Saranagathi Gadhyam

[gokulkr 1]

<center>SARANAGATHI GADHYAM

 

 

</center>

 

YO nithyamachyutha padhAmbhuja yukmarukma vyAmohathas thadhitharANi thruNayamEnE |

AsmathgurOr bhagavathosya dhyaikasindhO: RamAnujasya charaNau saraNam prapadhyE ||

Gadhyam is like a prose composition; even then, when you read it aloud with bhakti, it gives great blissful happiness and Anandham. Those who take refuge at Sri RamAnujA's feet will also be blessed with mOksham was an assurance and promise given by NamperumAL during Setthi Sevai.

(All the more essential that we take refuge at Sri YathrAjA's feet. It is high time we did it!)

Surrendering and taking refuge at Sri Lakshmi pirAtti:

1. Bhagavan NarAyaNa ......... saraNa maham prapadhyE..

Meaning: Sri MahAlakshmi has got all the attributes, the thirumEni, its specialities, the kalyANa GuNAs, which the Lord likes always; Not even a second, she gets separated from the Lord; Blemishless; the pattamahishi of dEvAthi dEvan; the mother for the enire universe; and my mother too; Such grest mother Sri mahAlakshmi- I, who has no other shelter or protector, take refuge at her lotus feet.

Requesting Sri mahAlakshmi to recommend to Lord Sri RanganAtha:

2. pAramArtthika...... asthu mE..

Meaning: Parabhakti, ParaGnAnam and Paramabhakti are the permanent means to hold the Lord's Lotus feet. With those Bhakti, one can getthe divine experience and Bhagavadh anubhavam which is the only one to be desired and nothing else; From that Bhagavadh anubhavam, the "NILAIYAANA

KAINKARYAM" to the Lord. For getting that sort of attitude and the bhakti, one shall perform SARANAGATHI at the Lotus feet of namperumAL. O mAthA,Please bless me to obtain such bent of mind to do SARANAGATHI at all times; with no gap absolutely.

Piratti acknowledges:

3. AsththE.....Let it happen as you asked for.

4. Thayaiva sarvam sampathyathE With that saraNagathi, you (and your sishyAs) are going to get EVERY sampath. EmberumAn's swaroopam:

5. Akila hEya .....swaroopa..

The One, who has embodied unlimited GnAnam, Anandham, and who has housed all kalyANa guNAs, who has differed from all that is different from Him by nature, who has all qualities that is opposite to those which we hate;EmperumAn TirumEni azhaghu:

6. SwAbhimathAnuroopaika....Divya roopA..

The one who has the ThirumEni which is very much liked by Him; which canNEVER be thought and understood about; which is NOT a combination of various particles and matter; which is a wonder(aRputham); which has no beginning and no end; which is blemishless; which is an unparalleled

brightening body; which has ahaghu(beauty), sughandham(Good smell),

softness, and youth always;

EmperumAn's GuNAs:

7. SwAbhAvikA.....mahArNavA..

His attributes and kalyANa guNAs are: Natural, unlimited, stupendous,excellent GnAnam, Bhalam, Aishwaryam, Veeryam, sakthi, tEjas, such six qualities), sowseelyam(quality of mixing with the lower and inferior ones); vAtsalyam(removing others' mistakes lovingly and affectionately); mArdhavam(unable to bear the separation from bhAgavathALs);

Arjavam(nErmai- honest); sowhArtham(thinking of good to others at all times);

sAmyam(does not see the level); kAruNyam(pitying those who suffer);

mAdhuryam(being good and sweet to enemies, too); ghAmbeeryam;

AudhAryam(being "a kodai vaLLal"); chAturyam( capability to change enemies

into friends); sthairyam(determination), dhairyam (being brave); sowryam( can

fight alone in a battle); parAkramam(ability to win effortlessly);

sathyakAmam(able to get what He desires); sathyasankalpam(able to achieve what he thinks and attempts); kruthitvam(carrying out His bhaktALs' services);kruthagnathai(grateful; not forgetting anyone's good deeds); Such qualities are flooded in our Lord! BhagawAn's alankArangaL: SvOchotha.divya bhooshaNA:

8. The ones which are exactly matching and are suitable to Him, the ones which are of different, spectacular, kinds, and have no beginning and have no counts; have permanence in themselves; have no blemishes; unlimited smell, softness, brightness in them;- such crown (kireetam), choodAvadhamsam (mudi aNi), makarakundalam, mAlai, muthucharangaL, bangles, Srivathsam (mole on His chest), ThiruvayiRRup pattam, PeethAmbharam, araigNaN,thaNdai, etc., are His AbharaNangaL(jewels). EmperumAn's weapons(AyudhangaL): SwAnuroopAchnthya.divyAyudhA..

9. The ones which are exactly matching and the ones whose powers can NOT be thought of or understood (by anyone)- such sanghu(conch), chakram (discuss), gadhai, vil, are His weapons which have no lemishes and always do good to others;- O Lord, the one who has such weapons! His consorts: Swabhmatha.srivallabhA yEvamhootha NeeLA nAyakA:

10.The one who is always dearest to Him; who is foe ever, matching and suitable, without blemishes, has a suitable ThirumEni azhaghu, attributes, guNAs, capabilities, command, qualities precisely identical to the Lord- Sri MahAlakshmi- Her nAyakA!, Similarly BhoomidEvi, NeeLAdEvi nAyakA! His parijana, parichArikALs: SwatchAndhAnu.saraNayugaLA

11. The state, actions and quailities of following emperumAn's thiruvuLLam(mind) at all times, the concentration and determination to perform service to the Lord at all times and with a thought about that only at all times, the GnAnam, actions, command, qualities and attributes and such countless kalyANa gunAs are housed in AdhisEshan, vishvaksEnar, Garudan, and other parijanangaL and maids who always serve the Lotus feet of our Lord incessantly. O such great two feet! BhagawAn's place: ParamayOgivaikuntanAthA..

12.Even the most greatest yOgis can not talk or think or measure His swaroopam, such wonderful swaroopam, swabhAvam, such qualities are fully housed in unlimited, beautiful, blemishless, permanent, the one where there is no comparison to any other place- such Sri vaikunta vAsi! Akila ulaga nAthan SwasankalpAnu vibhavalaya leela..

13. The One who has leelAs(playful acts) of The creation, the sustenance and the Destruction of all countless, wonderful enjoyer, the enjoyment and theenjoyed, the one who has housed within Himself as His nature the prakrithi, the purushan and the time(kAlam),- Such leelA vinOdhA! Surrender to the Lord SathyakAmAprapadyE..

The One who has all that He can think of; who can achieve all that He can attempt; The one who is a parabrahman; uttamapurushan; who rules allunlimited, unbounded beings and non-beings; Sri mahAlakshmi nAyakA!,NarAyaNA; Sri vaikutanAthA; The one who is an ocean of kArunyam, sowseelyam, vAtsalyam, AudhAryam,Sowndharyam; The one who does not see the level and protects everyone equally; who wipes the sufferings of bhaktALs; who removes bhaktALs' mistakes; who knows the truths of all matters; movable ones, non movable ones-He commands them at all times; who is the support for the entire Universe; who is a swAmi for the entire Universe; And also my swAmi; Who has everything with Him; who can get whatever He thinks; who is different from others (except Him); who is like a kaRpakatharu for those who beg Him;who is a friend in need; one who never separates Himself from pirAtti; Sriman NarAyaNA; one who is the only refuge for those who are in need of support; Such Sri NarAyaNA! I surrender into your two Lotus feet.

(Dvaya manthram to be recited here)

Pitharam... gruhANi cha..

O BhagawAn! I have left the bonds of bodily relations like father, mother, wife, children, bhandhus(relatives), friends, Gurus, athinangaL (wealth),danadhAnyangaL. Properties, Houses, DharmangaL, and all others, and have surrendered to your feet, TrivikramA!

TvamEvadEva sodum.. DEvAdhi dEvA! You are my mother; my father; my relative; my Guru; my knowledge; my matter; my every thing; One who has unparallel good qualities; One who is a father of all movable and immovable,living and non living beings; You are the only one who can be worshipped; You are the only one who can be a Teacher; Hence, You are the GREATEST;

When there is not even an equal person to match You; How can there someone be greater than You(There CAN NOT BE).

Hence, I have placed my human body flat on the ground and prostrate at your feet considering You as my Lord, the one who is worshippable. Consider me as a son to a father; as a friend to another friend; as a wife to a husband; and bear all my mistakes, blunders which I have committed.

(Our Sri RamanujA thus prosrated to Sriya: pathi and begged to be forgiven by the Lord).

ManOvAkkAyai..kShamasva..

10&11.Through the mind, Language and the body, from time immemorial (for so many births), the mistakes, blunders (apachArams) have been committed;that too, tremendous, infinite number of apachArams- doing the ones which should not have been done; not doing the ones which should be done as per shAstrAs; committing apachArams to the Lord; to the BhAgavathALs; committing unforgiveable, unpardonable apachArams; -All of these, O Lord,Please show mercy on me and forgive me for my such mistakes. Out of these apachArams, some have already started giving me results; some have not yet yielded results; some have been committed in the past; some are being done in the present; and some may even be committed in the future; - Please forgive me for all these apachArams. With regards to Atman, Worldly things, I have been having a misconception and having a "vibhareetha GnAnam", for quite a long time (for so many births); All these wrong GnAnams and misconceptions, which I possess, and will possess- Please forgive me them also. Request for removal of "mAyai"

madheeya-anAdhi karma... mAm thAraya..

12. The mAyA, which has been there in me due to my karmAs I have been doing for a long time; which has been hiding me from the Supreme Truth(BhagawAn) and has been leading me to a "vibhareetha GnAnam" of mistaking the Body as Atman (or attaching myself to the Body); a thinking that "Worldly and sensual pleasures are the happiest and are to be sought after;the mAyA which has been as a body, as sense organs, as bhOgyam, as gross and fine matter; as sattva, rajas and thamasa guNAs; - Such a mAyA of mine(who is saying to You,"I have surrendered to You and am Your servant ALWAYS")-Please enable me to cross over Thy mUla prakriti of the entire guNAs causing beginningless and endless karmas".

tEshAm gnAnee... sudhurlabha:..

13."the GnAni is the one, who is a bhakthA and always thinks of me; hence, he is my dearest. and I am his dearest too." - Please make me such a gnAni!.

Request for PARABHAKTI

"purushas sa para: pArtha:... kinkarO bhavAni..

14."ArjunA, that Parama purushan can be attained through unadulerated ekAntha bhakti only"; "can be attained only with a single pointed devotion/bhakti"; "he gets the Highest Bhakti from Me"- You have mentioned such parama bhakti three times; - Please bless me with such a paramabhakti.

15.Please make me an embodiment of para bhakti, paragnAna and parama bhakti.

16.With those para bhakti, paragnAnam and parama bhakti, I will get Bhagavadh anubhavam and will get "nitya kainkaryam" to You.

BHAGAWAAN REPLIES:

Evambhootha mathkainkarya....kinkarO bhavishyasi..

17.Like that, you may not possess or have any means to get Nitya kainkaryam to Me; you may have committed numerous apachArams to Me; and to My bhAgavathALs; you may have committed unpardonable apacharams; you may have possessed vibhareetha ahankAram and vibhareetha gnAnam and hidden the"Real" swaroopam of Atman; You may have got WRONG vibhareetha thoughts for ages (for so many births); you may possess sathva, rajasa, thAmasa guNAs and also are bound by sukha, dukkangaL(pleasure and sorrows); their causes-theorigin of such vibhareetha thoughts;- you are being troubled and disturbed greatly by the above things and obstruct you to get the "paripoorNa parabhakti, paragnAnam and paramabhakti; - In spite of all these,even though, you have all the above, JUST BECAUSE SOME WAY (may be, inadvertantly), YOU HAVE RECITED DWAYA MANTHRAM; and Hence, With My Grace and Mercy, you will get rid of all hurdles; worries and troubles coming in the way to obtain para bhakti and para gnAnam and parama bhakti; With My Grace, you will be blessed with My Swaroopam, GuNam, Roopam, Perumai, LeelAs etc., and you will see Them in person; you will be My servant and you will enjoy Me ONLY; you will realise that realising Me and Serving Me ONLY GIVES you HAPPINESS AND BLISS; For ever, permanently, with no other material benefit or desire, you will LOVE to serve Me; Experiencing Me and Great Love and Bhakti, affection arising in you out of that Rich Experience will come to you BY MY GRACE; you will always PERENNIALLY LOVE TO SERVE ME AND GET BLESSED; you will be keen on That only;

18. This section is an assuring answer by the Lord to a question that Sri Ramanuja has in mind :When do I start such a kaimkaryam ? You have already started BEING like that.

19.Keep reciting Dwaya manthram and ITS MEANING and get over even the semblance of ALL the HURDLES; Live like that HAPPILY in SRIRANGAM tillyour body is worn out and will not house YOU ANY MORE;

20.When your body falls down, you will shine BRIGHT BY MY GRACE and you will see My Darshan and You will be GREATLY INQUISITIVE to see Me and Reach Me to Serve Me; and you will shed the BODY like removing the OldCloth; you will get All Bhakti for Me Due to My Grace; You will get "Nitya Kainkaryam" for Me; and you will Not desire anything other than the bliss and happiness of performing Nitya Kainkaryam;

21.Have No Doubts about This (mA thE bhoothathra samsaya:)

22. I have NEVER UTTERED FALSEHOOD; Nor will I ever; Rama Never TalksTwice; "Once, whoever surrenders to Me and says"I am Your Servant", I Give "AbhaYam" to All such Beings";

23.SACRIFICE ALL FRUITS OF YOUR KARMA AND SURRENDER TO MYFEET; I SHALL DELIVER YOU FROM ALL YOUR ALL SINFUL REACTIONS.

DO NOT FEAR OR LAMENT. (SarvadharmAn ... mA sucha:)

24. Athas thwam thava.. sukhamAswa..

Hence, you, the one who has joined Me, will know Me as I am, will see as I amand will reach Me as I am and shall HAVE NO DOUBTS AT ALL ABOUT IT; Live Happily Till then.

Thanjamadaintha nam RamanujanE thanjam

adiyEn madhava dAsan

[gokulkr 1]

 

 

Sri Manavala MamunikaL

 

 

 

 

Sri Manavala mamunikal was the son of Thikalakidanthan thirunavirudayapiran thatharannan, a desciple of Sri Pillailokacarya, and Sriranga nacciyar. He was born in the town of kidaram in Tamilnadu, in the year 1370 AD. He was the first acarya to comment of the works of earlier acaryas.

His parents named him Azhakiya manavalan, after the Lord Himself. He learnt the Vedas, Vedangas and all other sastras from his father. He was was an outstanding student, who knew the Divya prabandhas, the Vedas and had a boundless knowledge of religion. He married at the proper time and lived as a true vaishnava. He moved to Alvar Tirunagari and became a sishya of Tiruvaymozhip pillai.

It is said that Manavala mamuni's devotion to Nammalvar, Ramanuja and to his own Acharya grew as he studied the Alvar's hymns and rahasyas at Alvar tirunagari. On observing his devotion to Ramanuja, Tiruvay mozhip pillai ordered the construction of a Shrine of Ramanuja at Tirunagari and appointed Manavala mamuni to take care of the activities at the shrine. During this time Manavala mamuni composed his first work Yatiraja Vimsati, twenty sanskrit stanzas in praise of Ramanuja. Tiruvaymozhip pillai read the works and gave him the title Yatindra Pravanar. Since that time onwards he was addressed Yatindra Pravanar. He had a son and named him Ramanujap pillai.

After the death of his guru, Tiruvaymozhip pillai, Manavala mamuni moved north to Srirangam with his family and his co-disciple Ramanuja Jeeyar (later to be known as Vanamaamalai Jeeyar). He was very well received at Srirangam in spite of some initial friction with Uttama Nampi who was in charge of the temple administration. Soon they patched up and Manavala mamuni started to institute some reforms at the temple, very much in line with what Ramanuja did. He started to research the manuscripts of earlier acharyas and had them restored and recopied. He went on a pilgrimage to Kanchi, Tirumalai and Sriperumpudur.

While in Kanchi he studied Sri Bhashya with Kitambi Nayanar, a disciple of Brahamatantra Svatantra Jeeyar. After his return to Srirangam he renounced his householder status and became a Sanyasin, concentrating on temple activities. He, soon, began giving discourses on Alvar's hymns and his list of disciples grew constantly. He took over and renovated the old math of Ramanuja, using clay from Pillai Lokacharya's house. He also ordered an idol of Pillai Lokacharya to be installed at Srirangam temple.

After some time he returned to Alvar Tirunagari and when trying to teach Acharya hrdayam, encountered some difficulties. So he decided to consult with Tirunarayanpurattay, who was a co-disciple of Tiruvaymozhip pillai. Ay was on his way to Alvar tirunagari to meet Manavalamamuni. They both met at the outskirts of Alvar Tirunagari and returned to Manavala mamuni's residence, and the later studied the secrets of the Acharya Hrdayam. It is said that, Manavala mamuni, during this time had many important disciples such as Kantadai annan, Prativadi bhayankaram anna, Erumbi appa, Appilai and Appillan.

Around 1430, Mamuni conducted a one year lecture series on Tiruvaymozhi according to all five commentaries. During these lectures a small boy stepped forward and uttered the verse that became to be known as Manavala mamuni's Taniyan

 

 

• srIsailesha dayaapaatram dIbhaktyAdi gunArnavam |
  YatIndrapravanam vande ramyajAmAtram munim ||

This was interpreted by the audience as a proclamation by the Lord Himself as the same verse was revealed through the archakas at Tirupati and Alakar koil. After this incident, Manavala mamuni started writing commentaries on the works of earlier acharyas, composed independent works and compiled source documentation and cross-referencing on some important works (all listed in the table above).

Yatindrapravana Prabhavam records that Manavala mamuni undertook many extensive pilgrimage from Tirumalai in the north to Madurai and Alvar tirunagari in the south. During one such trips, a local chieftain in Madurai, MahabalivAnanAtharayan became his devotee and donated a village which he renamed as Azhakiya manavaala naaloor. After his return to Srirangam, a dispute over the temple control arose between the Saivas and Vaishnavas at Alakar Koil. This ruler settled the dispute in favor of Vaishnavas and Manavala mamuni's appointee there, Ethiraja Jeeyar.

It is said that, while at a very old age, Manavala maamuni discoverd that part of Periyavachchaan pillai's commentary on Periyalvar Tirumozhi was missing. So he sent word to Tiruppanalvar Tattar Nayanar at Alvar tirunagari to come and help him complete the commentary. It is also noted that he composed the commentary on Acharya Hrdayam with great difficulty as his health was failing. When he became very ill, preventing him from worshiping at the temple, he dedicated one tamil stanza a day, expressing to Ramanuja his anguish at staying in this world and his eagerness to reach Vaikuntham. These collected verses became known as Arti Prabhantham, his last work.

Manavala mamuni had many disciples, however, the following eight were the chief disciples known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions): Vanamaamalai Jeeyar, Bhattar Piraan jeeyar, Tiruvengada jeeyar, Koil kanthaadai annan, Prathivaadhi bhayankaram annaa, Erumbi appaa, Appillai and Appillan. They and their disciples made many contributions to promoting Srivaishnavam.

[gokulkr 1]

Pancha Sthavam - Swamy KooratAzhwAn

 

 

 

 

"Varadaraja Sthavam"

is one among the "Pancha

Sthavam" composed by Swamy KoorathAlwan. THe other

were:

1)Sri VaikunTa Sthavam on Sri Paramapada nAthan

2)Sri Sthavam on Sri Mahalakshmi PirAttiyAr

3)AthimAnusha Sthavam on VibhavAvatAram emperumAn

4)Sri Sundara bhAgu Sthavam on ThirumAlirun chOlai

Kalazhagar-archAvatAram

5)Sri VaradarAja Sthavam on Sri Hastigiri pErarulAlan

Sri Sundara bhAgu sthavam was composed by ALwan when

he was in ThirumAlirunchOlai after he lost his eye

sight due to the atrocity committed by the cruel

King Kirumikanda Chozhan-Sri Vaishnava thvEshi-.

After the return of Swamy EmperumAnAr from ThirunArA

yana puram, Swamy Ramanujar requested Alwan to compose

one Sthavam on behalf of Hastigiri pErarulAlan to get

back his sight again.

Instead Alwan requested PerarulAlan to grant mOksham

to NAlUrAn (his sishyA) who committed bhAgavatha

apachAram, since NaalUrAn is responsible for lost of

his AchAryan eyesight. Such is the greatness of Swamy

KooratAlwan!! Thats why AmudanAr says that "Its

difficult to explain the vaibhavam of Alwan in any

language" in Ramanusa NooTTrandhAthi.

The above five Sthavams are together known as "Pancha

Sthavam". The greatness of these five were stated

by Sri ParAsara Bhattar in Swamy KooratAlwan's

thaniyan as:

"SrivathsachinhamisrEbhyONama ukthim adheemahE

yadhukthyas-thrayeekaNDE yaanthi MangaLasoothrathAm"

Meaning:

KooratthAzvAn's Sri Sookthis have attained the state of

ThirumAngalyam (auspicious thread worn by Sumangalis)

around the Vedha Maadha.We recite the word of Nama:for

the MahA PaNdithar,KurEsar with the same reverence as

we recite the sacred Veda manthrams.

-------------

From the above thaniyan, inspite of ALwar Sri Sookthis,

other AchArya Sri Sookthis, IthihAsam such as Ramayanam

Mahabharatam, PurAnams such as Vishnu Puranam,etc.,

Only Swamy KooratAlwan Sri Sookthis have attained the

state of ThirumAngalayam to Vedha Maadha. Such is the

greatness of the Pancha Sthavams and the composer Swamy

kooratAlwan !!

His works has to be read by all SriVaishnavites which

is delicious and sweet to recite. While reciting Sri

Varadaraja Sthavam, the experince brings Hastigiri

PerarulAn in fronts one's eye.

[gokulkr 1]

Sri Lakshmi Hayagreevar

The Thiru Aaradhanai Perumal - Sri Lakshmi Hayagreevar of Swami Desikar is installed in Thiruthanka (thoopul) divya desam in Kanchipuram.

[jeihasan 0]

Hinduism Though Sanatana Dharma or Hinduism generally means a plethora of gods and goddesses and colourful or horrific rituals, Hinduism is a profound .<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

[gokulkr 1]

 

 

</PRE>

 

 

sri:SrimadhE raamaanujaaya nama:thirumangaiyaazvaar aruLicceythathiruvezukooRRirukkaithaniyan_gaLemperumaanaar aruLiccheythavaivaaziparakaalan vaazhikalikanRi,vaazhi kuRaiyaloor vaazvEnthan, - vaazhiyarOmaayOnai vaaLvaliyaal manthirangoL mangaiyargOnthooyOn sudarmaana vEl!seeraar thiruvezu kooRRiruk kaiyennum senthamizaal,aaraa vamudhan kudanthaip piraan_than adiyiNaikkeez,Eraar maRaipporuL ellaam edutthu ivvulakuyyavEsEraamaR sonna aruLmaari paatham thuNain^amakkE.2672:oru pErunthi irumalarth thavisil,*orumuRai ayanai eenRanai,* orumuRai-irusudar meethinil iyangaa,* mummathiL-ilangai irukaal vaLaiya,* orusilai-onRiya IreyiRRu azhalvaay vaaLiyin-attanai,* moovadi naanilam vEndi,*muppuri noolodu maanuriyilangu-maarvinin,* irupiRappu orumaaNaagi,*orumuRai eeradi, moovulaku aLandhanai,*naal_thisai nadunga anciRaip paRavai-ERi,* naalvaay mummathaththu irusevi-oruthani vEzhaththu aranthaiyai,* orun^aaL-irun^eer maduvuL theertthanai,* mutthee-naanmaRai aivagai vELvi,* aRuthozil-anthaNar vaNangum thanmaiyai,* aimpulan-agatthinuL seRutthu,* naan_gudan adakki-mukkuNaththu iraNdavai akaRRi,* onRinil-onRi ninRu,* ANGgu iru piRappaRuppOr-aRiyum thanmaiyai,* mukkaN naal_thOL-aivaay aravOdu* ARupothi sadaiyOn-aRivarum thanmaip perumaiyuL ninRanai,*Ezulaku eyiRRinil koNdanai,* kooRiya-aRusuvaip payanum Ayinai,* sudarvidum-aimpadai angaiyuL amarnthanai,* sunthara-naal_thOL mun^n^eer vaNNa,* nin Iradi-onRiya manatthaal,* orumathi mugatthu-mangaiyar iruvarum malarana,* angaiyil-muppozuthum varuda aRithuyil amarnthanai,*neRimuRai naalvagai varuNamum Ayinai,*mEthagum aimperum boothamum neeyE,*aRupatha_muralum koonthal kaaraNam*Ezvidai adangac seRRanai,* aRuvagaic-samayamum aRivaru nilaiyinai,* aimpaal-Othiyai Agath thirutthinai,* aRamudhal-naan_gu avaiyaay moortthi moonRaay*iruvagaip payanaay onRaay virinthu-ninRanai,* kunRaa madhumalarc sOlai-vaNkodip padappai,* varupunal ponni-maamaNi alaikkum,* sen^n^el oN_kazhanith-thigazvana muduttha,* kaRpOr purisaik-kanaka maaLikai,* nimirgodi visumbil-iLampiRai thuvakkum,* ## selvam malku then-thirukkudanthai,* anthaNar manthira moziyudan-vaNanga,* AdaravamaLiyil aRithuyil-amarntha parama,* nin adiyiNai paNivan-varumidar agala maaRRO vinaiyE. (2)thirumangaiyaazhvaar thiruvadigaLE saraNam.idaNGkoNda nenchathiNaNGkik kidappan* enrum ponnith-thadankoNda thaamarai sUzhum malarntha thaNpUNGkudanthai*vidaNGkoNda veNpal karunthuththi senkaN thazhalumizhvaay*padangoNda paampaNaip paLLi koNdaan thiruppaathangaLE.emperumaanaar thiruvadigaLE saraNam</PRE>

[gokulkr 1]

<TABLE title="Sri Andal" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=619 border=0><TBODY><TR height=25><TD vAlign=center>Sri Andal

 

</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%" background=/images/midhrline1.gif colSpan=2 height=3 border="0"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width=619 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>

Life story of Sri Andal:

The life story of Sri Andal is very well known in South India and to a few people in the north. However, a brief narrative is given here for the fresher. The Sri Vaishnava tradition holds that Sri Andal was found in the flower garden in kali yuga 98, Adi (Ashata month), Shukla Chathurthi, Tuesday with Puram star in SRIVILLPUTHUR in the Pandiya dynasty. Accordingly, her date of birth is 8th of June 3004 B.C. But modern historians fix a date the first half of the 8th century A.D. Be that as it may, our account follows the "Guru Parampara" tradition.

Upbringing of Sri Andal by Periyaazhvaar/Vishnuchithan:

As Sita was found by king Janaka, while tilling the land for doing yagna, Vishnuchitha (a great vedic scholar, poet, Vishnu devotee also known as Periyazhvar found the divine child under a tulasi plant while he was tending his nandavana(garden) in Srivilliputhur. He brought her up in simple and godly surroundings natural to a pious, vedic, dhwaija. The child prodigy thus fostered lovingly grew into a beautiful maiden and became an embodiment of love for Sri Krishna.

Sri Andal's love for Krishna/Sri Vatabhadrasayee:

Being a devotee of "Sri Vadabhatrasayee", the presiding deity of srivilliputhur, Vishnuchitha would weave a garland of tulasi leaves daily and keep it sacredly rolled in a flower basket so that he may, after attending to his other course, take the garland later to the temple for offering to the lord. The child “kodai”(Andal) in her profound innocence would take out the garland daily without her father's knowledge, adorn herself and look into the mirror to satisfy herself whether she was suitable bride to the lord and then would remove the garland and replace it in the basket in its original form. This was going on for days and without actually knowing that her daughter had adorned the garland around herself, Vishnuchitha would offer this to the deity who wore it beatifically.

One day to his surprise, Vishnucitha saw the child wearing the garland before he could take it to the temple. He was shocked for he considered this as a great defilement. He remonstrated her for this act. He fasted that day and did not offer the garland and was all repentant. But lo! What a surprise? At night, the lord appearing in dreams asked Vishnuchitha, why you did not offer me the tulasi wreath today? I am ever eager to have the things touched by my devotee. Think not Andal kodai to be a mere mortal.”

To his wonder Vishnuchitha found that tulasi wreath worn on the previous ay by Andal had not faded. But, was fresher than a freshly made garland. Thereafter, he offered the garland to the deity after being worn by Andal. The lord continued to give his the bliss of ineffable “darshan”. (Even today, this practice is being observed at the temple of Srivilliputhur.)

When Andal attained her marriageable age, her father was worried to find a suitable match for her. But, the divine child would not marry anyone except lord Krishna.

Therefore, Vishnuchitha narrated all the KALYANA GUNAS of all the Archa-Murthis of the one hundred and eight Sri Vaishnava Kshetras in India, so that she may for herself choose the deity. When she heard of the Soundarya of lord Sriranganatha, tears of joy came over her and her heart prayed to HIM to come and accept her in wedlock.

Wedlock of Sri Andal with Sri Ranganatha:

At this, Vishnuchitha, knowing not what to do, meditated. Sri ranganatha spoke to him in a dream: "Do not hesitate to offer your daughter to Me, for she is Bhudevi herself." Simultaneously the lord bade the sthanikas(officials in charge) of Srirangam to go to Srivilliputhur and bring Andal in a palanquin in all royalty.

 

King Vallabhadeva along with his retinue joined the procession from Srivilliputhur to Srirangam with Sri Andal in a palanquin.

The whole route was decorated on either sides with flowers and wreaths of finely weaved green saplings (called thoranam). As sri Andal entered the inner shrine of Sri Ranganatha, the magnetic beauty of the lord instantly attracted her. She boldly mounted up His serpent couch and joined the eternal lustrous light of Sri Ranganatha in the presence of the gathering.

Sri Andal's works:

To posterity, Sri Andal gave two gems as masterpieces:-

1. 
   
2. TIRUPPAVAI (30 verses)
   
3. NAACHIYAAR THIRUMOZHI (143 verses).

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[gokulkr 1]

Sri Devi on left side

Sri Devi thaayar who has to reside on the right hand side of the Perumal is found on the left hand side in ThiruIdaventhai and in Thiruputkuzhi Divyadesam.