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Sri Azhagia Manavala Perumal Nayanar - 8th centenary celebrations - margazhi avittam.

 

The glory of Margazhi.

 

Margazhi month has the privilege of being mentioned by Sri Krishna in Bhagavat Gita as "Masanam Margasirshoham" (I am margasirsha month amongst the 12 months). It is revered because of its position in the day of devas. Brahma muhurtam, from 4 am to 6 am, is the most auspicious and the satvika time in our day. As we know, our 6 months of uttarayanam is devas' day and our 6 months of dakshinayanam is devas' night. So our one year is equivalent to one day of Devas. Uttarayanam begins from the tamil month of 'thai' which should be approximately 6 am for the devas as their day begins in uttarayanam. So the immediately preceding month must be their brahma muhurtham which is margazhi. However great it was in earlier days, it gained significance due to Andal and her Tiruppavai. Out of the 4000 devotional hymns of azhvars, the most simple and so the most popular is Tiruppavai.

Margazhi not only enjoys the patronage of Krishna but also that of azhvars and acharyas. The eighth azhvar , Tondaradippodigal (Vipranarayana) was born in this month in Kettai nakshatram. He is unique as he benedicted only Srirangam in both his works namely Tirumalai and Tiruppalli ezhuchi. It is said that 'Tirumalai ariyaadar Tirumalaye ariyadar' (one who has not mastered Tirumalai prabandham cannot realize the Almighty Tirumaal)

 

Sri Azhagia Manavala Perumal Nayanar.

 

Now let us see the third dimension of Margazhi month which is the subject of the topic of this month. Sri Azhagia manavala Perumal Nayanar, the illustrious younger son of Sri Vadakku Tiruveedi Pillai and the younger brother of Sri Pillai Lokacharya was born in this month in the asterism Avittam. This falls on Jan 11th 2008. Born in the year 1207/1208 his birthday this year is significant as it is his 800th birthday

 

The great Acharyas life.

 

Sri Vadakku tiruveedi pillai (named as Sri Krishna) was a pious sishya of Nambillai (also known as Lokacharya). He recorded the complete discourse series of Nambillai on Nammazhvar's Tiruvoimozhi in palm leaves which stands as the unparalleled commentary 'Eedu muppattu arayirappadi' even today. He was detached from material life for long, but then in the year 1205 he got his first son, due to the blessings of his acharya.. He rightly named the first son as Pillai Lokacharya after his acharya's name.

After two years, owing to the grace of Sri Ranganatha (also known as azhagia manavalan, a charming bridegroom) Vadakku Tiruveedi Pillai got a second son who was promptly named as Azhagia Manavala Perumal Nayanar. Nayanar had pancha samskaram from his father and mastered all the Srivaishnava scriptures through his elder brother and acharya Nambillai.

 

Nayanar's works

 

1. 'Acharya hrdayam' was his magnum opus which brings out the glory and preachings of Nammazhvar. This text is composed of aphorisms, which unshakably establishes the supremacy of azhvar's Tiruvoimozhi. None other than Namperumal Himself listened to this text rendered by Nayanar during His procession at Srirangam.

2. 'Arulicheyal Rahasyam' is another unique work of Nayanar which explains the subtle meanings of tirumantram, dvayam and caramaslokam by using original phrases from azhvar's pasurams.

3. Nayanar being a crusader for Azhvar's devotional hymns, wrote extensive commentaries for Tiruppavai, Amalanadi piran and Kannunsiruttambu

 

Nayanar's tanian slokam

 

Acharya svanta vaktaram abhirama varabhidam |

Srikrshna tanayam vande jagatguru varanujam. ||

(I salute Azhagia manavala perumal nayanar - the son of vadakku tiruveedi pillai and the illustrious younger brother of Pillai lokacharya - who brought to light the opinion of Nammazhvar)

 

Dravidamnaya hrdayam guruparva kramagatam |

Ramya jamatrudevena darsitam Krshna sununa ||

(The purport of tamil Vedas which was journeyed in the lineage of purva acaharyas was explained by Azhagia manavala perumal nayanar the son of Sri Krishna.)

 

Let us remember Sri Azhagia Manavalapperumal Nayanar for his contributions to Sri Vaishnavism in this month of his 8th centenary celebrations.