HH Srimath InjimEdu Azhagiya Singar's Vaibhavam : Part II

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Matam SishyAs and AbhimAnis:

 

It is a BhAgyam for me to start on this specail Kaimkaryam

of writing about the Life and contributions of HH Srimath

InjimEdu Azhagiya Singar in the context of the forthcoming

celebrations of " AchArya Vaibhavam " at Sri RanganAthA Temple ,

Pomona , NY on August 18, 2001 and the AchArya Vaibhavam Celebrations

at Chantilly , VA on September 1-2, 2001.

 

The greatness of this MahA Desikan is beyond imagination

or description. His Athma GuNams , Scholarship, piety,

anushtAnam , vision and dedication are exemplary. In this

effort to capture some of these adhbhutha guNams and

the contributions of Srimath InjimEttu Azhagiya Singar , who is

like a Naayaka Mani for us , adiyEn seeks the blessings of

Asmath AchAryan , Srimath IdhAnim Azhagiya Simgar ,

Sri NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA Desikan .

 

Today's postings will cover the following three items:

 

(1) AvathAram/Birth (21.1.1879)

(2) VidhyA GrahaNam (Studies and acquisition of

scholarship in VedAs and SaashrAs),

(3) Participation in the Various vidvath Sadhas

 

 

1.AvathAram of HH the 42nd Pattam InjimEdu Azhagiya Singar:

**********************************************************

This great AchAryan was born on Janury 21 , 1879 . It was

Thai UttharAdam in a BahudhA+anya ( Different in many ways)

samvathsaram(year). A great assembly of MahA PurushAs like

PutthankOttakam Swamy , GhOshtiUr Swamy were born in that year,

some 122 years back.

 

His place of birth was an agrahAram established for Vedic

scholars on the banks of Baahu nadhi ( SeyyARu river)by

the most revered Sixth Azhagiya Singar, HH SrivaNN SatakOpa

Srishashta ParAnkusa YathIdhra MahA Desikan .This AchArya

Saarvabhouman adorned the peetam of Ahobila Matam from

1499-1513 CE and entered into a cave in Ahobilam and

never returned. He is said to be performing AarAdhanam

to Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan inside that cave even today.

The agrahAram was given the name of Nrusimhapuram by

the Sixth Azhagiya Singar and later came to be known as

InjimEdu . It has a Sannidhi for Lord VaradarAjan. Our

AchAryan's gOthram was BhAradhvAja Gothram . His father's

name was Sri AadhivarAhAcchAr Swamy. His son was given

the name of the Lord of Srirangam , RanganAthan.

 

This AchAryan-to-be had the Jaayamana KatAksham of

Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan and showed extraordinary talent

in punaruccharaNam ( recitation of what he had heard

precisely) of Srimath RaamAyaNam and SthOthra Paatams

even at a very young age. Sri AdhivarAhAcchAr Swamy ,

the father, perefomed Upanayanam and BrahmOpadEsam

during GarbhAshtamam ( 8years to the date from conception )

and arranged for Pancha samskAram from HH The 37th Pattam

KaLatthUr Azhagiya Singar , SrivaNN SatakOpa Sri RanganAtha

YathIndhra MahA Desikan . Latter ecognized the unusual

effulgence of the young boy and blessed him to become

a pillar of the Sri VaishNava SampradhAyam just as

NadAthUr AmmAl had blessed Swamy Desikan earlier at

Kanchi VaradarAjan's temple as a five year old boy.

 

2. The VidhyA GrahaNam

***********************

Sri Ranganathan completed VedAdhyayanam by the age of

Thirteen.He had been initiated into Sri AshtAkshara japam

and Brahma Yaj~na , SamidhAdhAnam observances required for

a BrahmachAri by his AdhyApAka Swamy. As Sri RanganAthan

completed his VedAdhyayanam, a personal bereavement happened ,

which shook him up. His dear father reached his AchAryan's

Thiruvadi. His inherited landed properties were lost. He moved

on to his grandfather's house(Mother's Father). There , he started

the studies on Kaavyams and completed such studies upto

the stage of alankAra Saasthram . He was sixteen by now

and another personal tragedy struck him . His mother reached

her AchAryan's Thiruvadi.Sri RanganAthan performed

his mother's Kaimkaryams upto VarshApdhIkam and thereafter

pursued with intensity his quest to learn about the SaasthrAs

under appropriate AchAryAs.

 

2.1: Study of NyAya , Tarka Saasthrams

***************************************

Before performing KaalkshEpam on Sri BhAshyam, it is required

to study NyAya and Tarka Saasthrams. Two great MahAns and great

scholars quenched the thirst of Sri RanganAthan to study of NyAya

and Tarka Saasthrams. They were:(1) Chatu: sAsthra Kalpa Taru ,

Sri Ammasathram SEshAcchAr Swamy of KumbakONam and (2) Mysore

Panditha Rathnam Tarka Theertham KasthUri RangAcchAr Swamy.

Study of NyAya Saasthram with AmmAsathram Swamy was interrupted

due to Sri RanganAthan's personal illness.Sri RanganAthan moved on

to Mysore to study Tarkam under KasthUri RangAcchAr Swamy.

Latter took ill and the studies had to be interrupted.

Sri RanganAthAn travelled to Kaasi based on the suggstion

of KasthUri RangAcchAr Sawmy to studt under Sri SeethArAma Saasthri of

VaaraNAsi/Kaasi.Latter was the Teacher of Mysore KasthUri

RangAcchAr Swamy .After completing the Tarkam studies at VaraNAsi,

Sri RanganAthan had to move on due to the onset of plague at Kaasi.

He returned to InjimEdu , got married and carried on his livelihood

through Unchivrutthi , just as Swamy Desikan did.Sri RanganAthan

still had not completed the NyAya Saasthram studies due to

unanticipated interruptions (vignams).

 

Efforts to perform Sri BhAshya KaalkshEpam

*******************************************

Driven by his intense desire to learn Grantha ChAthushtyam ,

Sri RanganAthan now approached HH The 37th Pattam , Sri VeerarAghava

SaThakOpa YathIndhra MahA Desikan for the blessings of

Sri BhAshya KaalakshEpam. HH Srimath Azjhagiya Singar agreed

to bless Sri RanganAthan with that KaalakshEpam , but HH wanted

the aspirant to complete his interrupted studies on NyAya Saasthram.

This Azhagiya Singar adorned the Peetam only for 11 months and hence Sri

RanganAthan could not fulfill his wish to perform KaalakshEpam under

this MahA Desikan. During the time of Sri RanganAthan's completion

of the NyAya Saasthram , HH the 37th Pattam Azhagiya Singar

attained his AchAryan's Thiruvadi.Sri RanganAthan fainted after

hearing the news and performed upavAsam for two days and was

consoled by Purisai RangAcchAr Swamy.Ahobila Matam was without

a PeetAdhipathi for almost Six years after the ascent of

the 37th Pattam Azhagiya Singar (1899-1905)to Sri Vaikuntam.

Sri RanganAthan was just Twenty years old at the time of

the Vaikunta PrApthi of HH The 37th pattam Jeeyar. Sri RanganAthan

was grief-stricken over the loss of his AchAryan and the continuing

vignams to his VidhyA GrahaNam (Completion of his studies).

 

Travel to SrimushNam in pursuit of further studies of Saasthram

****************************************************************

A great Scholar by the name of Sri SvarNam KrishNamAcchAr Swamy,

a dear disciple of HH the 37th Pattam Azhagiya Singar, was living

at the Svayam Vyaktha KshEthram of SriMushNam at that time .

Sri RanganAthan arirved at Sri MushNam driven by his intense desire

to perform KaalakshEpam under this SadAchAryan. SriMushNam Swamy

was reluctant at first to accede to the request of Sri RanganAthan

to become his sishyan . SriMushnam Swamy felt that Sri RanganAthan

should study under the great Azhagiya Singars instead of under him.

The Ahobila Peetam was however empty for a long time .Finally ,

SriMushNam swamy was moved by the intensity of Sri RanganAthan's

desire and relented to take him as his sishyan. SriMushNam Swamy

instructed his talented student on the intricacies of Grantha-

ChAthushtyam ,NyAya SiddhAnjanam , NyAya Parisuddhi, Satha DhIshaNi ,

Sankara BhAshyam , Sidhdi PramAnandhIyam and advaidhic terminologies

(paribhAshai). Next , SriMushNam Swamy instructed Sri RanganAthan

on Madhva Matha Granthams. During the course of 8 years,the talented

sishyan completed Sarva Grantha GrahaNam from his AchAryan .

Sri RanganAthan at the age of 28 became now fully qualified to

attend Vidvath Sathas (Assembly of Scholars ). The year was 1907.

He was 22 years away from becoming the 42nd Pattam Azhagiya Singar

at this time.He had no idea that MaOlan will be blessing him as

a future AhObila Mataathipathi.

 

3. Participation in the Various Vidvath Sadas

**********************************************

By 1905 , Thirukkudanthai Azhagiya Singar succeded the 37th Pattam

Azhagiya Singar as the next PeetAdhipathi ( 38th Pattam)after 6 years

of absence of a PeetAdhipathi at AhObila Mata AasthAnam. The 38th Pattam

Azhagiya Singar was known as the Thirukkudanthai Azhagiya Singar

and He reigned for 3 years and ten months ( May 1909 C.E). After

completing his studies under SrimushNam SvarNam Swamy ,

Sri RanganAthan travelled to Nrusimhapuram (near AadhanUr

dhivya Desam) to prostrate before the sacred feet of Thirukkudanthai

Azhagiya Singar .He attended the kaalkshEpa GhOshti of Thirukkudanthai

Azhagiya Singar , where he answered very tough questions from

the Azhagiya Singar to latter's complete satisfaction . The pleased

Azhagiya Singar recognized the deep scholarship of InjimEdu

RanganAthAcchAr Swamy and praised latter as one , who swam

effortlessly in the Ocean of VedAntham.InjimEdu Swamy offered

his PraNAmams to Srimath Azhagiya Singar and returned to SriMushnam

to be by his AchAryan's side to perform sisrUshai .This Azhagiya-

Singar attained His AchAryan's sacred feet , when InjimEdu

RanganAthAcchAr Swamy was Thirty years old(1909 C.E).

 

InjimEdu Swamy won over many scholars in saasthra debates through

his profound command of the intricate meanings of SaasthrAs

during his thirties .He raised the victory flag at ThirunAngUr

,Thiruvananthapuram (navarAthri SabhA) and Sri PerumbhUdhUr

in Vidvath sathas during debates with well known scholars.

The intellectual rigor of InjimEdu Swamy was recognized and

honored by the MaharAja of Thiruvananthapuram .InjimEdu Swamy

was offered later an important post as the Principal of the Royal

Sanskrit College at Thiruvanathapuram.InjimEdu Swamy turned it

down just as Swamy Desikan turned down the request of VidhyAraNyar

to become an Aasthana VidvAn at Vijaya Nagara Raajyam . InjimEdu

swamy had immense VairAgyam and continued his livelihood

through Unchivrutthi (alms seekingat agrahArams). He accompanied

his AchAryan , SvarNam Swamy and settled own at Kaanchipuram

VaradarAja PerumAL Sannidhi. During this period , InjimEdu Swamy

was the moderator at many sampradhAya sadhas ( Thriukkudanthai

Desika Uthsava sadhas, MannArkOil Sadhas , KodiyAlam Sadhas etal)

and recieved many accolades. Fourteen years went by. The year was

1923 C.E.

 

Between 1909-1923 C.E , HH The 39th Pattam Azhagiya Singar ,

SrivaNN SaThakOpa Sri ParAnkusa YadhIndhra MahA Desikan

( aasthAnam: 1909-1915 C.E) and HH The 40th Pattam Azhagiya-

Singar , SrivaNN SaThakOpa SriRanganAtha SataKOpa YathIndhra

MahA Desikan ( aasthAnam : 1913-1923 C.E)adorned the AhObila

Mata SimhAsanam . When 1923 C.E arrived , the next Azhagiya-

Singar , HH The 41st Pattam , SrivaNN SaThakOpa Sri Lakshmi-

Narasimha SaThakOpa YathIndhra MahA Desikan ascended the throne.

He reigned for 18 years and 9 months ( until October 1941).

 

As soon as the 41st Pattam Azhagiya Singar became the PeetAdhipathi,

he invited InjimEdu RanganAthAchArya Swamy to become the AasthAna

VidvAn of Sri Matam . This invitation was gratefully accepted by

InjimEdu Sawmy and he stayed in this position serving Srimath

Azhagiya Singar and MalOlan.

 

We will continue with Grantha NirmANam and other topics

in the next posting.

V.Sadagopan

[Guest guest]

Dear bhaktas: In keeping with his track record of producing

awe-inspiring articles, Sri Sadagopan has now done a great

kainkaryam to all abhimaanis of Sri Ramanuja siddhaantham,

Sri Desika sampradayam, and Sri Abhobila matham in particular

- through this series of posts on Srimad InjimEdhu Azhagiya

Singar. This yatheeSwarar represented the golden era in the

recent history of Sri Abhobila matham, when the fame/prestige

and vidwat of this ancient institution spread far and wide.

 

adiyEn also believes that Srimad InjimEdhu Azhagiya Singar

began the Nrusimhapriya journal and rejuvenated the maalola

vidwat sadas, in addition to helping produce a great number

of scholars of the Sri bhaashyam. It is an extremely moving

experience to read about the vaibhavam of this noble AchAryan.

 

Srimad injimEdhu azhagiyasingar thiruvadigaLE SaraNam

 

adiyEn SrIrangapriya daasan,

-Srinath C.

 

>

> Sadagopan [sgopan]

> Wednesday, August 15, 2001 9:10 AM

> ; tiruvengadam ;

> acharya ; parakalamutt

> HH Srimath InjimEdu Azhagiya Singar's Vaibhavam : Part II

>

> Dear Sri Matam SishyAs and AbhimAnis:

>

> It is a BhAgyam for me to start on this specail Kaimkaryam

> of writing about the Life and contributions of HH Srimath

> InjimEdu Azhagiya Singar in the context of the forthcoming

> celebrations of " AchArya Vaibhavam " at Sri RanganAthA Temple ,

> Pomona , NY on August 18, 2001 and the AchArya Vaibhavam Celebrations

> at Chantilly , VA on September 1-2, 2001.

>

> The greatness of this MahA Desikan is beyond imagination

> or description. His Athma GuNams , Scholarship, piety,

> anushtAnam , vision and dedication are exemplary. In this

> effort to capture some of these adhbhutha guNams and

> the contributions of Srimath InjimEttu Azhagiya Singar , who is

> like a Naayaka Mani for us , adiyEn seeks the blessings of

> Asmath AchAryan , Srimath IdhAnim Azhagiya Simgar ,

> Sri NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA Desikan.