Sri Ramanuja Journal Volume 8, Issue 7

[Guest guest]

 

Srimathe Ramanujaya namaH

Srimathe Varavaramunaye namaH

 

Vaikasi, Sarvajith Azhvar 8, Acharya 7

 

Azhvar ThiruvarangapperumAL Araiyar

 

Thirunakshathram : keTTai

990th Thirunakshathram

adhyApayadyathIndrAya parAnkuSasahasrikA,

tham nAthhavamSyam vandEham SrIrangAdhipadESikam

 

DEVA gANam -A means to get YahirAjar to Thiruvarangam

 

Periya PerumAL desired YathirAjar to leave kanchi and settle down at Thiruvarangam. However, Sri Devap perumAL who considered YathirAjar as his lifeline did not yield to this.

 

 

Thiruvarangap perumAL araiyar with the blessings of Periya PerumAL left for kAnchi with the mission of obtaining Yathi Rajar from DEVAdhi Rajan.

 

Thiruvarangap peurmAL araiyar, performed wonderful araiyar sEVai and rendered celestial Deva GANam in front of PEAr aruLALan.

 

Immensely impressed DEVAdiRajan, granted him boon. Thiruvarangap perumAL requested for yathirajar and succeeded in that, though Sri Varadan was initially reluctant to leave his lifeline.

 

Thanks to Thiruvarangap perumAL araiyar and His DEva GANam which brought Sri RamAnuja to Srirangam and established our faith which later pervaded at all places and times.

 

The CharamOpAyam

azhvar thiruvarangapperumAL araiyar was son to swami yAmunAcharyar. It was to azhvar thiruarangapperumalaraiyar, swami Alavanthar gave the task of giving charamopaya nishtai and the meanings of rest 3000 pasurams. Swami took birth in the same year as that of Emperumanar's birth CE 1017. Once emperumanar was grinding turmeric for araiyar swami to bath. Araiyar swami seeing the turmeric, he did not like it much because of its roughness. But he did not mention this, but seeing araiyar swami's face, emperumanar understood that, the quality of turmeric is not good, he immediately himself went and ground it fresh, which araiyar swami liked a lot. He did service to araiyar for a period of six months. He prepared milk at the right boiling point and offered him.

And asked emperumanar

" have you come here to loot all my wealth? Oh emperumanar come, I will give you the meanings of Charama purushartha " and hence azhvar thiruvarangapperumal araiyar gave him the rahasyarthas, meanings of rest of 3000 pasurams, and Abhinayam for all pasurams were also taught to emperumanar.

 

He gave him the following counseling

The charamOpAyam

 

'AchAryan is the highest brahmam;

AchAryan is the highest wealth;

AchAryan is the highest desire-kamam;

He is the best means and end -prApakam and prApyam;

He is the highest education.

Since, He bestows us with knowledge of the Lord, He is so.

 

Consider AchAryan as the highest Means and the Highest end.

 

Having said this Sri Thiruvarangap perumAL araiyar made his youngest brother 'sottai nambi' as the disciple of Sri RamAnujA.

 

Varavaramuni dAsargaL