Bhagavad Ramanuja Vaibhavam- 1.25- Our Kula pathi - Swami Nammazhwaar - Prapanna jana santhAna kooTasThar

[Guest guest]

SRI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

Dearest all,

 

In Kali yugam, Swamy NammAzhwAr became the first of the AchAryAs in Kali to

maintain the UpadEsa paramaparai on VedAntha sAsthrams. Madhura Kavi took refuge

at the sacred feet of Swamy NammAzhwAr and became blessed. Madhura Kavi lived in

the final days of DhvApara Yugam, when Lord was still on this earth in His

Vibhavaa form as KrishNan/GeethAcAryan. Madhura Kavi was convinced that the

UpadEsam through an AchAryan was preferable to upadEsam from the Lord Himself

and therefore chose Swamy NammAzhwAr as His AchAryan.

 

Madhura Kavi waited hence from the final days of DhvApara Yugam to the

beginning days of Kali Yugam. Swamy NammAzhwAr incarnated during the

first two months of Kali Yugam and Madhura Kavi –after suitable testing--

recognized the supremacy of Swamy NammAzhwAr as His AchAryan and

performed SaraNAgathi at His Thiruvadi. Madhura kavi convincingly declared

that there is no God for him other than His AchAryan as the redeemer (thEvu

MaRRaRiyEn).

 

Sri Satakopar (NammazhwAr), an incarnation of Sri Vishvaksena (who is a Nitya

Soori, commander-in-chief of Vishnu's divine army), is attributed with four

divine works called Divya Prabandams in Tamil namely " Tiru Vaai Mozhi, Tiru

Virutham, Tiru Aasiriyam and Periya Tiru Andaadi " . These four works are purport

of four Vedas.

 

He is the head of our Sri vaishnava Sampradaya and that is why he is called " Sri

Vaishnava Kula Pati " . He is in the lotus feet of the Lord

Sriman Naaraayana. Only by his divine mercy, we can get the correct

knowledge regarding liberation so that we can adopt Prapatthi. He is

therefore called as " Saranaagatha Santhana Jana Kootasta " - The head

of all Prapannas. He is called Vakulaabharana because he used the

Vakula (Magizam Poo) flower garland.

 

During the birth time, a Vayu named " Satam " makes the child to forget

his iGnayaanam. As NammazhwAr is a divine incarnation, he made a roar

" Humkaaram " with anger and made the Sata-Vayu not to come near him.

Therefore he was born with divine knowledge and also the Lord blessed

him with the ultimate knowledge. He is therefore called " Satakopa,

Satari, Satavairi, Satajit etc. " .

 

Only Sri Madhurakavi Alwar can tell Sri Satakopa's greatness as

it is infinite. " Kanninun Chiru Tambu " prabandam talks about that.

Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja Yatiraja had the highest regards and respect

for Sri Satakopa Namalvar and used his Divya Prabandams to comment

on Brahma Sutra. He made his disciple Tiru Kurugai Piran Pillan to

write commentry on Tiru Vai Mozhi which is called Bhagavat Vishayam's

Tiru Aaraayira Padi.

 

Srimad Vedanta Maha Desikar and Srimad Manavaala Ma Munigal

have written extraordinary articles/works on Alwar's divya prabandams.

He is considered to be the foremost among the Alwars and foremost among the

Acharyas as well. His works brim with devotion, love, poetic excellence and

literary flavor that hold in its grip the attention of anyone who cares to read.

They explain the essence of Vaishnavism, Tattva trayam, Artha panchakam etc and

is deservedly called the 'Tamil Veda'. In fact, he is known as " Vedam Tamizh

Seitha Maaran " The four works of Nammalwar written down by Madhurakavi are

considered to be the essence of the four Vedas.

 

(i) Tiru viruttham in a special style in Tamil called Viruttam in 100 verses is

the essence of RigVeda.

 

(ii) Tiruv aasiriyam in 7 verses is the essence of Yajur veda

 

(iii) Periya Tiruv antadhi in Antadhi style of 87 verses is the essence of

Atharva Veda and

 

(iv) Tiru voi mozhi in 1002 verses is the essence of Sama Veda .

 

The sentiments expressed in every single verse of his works would kindle an

insatiable interest and transport one to an enrapturing state of Bhakti ecstasy.

It is very difficult to select one verse in preference to another for

appreciating the poetic excellence or the emotional content of his works. It is

more because of our own limitations, space and time restrictions that we have to

restrict ourselves to just a few of his expressions. But, even one among the

many of his incomparable verses can bestow on the reader an unprecedented

delectable experience.

 

Swamy Desikan pays tribute to our Prapanna Jana SanthAna Kootasthar ,

Swamy SatakOpa NammAzhwAr:

 

munnuraittha thiuviruttha nooRu paattu

muRayinvarum aasiriya-mEzhu pattu

manniya naRR poruttpperiya ThiruvandhAthi

maRavAthapadi yeNpatthEzhu paattum

pinnuraitthathOr ThiruvAimozhi yeppOthum

pizhaiaRavA-aayirtthoru nooRRirandu paattum

innalatthil VaikAsi VisAkam tannil

Yezhirkkuruhai varumAru irangu neeyE

 

---Prabhandha Saaram Of Swamy Desikan : Paasuram 6

More about this verse and Satakopar's glories- in next post.

 

Acharyan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

> dAsan

>

>

>

>