Sri Parakala Matam

[Guest guest]

sri:

Srimate Srilakshminrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

Srimate Sri

Lakshminrisimha Divyapadukasevaka

Srivan Satakopa Sri

NarayanaYatindra Mahadesikaya nama:

 

 

The following is a mail received from

Balaji, devote sishya

of Sri Parakala Matam.

 

--

adiyEn

 

 

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Association of Parakala Matam with Thieuvengadam - (Some excerpts from

Parakala Matham Guruparampara records)

 

The head quarters of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra matham first established at

kanchipuram, remained at Thirumalai for more than 3 centuries after the holy

ascend of Swamy Deshikan. It is said that it was Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar

as the administrator and Srikarya durandharar of the temple at Thirumalai,

responsible for establishment of many utsavams like Kalyanotsavam et al that

are conducted at Thirumalai even to this day. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar

remained at Thirumalai and at the ripe age of 100, appointed his successor

to the peetam and attained the lotus feet of Deshikan.

 

***Note - It is said that there is a small archai dedicated to Sri

Brahmatantra Swatantrar next to Bhashyakara sannidhi. Brahmatantra Swamy's

thirunakshatram which happens to be Purattasi Thiruvonam (same as Swamy

Deshikan's) is celebrated at Thirumalai even to this day.***

Acharyas who came later to him continued the tradition of Swamy

Ramanuja/Deshika and stayed at Thirumalai as the administrators of the

temple.

 

From 1673 - 1676, Sri Varada Vedanta Yogindra Brahmatantra Swatantra

Parakala Maha Deshikan - II, was the peetadhipati at Thirumalai Brahmatantra

Swatantra Matam. He was approached by Thiruvenkatacharya, his poorvashrama

putrar (son) for initiation into the holy ascetic order.

 

At the age of twenty-two he received initiation into the fourth order of

sanyasam from his father and ascended the acharya peetam of Sri Brahmatantra

Swatantra Parakala Mutt at Thirupathi, with the title " Maha Parakala Maha

Deshikan " and later popularly came to be known as " Sri Periya Parakala

Swamy " 1676 - 1737.

 

With the advent, to the headship of the Mutt, of Sri Periya Parakala Swamy,

the twenty-first in the succession from the first Brahmatantra Swatantra

Jeeyar, an important change came over the destiny of the Mutt. Sri Dodda

Krishnaraja Wodeyar of Mysore was successful in securing the shift of head

quarters of the mutt to Srirangapattanam (the capital of Mysore till 1799)

from Tirupati, the reason being the perfect security, which prevailed in the

Mysore country, earned for it by the wisdom and power of Sri Chikkadevaraja

Wodeyar (1673 - 1704), the illustrious ancestor of Sri Dodda Krishnaraja

Wodeyar (1714 - 1731). It might be that the unsettled conditions due to the

Moghul-Maratha conflicts in the Deccan prompted Sri Dodda Krishnaraja

Wodeyar to persuade the Swamy to move definitely to Mysore once for all from

Thirumalai Thirupathi. Swamy finally came to Srirangapattanam and stayed at

the (Koppalu) newly constructed Sri Parakala matam complex on the banks of

Kaveri.

 

After the shift, Swamys at the head quarters of the matham continued to

appoint junior acharyas of the monastic order at Thirumalai. These acharyas

continued to remain in the Mutt at Thirupathi hill to conduct the pooja of

Sri Hayagriva and Sri Nigamantha Maha Deshika installed there by the first

Brahmatantra Swatantra and to minister to the wants of the pilgrims during

their stay on the hill. (Later on the practice of appointing an agent Swamy

was given up.).

 

Of all the Azhwars, Thirumangai Azhwar also known as Parakala gets a special

mention and is the author of a great number of prabandhams out of the sacred

collect of 4000. Parakalswamy authored magnificent commentaries for this and

other prabandhams, which were praised far and wide by every scholar of the

day. Thirumangai Azhwar appeared in the dreams of Swamy and ordained him to

have his name as Parakala, which is why he came to be popularly known as

Periya Parakala Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Deshikan.

 

Acharyas of parakala Matham have been administrators of Kanchipuram Varadan

sannidhi, Thiruvengadam as well as Thirunarayanapuram. I have heard people

say that Parakala Matham acharyas still have special privileges at these

temples. But I am not sure of the status today.

 

vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

vedAnthasUricharaNau sharaNam prapadye !!!

 

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