This is the article written by Sri.Parthasarathi, who is shyshya of H H Srimath andavan and he writes lot of article on Sri Vaishnavism under name of Poigai Adiyan, Chandra Parthasarathy etc. He is also the Editor of Internet magazine Sri Vaishnavism in Hotmail e-group. He contributes lot of article in internet groups of Sri Vaishnavism.

I have tried my hand in translating the above Article “ Meendum Ananthan” Tamil Article in English for the readers who don’t know Tamil. It is difficult translate word by word. If any mistakes pray excuse. Please do not rake up any Controversies on thise article Please get in touch with Sri.Parthasarathi Mama and get whatever clarification you want.

 

Srihi

Meendum Ananthan It was a time when Vaishnavism was dwindling, with blessings of Sriman Narayana , Bhagavath Ramanuja who was the amsam of Adhi Seshan was born and he established the Vasishtaadwaita.

Vasishtaadwaita means Brahmam, That is Eshwaran is one and that is permanent. That Eshwaran has Chith and Achith as his body. So Eshwaran Chith and Achith together in one form. So he has together means Vasishta in Sanskrit. Since Vasishtaa eshwaranuku Adwaithmanuthu Agiyal Vasishtaadwaita name came, Eshwaran is none but Sriyaspathi Sriman Narayana.

All creation should reach him only, there are many ways to reach him but Saranagathi is the simplest one. If Jeeva does Saranagathi to Paramathma then definitely our Lord Sriman Narayana will definitely give Moksham, this is the principle of our Beloved Lord Ramanuja.

Then to propagate the Vasishtaadwaitam Our Bhagavath Ramanuja established two kalasalai (university) One at Srirangam and one at Kanchi out of four prime disciples he sent two to Srirangam and two to Kanchi to propagate Vasishtaadwaitam. Since Kanchi is in north of Srirangam it became Vadakalasalai. Since Srirangam is in North of Kanchi it became Thenkalasalai. Now a days different school have different type of uniform for easy identification of particular school .So Our Udayavar asked Thenkalasalai people to put thiruman kapu and extend it to Nose say Y and for Vadakalasalai it is in the form of U .

See now a days there is difference of lessons is there between one University and another university in lessons even though they may be offering same degree course , hence the difference between Then and Vada kalasalai.

Over the period of time this Kalasalai became Kalai, Difference of opinion was there but now it is slowly disappearing, it gives immense satisfaction The famous among Vadakalasalia Acharyas was Vedanta Desikan and in Then Kalasalai They say Meendum Ananthan amsam and rebirth of Lord Ramanuja was born as MANAVALA MA MUNIGAL.

Sikkil Kidaram is a small village located near Azhwar Thirunagari.In this village lived a prominent disciple of Pillai Lokacharya named Kolli Kavaladasa. Kolli Kavaladasa had a disciple by name, Thigazhakkidanthan who later became his son in law. One day the wife of Thikazhakkidanthan became pregnant .The village people observed a divine glow on the face of the pregnant lady and predicted that the child growing in her womb would some day become a mahatma by whose grace the world will be liberated from the cycle of births and deaths.

In the Tamil month of Iyppasi, CE 1370, under the

moola nakshatra, a beautiful child was born to the

couple. Thikazhakkidan

than was extremely

happy.

The child resembled a fully bloomed white lotus and the crown of hair upon the child’s head resembled a cluster of dark rain clouds. He had long and wide eyes. The parents saw in the child his divine nature and named him after their

aradhana moorthy

“Azhagiya Manavalan”.

Thikazhakkidanthan performed the various samksaras for the child and at the appropriate time upanayana was also performed and the child’s education began. Thikazhakkidanthan himself assumed the position of Acharya and imparted to the young Azhagiya Manavalan the truths enshrined in the ancient scriptures- Vedas & Upanishads. He also taught the works of the azhwar saints to young Azhagiya Manavalan.

Once Azhahiya Manavalan was of marriageable age, Thikazhakkidanthan conducted his marriage ceremony. As a result of the knowledge gained from his study, Azhagiya Manavalan became the very personification of “Satva Guna”. Azhagiya Manavalan was totally detached from worldly matters and constantly

meditated on the feet of his Acharya (and father) .He felt that the divine feet of thikazhakkidanthan was his only refuge. Not long after, Azhagiya Manavalan lost his father and Acharya , Thikazhakkidanthan. As a result of Thikazhakkidanthan’s death, Azhagiya Manavalan became a person without direction and his mind was at unrest.

At that time, lived a great Vidwan named Sri Sailesa.Sri Sailesa was once a minister in the Madurai King’s court but left his position to devote his time and effort on the preservation and study of the Azhwar’s works. He was instrumental for building a shrine dedicated to Nammazhwar in Thirukuruhur. Sri Sailesa’s devotion to Sri Nammazhwar earned him the title of Thiruvaymozhi Pillai.Azhagiya Manavalan took refuge at the feet of Thiruvaymozhipillai and became his disciple.Thiruvaymozhi Pillai observed the divine glow in Azhagiya Manavalan at once realized that this Mahatma would spread the siddhanta of Sri Ramanuja after him. He took a special interest in Azhagiya Manavalan and ensured that he became well versed with the Azhwars works and their various commentaries.

Witnessing the guru’s affection towards azhagiya manavalan, other disciples became jealous and confronted Thiruvaymozhi Pillai. Thiruvaymozhi Pillai explained patiently that none had realized the divinity of the student who was none other than the reincarnation of Adi Sesha. He stressed that Azhagiya Manavalan in his true form was capable of mastering all arts and sciences at the same time as he had a thousand hoods and a thousand tongues. Thiruvaymozhi Pillai then shared with his disciples that by nurturing Azhagiya Manavalan and developing his talent, it was only the guru who had all to gain and nothing to lose as it was Azhagiya Manavalan alone who was capable of granting him the higher spiritual planes.

Day by Day, Azhagiya Manavalan’s devotion to Saint Ramanuja developed several fold. He composed a Sanskrit text in Sanskrit “Yatiraja Vimsathi” preaching the

central message of Sri Vaishnavism – that unconditional surrender or sharanagati at the feet of Sri Ramanuja alone was capable of granting Moksha.

Once he completed his education with Thiruvaymozhi Pillai, at the guru’s behest, Azhagiya Manavalan moved to the holy city of Sri Rangam with a few disciples.There Azhagiya manavalan spent his days preaching the message of the Azhwars. One day Azhagiya Manavalan received news that the Lord had recalled to pramapadam his Acharya.Thiruvaymozhi Pillai breathed his last in full satisfaction well knowing that he had put in place a strong pillar that would preserve and

propagate the tradition for years to come.

Azhagiya Manavalan rushed to Thirukuruhur to perform the last rites for his guru.He decided to stay there for a few years and continue preaching the message of Nammazhwar’s Thiruvaymozhi to the local residents. After sometime he could not bear the thought of separation from Thiruvaymozhi Pillai and left thirukuruhur and returned to Sri Rangam. In Sri Rangam, Azhagiya Manavalan engaged himself in the restoration of old palm leaf manuscripts and giving discourses on the Sri Vaishnava Siddhanta.

After some time, Azhagiya Manavalan went on a pilgrimage to the holy land of Thiruvenkatam or Tirupati. He camped for a few days at the foothills of Tirumala with his disciple Vanamamalai Ponnadikaal Jeeyar Swami after having the darshan of Lord Govindaraja.

That night The Jeeyar of Tirumala had a dream wherein he saw the reclining form of a glowing divine being and at the feet of the divine being was a tridandi sanyasi offering worship. When the disciples of Tirumala Jeeyar heard this, they told their Acharya that they had seen two people at the foothills of Tirumala who fit the description given by the jeeyar. Tirumala Jeeyar with his retinue rushed to the foothills of Tirumala and welcomed Azhagiya Manavalan and his disciple with all temple honors.

From Tirumala, Azhagiya Manavalan went to Kanchipuram. While at Kanchi, Saint Ramanuja appeared in his dream. Saint Ramanuja instructed him to study the Sri Bhashyam under a scholar named Kidambi Nayanar.

One day Kidambi Nayanar requested Azhagiya Manavalan to participate in a “ vidwat sadas” or “ philosophical debate” with several scholars. The people present at the debate were all in awe of Azhagiya Manavalan when they heard his arguments and counter arguments. Kidambi Nayanar knew that this was no ordinary person and approached him in private. Kidambi Nachiyar prayed to Azhagiya Manavalan to show His true form.Azhagiya Manavalan obliged and for a split second appeared before Nayanar in his full glory with a thousand hoods bearing the conch and discus in both arms.Nayanar was the only one known in Hisotry to have seen this form of Azhagiya Manavalan.

Azhagiya Manavalan continued his stay in Kanchi and performed various kaimkaryams. In the course of his activities, Azhagiya Manavalan felt that the only way for him to engage in God’s service without disruption and distraction from

worldly matters was to undertake sanyasa. He approached Satakopa Yati for initiation into the sanyasa order. Satakopa Yati was pleased with Azhagiya Manavalan and obliged. Thereafter Azhagiya Manavalan came to be known as Manavala Mamuni or Periya Jeeyar.

Periya Jeeyar moved back to Sri Rangam and stayed at the “ Pallavarayan Mutt”. He then built a Mantapam called “Thirumalai Azhwar Mantapam”. Positioning himself at the Mantapam, Periya Jeeyar conducted discourses on the Sri Bhashyam daily.

Shortly after that, he went to Thirukuruhur to have darshan of Swami Nammazhwar. Periya Jeeyar spent some time at Thirukuruhur. His fame spread far and wide. Some people became jealous of Periya Jeeyar and wanted to kill him. One night while he was asleep, a

few bad people set fire to his hut. The people of the town became alarmed. At that time everyone saw a black snake make its way out of the burning hut. In the snake, the people saw the form of Periya Jeeyar. His enemies having realized the yogic powers of Mamunigal hung their heads in shame. The people of Thirukuruhur rejoiced. Then with help of the king he spruced up the temple and streets of Thirukuruhur.

Once again our Mamunigal reached Srirangam One person named Appa from Erumbi village became his disciple and lots about our Mamunigal.

In Kanchi there was person named Anna who was a great scholar and he was authority in debating and he was not after money. He was also known as Prathivathi Bhayangaran Annan; he was staying in Thirumalai and doing Kainkaryam to Thiruvenkatamudayan. One day a person from Srirangam went and told about Periya Jeer, because of conversation he forgot to get the Theertham in time and also forgot to add the Vasanai drawiyam , he was very sad. But what a surprise a sweet fragrance came from scared water and a Asriri came and informed that I have accepted the Theertham. Due to this incidence Anna recognised the greatness of Mamunigal., Then he reached Srirangam to see the Jeer and became his disciple.

Jeers famous works were Devaraja mangalam,Sri Kanchi Divya Desa Sthuthi ,Yathiraja Vimsathi , Upadesa Ratna Malai, Thiruvaimozi Nooranthadi ,Arathi Prabhantham, Thiruaradhanam Kramam. Jeers health was getting going down

When Periya Jeer was doing Pravachanam in front of Sri Ranganatha and Ranga Nayaki in the Mantapam, when the time came for doing Sambavanai, a small five

year old child got up amidst the goshti and proclaimed that he is

Aranganathan and told this Slokam

“Sri Saila Daya Patram

Deepakyathi Gunarvam

Yathindra Pravanam Vadeh

RamyaJamantram Munim

That child uttered this slokam and disappeared, then people realized this was Sri Ranganathans himself who came in the form of child, then from that day everybody started rece9iting this slokam as Acharyas Dhaniyan. Even today before starting and finishing the Prabhantham this slokam is recited by Thenkalai sect of Sri Vaishnavas.

At the age of 74 Mamunigal heard the prabandam and left his eternal body and became the Nitya Asuri. He attained Thirunadu on Ruddothkari year (1444), Masi Month, Krishna Paksha Dwadeshi on Thiruvona Nakshtram, Saturday.

Then his disciples carried the eternal body in Pushpa Pallaku the body was kept in Padmasana and brought it a place in Cauvery River they did the Addakam on the banks of river Cauvery and place was known as Dwarasan Porpadukai.

To see pictures of Mamunigal please visit the below mentioned link to see mamunigal of different kshetram.

http://www.pbase.com/svami/manavalamamunikal

Picture Courtesy : Sri M N Srinivasan