Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namha
Srimad Varavara Munaye Namaha

Aani Swathi Online Celebrations

SRI PERIAZHWAR, SRIRANGAM PERIYA KOVIL

VEDICS Foundation has always strived to try and establish an accessible yet undiluted bridge between the various teachings and expositions of Āzhwārs and Āchāryas. Often times the various works of our preceptors feel distant because of barriers in language, and understanding. We must always attempt to overcome these barriers and enjoy the timeless wisdom that has come forth from the erudite lands of our preceptors.

Today is the auspicious day of the Āni month, Swāthi nakshatram. This happens to be the annual birth star for various stalwarts of our sampradāyam namely Sri Periāzhwār, Sri Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai and Sri Vādhikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar. It also happens to be the asterism that is associated with Sri Narasimhar and Sri Garudazhwar.

Sri Periāzhwār was born in Srivilliputhur and is the father of Sri Āndāl. He has authored several pasurams and visited several divyadesams while residing in bhūlokam. Tirupallāndu which is one of the most oft recited song was composed by him.

One of the most important songs that is part of the collect termed "Divya Prabandham" is the Tiruvāimozhi sung by Swāmi Nammāzhwār. All of our āchāryās have spent their entire lives knowing and propagating the meanings of these divine songs. Swami Rāmānujā has prescribed this as one of his tenets to all his sambandhis. Tiruvāimozhi is replete with esoteric meanings as contained in the Tirumantram, Dwayam, Charama slokam, Bhagavad Gîtā, Vedās, Upanishads, the Brahma Sutra etc. Several of our elders have spent their entire lifetimes in helping teach and further the knowledge of samsaris and elevate them.

There are five commentaries written by various āchāryās of our sampradāyam for Tiruvāimozhi. They are:
1. Ārāyira-padi by Tiru-kurugai pirān Pillan
2. Onbadhināyira-padi by Nanjîyar
3. Iruvathinālāyira-padi by Periya Vāchān Pillai
4. Pannîrāyira-padi by Vadhikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar
5. Ēdu/Muppathiārāyira-padi by Nampillai

Of these, the most celebrated is the Ēdu maha-vyākhyānam. While the commentary itself is attributed to Swami Nampillai who delivered them as discourses, the scribe who has helped save it for all posterity was Swami Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai. In addition to this, he is the father of the illustrious Swami Pillailokachāriār and Swami Azhagiya Manavala Perumāl Nāyanar.

Vadhikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar was born in a small town called Brahmadesam-Mannārkovil in the present Tirunelveli district. His story is one of an amazing transformation, one that can come only out of the infinite grace of our pūrvāchāryās. He surrendered at the feet of Swami Periya Vāchān Pillai, who trained him in several branches of study and under his tutelage, went on to become one of the foremost scholars of their time. In addition to his commentary on the Tiruvāimozhi, he has authored the Dravidopanishad Sangathi(samskrit) and Gîtā Venba(tamizh) which are both critical works in the understanding of the Tiruvāimozhi and the Bhagavad Gîtā respectively.

A very interesting nexus of those born on this auspicious day can be observed. In the writings of Swami Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai, in the commentary for the pasuram "Māśūñā" (3-1-8) of the "Mudicchodhi" (3-1) decad, a beautiful explanation of Swami Periāzhwar's exposition can be found. In the commentary it says that the Āzhwārs alone have comprehended (the greatness of) his Divine Feet and accorded protective auspiciousness to them. A reference made to the Divine feet of the lord in the Tiruppallāndu is quoted while attempting to explain the inner meanings of the Tiruvaimozhi pāsuram. Similarly, a reference from the Tirupallāndu is taken while explaining some portions of the next pasuram "Muzhangādha" (3-1-9).

So, on the days that the Swathi Asterism occurs, we should all remember the songs of Periyāzhwār, whose songs when quoted have been dutifully recorded by Swami Vadakku Tiruveedhi Pillai. These have been propagated by Swami Azhagiya Manavāla Jîyar. The songs are about Sriman Nārāyanā one of whose forms is Lord Narasimha. Several of these pasurams have references to the Lord borne by his faithful vāhana Garudan.

VEDICS Foundation, due to the grace of Sriman Narāyana, has been helping propagate the traditional kalakshepam method of study for several works. Currently, Ēdu kalakshepam called the Bhagavad Vishayam is being delivered by U. Ve. Velukkudi Sri Krishnan Swami at Vāgāmruthavarshî Bhavanam, Srirangam. We are offering a web-streaming version of the same and continue to have the same divine experience delivered to our homes around the world. We also host several other upanyasams in our "Audio" section. Our readers are also encouraged to browse other sections of the website and recommend our Membership Program to their family and friends, through which a lot of the activities that we undertake currently, are made possible.

Please Login to listen to the upanyasams