Guest guest Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 4. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr protects SwAmi nammAzhwAr’s idol: After the departure of SwAmi piLLai lOkAchAryar, his disciples decided to take namperumAL to KeraLa, fearing attacks from the mohemmadan army. Around the same time, SrivaishnavAs in AzhwAr Thirunagari also decided to move SwAmi nammAzhwAr’s idol to KeraLa, again hoping for safety from the mohemmadans. They packed SwAmi nammAzhwAr’s idol in a box and hung that box in one of the tallest peaks in KeraLa, in a very elusive place. SwAmi thOzhappar was one of the SrivaishnavAs involved in transporting the idol of SwAmi nammAzhwAr. SwAmi thOzhappar visited Madurai and met SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr, the chief minister. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr drafted a letter addressing the King of KeraLa. He offered cash and kind to help SwAmi thOzhappar and the fellow SrivaishnavAs, along with some men for protection. [sidenote 4: SwAmi thOzhappar left his body in an accident when trying to retrieve the box carrying SwAmi nammAzhwAr’s idol. What a sacrifice!! No words or action can match our gratitude to all these great BhagavatAs in our sampradayam!!]. 5. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr returns to the Srivaishnava fold: Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar wanted to fulfill his Guru’s instruction to bring SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr back to the Srivaishnava fold. He was not a young person either, around 100 years of age!! He was not able to have direct audience of SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr , the great chief minister. He instead learnt the route of SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr’s everyday journey to work. Adorning himself with glorious thirumaN, he started reciting SwAmi nammAzhwAr’s Thiruviruttham in a musical style. Intrigued by the beautiful language in those verses, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr approached Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar, who vehemently refused to teach him in those unfriendly circumstances (in the middle of the road, surrounded by the minister’s guards). SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr narrated this incident to his aunt, who reminded the great minister about Sri piLLai lOkAchAryar. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr was now becoming interested in approaching Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar and seeking knowledge. The next time when he saw Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar, the minister thought of him as Sri piLLai lOkachAryar himself and fell at his feet. Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar then narrated Sri piLLai lOkAcharyar’s instructions to bring the great minister into the SrivaishnavA fold. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr, did not want to abandon his important duties immediately as he felt the prince was still very young to rule the pandya kingdom without his guidance. He was still a very busy man. He therefore requested Sri Koora kulOthunga dAsar to come to his palace every morning and teach him during the time he wears ThirumaN. The great Koora kulOthama daSar agreed out of compassion and strong will to fulfill his guru’s instructions. And so it happened. One day, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr was very busy in his royal duties and couldn’t meet Sri koora kulOthama dAsar. Koora kulOthama dAsar then stopped coming to the palace anymore. Missing the daily sessions, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr decided to go to Sri koora kulOthama dAsar’s house and seek his pardon. Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar readily welcomed the great minister and served him prasadam. After this, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr decided to renounce all the royal duties and surrender to the great AchAryan fully. Sri Koora kulOthama dAsar gladly accepted SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr and took him to a town called Sikkil KidAram. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr became a Srivaishnava in totality with no materialistic attachments. Just as Sri piLlai lOkAchAryar desired, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr learnt all the Srivaishnava works from the great AchAryA’s disciples. SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr visited Thiruvananthapuram and learnt Srivachana Bhooshanam from SwAmi vilAnjOlai piLLai, who attained paramapadam after fulfilling his guru’s instructions. Immaterial of SwAmi vilAnjOlai piLLai’s birth in the lowest of the castes, SwAmi Thirumalai AzhwAr performed the last rites (just like Sri periya nambigaL performed the last rites of maranEri nimbi who was also born in the lower caste). to be continued...... Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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