SRI VELIYANALLOOR ANDAVAN (Sri Narayana Mahadesikan) Thirunakshathram today- aippasi thiruvadhirai

[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all

 

today Aippasi ThiruvAdhirai is the Thirunakshathram of

Srimad Veliyanalloor Andavan Swami Sri Narayana

Mahadesikan. Let us pay our humble obeisance to the

lotus feet of this mahaan

 

SRI VELIYANALLOOR ANDAVAN (Sri Narayana Mahadesikan):

(Courtesy: Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swamin's write up on

Acharya vamsa vruksham)

 

Among the distinguished disciples of Periya Andavan

was one Vedaanta Tatachariar of Sankarapuram. The

Tatachariars who belong to shadamarshana Gotram are

descendants of Sri Nathamuni. Down their lineage we

find such celebrated Savants as Periya Tirumalai

Nambi, grandson of Sri Yamunaachaarya. The

Tatachariars distinguished themselves by devoted

service to the temple notably the Tirumalai temple.

They settled in five different places viz.,

Sankarapuram, Bukkapattinam, Satyamangalam and

Surapuram. It was from the Sankarapuram branch

that Sri Vedaanta Tatachariar Swami came and sought

the feet of Periya Andavan and studied the Vedanta

Sastras under him.

 

Sri Krishna Tatachar Swami alias Tirup Putkuzhi Swami

expressed his inability to assume Sannyasa Asrama

on account of his hereditary trusteeship of Lord

Varadaraja temple at Kanchi. vedaantachariar Swami

was considered. He was a Naishtika Brahmachari

(Confirmed bachelor), who knew no other God than

his Acharya. He prayed for admission to the

ascetic order, so that the remaining part of his

life could be fully placed at the service of his

Acharya. Periya Andavan acceded to his prayer and

took him into the holy order. He was named Sri

Narayana Maha Desikan_.

 

Soon afterwards, Sri Narayana Maha Desikan left on a

tour of Divyadesas and reached Attiyur where he

remained discoursing on Ubhaya Vedanta Sastras and

administering Pancha Samskara, Bharanyasa to those

who sought his feet.

 

On hearing that Periya Andavan had attained the

lotus feet of his Acharya, he returned to Srirangam

and prayed in his Brindavanam. He learnt that his

cousin and co-disciple under Periya Andavan

succeeded him as Acharya as _Chinna Andavan_ in

Periyasramam but had also passed away. He was greatly

upset at the passing away of two yathis and desired

to stay at Periyasramam to continue the work of Periya

Andavan. But, as he faced many obstacles, he moved to

Singar Koil where he stayed for a few days. Then,

he proceeded to Vennar bank,Thanjavur where he stayed

till the end of his life. Here he organized the annual

festivals to Swami Desika whose image had been

installed in Thanjai Neelameghap Perumal Koil by

Nainar Acharya. He passed away in his Asrama on the

bank of Vennar and lies interred there. Since

Velianallur Andavan was a cousin of Chinna Andavan

(1825-1895 CE) and slightly his

elder and outlived him by a few years, we may place

him between 1825- 1900 CE

 

His Tanian reads as follows:

 

Sri Vaasa Yogeendra Kripaathabotham Sri Saila Ramanuja

Labda Sinham /

Vairaaghya Bhaktyaadhi Gunaikadhaanaam

Naaraayanaakhyam Munim Aasrayaamah //

 

Meaning: _Let us take refuge in Narayana Muni who was

a great Yogi full of mercy, a hall mark acquired at

the feet of Sri Srisaila Ramanuja and who was full of

auspicious qualities like detachment and dedication_

 

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

namo narayana

aachaarya padhangri rENu:

 

asmadhAchArya paryanthAm vandhE GuruparamparAm…