Swamy Embaar ( Govinda bhattar ) appeared during the year 1026 in the month of Makara ( Tamil Month of Thai ) under the the constellation of Punarvasu ( and swamy is said he was the amsam of Vaiynatheyan/Garudazhwar ) .
Embaars maternal uncle Thirumalai nambhi named him as Govinda Bhattar. Govinda was the first cousin of JagathAcharyar Swami Ramanuja .Both of them attended the Academy of Yadhava Prakasha ( Yadhava Prakasha a Advaitin ) at Thiruputkuzzi near Kancheepuram .
The unfortunate design planned that need not be discussed by their Guru Yadavaprakasha to eliminate Swamy Ramanuja was foiled by young Govinda by seeing an early opportunity .
More details of this divine pastime can be read from the below url blog post
Govinda bhattar advises Swamy Ramanujar about the evil intentions of the troupe. As advised by Govinda bhattar , Ramanujar leaves them and by LORD’s will reaches Kanchi ( We cherish how our Swamy Ramanujar was saved by Lord Varadar and his consort from getting lost in jungles and had safe passage to Kanchipuram) { Even to this day the same event is celebrated as Salai Kinaru Usthavam .
Yadhava Prakasha noticed Ramanujar missing and asked all the disciples to search for him ,and even our Govinda pretended to search so that he should not be doubted. Then unable to locate him , all concluded that Ramanuja must have lost his way in the wild jungle and must have been devoured by wild animals.
Inwardly happy they all continued the sojourn to Kashi. On reaching Kashi , Govinda took a dip in Ganges and rose his palms .To his amazement , he notices a Shiva Lingam in his hand . He immediately proceeds to show the divinity it to his master .
His Guru Yadavaprakashar commands Govinda that as Paramasivan was pleased with Govinda he had the fortune to have his divinity and as it was his direct blessings , he must worship the Siva Lingam.
Govinda accepts his Master’s command. He starts worshipping the Siva Lingam in Madhuramangalam ( even to this day we can have darshan of the Siva Lingam) .
Later , he dreams Paramasivan of Kalahasthi advising him to come to his divine abode .With directions from his Guru , he proceeds to Kalahasthi . He joins in temple service and remains there .
Years rolled on . Swami Ramanuja becomes the disciple of Thirukachi Nambhigal ,
Periya Nambhi, Thirukoshtiyur nambhi and had takes sanyasa .
Swamy Ramanuja now remembers Govinda , whose timely advice saved his life.
Knowing Govinda bhattar is at Kalahastee he requests his maternal uncle Swamy Thirumalai Nambhi to explore the possibilities of bringing Govinda back to srivaishnava fold . Thirumalai Nambhi proceeds to Kalahasthi and meets Govinda bhattar and quotes few verses of His Acharyar Alawandar’s Shostra Ratna Malai elucidating the importance of the Supreme personality Lord Sriman Narayana .
He impresses upon Govinda that worshipping Lord Sriman Narayana is the only way for path to salvation . Govinda bhattar gets all his questions answered and proceeds to the sanctum .
He takes permission from Paramasivan for joining Swamy Ramanuja in his mission . Paramasivan pleased with his service advises him to remain with Swamy Ramanujar .Govinda bhatar now proceeds along with his uncle to Thirumala to learn Divyaprabhandam under him.
Meanwhile Swamy Ramanuja proceeds to Tirumala for learning the inner secrets of Srimad Ramayana from his uncle Thirumalai Nambhi at Tirumala.
After learning the inner secrets of the geat epic Srimad Ramayana from Swamy Tirumalai Nambhi , Acharyar wanted to gift something to his student and felt sad that he did not have anything to give.
https://video.wordpress.com/embed/MPhgt2Z9?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0
Seizing the wonderful opportunity Swamy Ramanuja requests Acharyar to gift him with Govinda bhattar who was very obedient and a true seeker of knowledge. Swamy Thirumala Nambhi understood Swamy Ramanujar’s future plan in spreading the Sri Vaishnava doctrine and hence readily agrees .
Swami Ramanuja and Govinda return back to Srirangam via Kanchipuram. Though he joins swamy Ramanujar , Govinda was always sad that he was missing his Acharyar and Uncle .
Seeing the sad plight, Swamy Ramanuja immediately asks him to go back to Acharyar Thirumalai Nambhigals place . Overjoyed Govindar returns to Tirumala .
On reaching he understands his Acharyar is unhappy with his decision After staying for a week ,. Acharyar advises Govindar and tells “Cow once sold or gifted in dhana cannot be taken back .
Govinda with humility seeks forgivance and returns back to Swamy Ramanuja , more refined, wiser and chastened.
https://video.wordpress.com/embed/fzSByjzr?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0
Now Swamy Ramanuja is pleased with his move .With affection he advises him to attend all lectures, discourse, debates expositions and dispositions.
Govindar gradually becomes a shadow of Swamy Ramanuja and serve his master day and night.
Though Govinda bhattar was married, he never lived a householders life, and he remained like a Brahmachari . He wanted to take Sanyasa like his master Swamy Ramanuja.
Much against his mothers wishes Swami Ramanuja agrees to give him Sanyasa after testing his sincerity to accept the sanyasa ashram He presents Govinda a Arch robe of an ascetic and gives his initiated name as “Emperumanar” .
Govindar bhattar feels humble and informs his master whether he did deserve this honor. https://video.wordpress.com/embed/r9HtBq9k?hd=0&autoPlay=0&permalink=0&loop=0
Swamy Ramanuja joins the first and last syllables of his name and gives the name “EMBAR”and thus Govinda got his name “EMBAR” our most revered Acharyar
As commanded by Swamy Ramanuja , Embaar taught his disciple Parasara Bhatta all that he learnt from his Acharyar . He succeeded in making the Parasara Bhattar the worthy successor of Swamy Ramanuja to carry on the great Ramanuja Sidhantha to the future generation.
During the year 1137 when our beloved Swamy Ramanujar shed his mortal coil and proceeded to Srivaikuntam , Swamy rested himself keeping his head in Embaars lap .
Swamy Embaar composed the great work called “VIJNAASTHUTHI”.
rAmanuja padhachchAya gOvindAhvAna pAyini |
thadAyattha svarUpAssA jeeyAnmadviSramasthali: ||
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
Photos and videos :
Courtesy great devotees of LORD who uploaded in social media .
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