Swamy Nanjeer was one of the foremost pillar of Sri Vaishnavism after the period of our JagathaAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja .
Nanjeer appeared at Thirunarayanapuram , ( Melkote ) near Karnataka .Few consider his birth place is near Shimoga and we can see he is being worshipped at Madhava Mutt there..Nanjeers original name was Madhvachariyar ,and swamin was expert in veda shastra and hence was addressed as Vedanthi.
He was an expert in adwaitha . Before our beloved Swamy Ramanujar left for heavenly abode he expressed his wish to Parasar Bhattar about bringing this Vedanthi into srivaishnava fold.. As instructed by Acharyar , Bhattar travelled to Melkote .
He was accompanied by his disciples . Swami was travelling in a Palaquin .On seeing this the locals advised that this pomp and show will not able to have audience of vedanthi. . As Vedanthi was a very rich man ,every day he used to feed the people. Coming to know about this ,Swamy Parasara Bhattar went as simple person into the ( Ashram ) Thirumaligai of Vedanthi,.
All the disciples went to the place where the prasadam was being served, but our Bhattar walked to the place where Vedanthi was relaxing. On seeing Bhattar coming towards him the relaxed vedanthi asked why he is coming there instead of having the prasadam . Bhattar politely replied that he has come for Bheeksha. The Vedanthi replied that if the plea was for bheekasha he should have gone to place where prasadam was being served.
Bhattar replied he did not come there for that Bheeksha but for his appointment for his reputation . The Vedanthi was surprised and smiled for his gesture in making him understand . Bhattar immediately replies he wanted Tharka Bheeksha. The Vedanthi could guess It could be Parasara Bhattar only from srirangam??
( Previously Vedanthi and Bhattar had heard about each other). With introduction , for almost nine consecutive days the 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. Vedanthi continued to live in Melkote and served food to the people as usual .
He was disturbed when both his wives refused to serve the food to poor brahmins . On coming to know about the incident from his well wishers , he became very sad and decided to take Sanyasa. . He sold all his property and divided them into three shares, two shares to his two wives. The third share he carried it , so that he can give it to his Acharyar Swamy Parasara Bhattar.
Vedanthi reached Srirangam and prostrated his Acharyar with unconditional submission Swamy on seeing Vedanthi in Sanayasa Kollam , enquired whether ” NAM JEER VANTHAR ” and embraced him with love for his mission was completed .
After Swamy Bhattar attained paramapadham, ( lotus feet of his Acharyar ) Nanjeeyar took over the leadership of the sampradhayam in Srirangam and propagated with utmost dedication .
Adiyen Ramanuja dasan
