srIvaishNavam – know our AzhwArs and AchAryas A simple introduction to AzhwArs and AchAryas
prepared by: sarathy ramanuja dAsan website: http://koyil.org, http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.org , http://guruparamparai.wordpress.com
email id: mailto:
[email protected]
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas
Know our AchAryas srIvaishNavam (also known as sanAthana dharmam) is an eternal sampradhAyam and many great personalities have propagated it throughout the history. Towards the end of dhvApara yugam, AzhwArs started appearing in southern part of bhAratha varsham at the banks of various rivers. The last AzhwAr appeared in the early part of kali yugam. vyAsa rishi, in srI bhAgavatham identifies that exalted bhakthas of Sriman nArAyaNan will appear in the banks of various rivers and will enrich every one with the divine knowledge of emperumAn. AzhwArs are 10 in number - poigai AzhwAr, bhUthathAzhwAr, peyAzhwAr, thirumazhisai AzhwAr, nammAzhwAr, kulasEkarAzhwAr, periyAzhwAr, thondaradip podi AzhwAr, thirumangai AzhwAr and thiruppAnAzhwAr. madhurakavi AzhwAr is an AchArya nishtar and ANdAL is the avathAram of Bhoomi pirAti. AzhwArs (except ANdAL) are all jIvAthmAs hand picked by emperumAn from samsAram. emperumAn gave the AzhwArs the most perfect knowledge about thathva thrayam (chith - soul, achith - matter, Isvara - God) through his own sankalpam and through them he re-established the bhakthi/prapatthi mArgam when it was lost. He also made them realize past, present and future events fully and clearly. Azhwars sung 4000 divya prabhandham (popularly known as aruLicheyal) which were direct outpourings of their bhagavadh anubhavam. After the time of AzhwArs, AchAryas started appearing. Many AchAryas starting from nAthamunigaL, centered by srI rAmAnuja and ending with maNavALa mAmunigaL appeared and propagated our sath sampradhAyam. This AchArya paramparai continues through the 74 simhAsanadhipathis and jeeyar mutts (established by emperumAnAr and maNavALa mAmunigaL) until today. These AchAryas wrote several commentaries on aruLicheyal, explaining the meanings of the pAsurams in great detail. These commentaries are the great wealth they have left behind to us - for us to read them and immerse in the bhagavadh anubhavam. The AchAryas, by the mercy of the AzhwArs were able to exactly understand the divine message in the pAsurams and explain them from different angles. Let us now first see the AzhwArs in sequence. Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy. Also known as sarO munIndhra. avathAra sthalam: thiruvekkA (kAnchIpuram) thirunakshathram: aippasi - sravaNam Works: mudhal thiruvanthAdhi poigai AzhwAr (kAsAra yOgi)
kAnchyAm sarasi hEmAbjEjAtham kAsAra yOginam kalayE ya: shriya:pathyE ravim dhIpam akalpayath Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy. avathAra sthalam: thirukkadalmallai (mahAbalipuram) thirunakshathram: aippasi - avittam) Works: iraNdAm thiruvanthAdhi
bhUthathAzhwAr
mallApura varAdhIsham mAdhavI kusumOdhbhavam bhUtham namAmi yO vishNOr gyAnadhIpam akalpayath
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 2
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas
Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy. avathAra sthalam: thirumayilai (mayilApUr) thirunakshathram: aippasi - sathayam Works: mUnRAm thiruvanthAdhi pEyAzhwAr (mahathAhvaya)
dhrushtvA hrushtvam yO vishNum ramayA mayilAdhipam kUpE rakthOthpalE jAtham mahathAhvayam AshrayE Focussed on antharyAmi emperumAn. Also, established that we should only be surrendered to srIman nArAyaNan. avathAra sthalam: thirumazhisai thirunakshathram: thai - magam Works: nAnumgan thiruvanthAdhi, thiruchantha viruththam
thirumazhisai AzhwAr (bhakthisAra)
sakthi panchamaya vigrahAthmanE sUkthikArajatha chiththa hAriNE mukthidhAyaka murAri pAdhayOr bhakthisAra munayE namO nama: Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Considered as the leader of all AzhwArs and srIvaishNavas. Brought out the essence of 4 vEdhams in 4 prabhandhams. avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam Works: thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi, thiruvAimozhi
nammAzhwAr (satagOpan)
mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi: sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam srImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA Focussed on nammAzhwAr. Established the importance of AchArya bhakthi. avathAra sthalam: thirukkOLUr thirunakshathram: chithrai - chithrai Works: kaNNinuN chiRuth thAmbu
madhurakavi AzhwAr
avidhitha vishayAntharas chatArEr upanishdhAm upagAna mAthra bOga: api cha guNa vachAth thadhEka sEshi madhurakavir hrudhayE mamAvirasthu
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 3
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Focussed on srI rAmAvathAram. Showed the importance of developing attachment towards bhAgavathas and dhivya dhEsams. avathAra sthalam: thiruvanjikkaLam thirunakshathram: mAsi - punarpUsam Works: perumAL thirumozhi, mukundha mAlai kulasEkarAzhwAr
gushyathE yasya nagarE rangayAthrA dhinE dhinE thamaham sirasA vandhE rAjAnam kulasEkaram Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Established the importance of mangaLAsAsanam (praying for the well being of bhagavAn) which is the highest state of love towards bhagavAn. avathAra sthalam: srIvilliputhUr thirunakshathram: Ani - swAthi Works: thiruppallANdu, periyAzhwAr thirumozhi
periyAzhwAr (vishNu chiththan)
ANdAL (gOdhA)
gurumukam anadhIthya prAhavE thAn asEshAn narapathi parikluptham sulkamAdhAthu kAma: svasuram amara vandhyam ranganAthasya sAkshAth dhvija kula thilakam vishNuchiththam namAmi Focussed on krishNAvathAram. An incarnation of bhUmi dhEvi (divine consort of bhagavAn). Appeared in this world for the upliftment of everyone. avathAra sthalam: srIvilliputhUr thirunakshathram: Adi - pUram Works: thiruppAvai, nAchiyAr thirumozhi nILA thunga sthanagiri thatI suptham uthpOdhya krishNam pArArthyam svam sruthi satha siras sidhdham adhyApayanthI svOchishtAyAm srajinikaLitham yAbalAth kruthya bhungthE gOdhA thasyai nama itham itham bhUya EvAsthu bhUya: Focussed on srIranganAthan. Established the glories of nAma sankIrthanam, saraNAgathi and clearly explained the glories of srIvaishNavas. avathAra sthalam: thirumaNdangudi thirunakshathram: mArgazhi - kEttai Works: thirumAlai, thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi
thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr (bhakthAngri rENu)
thamEva mathvA paravAsudhEvam rangEchayam rAjavadharhaNiyam prAbhOdhikIm yOkrutha sUkthimAlAm bhakthAngrirENum bhagavanthamIdE
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 4
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Focussed on srIranganAthan. Beautifully performed mangaLAsAsanam to the divine form of periya perumAL (srIranganAthan). avathAra sthalam: uRaiyUr thirunakshathram: kArthigai - rOhiNi Works: amalanAdhipirAn thiruppANAzhwAr (muni vAhanar)
thirumangai AzhwAr (parakAlan)
ApAdha chUdam anubhUya harim sayAnam madhyE kavErathu hithur mudhithAntharAthmA adhrashtruthAm nayanayOr vishayANtharANAm yO nischikAya manavai munivAhanam tham Focussed on many dhivyadhEsams travelling to them on his horse AdalmA. Engaged in many kainkaryams during his time in srIrangam, etc. avathAra sthalam: thirukkuraiyalUr thirunakshathram: kArthigai - kArthigai Works: periya thirumozhi, thirukkurunthANdagam, thiruvezhukkURRirukkai, siriya thirumadal, periya thirumadal, thirunedunthANdagam kalayAmi kalidhvamsam kavim lOka dhivAkAram yasya gObi: prakAshAbir Avidhyam nihatham thama:
gukAra: anthakAra vAchya shabhdha: - gu represents the aspect of ignorance that our intelligence is covered with. rukAra: than nivarthaka: - ru represents the true knowledge that will remove that ignorance. guru means the teacher who removes our ignorance and guide us into the true path of knowledge. guru and AchArya are synonyms and both mean spiritual teacher. OrAN vazhi guru paramparai means disciplic succession of spiritual teachers who carried the great message of scriptures through history. Our OrAN vazhi guru paramparai starts with srI ranganAthan (srIman nArAyaNan), centered with srI rAmAnuja (who is hailed as jagadhAchArya - meaning the AchArya of the whole universe) and ends with srI maNavALa mAmunigaL (who was declared by srI ranganAthan himself as his own AchArya in srIrangam). Let us now see each AchArya's details one by one.
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 5
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Popularly known as srI ranganAthan. prathamAchAryan (first AchAryan) to everyone. Descended from paramapadham to sathya lOkam - worshipped by brahmA, then to ayOdhya worshipped by sUrya vamsa kings upto srI rAman himself, finally brought over to srIrangam by srI vibhIshaNan and settled there.
periya perumAL (srIman nArAyaNan)
thirunakshathram: AvaNi - rOhiNi Works: bhagavath gIthai, srI sailEsa dhayApAthram thanian srI sthanAbharaNam thEja: srIrangEsayam AsrayE chinthAmaNi mivothvAntham uthsangE ananthabhOgina: Popularly known as srI ranganAyaki. dhivya mahishi (divine consort) of bhagavAn. bhagavAn's dhayai (Mercy) personified. Glorified by our AchAryas as purushakAra bhUthai (recommendation authority) for us while approaching emperumAn. thirunakshathram: panguni - uthram
periya pirAttiyAr (srI mahAlakshmi)
nama: srIranga nAyakyai yath brO vibhrama bhEthatha: IsEsithavya vaishamya nimnOnnatham itham jagath He is the commander-in-chief of bhagavAn in paramapadham. He takes care of all administrative activities. He is also known as sEshAsanar - one who is the first to accept bhagavAn's sEsha prasAdham. thirunakshathram: aippasi - pUrAdam
sEnai mudhaliyAr (vishwaksEnar)
srIrangachandhra masamindhirayA viharthum vinyasya visvachidha chinnayanAdhikAram yO nirvahathya nisamanguLi mudhrayaiva sEnAnyam anya vimukAs thamasi sriyAma Hailed as vaishNava kula pathi and prapanna jana kUtasthar ( leader of all srIvaishNavas). Also known as mARan, parAngusan, kurugUr nambi, etc. avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam Works: thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi, thiruvAimozhi
nammAzhwAr (satagOpan)
mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi: sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam srImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 6
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Located nammAzhwAr's avathAra sthalam and acquired 4000 dhivya prabhandham and its meanings from AzhwAr by constant meditation on AzhwAr. avathAra sthalam: kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram) thirunakshathram: Ani - anusham Works: nyAya thathvam, yOga rahasyam, purusha nirNayam nAthamunigaL (srIranganAtha muni)
nama: achinthya adhbudha aklishta jnAna vairAgya rAsayE nAthAya nAtha munaye agAdha bhagavadh bhakthi sindhavE Learnt 4000 dhivya prabhandham with meanings from nAthamunigaL and propagated the same. avathAra sthalam: thiruveLLaRai thirunakshathram: Chithrai - kArthigai nama: pankaja nEthrAya nAtha: srI padha pankajE nyastha sarva bharAya asmath kula nAthAya dhImathE
uyyakkoNdAr (puNdarIkAkshar)
Reformed yAmunAchAryar and established him as a great AchAryan. avathAra sthalam: maNakkAl (near srIrangam) thirunakshathram: mAsi - magam
maNakkAl nambi (srI rAma misrar)
ayathnathO yAumunam Athma dhAsam alarkka pathrArppaNa NishkrayENa ya: krIthavAnAsthitha yauvarAjyam namAmitham rAmamEya sathvam Great scholar who firmly established srIrangam as the head quarters, lived there with many sishyas. avathAra sthalam: kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram) thirunakshathram: Adi - uthrAdam works: gIthArtha sangraham, Agama prAmANyam, chathuslOki, sthOthra rathnam, etc.
ALavandhAr (yAmunAchAryar)
yath padhAmbhOruhadhyAna vidhvasthAsEsha kalmasha: vasthuthAmupayA dhOham yAmunEyam namAmitham
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 7
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Had great attachment towards ALavandhAr and rAmAnujar. Brought rAmAnujar over to srIrangam. avathAra sthalam: srI rangam thirunakshathram: mArgazhi - kEttai works: thiruppathik kOvai periya nambi (mahA pUrNar)
kamalApathi kalyAna gunAmrutha nishEvayA pUrNa kAmaya sathatham pUrNAya mahathE nama: The main preceptor who established visistAdhvaitha sidhAntham and took our sampradhAyam every where. avathAra sthalam: srIperumbUthUr thirunakshathram: chithrai - thiruvAdhirai works: sri bhAshyam, gIthA bhAshyam, vEdhArtha sangraham, vEdhAntha dhIpam, vEdhAntha sAram, saraNAgathi gadhyam, srIranga gadhyam, srIvaikuNta gadhyam and nithya grantham
emperumAnAr (srI rAmAnuja)
embAr (gOvindha perumAL)
yOnithyam achyutha padhAmbuja yugma rukma vyAmOthas thathitharANi thrunAya mEnE asmadhgurOr bhagavathOsya dhayaikasindhO: rAmAnujasya charaNou sharaNam prapadhyE Hailed as srI rAmAnuja's shadow. Was totally detached from materialistic aspects but was a great rasika in bhagavath vishayam. avathAra sthalam: madhura mangalam thirunakshathram: thai - punarpUsam works: vijNana sthuthi, emperumAnAr vadivazhagu pAsuram rAmAnuja padha chAyA gOvindhAhva anapAyinI thadhA yaththa svarUpA sA jeeyAn madh visramasthalee Illustrious son of kUrathAzhwAn. Hailed as the adopted son of srI ranganAthan and srI ranganAchiyAr. Hailed as sarva thanthra svathanthrar due to his masterly control over sAsthram. avathAra sthalam: srIrangam thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - anusham works: srIrangarAja sthavam, ashta slOki, srI guNa rathna kOsam, etc
parAsara bhattar
srI parAsara bhattArya srirangEsa purOhitha: srIvathsAnga sutha: srImAn shrEyasE mEsthu bhUyasE
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 8
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Reformed by bhattar. Originally an adhvaitha scholar, but due to bhattar's efforts, he becomes a great srIvaishNava. Exemplified as the sishya of bhattar. Also, known as vEdhAnthAchAryar. avathAra sthalam: thirunArAyaNapuram thirunakshathram: panguni - uthram works: thiruvAimozhi 9000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams nanjIyar (vEdhAnthi)
namO vEdhAntha vEdhyAya jagan mangaLa hEthavE yasya vAgAmruthAsAra bhUritham bhuvana thrayam Great scholar in samskritha/dhrAvida sAsthram. First to give detailed lectues on thiruvAimozhi in srIrangam temple. Hailed as thirumangai AzhwAr's incarnation. avathAra sthalam: nambUr thirunakshathram: kArthigai - kArthigai works: thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams
nampiLLai (lOkAchAryar)
vEdhAntha vEdhya amrutha vArirAsEr vEdhArtha sAra amrutha pUramagryam AdhAya varshantham aham prapadhyE kAruNya pUrNam kalivairidhAsam Most dedicated disciple of nampiLLai. Documented eedu vyAkyAnam of nampiLLai. Gave us two great gems - piLLai lOkAchAryar and azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr. avathAra sthalam: srI rangam thirunakshathram: Ani - swAthi works: thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams
vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai (srI krishNa pAdhar)
sri krishna pAdha pAdhAbjE namAmi sirasA sadhA yath prasAdha prabhAvEna sarva sidhirabhUnmama Most merciful AchArya who documented the esoteric principles of our sampradhAyam in the simplest language for every one's benefit. avathAra sthalam: srIrangam thirunakshathram: aippasi - sravaNam works: mumukshuppadi, thathva thrayam, srIvachana bhUshaNam, etc (18 rahasya granthams and more)
piLLai lOkAchAryar
lOkAchArya guravE krishna pAdhasya sUnavE samsAra bhOgi santhashta jIva jIvAthavE nama:
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 9
srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas Dedicated his whole life for nammAzhwAr and thiruvAimozhi. Reestablished everything in AzhwAr thirunagari and built new temple for srI rAmAnujar there. avathAra sthalam: kunthI nagaram thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam works: periyAzhwAr thirumozhi svApadhEsam nama srisailanAthAya kunthI nagara janmanE prasAdhalabdha parama prApya kainkaryasAlinE thiruvAimozhi piLLai (srI sailEsar)
Re-incarnation of srI rAmAnuja. Lectured on thiruvAimozhi eedu vyAkyAnam for a year in front of srI ranganAthan and his parivAr. At the end of the lecture series, srI ranganAthan accepts him as his AchAryan and offers him his most popular srIsailEsa dhayApAthram thanian. avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari thirunakshathram: aippasi - thirumUlam works: many sthOthrams, thamizh prabhandhams, vyAkyAnams maNavALa mAmunigaL (ramya jAmAthru muni)
srisailEsa dhayA pAthram dIbhakthyAdhi guNArNavam yathIndhra pravaNam vandhE ramya jAmAtharam munim
In addition, we will also learn a little about ponnadikkAl jIyar who is the first jIyar of our vAnamAmalai mutt. Very confidential sishya of mAmunigaL who stayed with mAmunigaL right from very young age. Established srI vAnamAmalai mutt per the orders of mAmunigaL. srIvaramangA nAchiyAr considers ponnadikkAl jIyar as her own father. Performed many kainkaryams for dheivanAyagan emperumAn at vAnamAmalai and many other dhivya dhEsams. avathAra sthalam: vAnamAmalai thirunakshathram: kanni (purattAsi) - punarpUsam works: thiruppAvai svApadhEsam, Glorifications on mAmunigaL ponnadikkAl jIyar
ramya jAmAthru yOghIndhra pAdharEkhA mayam sadhA thathA yaththAthma saththAdhim rAmAnuja munim bhajE
AzhwAr emperumAnAr jIyar thiruvadigaLE charaNam jIyar thiruvadigaLE charaNam AchAryan thiruvadigaLE charaNam
http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com
[email protected]
Page 10
