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Acharya Bhakti

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TCA Venkatesan • November 30, 2001 


Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Srimath Vara Vara Munaye Nama:
Srimath Anantarya Mahagurave Nama:

Dear Bhagavatottamas,

In talking about acharya bhakti in some posts 
recently, adiyEn has refered to Sri Madhurakavi 
Azhvar's Kanninun Siruththambu and some of its 
vyakyanams. Earlier this year with Sri V. 
SatakOpan Swami's encouragement I had begun 
translation of this divine pasuram's vyakyanams, 
but for a number of reasons have been unable to 
keep up with that work. I will use this as the 
opportunity to go back and complete that work 
and start posting them here soon. The translations 
will be based on all the four commentators works.

Also, in talking about Acharya Bhakti one cannot but 
remember Sri Tirumalai Anandazhvar and his bhakti to 
his acharya Sri Ramanujar. His was no less than that 
shown by Sri Madhurakavi Azhvar to Swami Nammazhvar, 
as seen by the following episode. Interestingly both 
Sri Anandazhvar and Sri Madhurakavi Azhvar's 
thirunakshaththirams are the same "chiththiraiyil 
chiththirai".

Sri Anandazhvar went to Tirumalai upon Sri Ramanujar's

directive to do kainkaryam to Lord Srinivasa ("ozhivil

kAlam ellAm udanAy manni"). Particularly, he was doing

pushpa kainkaryam to the Lord every day ("sinthupoo 
makizhum thiruvEnkadam"). One day he got delayed going

to the temple while he was making the garland. Lord 
Srinivasa noting his absence asked that he come to the

temple immediately. Sri Anandazhvar refused stating 
that he will come only when the garland was finished. 
Lord Srinivasa then told Anandazhvar that he should 
leave Tirumalai immediately as he was not obeying Him.

To which Anandazhvar replied that he was there not 
upon His command but due to his acharya's command and 
as such Lord Srinivasa had no right to ask him to 
leave. And that he would rather disobey His command 
than disobey his acharya's directive. Anandazhvar also

pointed out that Lord Srinivasa arrived at Tirumalai 
after Sri Varahap Perumal and as such had no right to 
be telling others to leave. Lord Srinivasa pleased by 
Sri Anandazhvar's acharya bhakti blessed him and 
stated that his devotion to his acharya was like that 
shown by Sri Madhurakavi Azhvar; and that henceforth 
he and his descendants should refer to themselves as 
"madhurakavi dAsan". This is the reason all 
Anandanpillai's refer to themselves that way.

adiyEn madhurakavi dAsan
TCA Venkatesan

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