Our great vaihnava saint Lokacharyar Sri Pillai Lokachariar, about 118 years old then, saved our dharisanam by getting Namperumal safely out of Srirangam . This sad episode was because of Malik Kafur the tyrant who ransacked Srirangam during the year 1323. Lokacharyar along with many disciples went through the rough terrains, forests, and so on, carrying our LORD .
When they reached Jyothiskudi, near Madurai ,Sri Pillai Lokachariar realized that he cannot carry on any more, so he decided to stay in Jyothishkudi itself.
He directed his sishyas to reach out to one Thiruvoimozhi Pillai, and explain him various rahasyams of srivaishnavam.
From Jyothishkudi, Swami Pillai Lokachariar reached sri vaikuntam.Without his noble sacrifice of life, we probably would not be having darshanam of Namperumal in Srirangam (peruman came back to Srirangam after more than 40 years.)
This great acharyar’s thirunakshathiram ( Appearance day ) is celebrated during October ( Aippasi Thiruvonam,) very grandly in all the SRI VAISHNAVA DIVYA DESAMS
Sri Vaishnavam is replete with practical applications of the glorious precept of equality for all sentient-beings.
• Lord Sri Rama performing funeral rites for Jatayu
• Lord Sri Krishna preferring to dine with Sri Vidura even though he
had the option of dining with exalted elders such as Drona or Bheeshma.
• The episode of ThiruppAN azhvar and LOkasAranga Muni
• Our Sri Nammazhvar who belonged to the panchama jathi (fifth caste)
• Sri Periya Nambi and his attachment to Sri MaranEri Nambi
• Swami Ramanuja and his deep devotion to Sri Thirukachchi Nambi
However, it was Swami Pillai Lokacharyar who went to considerable lengths to explicitly
expand on this concept and establish its relevance within the Indian social and philosophical framework about the glorious sampradaya of Srivaishnavisim .
Swamy Sri Manavala Mamunigal in his celebrated UpadEsarattinamalai, commemorates the lives and works of Azhvars and Acharyas. In this wondrous composition, he has singled out LOKACHARYAR more than any one else and devoted several pasurams.
Lokaacharyan was rightly glorified as ulagAriyan – ( teacher of the universe).
Sri Lokacharyars vaibhavam, his contribution to SriVaishnavism and efforts taken by Sri Velukudi Swamin, Chinna Jeeyar swami and other revered saints in identifying this place and constructing a temple for lokaguru is a blessing to all the srivaishnavas .
While Swamy was about to leave this world and reach Achaaryan’s Lotus feet, he started touching the ants and other such insects near him with compassion (All such animals will get to reach Sri Vaikunta if they have get touched by a Sri Vaishnava). Such was Sri Pillai Lokacharya’s Karunya towards the living beings.
Lokaachaarya gurave krSHNapaadhasya soonave |
samsaarabhogi sandhaSHta jeeva jeevathave namaha ||
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Ashtadasha Rahasya Pradataram Rangesha charabimba subhartaram ! Paramaviraktha shishtaagraganyam vande Lokagurum ķrupaavaridhim !!
GREATFUL TO U SWAMIN FOR THIS POST. With the kind grace of swamy Pillailokachriyar adiyen have translated all the 18 Rahasyas to Kannada. For four Rahasyas including Achrya hrudayam with Mamunigal commentary translated to kannada.
Swamy Pillailokachariyar Tiruvadigale sharanam
Jeeyar Tiruvadigale sharanam. Adiyan .Smt. Ramasrinivasan. BANGALORE.
Most Respected Vardan Prabhujee, Unexplored facts and knowledge are being revealed to us through your vivid documentary presentations and very well supported by photographs, through your regular valuable posts. Keep going Vardan Prabhujee.