeswarars of this sampradayams are known as Andavan.

In this connection the following references enunciate the events.

Ref No 1. Page No 33- Munithraya Sidhanthamum Adhan Sthaapanaachaarya Charithramum by V. Srinivasa Dasan published in 1952-

Ref No 2. Page No 20. Srimad Andavan Asrama Varalaru - published in 1967

Ref No 3 Page No 50-Munithraya Sampradhayaa Guru Parambaraa Praabhavaha- in - 300th birth anniversary of Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan Souvenir- Published by Srirangam Srimad Aandavan Ashram -Nov.2000

Ref no 4 Page No 85 -300th birth anniversary of Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan Souvenir- Published by Srimad Aandavan Poundarikapuram Ashram- Oct 2000 dasan,

dasan

Venkat Sreenivasan

Srimath Andavan Thiruvadi