A Unique school of learning

A    man inspired with Azhwars Divya Prabhandam  wanted to learn Nammazhwars Tiruvaimozhi .He proceeded to Swamy Nanjeeyars Ashram and was waiting for swamy’s audience . He was fortunate to be called immediately . Nanjeeyar was pleased with the man’s interest . Nanjeeyar  without any  thought , directed him to his disciple Nampillai.

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The man was a bit  hesitant as he had come seeking spiritual instructions from  Nanjeeyar only,  as he was told by his friends about Nanjeeyar scholarship  and  had great regard for him . Though  elderly , he was ready to fall at  Nanjeeyar’s  feet and learn from him rather than  to fall at his disciple  Nampillai’s feet.

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Nanjeeyar calmed the seeker and told him  at no point of time  he has to  fall at Nampillai’s feet.  Nanjeeyar  called  Nampillai his foremost disciple and said ,Child , You need to teach this gentlemen Nammazhwars Thirumozhi .Please see that he is comfortable both in mind and action when you teach him .

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 Nanjeeyar also told Nampillai that this class shall be a bit different as you shall be seated  on the floor and teach this gentlemen who will be seated on a chair . The great disciple he was , obeyed Acharyars command with cheerful smile . Nampillai welcomed the new student with respects to the class .

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The lessons began, and as instructed by Nanjeeyar, Nampillai  obediently sat on the floor, while the student sat on a chair.  The classes was conducted with lot of respect to the student . As the classes progressed, the student felt very bad about being seated on a chair, while his  young teacher sat on the floor.  One day , he got up with tears  and fell at Swamy Nampillais lotus feet like an uprooted tree with tears for his foolish behaviour .He pleaded Swamy to be seated on chair .

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Surprisingly  for him , Swamy Nampillai said he would no longer teach him. The reason given by Nampillai was that he had been asked by Nanjeeyar to sit on the floor and instruct the student. Now if he were asked to sit on a chair, he could not teach, because that was not what his acharya had expected from him . Thus Nampillai not only was humble enough to sit on the floor and teach he was also always obedient to his preceptor. Later , the student approached Nanjeeyar with tears apologising for his foolish act .

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He pleaded Nanjeeyar to be allowed to attend Swamy Nampillai’s class along with other students as a true disciple .Nanjeeyar agreed and once again the student happily attended the classes sitting on the floor .

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 A similar incident happened in the  days of Swamy Ramanuja . There was a learned scholar who wanted to know few esoteric truths from Kooratazhvan. He was a most influential person in the Kingdom . Almost an advisor to the Royal family .

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Knowing about Koorathazhwans humility and great knowledge , he approached him for clearing his doubts . He said , the whole kingdom knows that I am a  scholar and advisor to the Royal family but I do not want anyone to know about my doubts .

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Both of them decided the classes would begin from the next day near the shores of the river . Kooratazhvar humbly suggested that the man sit on a chair  and Koorathazhwan sat on the floor as If he was learning from the scholar .  The moment they heard someone approach, the man could hand the book over to Kooratazhvar, and the visitor would think Kooratazhvar was the student, which was why he was seated on the floor!

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Characteristics of a srivaishnava as told by Swamy Nanjeeyar

Swamy  Nampillai was the fourteenth Acharya in  the  prestigious Guruparampara lineage  of Srivaishnava sampradaya .

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One day Swamy Nampillai asked his Acharya Nan Jeeyar the most relevant question of present day.  He submitted  to his  Acharyar  humbly  and asked Swamin !!

How can  one confirm that  he  has  the  qualities  of  a srivaishnava ? 

Nanjeeyar was a  chosen disciple of Swamy Parasra Bhattar  and naturally possessed all the divine knowledge from his Acharyar  .

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Nanjeeyar replied !

My child  If a person  undoubtedly  believes that  Lord Sriman Narayana in his Archa form gracing us in the temples and house  does possess all  supreme powers as in Srivaikunta Loka, He can count to be  one among   a Srivaishnava  .

Our  Azhwars  were  possessing that  divine quality  which made  them glorify  the Lordships  in all the vaishnava  divyadesams  and Abhimana  sthalas .

No  doubt  the Lord  in the  Divyadesam   also  replied  to their  devotion .

Thirumangai Azhwar  had innumerable experiences in this kainkaryam

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And , it is generally seen a man loves his  son  very dearly .

If the same person loves a srivaishnva as dear as his son he can consider to be in the list of srivaishnavas   and in case he has been  abused by a Srivaishnava and  does not  react , and accepts  his pungent  words with cheerful obedience  as positive development for his durguna  he is a Srivaishnava.

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 Finally , the Acharya summed up the answer  in few words

Archaavatara  abhimanam  ,  Bhagavatha Prema  and Bhagavatha Katinokthi Bhogyatha buddhi are essential characteristics of a srivaishnava .

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If  at all  any one  has these  three virtues, he can conclude within himself that he is a Srivaishnava.

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

The soul is for the sake of the Lord ….

 During the last days  of his illustrious sainthood ,  Swamy  Nanjeeyar the great disciple of the legendary Swamy Parasara bhattar   was  bedridden.

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Swamy Nanjeer was one of the foremost pillar of Sri Vaishnavism after the period of our JagathaAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja .  Before our beloved Jagath Acharyar  Swamy Ramanujar left for heavenly abode he expressed his wish to his disciple  Parasar Bhattar about bringing this Vedanthi into srivaishnava fold.(Namjeeyars original name was Madhvachariyar ,and swamin was expert in veda shastra and hence was addressed as Vedanthi).

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As instructed by Acharyar , Bhattar travelled to Melkote metthe Vedanthi                 (  Namjeeyar) and  for  almost nine consecutive days a debate took place on vedantam . On the tenth day Vedanthi  understood the proficiency in Bhattars  knowledge and surrendered  to  the True Knowledge and submitted himself at the feet of Swamy  Parasara Bhattar. Bhattar out of utmost compassion performed Pancha Samaskaram to Vedantin and returned to Srirangam.  

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One new  disciple  came to him and pleaded Acharyar “May I now request you Swamin,  to chant the  “Dwaya Mantra”?

fb_img_1457658525654Nanjeeyar looked at him and said  Child ! “Why do you recommend the chanting to me? Do you not want it?” Is the holy mantra  be chanted only by a bedridden man and not by a wandering soul?” The disciple on hearing this became dumb founded and felt ashamed of himself. Nanjeeyar continued

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“Dwayam Mantra”  must  be chanted by all times irrespective of  any condition of the body . As  body  needs oxygen to survive , soul needs Dwayam to progress ..

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Another disciple of  Nanjeeyar  was  hearing the conversation .He thought that there was some  unfulfilled  wish  of  Acharyar .   He humbly  approached his Acharyar   and asked respectfully Swamin ! Kindly give us the opportunity to fulfill  your desire .. what  was  longing….

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NanJeeyar replied,  My Child   I need the entire wealth of this world .. The disciple was confused … The Acharyar smiled and said  …My dear ……“I have a strong desire to behold Sri Namperumal’s Archavatara body in my mind  forever . This is what I think that He can give me and it is equal to the wealth of the entire world.

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The disciple immediately  rushed to the  main temple and conveyed  Acharyars  wish to the chief priest . The priest   reported this wish with utmost devotion  to Lord Namperumal.  All compassionate Lord Namperumal  agreed through asuri voice . All arrangements were made . Lord accordingly set out of his Sanctorum with  pomp and grandeur and arrived in front of his favourite disciple  Sri Nanjeeyar’s  Mutt .

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 The arrival of Lord to Nanjeeyars mutt was very special . Lord Namperumal  had just come directly to see his devotee as per his request . Nanjeeyar was overexcited  . With copulent tears he was looking at Lord   who  graced him with  very exhilarating divine darshana  that was “Sarvasvam”(the wealth of entire world)  . It was a one to one seva .  NanJeeyar  was overjoyed and was having uncontrollable tears all through .  He turned round and looking at Swamy  Nampillai  and other disciples  addressed them. 

My dear children .. …

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Our “Namperumal has fulfilled my wish by  his cool grace  which is the world wealth for me.

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Dear Children …… 

Now I am prepared to do reveal  whatever knowledge I came to possess by the blessing of my learned Acharya Sri Bhattar.  Those who have thirst for knowledge can quench their thirst….

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 Swamy  Nampillai  submitted  him,  Acharya ! Tell us something which I should ever remember as the sole refuge”. NanJeeyar  replied …..

Do not think that the Lord is for the sake of the soul but think that the soul is for the sake of the Lord…..

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Further  Swamy NamPillai  submitted  another question humbly ,Acharyaa    “What should be the  behavior of Srivaishnavas when they get separated from the company a Srivaishnava by his departure to Sri Vaikunta Loka from this mortal world?”

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 My dear Nampillai , answered the great Acharyar  .. Adiyens Acharyar  Sri Parasara Bhattar   advised me with few  essential  esoteric truths  relating to the welfare of my soul  which I shall reveal  exactly  as said by adiyen  Acharyar  ,

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Do listen carefully ….

 “Do not be popped up with pride for the following reasons

I am by name Vedanti (one who has learnt vedantas to its core).

I have for my Acharya, Sri Parasara Bhattar

I have given by way of Guru Dakshina   plenty of wealth to Acharyar .

The I ‘ness …. dissolution is a must for the souls progress …..

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Therefore think always that Swamy  Ramanuja’s lotus  feet are the sole means of salvation and take refuge unto him. I tell you now in a similar fashion – you also take refuge under  Swamy Ramanuja  .  Do not be elated that you got the fame of Lokacharya and you are capable of bringing out the esoteric meanings of 4000 hymns of Azhwars and the propagator of Sri Bhashya        (Beware of these pitfalls)”.

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He advised few more essential truths to all his disciples . Nanjeeyar humbly spoke Dear Children ….. I  beg your pardon  for any fault if committed unknowingly, as it is very difficult for a soul with this body to be free from any fault . Blessing all of them ,  having “Sri Pada Thirtha” (the holy water after washing their holy feet) of Srivaishnavashe hosted (Tadiyaradhana) dinner for all the disciples ..

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 Subsequently,  He showered his blessings on all the disciples ..Keeping his  head on the lap of Sri Senapathi Jeeyar and his holy feet on the lap of Sri Pinbazhagiya Jeeyar facing towards the temple inside his mutt  meditating on  his Acharyar  lotus feet of Swamy  Parashara Bhattar, he  began his journey to Sri SriVaikuntam

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Adiyen Ramanuja dasan.

Pics Credits : Google images