Sri Nampillai’s Life Sketch Part 3 By: U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

[Guest guest]

ramanuja, "andal_krishna"

<andal_krishna> wrote:

>

Correction to the earlier posting:

 

This article IS a direct translation - from Sri Guru Paramparai -

(translated by U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy into English)

 

 

 

 

> Srimathe Ramanujaya Namah:

>

> Part (3) of Sri Nampillai's Life Sketch >>

>

> By: U.Ve. Sri E.S. Bhuvarahachariar Swamy

> >Members, Please note: This is NOT a translation, it is an

article authored by Sri ESBV Swamy himself in English and sent to us

only to post and share with bhaagavathas in this group. >

> Once Sri Nanjeeyar out of unbounded affection towards SriNampillai

voluntarily came out with a great truth that should get embedded in

the hearts of all Srivaishnavas:>>

> Bhagavadanubhava: Enjoying the virtues, acts and Handsome

appearance etc., of the Lord >>> >> >

> a). A Srivaishnava should become the target of the eyes of the

Lord. (Vasudevan valayule says Nammazhvar.) >>

>

> b). A Srivaishnava should always admire the strong shoulders of

Madhavan who churned the milky ocean, erecting the Manthara mountain

as a churning rod and used Vasuki, the serpent king for the rope.

Thus fulfilled the desire of angels deity of Thirumalirumsolai malai

by name Sundarabahu.("Mantaram Naatti" etc – Sri Andaal's Nachchiyar

Thirumozhi.) >>

>

> c). A Srivaishnava should consider Lord Ranganatha alone as his

intimate and pleasant companion and guard. (Arangathuraiyum

inthunaivan –Kaliyan)>>

> d). A Srivaishnava should quench his thirst by drinking the ever

sweet nectar namely Aravamudan of Thirukkudandhai alone is his

intimate pleasant companion and quard. (Arangathuraiyum inthunaivan –

Kaliyan) Aravamudhan of Thirukkudan Dai (Kumbakonam)

("appozhuthaikkappozhudu ennaravamuDame" – Nammazhwar's

Thiruvaimozhi)>>

> e). A Srivaishnava should always consider the Lord as the fruit of

four Vedas ("Nanguvedappayan…")>>

>

> >>

>

> >>

> Vishayaanubhava: Enjoyments of worldly pleasures or objects of

senses. (Bhagavadanubhava and Vishayaanubhavam are always at

loggerheads. They can never go together. This is very well

enunciated and substantiated by Alwars in their Divya Prabhandams)>>

> a). He should not be ensnared by the net of bewitching eyes of

beautiful damsels. {Madaraar kayarkan yennum valai. (Valai – net,

kayal – a kind of fish) kayal like eyes of women says

Thondaradippodi Azhwar}>>

>

> b). As opposed to this he is not expected to be lured away by the

charming shoulders of ladies whose soft bosom is covered by thick

perfuming sandal paste. (Chanthenthu menmulaiyar tadantholile

akappadudal) Thirumangai Azhwar.>>

>

> c). As opposed to this he should not think that the teenaged

damsel's fatty bosom is the companion. ("Aviye amude panai mulai

thunaiya" – kaliyan)>>

> d). On the other hand if he tastes the lips of ladies by kissing

them taking it to be nectar, he would only secure his downfall.

("pavaiyar vayamudam" – kaliyan) >>

> e). Quite against this he thinks that he has taken a birth in this

world only to enjoy the enchanting breasts of ladies, he is digging

his own grave. ("Madaraar vanamulai payan"- kaliyan)>>

>

> > >

>

> > >

>

> To conclude Azhwars have thus clearly chalked out the path to be

walked by the Srivaishnavas. Thirumangai Azhwar has categorically

declared that a Srivaishnava should first of all reject by all means

the company of girls of graceful gait like swans and then only have

recourse to the Lord's Holy feet. He also exhorted them to eschew

first of all the carnal desires. Hence my dear son, (said Nanjeeyar

to Nampillai) a Srivaishnava should give up totally all petty

worldly pleasures and then only he will be acceptable to God. >>

>

> On hearing this advice of his teacher, Sri Nampillai was

overwhelmed with great jubilance and became more and more devoted to

his Acharya and never left his company even for a while. Sri

Nanjeeyar conducted discourse (kalakshepam) on Tiruvaimozhi while at

Srirangam and completed 100 times of the same. As this is a rare

phenomenon in the life of a man the disciple Nampillai celebrated it

by conducting Satabhishekam Festival with due pomp and glory.>>

>

> All Srivaishnava sampradaya doctrines dwelt in the heart of

Nampillai more than the heart of his teacher. Thus he shone like a

bright illuminating torch lighted in a lamp and so he was able to

guide all the Srivaishnavas in the proper manner. Observing this,

Sri Nanjeeyar thought that he had fulfilled his mission in life.>>

>

> Several Srivaishnavas admiring the great traits of Sri Nampillai

were attracted towards him as bees to the flowers and bats to the

fruits and became his ardent disciples. Among them 1. Peria

Vaachchan Pillai, 2. Vadakku Tiruveedhi Pillai, 3. Pinbazhagiya

Perumal Jeeyar 4.Eyunni Madhava Perumal etc. were the foremost. >>

>

> Among the four important disciples of Sri Nampillai, Pinbazhagiya

Perumal Jeeyar did not care for either his food or sleep. Served his

Acharya, Sri Nampillai without any lapse. At one time he became

bedridden afflicted by a certain disease. Consequently he summoned

some of his close associates and requested them as follows "Oh! My

dear friends, I do not wish to die now. I would like to live for

some more time. Hence you please go to Sriranganatha's Temple and

going round in circumambulation recite the divine songs of Sri

Kaliyan "Yezhai yedalan" and that of swamy Nammazhwar's "Azhi yezha"

etc and pray to Him for my longevity of life." They did so and Sri

Jeeyar's normal health was restored to him by the grace of Lord.>>

>

> On hearing this some Srivaishnavas went to Sri Nampillai, saluted

him with obedience and requested him to enlighten them in this

regard. They said, "Oh! Dear Master! Pinbhazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar is

famous for his supreme knowledge and he is also aged. Does this kind

of seeking longevity of life suit his swarupa? The mortal should

always leave it to the sweet will and pleasure of the Lord. Why this

unusual behaviour of our Jeeyar?" Sri Nampillai answered this query –

"I do not know his mind. Sri Pillai Engal Azhwan understands the

inner meaning of all sastras without an iota of doubt. All of you

please go to him and get it clarified. >>

>

> As per the order of the Acharya Srivaishnavas approached Pillai

Engalazhwan and beseeched him to explain the cause for the odd

behaviour of Pinbazhagiya Jeeyar. Engalazhwan came out with an

explanation "It may be due to his strong attachment for Sri

Ranganatha and desire to live at Srirangam enjoying all festivals in

the company of Srivaishnavas.">>

>

> Sri Nampillai, duly reported by the Srivaishnavas said, "Well!

This is good. The Araiyar Swamy gave an explanation that it may be

due to non completion of the service to Lord which the Jeeyar had

commenced.>>

>

> Sri Nampillai not being satisfied by this reasoning directed the

Srivaishnavas to search for an answer from Sri Ammangi Ammal. Sri

Ammangi Ammal said "Can a Srivaishnava attending the lectures on

Bhagavadvishaya by Sri Nampillai evince an interest in departing to

Sri Vaikunta Loka?">>

>

> Sri Nampillai listened to this also and commanded the Sri

Vaishnavas to get a clarification from Sri Ammangi Periya Mudaliar.

Sri Ammangi swamy also came out with his own explanation.>>

>

> - - - - - - -to be continued>>

>

> > >

>