Athreya Ramanuja Appullar - Avataara Vaibhavam - Thirunakshatram celebrations - May 6th - Part 1

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Swamy Athreya Ramanuja Maha Deshikaaya Namaha

 

Appullar Thirunakshatram Celebrations - May 6th

 

In this posting, we shall enjoy the avathaara vaibhavam of Srimath Appullar,

the acharya as well as the maternal uncle of Swamy Deshika. The descriptions

are totally based on the accounts enshrined in the " 3000 padi guruparampara

prabhavam " of Paramahamsetyaadi Srimath Tritiya Brahmatantra Swatantra

Parakala Yatindra Maha Deshikan, the 3rd acharya of Parakala Matam.

 

Familial Lineage -

Appullar hailed from the lineage of Kidambi Aachchan, who was a direct

disciple of Ramanuja and an ubhaya simhasanadhipati. Of all the tributaries

that arise from Srimath Ramanuja, the lineage of Kidambi Aachchan forms the

rahasya paramparai (the lineage of esoterics). It may be traced as follows -

 

Bhagavad Ramanuja - Kidambi Aachchan - Kidambi Ramanuja Pillaan - Kidambi

Rangarajacharya - Kidambi Appullar (Note - This lineage further continues

with Swamy Deshikan)

 

Avataram -

Appullar's familial lineage may be traced as follows - Kidambi Aachan -

Kidambi Ramanuja Pillan - Kidambi Rangarajacharya - Kidambi Appullar.

Appullar celebrated as the amsham of Supratishta, was born in the kali year

4322, vikrama varsham, month of chittirai in the constellation of

Thiruvadirai to Sri Kidambi Rangarajacharya. Rangarajacharya named his son

as Ramanuja, in memory of his acharya and father, Sri Ramanuja pillaan.

 

Studenthood -

Right from his childhood days Athreya Ramanuja was very sharp in intellect

and he grew up to be profound in all the samanya shastras like shabda,

tarka, mimamsa. People began to admire him and compare him to Pillan and

would call him as " Appillaan " . This name indeed stayed and he came to be

popularly known as " Appillar " .

He was initiated into the esoterics of the tri-corollaries by Sri

Rangarajacharya, who later left to the heavenly abode. He later sought

refuge at the feet of Sri Nadadur Ammal and studied SriBhashya, Gitabhashya,

Aaraayirappadi and other works of Sri sampradayam. His colleagues included

the likes of Sri Sudarshanacharya (of Shrutaprakashika fame), Sri Vadakku

Thiruveedhippillai et al. These kalakshepams would be conducted along the

eastern corridor of Kachchivaaythaan mantapam at Perumal Koil Kanchipuram.

(Reminiscences of this may be seen even to this day)

 

Appullar as a King maker -

Upon the request of Perumal Koil Pundarikaksha Yajvaa, Appillar gave his

sister Totaramma in marriage to Ananthasuri, the son of Pundarikaksha

Yajvaa. To this couple was born the great Venkatanatha (Swamy Deshikan), one

of the greatest acharyas of Ramanuja siddhantam. When the child was around

five years old, Appillar took him to the kalakshepa goshti of ammal. It was

here that the young child Venkatanatha received munificent katakshams of

Ammal, which paved the way for him (Venkatanatha) to become one of the

brightest star of Ramanuja siddhantham. Ammal later instructed Appillar to

instruct and initiate the child into all the treatises of Srisampradayam.

 

As per the wish of his master Appillar, took young Venkatanatha into his

fold. He instructed the young child into all the samanya shastras first and

later into the likes of Sribhashyam, Bhagavad Vishayam, the esoterics of the

tri-corollaries et al. Appillar later got him married to one Thirumangai

Kanakavalli, who was equal to Swamy Deshika in noble qualities and inherent

virtuousness.

 

Having seen the prowess of Venkatanatha, Appillar initiated him into the

sacred " Vainateya mantram " or " Garuda manthram " , that would help him in

refuting the other fallacious systems of philosophies and thereby to

establish the supreme parama vaidika Ramanuja darshanam.

 

Towards the end of his sojourn, Appillar called on Venkatanatha and said

" Dear child, It is the prophecy of my master Ammal that the darshanam of

Ramanuja shall be firmly established by you. It is therefore my wish that

you take these padukas of Ramanuja and the chakram and shankham (used for

samashrayanam) that has come down to us from him (Ramanuja) " . Venkatanatha

received them on his head with utmost respect and enshrined them along with

his sacristy. Venkatanatha then held the thiruvadi of Appillar on his head

and received the munificent anugrahams of Appillar. Appillar later partook

the Sripaada teerthams of his acharya and left to the heavenly bliss.

 

Appillar was succeeded by his son Kidambi Athreya Padmanabhacharya.

 

Works -

Appillar's intellect and power of erudition knew no bounds. He had won the

title " Vaadihamsaambuvaahar " . Appillar's works include his treatise on Nyaya

shastra known as " Nyaya kulisha " .

 

His taniyans are as follows -

chaitrArdrAsambhavaM kAnchyAM rangarAjagurossutam |

supratishTAMshamAthreyaM rAmAnuja guruM bhaje ||

 

Works on Appullar -

Swamy Deshikan makes innumerable mentions about Swamy Athreya Ramanuja in

his works.

Srimath Thirukkudanthai Gopalarya Maha Deshikan, who came in the lineage of

Appillar as his 14th descendent has composed a stotram in praise of

Appillar. The same is known as " Vaadihamsaabuvaahaarya stotram " .

 

This series will be continued with Vaadihamsambuvaaha stotram.

 

vAzhi vyAkhyAmuddirak kai !!!

vedAnthasUri charaNau sharaNam prapadye !!!