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From: Madhavakkannan V (srivaishnavan_at_hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Sep 04 2001 - 06:47:36 PDT
SrI:
SrImathE Gopaladesika Mahadesikaya namah:
We are all aware of Thirukkudanthai Desikan Sri Gopaalaarya Mahadesikan
Swamy (from 1700 CE to 1782 CE). There were three ascetics in saffron attire
(as Great Sishyas) serving this GrahasthA Acharya, attending on him with
implicit reverence, doing all personal chores- a very unusual phenomenon.
They had been drawn from far and near; one was from wartrap, who later
proved to be on the model of Sri Nathamuni; the second from Seyyanam
(Thirunelveli) a prototype of Sri Yamunamuni; and the third from VazhutthUr
near Ayyampettai Sri Vedantha Ramanuja muni, whose prolific progation
service had brought the school to a preeminent status. At His feet, there
were three sanyaasis (munis) and hence is called “munithraya sampradayam”
since then.
Sri VazhutthUr Swamy, Sri Vedantha Ramanuja muni- He received the robes
of a Sannyasi from the hands of Paduka Sevaka Sri Ramanuja Maha Desika-
came to Sri Gopalarya Mahadesikan (Thirukkudanthai Desikan) along with other
two sanyaasis as mentioned above and fell at his feet, quoting from
NammazhwAr Thiruvaymozhi:
Theeraa vinaigaL theera ennai Andaay! THIRUKKUDANTHAI OORAA!
Unakku Atpattum adiyEn innam uzahlvEnO?
You have ruled me dispelling all my sins accrued so far! Oh Lord of
Thirukkudanthai! (Thirukkudanthai DesikanE!) After being protected by You,
will I ever suffer here (on this earth?) No… never! (pl forgive me for my
free translation).
Thirukkdanthai Desikan was overwhelmed with joy and blessed our Sri Vedantha
Ramanuja Swamy “Here after it is You who is going to rule the world being a
glorious Acharya! Here after you will be the ruler (andavan) of Srivaishnava
sishya kOtis! Thenceforth, that Acharya came to be known as Andavan.
Prefixing the name of his village, he came to be known as Vazhuthur
Andavan.
Sri VazhutthUr Andavan was born in the star of Poorattadi in the month
of AvaNi in 1743 CE..
He was also known as Srirangam Srimad Andavan, as he stayed in Srirangam
almost permanently. As the Sampradaya was continued by the successive
Acharyas, and Swamy had Sri Navalpakkam Annayaarya Mahadesikan, Sri
Andikkattu Swamy and Sri ThirutthuRaippooNdi Andavan as sishyas. Each of
them had many sishyas and Samparadyam grew to a great extent and hence this
Swamy is known as one of huge family (big kudumbam), also called “Kudumbi
Swami”
The term “Andavan”- meaning one who came to rule the hearts
of his followers was coined and applied reverentially not only to him but
also to all Acharyas who came after him. Thereafter, the Parampara itself
came to be called “Srimad Andavan Paramparai, propagating the
munithraya sampradayam. Other than Sri Pakalamutt and Sri Ahobila Mutt, all
other AchAryas of Vadakalai sect today trace back to Sri Vedantha Ramanuja
Muni (Sri VazhutthUr Andavan) . Today is Swamy’s Thirunakshathram. Let us
pay our obeisance to this Great Acharya by reciting the thaniyan
(dedicatory verse) and contemplate its meaning:
Gopala Desika Padaabja Madhu Vratasya Pragnaa Virakti
Karunaa Mukha Sad Gunaabde/
Vedaanta Lakshmana Muneh Srita Bhagadeyam
Paadaaravinda Yugalam Saranam Prapadhye //
(Meaning)
He who is like bee residing in the (and sucking the honey from) the lotus
feet of Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan, who was endowed with a sea of
auspicious qualities, knowledge, detachment and mercy, who showers His grace
to those who resort to him. adiyEn takes refuge at his feet with no other
recourse.
Large number of disciples used to attend his kaalakshepams due to his
greatness. Once when a new series of kaalakshepam was about to start,
disciples recited the thaniyan and were about to start. There was a king
cobra which came out of its hole and had its hood raised. Immediately one of
the sishyas took a stick to beat and kill. Swamy the most compassionate as
usual took pity of this being and asked the sishya not to disturb or hurt
the snake. They proceeded with the kaalakshepam (in a tense situation
perhaps for sishyas). The Cobra stood still till the end and disappeared
after kaalakshepam was over.
This extraordinary event was happening repeated everyday. The snake became
one of the regular attendees too. After the grantham was completed, Swamy
was descending the steps of the tank for his Anushtanam, the Cobra went
around him and struck its hood on the ground three times and appeared
to beg something.
The Acharya understood that it was a Mahapurusha in the previous birth and
had become a Cobra by some curse and that it was seeking relief from
Samsara. Plucking a fruit from a tree nearby, he offered it to his
Aradhana murthi and performed Aartha Prapatti for the Cobra. Vazhuthur
Andavan sprinkled some holy waters on the Cobra which was waiting for him
to come. Instantly, it passed away. (from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy Swamy’s
article and Sri Thirukudanthai Desikan 300 the Anniversary malar)
Sri Vazhutthur Andavan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam
Regards
Narayana Narayana
aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan
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