Acharya vaibhavam - 49- SrI Yaamunaacharya - Alavandhaar - Being the servants of Great Acharyan, we would never ever read works of those from other religions!

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Dearest all,

 

Let us continue to enjoy the acharya paramparai. After

Sriman Nathamuni, Sri Pundareekakshar [also called as

Uyyakkondaar], Sri Raamamisrar also called as

maNakkaal nambhi], we have Swami Yamunamuni or Sri

Alavandhaar in our Acharya parampara.

 

SrI YAmunAchArya- also called as SrI Alavandhaar- His

period was from year 917 CE to 1042 CE. (about 125

years). He was the Grandson of " thaaLam vazhagith

thamizh maRai innisai thandha vaLLal " - Sri Nathamuni.

 

YAmunAchArya is the grand -Acharya (PrAchAryA ) of

Ramanujacharya (1017 AD to 1137 CE). He clearly

established the principles of VisishtAdhvaita as an

expansion of the doctrines housed in his grandfather's

treatises and elaborated on those doctrines with

authoritative scriptures such as Sruthis, Bhagavadh

Gita , AzhwAr's pAsurams and Selected SAtvikaPurAnAs.

 

Swamy Desikan says in YathirAja Sapthathi:

 

Vighaahe Yaamunam Theertham Saadhu Brindaavane Stitham

|

NirasthaJih Magha Sparse Yatra Krishnah Kritaa Dharah

||

 

We shall bathe in the holy waters of Yamuna

(Alavandhaar), who has severed all connections with

mean passions and attachment, who stood steadfast in

safeguarding the Saadhus, and in whom the things

emphasised by Krishna were present perfectly. (A

second meaning: We shall bathe in the holy waters of

Yamuna river, form which poisonous snake had been

removed, which is close to Brindhavanam, and in which

Krishna was interested.)

 

Alavandar who learned Vedantha Arthas at the feet of

MaNakkaal Nambi was not only the one residing on the

banks of Yamuna (Yamunai thuRaivan) by name but was

also like the clear flowing waters of the river

Yamuna. Lord Krishna got rid of the cruel Kaalinga

from the river and made its water pure and clear for

all to drink. He was most delighted when he played

with the Gopis of Brindavanam in the Yamuna waters.

Likewise, Alavandar vanquished those who

misinterpreted the Vedas and established Vedanta

Siddhanta. Just as one can derive supreme pleasure by

bathing in the holy waters of Yamuna, one can enjoy

supreme Bhagavad Gunanubhava by immersing in the lucid

granthas of Yaamuna

 

Once an arrogant vidwAn by name Akkiyalvan was

challenging and humiliating learned men. Yamuna (as a

16 year old boy) accepted the challenge and went to

the court to argue with him. The queen was so

impressed with the boy that she told the king and

pursuaded him to give away half the kingdom if he won

in the debate and offered herself to be thrown to wild

dogs, if the boy failed. Akkiyalvan asked the boy to

state three propositions positive or negative which he

offered to counter. And, if he could not, the boy

would be declared the winner.

 

Yamuna asked (or stated) three statements. He asked

Akkialwan to counter.

 

(i) Your mother is not a barren woman- Naturally he

could not counter saying that his mother is a barren

woman (he is very much standing in front of

Yamunacharya).

 

(ii) The king is a righteous and powerful ruler -

Obviously he can not afford to counter this.

 

and ( iii ) The queen is a model of chastity. - oh no!

Never can he counter this.

 

Akkialvan accepted defeat and the King now asked

Yamuna to disprove his own statements.

 

Yamuna clarified by observing the following:-

 

(i) The sacred laws say that an only son is no son at

all. So, Akkiyalvan's mother was as good as barren in

the eyes of the law.

( ii ) The king cannot be called righteous when he

entertained such an arrogant person to be his chaplain

and his not dismissing the chaplain showed that the

king was indeed powerless.

( iii ) According to the Sruti texts, every woman is

wedded first to Soma, then Gandharva and then Agni

before marrying her earthly partner. The queen was no

exception and therefore cannot be deemed a model of

chastity.

 

(This is only to drive home a point that logic can not

be the solution fully. One needs to fall back on

Saasthras and Sruthi/Smrthis for praMANams.)

 

The King sent Akkiyalvan out of his kingdom and gave

Yamuna half his kingdom. The queen hailed the boy as

" Alavandhaar " - One who came to save me..

 

How the king was changed due to the mercy of his

grandfather Sriman Nathamuni through the krupa deed of

Sri Raamamisrar [MaNakkaal Nambhi]- [as seen earlier

in the post]

 

He is the one who composed the earliest Stotras of

Srivaishnava Sampradayam:

 

He wrote the following works great in content and yet

lucid.

 

(1) chathuslOki

(2) StOtra Ratnam

(3) Siddhitrayam consisting of (i) AtmaSiddhi. (ii)

Samvitasiddhi and (iii) Iswara Siddhi

(4) Agama Pramanya

(5) Maha Purusha Nirnayam

(6) Gitartha Sangraha

(7) Nityam

(8) Maayaa Vaadha Khandanam

 

[Extract from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swami’s write up on

Acharya vamsa vruksham]

 

[From asmadhAcharyan’s Tamil commentary of Swamy

Desikan’s YathirAja Sapthathi – translated into

English by Sri CG Balaji Swami]- During the

incarnation of Kannan in this world, he was met

by one of the ancestors of Nathamuni, who asked Kannan

the means to elevate oneself out of the samsaric

affliction. He was then asked by Kannan to perform

aradhanam (worship) to his vigraham (idol), which the

devotee promptly did. This vigraham of Kannan, which

came down as a familial treasure was worshipped by

Sriman Nathamuni and later by Ishwara bhatta and

Alavandar.

 

Manakkal nambi thus taught all the shastras and

Vedantha to Yamunacharya. Manakkal nambi informed

Yamunar that the bhakti yogam of Nathamuni is

available with Kurugai Kaavalappan and ordained him to

obtain initiation into Yoga from him. Yamunar

immediately proceeded to meet Kurugai Kavalappan, who

was immersed in deep meditation (yoga). Not wanting to

disturb his penance, Yamunar went and sat behind him.

Kurugai kavalappan woke up from his penance after a

little while and enquired ‘Are there anyone from

chottai kulam here? Alavandar immediately came in

front of him with folded hands and prostrated in front

of him. Addressing himself as adiyen, he then inquired

with curiosity as to how Swamy knew that he had come.

To this Kurugaikavalappan replied that during his

yoga, Kannan withdrew His attention from him and

looked behind him. He continued saying that none other

than a scion of chottai-kulam would Kannan bestow such

anugraham on.

 

Having considered this great an anugraham and

affection of Kannan on Alavandar, Swamy Deshikan says,

“yathra Krishna: kruthAdhara: Swamy continues saying

that, just as how we dip in the holy waters of Yamuna

flowing through Brindavanam, which has been the

recipeint of Kannan’s endearment, to wash away all our

sins, so do we pray to this great acharya Yamunar by

immersing ourselves in the flood of his divine

qualities and glories, who has been a recipient of

Kannan’s divine anugraham and who subdued the serpents

propagating other philosophies and who guarantees

definite protection to innumerable flocks of devotees.

 

Sri Alavandhar's naichyAnusanthAnam (feeling lowly

nature of oneself- the jIvAthma as compared to the

Lord's Greatness, KalyANa guNAs) is very beautifully

reflected in SthOthra Rathnam (total 65 slokas in this

work- reported to be an elaborate reflection of

Dwayam). They are more appropriate and applicable to

us (and not Sri Alavandhar). He has composed for us

only.

 

Aparaaadha-sahasra-bhaajanam

patitam bhiima-bhavaarnav'odare;

agatim saran'aagatam hare!

krpayaa kevalam aatmasaat kuru.

 

Oh SrI Hari! pray, make me your own out of sheer grace

- me, who has fallen into the depths of the terrible

ocean of worldly existence, and who, being resortless,

have sought refuge at your feet.

 

amaryAdha: Kshudra: chalamadhi: asUyAprasavabhU:

kruthagnO dhurmAni smara paravasO vanchanapara:

nrusamsa: pApishta: kathamahamithO dukkajaladhE :

apArAth uttheerNa: tava paricharEyam charanayO :

 

What a soul stirring sloka! One can not but cry

reciting this, (imagining himself as the hero of the

sloka)

 

AlavandhAr describes himself as:

 

amaryAdha: - one who has crossed the bounds of

established rules

Kshudra: - engaging in trivial /worldly

/material/sensual pursuits

chalamadhi:- never steady; (chanchalam), fickle mind

asUyA prasava bhU : Place where jealousy is born

kruthagana: Ungrateful one

dhurmAnee:- ill feelings towards fellow human beings;

smara paravasa : Fallen into the gamut of desires and

sensual impluses

vanchanapara: skillfully deceiving others (at cheating

others )

nrusamsa: - engaging in violent acts

paapishta: ( Incorrigible sinner - mahA paapi

 

Swamy Alavandhaar's works are the ones which give us

crystal clear jnAnam about our unparalleled

unambiguous VisishtAdvaita Srivaishnava philosophy,

the presence of which can never take us to the wrong

roads.

 

After taking so many countless births, We, (dAsars

(servants) of Sri Alavandhar), who have been blessed

to be born (due to the limitless, unconditional grace

of the Lord Sriya: Pathi Sriman Narayanan) as

Srivaishnava in this birth, and have realized and

taken up the prapatti maargam (due to the nirhEthuka

krupA of the Lord), who are bequeathed with such Great

Acharyan, YamunAchAryan, the learning of whose SrI

sukthis enable us to know the tatvatrayam crystal

clear and upAyam and upEyam (means and goal)

perfectly, and keep us reminded of the same always,

will never ever read (hereafter) works of those who

belong to other religions.

 

Says Swamy Desikan in Adhikaara sangraham.

 

neeLa vandhu inRu vidhivagaiyaal ninaivonRiya naam/

meeLavandhu innum vinai udambu onRil vizhundhu

uzhalaa(dhu)

ALavandhaar ena venRu aruL thandhu viLangiya seer/

Alavandhaar adiyOm padiyOm ini alvazhakkE.

 

Alavandhaar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam

asmadhAchArya paryanthAm vandhE GuruparamparAm

Regards

namo narayana

dAsan

 

 

 

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