Bhagavad Ramanuja Vaibhavam- 1.32- AzhwArs' outpourings are amazing and divine...

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

Entry of Azhwaars into our land was mentioned much earlier in Srimad Bhagavatham

itself. Azhwaars appeared in the period about 5000 years ago. Nammazhwaar

appeared in 3102 BCE. There is also another school of thought to place them

between 5th and 8th centuries CE.

 

The Bhaagawatha puraNa by Veda Vyasa had prophesized the birth of these azhwaars

as below: (verses 38-40)

 

khalu Khalu Bhavishyanti Narayana ParaayaNa:

kvachith kvachith mahaabhaaga: dramidE shucha bhoorisha:

taamraparNi nadeeyatra krutamaalaa payaswinee

kaveri cha mahaabhaaga pratheecchEha mahaanadhi

 

In the beginning of Kaliyuga persons exclusively devoted to Narayana and endowed

with siprittual knowledge will be born here and there but in large numbers in

the land of the dravidaas (Tamil desam) where flow rivers TaamaraparaNi,

Krithamala (Vaikai), Payasvini (PaalaaRu), the divine river Kaveri, and the

Mahaanadhi (PeriyaaRu) which runs westwards.

 

This verse in quote by Swami Vedanta Desika in Guruparamapara saara, predicting

the advent of the Azhwaars in South India. It may be noted that

Nammazhwaar and Madhurakavi Azhwaar were born in the banks of TaamaraparaNi

river

 

Periyazhwaar and AndAL close to river Vaikai

 

Poigai AzhwAr, Bhoodhatthaazhwaar, PeyAzhwAr and Thirumazhisai AzhwAr appeared

near PaalaaRu

 

ThoNdaradippodi azhwAr and Thirumangai mannan in the banks of the river cauveri.

 

Also in Srimushnya mahaathmya, it is stated that these saints would appear in

all classes of society such as BraahmaNa, Kshathriya, Sudra etc., would proclaim

the highest truth by composing hymns.

 

The importance of Sri Nammazhwar to our Sampradaya cannot be captured in words.

The very fact that his magnum opus, Tiruvaimozhi, is reverentially called

" Bhagavat Vishayam " is ample testimony to its magnificence. He is accepted as

the moola purusha or " kootasttha " of the entire clan of surrendered souls

( " Prapanna jana kootasttha: " ) and a standing example to the Srivaishnavite maxim

that at the rarefied heights of bhakti, differences occasioned by caste, race

etc. matter little. It is also a testimony to the liberal outlook of our

much-maligned Sampradaya, that it has accorded a lofty pedestal to a true bhakta

beyond compare, disregarding considerations of birth, caste, etc. Not only is

Sri Satakopa Muni considered to be our spiritual leader, but other Azhwars,

notwithstanding their lofty birth, are held to be adjuncts of the former. His

outpourings occasioned by matchless devotion are accorded the same elevated

status ( " DrAvida VEda SAgaram " ) as the

Shruti, which is held to be the PramANam par excellence.

 

AzhwAr ThiruvadigalE SaraNam

Regards

namo narayana

dAsan