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Thread on Swami Manavala Mamunigal Vaibhavam

Aippasi Thirumoolam (Ashwayuja Moolam) is the birthday of Acharya Swami Manavala Mamunigal and this year marks the 650th birth anniversary of this incomparable Acharya.

While one may directly start with tweets that speak the great Acharya's glory, it's imperative to realize that Swami Manavala Mamunigal is truly gladdened only when we worship Him after obtaining the blessings of 8 of His most beloved Shishyas called Ashtadiggajas.

So, let us briefly meditate on the great Ashtadiggajas of Swami Manavala Mamunigal before we catch a few glimpses of the glories of Swami Manavala Mamunigal Himself.

1. Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar or Sri Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar

Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar is the first and foremost Shishya of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

He took up Sanyasa directly from Brahmacharya so that He'd not have to be disturbed by worldly responsibilities that would stop Him from performing His Acharya Kainkaryam!

Swami Manavala Mamunigal declared Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar as "Praana Suhruth" (i.e. friend and well-wisher of the very life-breath) and was particular that any honour accorded to Sri Manavala Mamunigal must be accorded to Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar as well.

Even when Swami Manavala Mamunigal instructed Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar to permanently serve the Perumal of Sri Vanamamalai Divyadesam (Nanguneri), Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar was reluctant to get separated from His Guru!

Only when Swami Manavala Mamunigal gifted Him with an Archa Vigraha of His did Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar leave for Sri Vanamamalai Divyadesam.

He also undertook Digvijaya on behalf of His Acharya & spread the glories of Sri Ramanuja Darshanam in northern parts of Bharatha Desham.

Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar's dedicated Guru Bhakthi won Him the grace of both Sri Mahalakshmi Devi and Sriman Narayana.

Srivaramangai Nacchiyar of Sri Vanamamalai Divyadesam was initially residing at Sri Sheshachala Hills.

Srivaramangai Nacchiyar appeared in Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar's dream, addressed Him as "Father!" and asked Him to escort Her to Sri Vanamamalai Divyadesam and also, to perform Her marriage with Sri Deivanayaka Perumal!!

Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar gladly executed Her orders and attained an exalted status akin to that of Sri Janaka Maharaja & Sri Periyazhwar!

Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar is the first Jeeyar of the great Sri Vanamamalai Mutt and the great lineage of the Mutt is quite famous.

Sri Mamunigal chose a set of Ashtadiggajas for Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar also:

1. Sri Dhoddayyangar Appai
2. Sri Samarapungava Guru
3. Sri Shuddhasathvam Anna
4. Sri Appachiyaranna
5. Sri Ramanuja Pillan
6. Sri Thirugottiyur Ayyar
7. Sri Gnanakkan Aathaan
8. Sri Pallakkaal Siddhar

2. Sri Thiruvenkata Ramanuja Jeeyar

Current Jeeyar Swamis adorning the Pattam:

Swami Ramanuja had already appointed a Jeeyar to monitor the administration of Sri Venkateshwara Temple at Thirumalai Hills.

To enable uninterrupted kainkaryam at Sri Venkatachala Hills, Swami Manavala Mamunigal established a special practice:

As soon as a Jeeyar adorning the "Periya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar" post (commenced by Swami Ramanuja) attains Paramapadham (Moksham), the then Jeeyar adorning the "Siriya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar" post will become the new "Periya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar."

The new Periya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar will also appoint a new Siriya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar.

Sri Thiruvenkata Ramanuja Jeeyar was the first such Siriya Kelvi Appan Jeeyar appointed by Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

3. Sri Bhattarpiraan Jeeyar

A descendant of Sri Naduvilazhwan (one of the 74 Simhasanadhipathis appointed by Swami Ramanuja).

Famous as "Moar munnar ayyar" meaning the "Respected sire who eats His Acharyan's last meal leftovers (buttermilk rice) as His first meal for the day!"

He was addressed as "Dakshina Baahu" (right hand) by Swami Manavala Mamunigal Himself.

His purvashrama great-grandson, Sri Pillailokam Jeeyar (in the picture), gave us the great Charithram of Sri Manavala Mamunigal & also wrote commentaries for Swami Manavala Mamunigal's works.

4. Sri Koil Kandhadai Annan

Descendant of the great Sri Mudhaliyandan, a prime Shishya of Swami Ramanuja.

In a dream, Swami Ramanuja, along with Sri Mudhaliyandan, instructs Sri Koil Annan to take refuge in Swami Manavala Mamunigal's feet & also, reveals that Swami Manavala Mamunigal is His own Avathara.

Sri Ranganatha Perumal celebrated Sri Koil Annan as "Jeeyar Annan" (the beloved Shishya of the great Acharya Sri Periya Jeeyar).

Sri Varadaraja Perumal celebrated Swami Manavala Mamunigal as "Annan Jeeyar" (the beloved Acharya of the great Shishya Sri Koil Annan).

Swami Manavala Mamunigal expressed great joy when He learnt that Sri Varadaraja Perumal had conferred on Him a name that is associated with Sri Koil Annan.

Thus Sri Koil Annan became one of the two prime Shishyas of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

5. Sri Erumbiyappa

A great friend of Sri Koil Kandhadai Annan and thus gets introduced to Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

Initially, treats Swami Manavala Mamunigal as a normal Sanyasi.

Thanks to Sri Koil Annan's recommendation and Swami Manavala Mamunigal's blessings, is instructed in a dream by His Home Deity Sri Rama to take refuge in Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

A short thread on this sweet Ashtadiggaja: https://twitter.com/kgdhouhithri/status/1054703992217919488?s=20

6 & 7. Sri Appillai & Sri Appillaar

Great Vidwans.

Thanks to timely recommendations of Sri Erumbiyappa and Sri Ponnadikkaal Jeeyar, become Swami Manavala Mamunigal's great Shishyas.

Sri Appillai wrote the Azhwar Vaazhi Thirunaamams. Sri Appillaar has written the Srishailesha Dayapathram Thaniyan events in a poem.

8. Sri Prathivadhi Bhayankaram Anna

An expert in Vedantha, thanks to tutelage under the great son of Sri Vedanthacharyar.

Serves Sri Venkateshwara at Sri Seshachala Hills by performing Thirumanjana (Abhishekam) Theertha Kainkaryam.

One day, He gladly listens to the glories of Swami Manavala Mamunigal from a Srirangam Sri Vaishnava and discovers that the Akasha Ganga Theertha that He offered for Sri Venkateshwara's Thirumanjanam had acquired a fabulous fragrance even before adding spices like elaichi, etc!

Sri Venkateshwara exclaims in joy that the fragrance was superb on that day.

Sri Anna realizes that just listening to the glories of Swami Manavala Mamunigal has led to this fragrant incident and becomes quite devoted to the Acharya.

Bound by the exclusive instruction of His Acharya, Swami Manavala Mamunigal never participated in Vedantha debates.

To protect the Visishtadvaitha Siddhantham, Swami Manavala Mamunigal invites Sri Anna to Srirangam so that Sri Anna can deal with Vedantha debates.

Sri Anna takes refuge in Swami Manavala Mamunigal's feet.

Instructed by Swami Manavala Mamunigal, Sri Anna writes the famous Sri Venkatesha Suprabhatham, Sthothram, Prapatthi & Mangalam.

He has mentioned Swami Manavala Mamunigal's name in both the Prapatthi & the Mangalam.

Here's a lovely compilation of the all works by Swami Manavala Mamunigal and all works that eulogize Swami Manavala Mamunigal (including those composed by the glorious Ashtadiggajas):

http://acharya.org/ac/mm/index.html

Now, let's briefly meditate on the glories of Swami Manavala Mamunigal.

A. Avathara Rahasya

Sriman Narayana ordered Sri Adhishesha to stay in Bhulokam for 200 years to lead everyone to Sri Vaikuntam.

Swami Ramanuja left after completing a stay of 120 years. Later, Sriman Narayana orders Sri Adhishesha to complete the balance stay.

Thus Swami Manavala Mamunigal's Avathara occurs.

Thereby, Swami Manavala Mamunigal Avathara is a continuation of Swami Ramanuja's Avathara.

"Yathipathi punaravatharam"

Swami Ramanuja, hailed as Jagadacharya by Sri Vaishnavas, revealed the meanings of Vedas & the greatness of Azhwars,
performed administrative reforms in Divyadesams Srirangam, Thiruvenkatam &
opened the doors of Sri Vaikuntam for anyone who takes refuge in Him.

In this 2nd (part of the) Avathara, Swami Manavala Mamunigal revealed the greatness of Thiruvaimozhi & Eedu 36000 Padi, the best commentary ever written for Thiruvaimozhi.

He also explained and demonstrated how the conduct of a Ramanuja Dasa must be.

B. Acharya Bhakthi towards Sri Thiruvaimozhippillai

Swami Manavala Mamunigal was highly devoted to Sri Thiruvaimozhippillai, His Acharya.

He always brimmed with infinite gratitude towards His Acharya for having affectionately blessed Him ("despite me being a vile, lowly being" says Swami Manavala Mamunigal!).

Swami Manavala Mamunigal also celebrated His Acharya for making Him eligible to obtain the grace of Swami Ramanuja and declared that Swami Ramanuja will definitely grant Him Moksha purely for the sake of Sri Thiruvaimozhippillai.

C. Paramacharya Bhakthi towards Sri Pillailokacharyar

Swami Manavala Mamunigal held Sri Pillailokacharyar in very high esteem.

He wrote an exquisite commentary for the Rahasya Grantha named Sri Vachana Bhushanam, the magnum opus of Sri Pillailokacharyar.

Swami Manavala Mamunigal also wrote the awesome Sri Upadesharathnamalai, a prabandham that contains the great truths of Sri Guru Parampara Prabhavam and Sri Vachana Bhushanam in a nutshell.

Great thread for all: https://twitter.com/KoyilOrg/status/1292412189286920194?s=20

Sri Upadesharathnamalai reflects the great love & respect Swami Manavala Mamunigal had for Azhwars, 4000 Divya Prabandhams, Acharyas and Their commentaries for Divya Prabandhams & also, inculcates that devotion in the learner!

D. Sri Ramanuja Bhakthi

Swami Manavala Mamunigal singing Pallandu for Sri Ramanujacharya at Thirunarayanapuram

While Swami Ramanuja's Avathara is a perfect role model for Acharyas, Swami Manavala Mamunigal's Avathara is a perfect role model for Shishyas of Sri Ramanuja Darshanam (Sampradayam).