Acharya vaibhavam - 55- Acharya paramparai- from Ramanuja upto Vedantha Desikan / Swami ManavaaLa maamuni [1017 CE to 1443 CE]-chronologically

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SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya nama:

 

Even if we spend whole of our lives to enjoy Bhagavad

Ramanuja vaibhavam and his sreesookthis, we can not do

justice at all. One life time is not enough to

understand Swamy’s greatness as it is more than that

of the Lord.

 

Let us come back to Swami EmperumAnAr on some other

series exclusively for Him. Let us continue on acharya

paramparai.

 

Our Guru parampara basically is categorized into three

kinds:

 

1.SamAsrayaNa paramparai [initiation]- and the same

one is for Rahasya granthams as well

2.SrI Bhashyam and GitA Bhashyam etc…

3.Bhagavad vishayam [commentary on Swami nammazhwaar

Thiruvaymozhi]

 

There are different acharyas sometime for a sishya [as

in the case of Ramanujacharya]; In some cases, all are

taught by one acharya [as in the case of Swami

Desikan].

 

Thus Acharya paramparai:

 

1. PERIYA PERUMAL and 2. PIRAATTI

3. SRI VISHWAKSENAR [aippasi pooraadam]

4. SRI NAMMAZHWAR [saTakOpar- Vaikaasi Visaakam]

5. SRI NATHA MUNIGAL [822 C.E – 930 C.E] Aani anusham]

6. SRI UYYAKKONDAR [826 C.E.- 930 C.E.]

PuNdareekakshar- Chithrai Kaarthikai]

7. SRI MANAKKAL NAMBHI [Ramamisrar- Maasi makham]

8. SRI YAMUNAMUNI [916 CE- 1036 CE] Alavandhaar – Aadi

UtthirAdam]

9. SRI PERIYA NAMBHI [997 CE- ] and Thiruvaranga

PerumAL arayar for Thiruvaymozhi; other sthothras

ThirukkOttiyoor Nambhi for RahasyArttham; Thirumalai

ANdaan for Thiruvaymozhi vyAkhyAnam; Thirumalai Nambhi

for Srimad RamayaNam]

10. SRI RAMANUJACHARYA [1017 CE- 1137 CE- Chitthirai

Thiruvaadhirai]

 

After Ramanuja, the paramparai splits off into various

traditions. Ramanuja had appointed 74

simhaasanaadhipathis [principal disciples], each of

whom were major teachers in their own right. However,

there are acharyas, who deserve special mention.

 

PERIOD BETWEEN BHAGAVAD RAMANUJA AND SWAMI DESIKA

 

Let us look firstly at Category 1- Sri Bhashya and

GitA Bhashyam [Note that 1 to 10 are from Sriman

Narayanan upto Sri Ramanujacharya]

 

11. Thirukkurhai Piraan PiLLaan [KurukESar- 1033 CE-

Aippasi pooraadam]

12. engaL AzhwAn [VishNu chitthar-1088CE- Vaikaasi

Swathi ]

13. Nadaadhoor ammAL [Vaathsyavaradaguru – Chithrai

Chithrai]

14. Kidambi AppuLLAr [vaadhihamsaambuvaahar- Chithrai

Thiruvaadhirai]

Category 2- SamasrayaNa paramparai: [Rahasya

granthams]

15. Kidambi Aachaan [PraNathaartthiharar ]

16. Kidambi RamanujapPillaan, [AthrEya Ramanuja-

Chithrai ThiruvAdhirai]

17. Kidambi Rangarajar [AthrEya Rangarajar – Panguni

RohiNi]

14. Kidambi Appullaar [vaadhihamsaambuvaahar -Chithrai

Thiruvaadhirai]

18. Swamy Desikan [Purattasi ThiruvONam- 1268 – 1369

CE]

 

Let us enjoy each one of them briefly:

11. KurukEsar- Thirukkurgai Piraan PiLLaan- Through

his sishya Kurukesa (Tirukkurukai Piraan Pillaan)

Swami Ramanuja arranged for the commentary written on

Nammalvar's Tiruvaymoli. This commentary is remarkable

in its usage of phrases from Ramanuja's own works.

PiLLan is considered Ramanuja’s jnAna puthrar.

 

12. VISHNU CHITTHA ( ENGAL AAZHWAAN): He was born in

the month Chitrai and in the constellation of Rohini.

A Tiruvellarai Sozhiyar, he was delivering discourses

(Pravachanam) on Sri Bhashyam and Bhagavad Vishayam.

He wrote a wonderful and detailed commentary on Vishnu

Puranam. He was born in the month Aani in the

constellation of Swaathi. He wrote Vishnuchitteeyam,

Saaraartha Chathushtayam and Sangathi maasam. He

attained Paramapadam at a place called Kollakkonda

near Srivilliputtur.

 

13. Nadaadhoor ammAL: VAATHSYA VARADHA GURU(NADAADHOOR

AMMAL): He was born in the month Chitrai in Chitra

Nakshatram in the year 1165 CE. He lived for 110 years

and attained Paramapadham in 1275 CE. He was also

known as Sudarsanar. He belonged to Srivathsa Gotram.

He also assisted the master in documenting the Sri

Bhashyam and acted as a scribe for Sri Bhashyam along

with Kooratthaahwaan. His father was Devarajap

Perumaal and his grandfather was Nadadoor Aazhwaan He

was a Sribhashya Simhaasana Adhipathi. It is he who

installed the Archa Vigraha of Emperumaanaar at

Kaanchi. His own Archa Vigraham is at Tiruvellarai. He

wrote 19 granthas which include: PRAPANNA

PAARIJAATHAM, Sloka Dvayam, Paratvaadhi Panchaka

Sthuthi, Tattva Nirnayam, Tattva Saaram, Saamaanya

Adhikarana Vaadham, Yathilinga Samarthanam, Hethiraja

Sthavam, Prameya maala, Sri bhashya Sangraham, and

Aahnika Choodaamani (which is not extant) (Authority:

Payyampadi Setlur Srivatsaankaachaaryars Preface to

the Commentary on Prapanna Paarijatham by Abhinava

Desika Uttamur Swami.) He was the master of Kidambi

Appullaar who learned the Sastras at his feet while he

was delivering Kalakshepam on the Eastern side of

Perarulalan Sannidhi in Kanchipuram. Like a mother who

feeds her child, he offered to Lord Varadaraja hot

milk (neither too hot nor too cold) but just hot

enough to drink .Therefore, the Lord was pleased to

exclaim " en ammAvO? Oh ! Are you my mother? " . That is

how he came to be known as Nadadoor Ammaal.

 

14. Kidaambi AppuLLAr: (Chitrai- Tiruvadirai) He was

the maternal uncle of Swami Desika. He learned in all

the Sastras and Siddhantam from his father Sri

Rangarajar so well that elders wondered if he was the

reincarnation of Periya Thiruvadi - the Vedaatma - and

asked " Ivar Ap Pullaaro? " . " Pull " means bird

especially Garuda. Hence, his name Appullaar which

became very widely known in the entire Srivaishnava

community. His sister was Totaramba who was married to

one Anantasuri, Son of Pundarika Yajvaa. She was the

mother of the great Swami Desika.

 

Sudharsana Suri- another sishya of Nadaadhoor ammAL-

Author of the most lucid commentary on Sribhasshyam,

sruthaprakasika. His sons and this work were later

saved by Swami Desikan during muslim invasion while

Swami Pillailokachariar [working in tandem with Swami

desikan] saved the vigraham of Num PerumAL.

 

15. KIDAAMBI AACHAAN It is this Kidaambi Aachaan

otherwise known as Madappalli Aachaan, since he took

over charge of culinary duties for Ramanuja after the

incident in which Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi declared him as

the one to take personal care of Ramanuja after the

poisoning incident. He was nominated as one of the

Simhasana Adhipathis of Rahasya Sampradaaya Parampara

He studied Vedanta at least 12 times at the feet of

Bhagavad Ramanuja.

 

16. KIDAAMBI RAMANUJAP PILLAAN (Son of Kidaambi

Aachaan).He was born in the month Aippasi in the

constellation Pooraadam.. Nothing more is available

about this Acharya.

 

17. KIDAAMBI RANGARAJAR Was also known as Kidambi

Padmanabhachar. He was the son of Ramanujap Pillaan

and Grandson of Kidaambi Aachaan. He was born in the

month Panguni and in the constellation of Rohini. This

is exactly the same month and Nakshatram under which

our Prakritam Paravaakottai Gopaala Desika Mahaa

Desikan Swami of Poundarikapuram Ashramam was born.

 

During this period from Ramanujacharya’s time to Swamy

Desikan, there are also other greatest

acharyas-namely:

 

Embaar:- cousin of Ramanuja and a great teacher as

well.

 

Swami KooratthAzhwAn [srivathsankhamisrar]- one is

moved to tears enjoying his most wonderful divine life

and Athma guNAs, scholarship and gets limitless

jNAnam, vairAgya and bhakti learning from his pancha

sthavams.

 

Paraasara Bhattar: Parasara Bhattar was the son of

Kurathalwan. His Acharya was Embar. He learned the

Sastras so well that he came to be called a 'walking

university'. His works include his commentary on

Vishnu Sahasra Nama Bashya ( 1,000 names of Vishnu )

also known as 'Bhagavad Guna Darpanam', Rangaraja

Stava, Ranganatha Ashtaka, Sri Guna Ratna Kosam,

Kriyaa Deepam, Ashta Sloki, Satusloki, Dvisloki,

Tanisloki While he was a kid, a haughty Advaita

exponent by name 'Vidvad Jana Kolahala Panditha' was

being carried on a palanquin to engage in a debate

with Ramanuja. The boy stopped him on the way. Holding

a handful of sand in his closed fist, he asked the

Panditha how much of sand was there in his palm. The

Panditha was nonplussed and asked how could anyone

count the sands. Parasara retorted saying that if he

could not answer that it was just a 'fistful' how did

he propose to win an argument with the great Ramanuja.

The Panditha praised the boy, his father Kuresa and

his Acharya, Embar. The Panditha subsequently became

the disciple of Parasara assuming the name of ' Per

Arulala Perumal Emperumanar' Parasara and his brother

helped the master in the documenting the Sribhashya.

When the master bade Embar to bring the baby for

naming, Embar brought the baby and by way of

protection was muttering Dvaya Mantram. When the

master enquired how the baby showed off an unusual

brilliance, Embar narrated what he did on the way. The

master exclaimed that he had prevented Koorathaalwaan

from being the Guru for the baby since only the one

who initiates in Dvaya would be the Acharya. Since he

had done this, the master asked Embar to act as the

Guru for the baby.

 

Numjeeyer: Author of the 9000 [onpathinaayirapadi]-

the second major commentary on Thiruvaaymozhi. He was

an advaitin earlier, and was later transformed into a

VisishtAdvaitin after being defeated by Sri Parasara

Bhattar at Melkote.

 

Num PiLLai: A Master expositor of Ubhaya Vedantha-

especially on Thiruvaaymozhi. He is very fondly

revered and remembered in our Sampradayam. His main

sishyas were Swami Periyavaacchaan PiLLai and Sri

vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai.

 

Periya Vacchaan PiLLai: [12th Century- sharing the

same star of Krishnan- AvaNi RohiNi- hence considered

as Lord KaNNan taking this Acharya amsam to enjoy the

AzhwAr Dhivya sookthis. He is known as Vyaakhyaana

Chakravartthi- Emperor of Commenetaries as he had

written lucid and wonderful, divine commentaries on

all the 4000 hymns of the AzhwArs, Ramaayana,

Alavandhar sthothras, as well as on Ramanuja’s three

prose poems, the Gadyathrayam. It is told he and Swami

desikan had enjoyed each other’s granthams and had

discussions.

 

Vadakku Thiruveedhi PiLLai: Author of the wonderful

commentary of Thiruvaaymozhi called eedu vyaakhyaanam,

also called as 36000 padi. His sons Swami

Pillailokachariar and Sri Azhagiya Manavala Nayanar

were great acharyas and lived in Srirangam during the

same period of Swamy Desikan in the 12th, 13th century

CE.

 

Swami Pillai lokacharyar- He was born in 1205 CE

(Krodana) at Srirangam in Mudumbai Kulam, Srivatsa

Gotram, in the month of Avani and in Rohini Nakshatram

His other names were Ulaga Aasiriyar and lOkAchAriAr.

In fact, the latter name was conferred on him by his

AchAryA NampiLLai.. Though PiLLai lOkAchAryA was

about 63 years older to our Swami, he perceived in his

young friend ( our Swami) the potential to become a

World Savior through his works. He was the foremost

AchAryA of Thenkalai branch of Srivaishnavas. Swami

Pillailokachariar, - was gifted with a great

foresight, he was catholic in nature and was the

author of many rahasya granthas like mukumshupadi. He

also laid the emphasis on Saranagathi.

 

Azhagiya MaNavALa perumAL nAyaNAr: Younger brother of

PiLLai LOkAchAryA and another doyen of TennAchAryA

sampradAyA, he was also a close associate and admirer

of Swami Desika. He remained a bachelor throughout his

life. His works include - AchArya Hridayam,

vyAkhyAnams including 6,000 Padi of TiruppAvai, Amalan

AadhiPiraan, Kanni nun SiruthAmbhu, PattOlai Rahasyam

etc.

 

Swami Pillai lokacharyar’s sishya was Thiruvaaymozhi

Pillai [srisailesar]. Another doyen of thennAchArya

SampradAyam, he was born at Kundigai in PAndya

kingdom. His other names were Thirumalai AzhwAr and

SrisailEsar. He was a disciple of PiLLai LokAchArya

who did him Pancha SamskAram and taught him

ThiruvAymozhi. His other AchAryAs were:- AcchAn PiLLai

for Bhagavad Vishayam Azhagiya ManavALap PerumAL

NAyanAr for Sri BhAshyam and Sruta PrakAsika Koora

Kulottama Daasar for AchArya Rahasya Granthas and

AchArya Hridayam VilAn Cholaip PiLLai for other

Rahasya Granthas. Staying at Thirunagari, he wrote the

SvApadEsa VyAkhyAnam for PeriyazhwAr’s Thirumozhi.

 

SrI Manavaala maamunigaL: His Sishyas include-

ManavALa mA MunigaL known as Periya Jeeyar who was the

immediate predecessor of Bhattar PirAn, the Prathama

Yathipathi of VanamAmalai Mutt. NammAzhwAr koil

EmperumAnAr Jeeyar EmperumanAr koil SatakOpa Jeeyar

Tattvesa Jeeyar. His thanian reads as follows:

 

Namas Sri Saila Naathaaya Kundee Nagara Janmane |

PrasAdha Labda Parama prApya kainkarya sAline ||

 

A Recap:

 

Acharya RaamAnujA : AD 1017-1137 (120 Years )

 

PiLLai LOkAcharyA : AD 1205-1311 ( 106 Years )PiLLai

LokachAr (PL ) was 63 years old , when Vedantha

Desikan was born and latter outlived PL by 68 years.

By his 20th year ( 1288 CE ) , Vedantha Desikan

completed his studies and began his career as a Sri

VaishNavite AchArya. PiLLai LokAcharyA was 83 years

old then and an established Venerable AchArya in

Srirangam . Both Pillailokacharyar and Vedantha

Desikan co-existed as AchaaryAs for 23 years. During

this time, VedAntha Desikan spent many years at

Thiruvahindrapuram and Kanchi and settled down at

Srirangam . Swami Desikan had a great affection and

reverence for Sri PiLLai LokAcharyar as the senior

AchAryA .

 

Vedantha Desikar : 1268-1369 (101 Years ); [Let us

enjoy Vedantha Desika's greatness in subsequent posts]

 

5. MaNavALa Maamuni : AD 1370-1443 ( 73 Years ). Swami

Manavala Maamunmi had great reverence for Swami

Desikan and referred to him always as the Abhiyukthar

or the revered one. Swami Manavala Maamuni as can be

seen in next acharya paramparai chart after Desikan

would have Swamy desikan as one of his prapraaacharya

[Acharya’s Acharya’s acharya] for SriBhashyam.

 

[References:

Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swami’s Acharya Vamsa vruksham

Tthirukkudanthai Desikan 301st year malar]

 

AchAryan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

dasan

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

SrI:

SrImathE Gopaladesikaya nama:

Dearest all,

 

Gievn below is " thirutthi paNikoLLal " by another

fellow Srivaishnava Smt Sumithra Varadarajan. My

sincere aplogies for the errors. Thanks to Smt

Sumithra Varadarajan for her post.

Regards

Namo narayana

dAsan

 

Srimathe ramanujaya Namaha

 

Dear Sri Madhavakannan swamy,

 

Thanks a lot for these wonderful and enlightening

posts filled with acharya bhakthi. Adiyen would like

to make a few additions/corrections in the following

post. Any mistakes may be kindly pardoned.

 

 

Vadakku Thiruveedhi PiLLai: Author of the wonderful

commentary of Thiruvaaymozhi called eedu vyaakhyaanam,

also called as 36000 padi. His sons Swami

Pillailokachariar and Sri Azhagiya Manavala Nayanar

were great acharyas and lived in Srirangam during the

same period of Swamy Desikan in the 12th, 13th century

CE.

This eedu vyakyanam was not Authored by Swamy vadakku

thiruveedhi piLLai but was documented as it was told

by Nampillai, word by word. Hence this is famously

known as " Nampillai EEdu " .

 

Reference: 6000padi Guruparampara prabhavam and

UpadEsarathinamAlai of swamy manavAla mAmunikAl

 

" telliyadhA nampillai seppu neri thannai

 

vallal vadakku thiruveedhip pillai endha nAdariya

 

mAran maraiporulai nanguraiththadhu

 

eedu muppaththArAyiram " (upadesa ratina malai 44)

 

 

Swami Pillai lokacharyar- He was born in 1205 CE

(Krodana) at Srirangam in Mudumbai Kulam, Srivatsa

Gotram, in the month of Avani and in Rohini Nakshatram

His other names were Ulaga Aasiriyar and lOkAchAriAr.

In fact, the latter name was conferred on him by his

AchAryA NampiLLai.. Though PiLLai lOkAchAryA was

about 63 years older to our Swami, he perceived in his

young friend ( our Swami) the potential to become a

World Savior through his works. He was the foremost

AchAryA of Thenkalai branch of Srivaishnavas. Swami

Pillailokachariar, - was gifted with a great

foresight, he was catholic in nature and was the

author of many rahasya granthas like mukumshupadi. He

also laid the emphasis on Saranagathi.

 

Swamy Pillai lokacharya was born on Iyppasi sravanam

and not Avani Rohini. Pillai lokacharyar was the son

and shisya of vadakku thiruveedhi pillai.

Vadakkuthiruveedhi pillai named his son after his

acharya (nampillai) as lokachariar. Originally the

name 'vulagariyar/lokachariar' was presented to

nampillai by one Sri KandAdai thOzhappar.

 

(Please refer Arayirappadi guruparampara

prabhavam/yatheendra pravana prabhavam)

 

 

 

SrI Manavaala maamunigaL: His Sishyas include-

ManavALa mA MunigaL known as Periya Jeeyar who was the

immediate predecessor of Bhattar PirAn, the Prathama

Yathipathi of VanamAmalai Mutt.

 

The prathama yathipathi of Vanamamalai Mutt is " Onnana

Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyer " celebrated as

" ponnadikkal Jeeyer " by Swamy Manavala mAmunikal

himself. Bhattar piran jeeyar is one another acharya

among the ashtadiggajas of Swamy Manavala mAmunikal.

 

(Please refer 'yatheendra pravana prabhavam' and

'Gaganagiri muni guruparampara prabhavam')

 

Adiyen ramanuja dAsan/dAsee

Varadarajan/Sumithra

 

 

 

 

 

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