*Alwars and Acharyas - **Ayee Narasimha Sreesanudasan, *Bangalore.
1.
*To understand the proper meaning of Sastras is very difficult. We have to
properly interpret some of the texts, which seem to be conflicting with
each other. There are also inner meanings and secret meanings of the
various mantras and slokas. So, all these things can be properly
understood, only by learning under a Guru or Acharya. So, the Acharya is
most important, for properly understanding our religion and philosophy.*
2.
*Lord Narayana is our first Guru. He taught Vedas to Brahma and Brahma
in turn taught the Vedas to others. Hence at the head of our line of Gurus
is Lord Narayan*
3.
*Next in the line of Gurus is naturally our Goddess Mahalakshmi and then
comes Vishvaksena or Senai Mudaliyar. This is aterm of respect ,
traditionally used for denoting Vishwaksena). He is the controller of
Vaikunta or Paramapada. Vishwaksena taught Nammalwar or Satakopa the
philosophy of Vishistadvaitam.*
4.
*Nammalwar or Satakopa comes next.*
5.
*There are ten Alwars. Some people include Andal and Madhurakavi and say
there are twelve Alwars.*
6.
*'Alwar' in Tamil means 'one who is immersed'. Since these saints were
always immersed in the Lord and His qualities, they were called Alwars.*
7.
*We say that they were in this world before and near the beginning of
Kaliyuga. That is more than 5,000 years ago. The modern research scholars
say that the Alwars were between the sixth and ninth century A.D.*
8.
*The first three Alwars are called Poigai Alwars, Bhutattalwar and
Peyalwar. All the three together are called the first alwars, because
theses three were the first in the line of Alwars and they lived during the
same period. Poigai Alwar was born in the month of Aippasi in the Star
Sravanam. Bhutattalwar was born in the month of Aippasi in the star Avittam
and the Peyalwar in the same month, in the Star Sathaya on three successive
days!*
9.
*Poigai Alwar was born at Kanchipuram. Tradition has it that he was born in
a tank and hence is called Poigai Alwar. (Poigai = Tank). Bhutattalwar was
born in Mahabalipuram and Peyalwar in Mylapore, Madras. *
10.
*The next Alwar was Tirumazhisai Alwar. He was born in Tirumazhisai near
Madras, in the month of Thai in the star Makha. Then came Nammalwar or
Satakopa. He was born at Alwartirunagari in the month of Vaikasi and star
Visakha. Nammalwar is considered the chief of the Alwars. He expounded the
system of Visishtadvaita Philosophy in clear terms in his works. Hence he
is given the greatest importance among all the Alwars. Next came
Kulasekhara Alwar. He was born in the month of Masi and star Punarvasu. His
birth place is Vanjikkalam. It is not clearly known as to where exactly
this place is. Some people say that it is Karur and some others say that it
is in Kerala.*
11.
*Next was Perialwar, who was born in Srivilliputtur in the month of Ani
and star Swati. Andal was found among the Tulasi plants in Srivilliputtur
in the month of Adi in the star Puram and was brought up by Perialwar.*
12.
*Thondaradippodi Alwar was born in Tirumandangudi near Kumbakonam in the
month of Margazhi and the star Kettai. Tiruppanalwar was born in Woriur,
near Tiruchi, in the month of Karthikai and the star Rohini. The last among
the Alwars was Tirumangai Alwar, who was born in the month of Karthikai and
star Karthikai in Kuraiyalur or Tirunagari near Sirkazhi.*
13.
*A. Nammalwar was the author of four Prabandhas which form part of the
sacred 4000 verses, called Divya Prabhandha. The Prabhandhas of Nammalwar
are: Tiruvaomozhi, Tiruviruttam, Tiruvasiriam, Peria Tiruvandai The four
works are equated to the four Vedas. Tiruvaimozhi, in particular, is called
the essence of the Sama Veda. Poigai Alwar is the author of Mudal
Tiruvandadi. Bhutattalwar of Second Tiruvandadi and the Peyalawar of Third
Tiruvandadi - each comprising 100 verses. Tirumazhisai Alwar authored
Tiruchanda Viruttam and Nanmukhan Tiruvandadi. Madhurakavi authored
Kanninun Siruthambu. Kulasekhara Alwar authored Perumal Tirumozhi and also
Mukunda Mala in Sanskrit. (His authorship of Mukundamala is disputed by
some people.) Perialwar authored Perialwar Tirumozhi. Andal gave to the
world Tiruppavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi. Thondaradippodi Alwar - Tirumalai
and Tiruppalli ezhucchi. Tiruppanalwar - Amalanadipiran. The last in the
list of Alwars is Tirumangai Alwar who wrote six Prabandhas and these are
equated to the six angas of the four Vedas of Nammalwar. The six Prabandhas
of Tirumangai Alwar are: Peria Tirumozhi, Tirukkurunthandakam,
Tirunedunthandakam, Tiruvezhukutrirukkai, Siriya Tirumadal, Peria Tirumadal*
14.
*After Nammalwar come Nathamuni, who was born in Kattumannar Koil near
Chidambaram, in the month of Ani and star Anusham. His disciple was
Uyyakkondar who was born in the month of Chittirai and star Karthikai, in
Tiruvellari. His disciple was Manakkal Nambi who was born in the village
Manakal, near Lalgudi in the month of Masi and star Makham. The next in the
line of Acharyas is the great Alavandar of Yamunacharya. He was the
grandson of Nathamuni and was the disciple of Manakkal Nambi. Alavandar was
born in the month of Adi and star Uttaradam, in Kattumannarkoil*
15.
*A. Alavandar's disciple was Peria Nambi who was born in Srirangam in the
month of Margazhi and star Kettai. Then comes the great Ramanuja.
Afterwards, there are two lines. There is one line of Acharyas of whom
Vedanta Desika was the most prominent. There is another line of Acharyas
which goes on to Manavala Mamunigal. Ramanuja (1017-1137 A.D.) was born in
Sriperumpudur in the month of Chitrai and star Tiruvadirai. Vedanta Desika
(1268-1369 A.D) was born in Thoopul near Kanchi in the month of Purattasi
and star Sravanam. Manavala Mamunigal (1370-1443 A.D.) was born at Sikkil
Kidaram, in the month of Aippasi and star Mulam. It is also said that he
was born in Alwartirunagari.*
16.
*Yes. 1. Peria Nambi was the chief or principal acharya. Then Ramanuja
learnt meanings of secrets (rahasyas) form 2. Tirukkottiur Nambi. He
studied Tiruvaimozhi under. 3.Tirumalai Andan. He learnt stotras, under 4.
Alavandar Alwar and studied Ramayana under 5. Tirumalai Nambi, Thus he had
five acharyas.*
17.
*Ramanuja is also called Bhashyakara, Yatiraja, Udayavar, Emberumanar
and Yatiswara*
18.
*Nathamuni gave us two works - Yoga Rahasya and Nyayatattva. Alavandar gave
to this world 8 works. These are: Agama Pramanya, Purusha Nirnaya. Three
Siddhis called Siddhi Trayam, namely, Atma Siddhi, Iswara Siddhi and Samvit
siddhi. Then Gitartha Sangraha, Stotra Ratna and chatus Sloki. The next
great Acharya Ramanuja gave us nine works or nine gems. These are: Sri
Bhashya, Vedanta Dipa, Vedanta Sara, Vedartha Sangraha, Gita Bhashya, the
three Gadyas, namely Saranagati Gadya, Sriranga Gadya and Vaikunta Gadya
and then Nitya. The works of Vedanta Desika are more than 100 in number.
They cover different fields like devotional stotras, kavya, drama, works on
philosophy, and commentaries on great works. It is a wonder how a person
could write so many works within a life span. It is difficult for us even
to read and understand all his works in a life time.*
19.
*A. All works are equally important. I will give you the name of some of
the works. Rahasyatrayasara is a book which gives in detail the inner
meaning of the three secrets or rahasyas. In the process, it expounds our
Vaishnavite philosophy. It also dwells at length on the prapatti or
saranagait as the means of attaining salvation.*
20.
*We have Taparya Chandrika. This is a lucid commentary on the commentary of
Bhagavad Gita that was written by Ramanuja. Paduka Sahasra describes the
greatness and beauty of the paduka of Sri Ranganatha in 1000 verses.
Yadavabhyudaya gives the story of Sri Krishna. The slokas of Yadavabhyudaya
are full of something supreme. It is because of the greatness of this work
that it has been commented upon by Appayya Dikshitar, the great Advaita
scholar. We have Sankalpa Suryodaya. This is an allegorical drama, again
explaining the Visishtadvaita philosophy. We have the work Sata Dushani.
This contains arguments against Advaita philosophy. As the name indicates,
perhaps, it was intended to have 100 arguments. However, we now have only
66 arguments left, all against Advaita Philosophy. We then have the
devotional verses or stotras. Some of these are : Hayagriva stotra,
Dasavatara stotra, Bhagavad Dhyana Sopana, Gopala Vimsati. Daya Sataka on
Sri Venkateswara of Tirupati, Sri Stuti and Garuda Panchasat.
Nyayaparisuddhi, Nyaya Siddhanjana, Adhikarana Saravali and
Tattvamuktakalapa are works on our philosophy.*
21.
*He wrote beautiful commentaries on Perialwar Tirumozhi and Ramanuja
Nutrandadi; on Mumukshuppadi, Tattvatraya and Sri Vachana Bhushana of
Pillai Lokacharya; on Acharya Hridayam of Alagiamanavalapperumal Nayanar;
and on Jnanasaram and Prameyasaram of Arulalapperumal emberumanar. He also
wrote Upadesaratnamala, Arthi prabandha, Yatiraja Vimsati and Tiruvaimozhi
Nutrandadi, besides other works.*
22.
*There are number of other Acharyas who have contributed significantly to
Vaishnavism. I will mention some of the Acharyas now. You can refer to
other books for fuller details. Kurattalwan wrote Panchastavas: Sri
Vaikunta Stava, Atimanusha Stava, Sundarabahu Stava, Varadaraja Stava, Sri
Stava Tirukkurukaippiran pillan wrote commentary (6000 padi) on
Tiruvaimozhi. Kidambi Achan; Embar; Engalazhvan wrote commentary on Vishnu
Purana. Parasara Bhattar wrote commentary on Vishnu Sahasra Nama
(Bhagavadgunadarpanam), Sri Rangaraja Stava and Srigunaratna Kosa, besides
others. Nanjiyar wrote commentary on Tiruvaimozhi (9000 padi); and Sri
Sukta Bhashya. (This is disputed by some people.) Vatsya Varadacharya
(Nadadur Ammal) wrote Tattva Sara, Prapanna Parijata among others.
Sudarsana Bhattar wrote Sruta Prakasika and Sruta Pradipika, bothe
commentaries on Sri Bhashya. Appullar wrote Nyayakulisa. Nampillai;
Periavachan Pillai wrote beautiful commentaries on Divya Prabandha, besides
many other works. Vadakku Thiruveethi Pillai wrote Edu Commentary on
Tiruvaimozhi (36000 padi). Pillai Lokacharya wrote 18 Rahasyas - the more
important being Mamukshuppadi, Tattvatraya and Sri Vachana Bhushana.
Alagiamanavalapperumal Nayanar wrote Acharya Hridayam, besides commentary
on Tiruppavai and other works. (Pillai is a term of respect, and not to be
confused with the present day use of this word.)*
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