Guest guest Posted November 5, 2004 Report Share Posted November 5, 2004 sri: Please accept adiyen's humble pranam: This is a friendly reminder of the approaching date - Nov 13, 14, and 15. Mamunigal Thirunakshatram ( Iyppasi Mulam ), Nov 15th, 2004. Mamunigal's TN this year is on Nov: 15 (13 and 14 is Sat/ Sun) Adiyen would request the asthiakas to please start planning for Mamunigal Thirunakshatram celebration in your local area, homes and communities. ============================================================= Dear Devotees: This Q & A may be useful for beginners, as this session was held for beginners during the monthly Vedics Meet. If you have any thing more to add, or edit feel free to do so, and reply to adiyen, so i can use them in the next sesion. This may also be a good starting point for beginners to know about Mamunigal, so if you have any beginners in your family, please print this and take it home to read for your family. This is the transcript from year 2000 Q & A with students at University of Illinois at Chicago. =========================================== Q: Who is Mamunigal? why should we know about HIM? =========================================== Mamunigal made his apprearance in the year 4471 years after the birth of kaliyuga, aippasi month, mula nakshattiram. In the roman calendar, which we are used to this is 1370 AD. ==> HE is Lord's Acharya (Swami ManavalaMamuni also known as VaraVara Muni) ==> He is the avatara of Swami Ramanuja. “Anantah Prathamam Roopam Threthayam Lakshmanasthatha Dvapare Balabadrasthu kalou kaschith bavishyathi” Adhisesha , took avatharas in different yugas to render service at the Lotus feet of the Lord, in Thretha yuga as Lakshmana and in Dvapara yuga as Balarama and in the Kaliyuga as Swami Ramanuja. Ramamuja Avathara was given 200 years. But in 120 years Ramanuja completed the tasks assigned and comepleted his avathara and went back. After about 300 years Swami Ramanuja’s work was being undone, Lord commanded Adisesha to take a re-birth as Swami Manavala Mamunigal to fulfill the service. There are other reasons as well (Lord wanted to give acharya sambhavana to Ramanuja and to hear Idu (Thiruvaimozhi) discourses.) ==> Ubhayavedantacarya as per the Lord and Sri Ramanuja. The only Acharya to have had the unique opportunity of delivering Dravida Veda discourses before Lord Ranganatha and samskrita vedanta discourses before Sri Ramanuja. ==> “Srisailesa Daya Patram” is the only taniyan recognised as a mantra. Mantra: that which protects by invocation. This is mantra because this sloka is submitted by Lord Himself for his Acharya (mAmunikaL). As per the Lord's instructions, “Srisailesa Daya Patram” thaniyan is to be recited at the beginning and conclusion of any divya prabandham recitation. (akin to how the sacred Om is chanted at the beginning and ending for Sanskrit Vedic recitations). Our Lord has commanded that this tanian should be recited before chanting of the Dravida Vedas, and at the end with prayers to purvacharyas. SriSailesa Daya patram DhiBhakti Adi Gunarnavam Yatindra pravanam Vande Ramyaja Mataram Munim =========================================== Qs: Why does Lord needs an Acharya? Why does he Choose Swami Mamunigal? =========================================== This is not the first time Lord took the role of a disciple, He did so in BadriNath in Nara Narayana Avathara.. While delivering Thirumantram, very important mantra taught by the lord for the sake of all devotees. Qs:Why Lord has taken avathara as nara (disciple) as well? =========================================== For our benefit, and knowing well we may have these doubts, our purvacharyas have addressed all the possible questions and they have given all the authentic answers as well. So while seeking answers for these doubts, all we need to do is look at what purvacharyas have said. Swami Pillai Locaacharaya explains this in a monumental work Mumukshuppadi. HE, the LORD wants to show the practical part of the qualities of a Sishya to the world. Qualities of a Shishya, though shown in scriptures, at a great length, there were/are hardly anyone, who really practiced them or followed them. So in Nara Narayana Avathara he came as teacher and as disciple. This happened a few yugas ago. (many thousands of years ago). =========================================== Qs: That is so long ago how do we still know that this is true, would the lord not provide more examples for devotees today. =========================================== Ans: You are right, Nara- Narayana avathara was so long ago and yugas have been passed, people need more examples especially in Kaliyuga (the present time) LORD shows that in this age, HE presents Himself in the form of Vigraha Swarupa only. (Only as the Archa Vigraha). Here He shows how He Himself accomodates as a disciple to a great Acharya. Taking mamunigal as an achayra he teaches us the qualities of a devotee. =========================================== Qs Why does he takes Mamunigal as an achayra? =========================================== About 300 years before Mamunigal's Avathara in this earth, Lord had been a disciple of Swami Ramanuja and received the Rahasya upadesa. HE also received the name Sri Vaishnava nambi. But HE did not give any Guru Dhakshina to Ramanuja. It is customary to offer Guru Dakshina for anything we “learn”. Lord wanted to give this GuruDakshina He had not listened and enjoyed the “IDU” discourses of Thiruvaimozhi by Swamy Nammazhvar when Sri Nammpillai delivered it. He wanted to hear them. So Adisesha, who had taken avathara as Ramanuja 300 years ago, is asked to take another avathara in south of India, Sikkil KidAram in 1370. Mamunigal is also known as PeriyA Jeeyar, is the only Acharya recognised by Perumal (Lord Ranganatha) as HIS Acharya. Taking Mamunigal as his Acharya, Lord Ramganatha taught us five qualities of a devotee. =========================================== Qs: What are the five Qualities he taught us, by taking Mamunigal as Acharya? =========================================== 1. Sishya should make/chant thanian (a sloka describing the greatness of one's acharya) for his Acharaya: Lord Ranaganatha has made thanian to HIS Acharaya swamy Manavalamamuni. " Srisailesa daya patram, dhibhakthyaadi gunaarnavam, yatindra pravanam vande, ramya jamatharam munim|| Hence this thanian has its own importance in Sri Vaishnava sampradhaya. 2. Sishya's responsibility: Spread Acharaya's name and message to every corner of the world, keeping the manthra in his heart. Lord Ranganatha has instructed and sent Ordinance, to all his devotees and temples divyadesams to recite His acharya thanian at the begining and end of Divyaprabhandham. It is in practice in most of the divyadesams. 3. Sishya should surrender his wealth to Acharaya's Lotus Feet, (thiruvadi ): Adisesha is considered as wealth for LORD Sriman Narayanan. Lord Ranganatha has offered his entire wealth to his Acharaya Swamy Manavalamamuni. Hence swamy Manavalamamuni is seated in Adisesha. Even though Swamy Ramanuja and Swamy Manavalamamuni are avatharam of Adisesha, we always see Swamy Manavalamamuni (Archa Vigraha, or Pictures etc) seated in Adisesha because of this reason. (Lord Sriman Narayanan has offered his seat Adisesha to Swamy Manavalamamuni.) 4. Sishya should have his Acharaya's name with his name: Swamy Manavalamamuni took sanyasam from Sri Satakopa Jeeyar Hence Swamy Mamuni wanted to change his name to Satakopa after his sanyasam. But Lord Ranganatha appeared in front of him and instructs not to change his original name Alagiya Manavalan. This was understood later as Lord Ranganatha wanted to adopt swamy Mamunigal as Acharaya. And keep the name Azhagiya manavalan (This is Lord’s local name in Srirangam) 5. Sishya should celebrate his acharaya's thirunakshathiram (Birth day) and annual ceremony: Lord Ranganatha taught and is still practicing these five qualities in Srirangam. He celebrates Mamunigal thirunakshthiram and theetha nal (annual ceremonry) even today This can be witnessed in Srirangam. =========================================== Qs: What else did mamunigal teach us, did he write many works like other scholars? =========================================== No, Mamunigal taught us not to re-write already existing works. He taught us to write new works only if the existing ones are not correct. He also taught us to protect and propagate existing purvacharyas works. =========================================== Qs: So he says, we need not write any “new” philosophical works. =========================================== Ans: Our purvacharyas have very clearly given us all the philosophical works as our ancestral treasure. Lets think logically, if there exists a complete and accurate work, why would we want to write again on the same topic. You will write new original works only if you think you can do a better job than that of exisiting works, or if you think the exisiting works are incorrect. With every generation the typical devotee’s base knowledge in spiritual matters is reducing, because of this change, new commentaries are needed to help us understand the original works. His always emphasized on protecting and propagating purvacharyas works. Towards this he has written commentaries and explanations (Vyakhyanams of existing works). =========================================== Qs: So who are these purvacharyas and what are their works. =========================================== That he has written down for us in UpadesaRatnaMala (URM), first he talks about the azhvars (please see a previous transcript on who they are) then he talks about Acharyas and their works. " enthai thiruvAymozhippiLLai innaruLAl * vantha upathEsamArkkaththai ssin^thai seythu * pinnavarum kaRka, upathEsamAy pEsukinREn * manniya seer veNpAvil vaiththu (2) ... 1 He provides this upadesa so what he has learnt via the GuruParampara does not get completely lost in the future. This forms the basis for any basic education in tamil Vedas (known as 4000 Dhivya Prabhandam, Arulicheyal). Regarding this basic education, arulicheyal, all the acharyas and works we need to know are listed in URM. Of course there are many more acharyas, but the ones listed here are the the first ones we need to know as the base knowledge. All these acharyas and all their works support each other. All their messages are one in unison. There is no ambiguity, in all of their messages everything is extremely clear. Jeeyar emphasised the importance of protecting and propagating works of PurvaAcharyas. He taught us to write new works only if the existing ones are inadequate or incomplete. Most of his contributions were in the form of writing commentaries for existing works by purvacharyas and teaching it to all those who were interested. =========================================== Qs: How do we protect and propogate these works.? =========================================== First we need to learn these from a qualified acharya. Then propagate this to others AS_IS. So the message is not modified or contaminated. Vedics Foundation has classes for learning to chant the Arulicheyal. Please to talk me after this session if you are interested in learning the mulam (the original words of the tamil Vedas), or you may contact any of the vedics centers in the future. We have also released CDs with meanings as exaplined by our purvacharyas. There are also books, but most of them are in tamil. All these are the words as is from qualified acharyas. It is always best to learn from qualified acharyas. =========================================== Qs: Who is a qualified acharya and why do we need one? =========================================== Please see the transcript on this topic, we had a 2 hour discussion on this. With some very good questions and purvacharyas answers on those. You can read that transctipt on-line at our website. =========================================== Qs: Did Mamunigal add anything new for us, that we are using today? =========================================== Everything he did was to establish the Ramanuja Darshanam. So all he did was re-emphasize purvacharyas works. He did add Ramanuja into the Daily Prayer (ThiruAradhana Krama) and wrote two lines that are still being chanted by every sri vaishnava who does daily prayers. “Ramanujarya Dhivya Agya Vardhatham Abhi Vardhatam” He also had his disciple write Sri Venkatesa Suprabhatam and offered it to LORD Srinivasa at Thirumala. Even today this is being Chanted during morning prayers at all Sri Vaishnava temples. Most of his contributions were in the form of writing explanations for existing works and teaching it to all those who were interested. There are 18 works attributed to Sri Mamunigal (A few could be further subdivided) Four in Sanskrit ============== Devaraja Mangalam, Kanchidivyadesastuti, YathirajaVimsathi, and Tatparya Dipa - A commentary on Bhagawad Gita. Three are in Tamil ================= UpadesaRatnamalai, Thiruvaimozhi Noothandhandhi and Arthiprabhandham Eleven in Manipravala (Mixture of Tamil & simple Sanskrit words) =================== Commentaries on works of Pillai Lockacharya Azhagiya Manavalapperumal Nayanar Periyazhwar Thirumozhi Ramanuja Noothandhandhi Four indices containing the sources of the Jyanasara and Prameyasara of Arulalapperumal Emberumanar One work is on the daily worship of the Lord (ThiruAradhana Kramam) based on Bhagawad Ramanuja’s Nitya (In Sanskrit) =========================================== Qs: Did he have any other contributions to humanity? =========================================== His Other Main contributions are: 1. Temple renovations, Administration and management, (After Muslim invasions and political confusions in the south) 2. Spiritual leadership by contributions through commentaries and propagation of Azhvars & Purvacharyas Works, compositions and guidance to the Sri Vaishnava community. 3. Making complex and abstruse issues on the Philosophical doctrines (Mostly written and preserved in Sanskrit texts originally) explained and made easy to understand & accessible to all interested devotees. He focused on writing Vyakhyanams (commentaries) of existing purvacharya works, and brought it to the masses. (In Local language). Swami Mamunigal’s authorship contributions reveal his blessed qualities as a commentator true to the tradition and his abiding devotion to Azhvars and Purvacharyas. Following the footsteps of Ramanuja, Mamunigal rebuilt the temples and strengthened Sri Viashanava Sampradaya. Those days temple was the center for everything, social and spiritual. Rebuilding and strengthening the Temples, he rebuilt the society as a whole. =========================================== Qs: Did he establish Acharyas, like Ramanuja did so we could follow them? =========================================== He also established Acharyas for the protection of SriViashnva sampradaya. These Acharyas knows as Ashta Diggajas (elephants of the eight directions) are: Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamis: Vanamaamalai Jeeyar, BhattarPiraan Jeeyar, Tiruvengada Jeeyar, and Swamis: Koil kanthaadai annan, Prathivaadhi Bhayankaram Annaa, Erumbi appaa, Appillai and Appillan. These acharyas and their disciples are protecting and promoting Srivaishnavam even today. =========================================== Qs: Where is it said that we need to take Mamunigal as our Acharya? =========================================== Having made the tanian for his Acharya, Sri Mamunigal, Lord emphasizes that we should all hold on Mamunigal’s messages. This is explained in the 74th verse of URM, commanded by Lord himself. 73 Verses in URM were written by Mamunigal, but the 74th was written by Swami Erumbiyappa, a great disciple of Mamunigal. Erumbiappa composed the 73rd Verse and offerred this to Lord RanganAthA to include this along with the Mamunigals 73 verses. As a result of Lord's command, this is included as the 74th paasuram of UpadesaRatnamala " mannuyir_kAL ingE maNavALa mAmunivan * ponnadiyAm senkamalappOthukaLai * - unnis siraththAlE theeNdil amAnavanum nammai * karaththAlE theeNdal kadan " This is asking all devotees to hold on to Mamunigal's feet and take him as your refuge. As this will take you to the LORD. We can see many more hands up in the air, and more questions but this is all the time we have for his session, we hope to see you all in the next session. =========================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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