AZHWAN – THE SRIVAISHNAVA LEXICON

[Guest guest]

The yellow lights hanging

atop the stage blazed brightly. The handsome and lanky Sridhar clad in

Ramanujar’s saffron outfit yelled at the top of his voice “Srivatsa!! Common

hurry up….wear the beard and place Bodhayana Vritthi granthan in your hands

before the curtain goes up! Instantly, the soft-spoken replica of Kooratazhwan,

Srivatsankan (incidentally bearing Azhwan’s name and hailing from Azhwans

birthplace) sports the long beard and holds the recently released Pancha-sthavam

book of Sri Kanchi P.B.A Swamy Trust as Bodhayana Vritthi grantham! Following

this, the Chirpy and highly responsible Madhavan, begins multitasking. Donning

the role of Paramacharya Alavandar, he also wore the choreographer’s hat on

stage. From arranging the mike to positioning the kids appropriately, the day

witnessed a good event manager in him.

The above kids are none other than the products of Gnyana Vimaan, an

institution run by Sri Kanchi P.B.A Swamy Trust to cultivate Srivaishnava

culture among youngsters. The Trust had recently released the Pancha sthavam

book in connection with the 1000th year celebration of Azhwans

avatharam. But a dream was lurking in the hearts of the Trust members. They

wanted Azhwan in action too. If a picture is worth thousand words, then how

about a live onstage performance where all the characters imprinted in the

guruparamparai text assume human form? It would be worth a million. Hence the

Trust, with the aid of Sri.U.Ve.Akkarakkani Srinidhi swamy designed a powerful

script aptly portraying the luminous life of Azhwan. But the most arduous task

was choosing students who could justify the roles of poorvacharyas in a

befitting manner. A small screening of the Gnyana Vimaan students was held and

the characters were fixed. Following this was several weeks of unceasing

relentless rigorous practice where the students even joyously missed meals and

sacrificed numerous hours of sleep.

These efforts were paid handsomely on 7th evening when the drama on

Azhwan’s life was staged at Parthasarathy perumal’s koil from 7pm. The crowd

was soaked in tears seeing these tender-like kids imitating powerful

personalities from history. With claps reverberating throughout the hall, the

august assembly was literally transported in a time machine to the days of

Ramajuacharya and SriKoorathazhwan. The programme, to the disappointment of

onlookers, had to end at 10pm.All the children of Gnyana Vimaan gathered on

stage and sung the touching shloka ‘ Arvancho yath padha….’ which

glorifies Azhwan and puts him above Bhagavath Ramanujar itself. The temple

authorities were awe struck seeing the exhibition of this talent galore. They

thanked the children and all the people who stood behind the screen and made

this programme a grand success and a memorable one. This function shall remain

afresh in the mind of all adiyaars for another millennium !

The one of the legend of the

last century of SriVaishnava Sampradayam is Sri U.Ve. Mahavidwan

Prathivadhibayankaram Annangarachariar Swami. Even though he has attained

paramapadham, he still continues to live with us by the works he has authored.

The trust has recently republished the Pancha Stavam of Sri Koorathalwan as

part of 1000th Thirunakshatra celebration, along with the commentary

named Tatvartha Chintamani authored by Sri Kanchi P B A Swami. Those who

require the book can kindly contact the following address:

P

B Sampathkumar,

15/1,

Peyalwar koil Street,

Manoranjitham

Flats,

Triplicane,

Chennai 600 005.

Phone

Nos. (044) 28440311/ 9840578410adiyen SriVaishnava DasanP B Sampathkumar