SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:

SrIvaishNavam (also known as sanAthana dharmam) is an eternal sampradhAyam and many great personalities have propagated it throughout the history. Towards the end of dhvApara yugam, AzhwArs started appearing in southern part of bhAratha varsham at the banks of various rivers. The last AzhwAr appeared in the early part of kali yugam. vyAsa rishi, in SrI bhAgavatham identifies that exalted bhakthas of Sriman nArAyaNan will appear in the banks of various rivers and will enrich every one with the divine knowledge of emperumAn. AzhwArs are 10 in number – poigai AzhwAr, bhUthathAzhwAr, peyAzhwAr, thirumazhisai AzhwAr, nammAzhwAr, kulasEkarAzhwAr, periyAzhwAr, thondaradip podi AzhwAr, thirumangai AzhwAr and thiruppAnAzhwAr. madhurakavi AzhwAr is an AchArya nishtar and ANdAL is the avathAram of Bhoomi pirAti. AzhwArs (except ANdAL) are all jIvAthmAs hand picked by emperumAn from samsAram. emperumAn gave the AzhwArs the most perfect knowledge about thathva thrayam (chith – soul, achith – matter, Isvara – God) through his own sankalpam and through them he re-established the bhakthi/prapatthi mArgam when it was lost. He also made them realize past, present and future events fully and clearly. Azhwars sung 4000 divya prabhandham (popularly known as aruLicheyal) which were direct outpourings of their bhagavadh anubhavam.

After the time of AzhwArs, AchAryas started appearing. Many AchAryas starting from nAthamunigaL, centered by SrI rAmAnuja and ending with maNavALa mAmunigaL appeared and propagated our sath sampradhAyam. This AchArya paramparai continues through the 74 simhAsanadhipathis and jeeyar mutts (established by emperumAnAr and maNavALa mAmunigaL) until today. These AchAryas wrote several commentaries on aruLicheyal, explaining the meanings of the pAsurams in great detail. These commentaries are the great wealth they have left behind to us – for us to read them and immerse in the bhagavadh anubhavam. The AchAryas, by the mercy of the AzhwArs were able to exactly understand the divine message in the pAsurams and explain them from different angles.

1. poigai AzhwAr (kAsAra yOgi)

thiruvekkA (kAnchIpuram)
aippasi – sravaNam
mudhal thiruvanthAdhi

Focussed on emperumAn’s supremacy. Also known as sarO munIndhra.

kAnchyAm sarasi hEmAbjEjAtham kAsAra yOginam
kalayE ya: shriya:pathyE ravim dhIpam akalpayath

seyya thulA ONaththil segaththudhiththan vAzhiyE
thirukkachchi mAnagaram sezhikka vandhOn vAzhiyE
vaiyanthagaLi nURum vaguththuraiththAn vAzhiyE
vanasa malark karuvadhanil vandhamaindhAn vAzhiyE
veyya kadhirOn thannai viLakkittAn vAzhiyE
vEngadavar thirumalaiyai virumbumavan vAzhiyE
poygai muni vadivazhagum poRpadhamum vAzhiyE
ponmudiyum thirumugamum pUthalaththil vAzhiyE

2. bhUthathAzhwAr

thirukkadalmallai (mahAbalipuram)
aippasi – avittam)
iraNdAm thiruvanthAdhi

Focussed on emperumAn’s supremacy.

mallApura varAdhIsham mAdhavI kusumOdhbhavam
bhUtham namAmi yO vishNOr gyAnadhIpam akalpayath

anbE thagaLi nURum aruLinAn vAzhiyE
aippasiyil avittaththil avathariththAn vAzhiyE
nanpugazh sEr kurukkaththi nANmalarOn vAzhiyE
nalla thirukkadal mallai nAdhanAr vAzhiyE
inburugu sindhai thiri itta pirAn vAzhiyE
ezhil gyAnach chudar viLakkERRinAn vAzhiyE
pon puraiyum thiruvarangar pugazh uraippOn vAzhiyE
bUdhaththAr thALinai ippUthalaththil vAzhiyE

3. pEyAzhwAr (mahathAhvaya)

thirumayilai (mayilApUr)
aippasi – sathayam
mUnRAm thiruvanthAdhi

Focussed on emperumAn’s supremacy.

dhrushtvA hrushtvam yO vishNum ramayA mayilAdhipam
kUpE rakthOthpalE jAtham mahathAhvayam AshrayE

thiruk kaNdEn ena nURum seppinAn vAzhiyE
siRandha aippasiyil sadhayam seniththa vaLLal vAzhiyE
marukkamazhum mayilai nagar vAzha vandhOn vAzhiyE
malarkkariya neydhal thanil vandhuthiththAn vAzhiyE
nerukkidavE idaikazhiyil ninRa selvan vAzhiyE
nEmisangan vadivazhagai nenjil vaippOn vAzhiyE
perukkamudan thirumazhisaip pirAn thozhuvOn vAzhiyE
pEyAzhwAr thALiNai ipperu nilaththil vAzhiyE

4. thirumazhisai AzhwAr (bhakthisAra)

thirumazhisai
thai – magam
nAnumgan
thiruvanthAdhi, thiruchantha viruththam

Focussed on antharyAmi emperumAn. Also, established that we should only be surrendered to SrIman nArAyaNan.

sakthi panchamaya vigrahAthmanE sUkthikArajitha chiththa hAriNE
mukthidhAyaka murAri pAdhayOr bhakthisAra munayE namO nama:

anbudan andhAdhi thoNNURRARu uraiththAn vAzhiyE
azhagArum thirumazhisai amarndha selvan vAzhiyE
inbamigu thaiyil magaththingudhiththAn vAzhiyE
ezhil sandhaviruththam nURRirupadhIndhAn vAzhiyE
munbugaththil vandhudhiththa munivanAr vAzhiyE
muzhup perukkil ponni edhir midhandha sollOn vAzhiyE
nanpuviyil nAlAyiraththezhunURRAn vAzhiyE
nangaL paththisAran iru naRpadhangaL vAzhiyE

5. nammAzhwAr (SatakOpan)

AzhwAr thirunagari
vaikAsi – visAkam
thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi, thiruvAimozhi

Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Considered as the leader of all AzhwArs and SrIvaishNavas. Brought out the essence of 4 vEdhams in 4 prabhandhams.

mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi:
sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm
Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam
SrImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA

Ana thiruviruththam nURum aruLinAn vAzhiyE
Asiriyam Ezhu pAttaLiththa pirAn vAzhiyE
InamaRa andhAdhi eNbaththEzhIndhAn vAzhiyE
ilagu thiruvAimozhi Ayiraththoru nURRiraNduraiththAn vAzhiyE
vAnaNiyum mAmAdak kurugai mannan vAzhiyE
vaigAsi visAgaththil vandhudhiththAn vAzhiyE
sEnaiyarkOn avathAram seydha vaLLal vAzhiyE
thirukkurugaich chatakOpan thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

6. madhurakavi AzhwAr

thirukkOLUr
chithrai – chithrai
kaNNinuN chiRuth thAmbu

Focussed on nammAzhwAr. Established the importance of AchArya bhakthi.

avidhitha vishayAntharas chatArEr upanishdhAm upagAna mAthra bOga:
api cha guNa vachAth thadhEka sEshi madhurakavir hrudhayE mamAvirasthu

chiththiraiyil chiththirai nAL siRakka vandhOn vAzhiyE
thirukkOLUr avathariththa selvanAr vAzhiyE
uththara gangA thIraththu uyar thavaththOn vAzhiyE
oLi kadhirOn theRku udhikka ugandhu vandhOn vAzhiyE
paththiyodu pathinonRum pAdinAn vAzhiyE
parAngusanE paran enRu paRRinAn vAzhiyE
maththimamAm padhap poruLai vAzhviththAn vAzhiyE
madhurakavi thiruvadigaL vAzhi vAzhi vAzhiyE

7. kulasEkarAzhwAr

thiruvanjikkaLam
mAsi – punarpUsam
perumAL thirumozhi, mukundha mAlai

Focussed on SrI rAmAvathAram. Showed the importance of developing attachment towards bhAgavathas and dhivya dhEsams.

gushyathE yasya nagarE rangayAthrA dhinE dhinE
thamaham sirasA vandhE rAjAnam kulasEkaram

anjana mAmalaip piRavi AdhariththOn vAzhiyE
aNi arangar maNath thUNai adaindhuyndhOn vAzhiyE
vanji nagaram thannil vAzha vandhOn vAzhiyE
mAsi thanil punarpUsam vandhudhiththAn vAzhiyE
anjalenak kudap pAmbil angai ittAn vAzhiyE
anavaradham irAma kadhai aruLumuvan vAzhiyE
senjol mozhi nURRanjum seppinAn vAzhiyE
sEralar kOn sengamalath thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

8. periyAzhwAr (vishNu chiththan)

SrIvilliputhUr
Ani – swAthi
thiruppallANdu, periyAzhwAr thirumozhi

Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Established the importance of mangaLASAsanam (praying for the well being of bhagavAn) which is the highest state of love towards bhagavAn.

gurumukam anadhIthya prAhavEdhAn asEshAn
narapathi parikluptham sulkamAdhAthu kAma:
svasuram amara vandhyam ranganAthasya sAkshAth
dhvija kula thilakam tham vishNuchiththam namAmi

nalla thiruppallANdu nAnmUnROn vAzhiyE
nAnURRaRupaththonRum namakkuraiththAn vAzhiyE
sollariya Ani thanil sOdhi vandhAn vAzhiyE
thodai sUdik koduththAL thAn thozhum thamappan vAzhiyE
selva nambi thannaip pOl siRappuRRAn vAzhiyE
senRu kizhi aRuththu mAl dheyvam enRAn vAzhiyE
villipuththUr nagaraththai viLanga vaiththAn vAzhiyE
vEdhiyar kOn pattar pirAn mEdhiniyil vAzhiyE

9. ANdAL (gOdhA)

SrIvilliputhUr
Adi – pUram
thiruppAvai, nAchiyAr thirumozhi

Focussed on krishNAvathAram. An incarnation of bhUmi dhEvi (divine consort of bhagavAn). Appeared in this world for the upliftment of everyone.

nILA thunga sthanagiri thatI suptham uthpOdhya krishNam
pArArthyam svam sruthi satha siras sidhdham adhyApayanthI
svOchishtAyAm srajinikaLitham yAbalAth kruthya bhungthE
gOdhA thasyai nama itham itham bhUya EvAsthu bhUya:

thiruvAdip pUraththil segaththuthiththAL vAzhiyE
thiruppAvai muppadhum seppinAL vAzhiyE
periyAzhvAr peRReduththa peNpiLLai vAzhiyE
perumpUdhUr mAmunikkup pinnAnAL vAzhiyE
oru nURRu nARpaththu mUnRuraiththAL vAzhiyE
uyar arangarkkE kaNNi ugandhaLiththAL vAzhiyE
maruvArum thirumalli vaLanAdi vAzhiyE
vaNpudhuvai nagark kOdhai malarp padhangaL vAzhiyE

10. thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr (bhakthAngri rENu)

thirumaNdangudi
mArgazhi – kEttai
thirumAlai, thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi

Focussed on SrIranganAthan. Established the glories of nAma sankIrthanam, saraNAgathi and clearly explained the glories of SrIvaishNavas.

thamEva mathvA paravAsudhEvam
rangEchayam rAjavadharhaNiyam
prAbhOdhikIm yOkrutha sUkthimAlAm
bhakthAngrirENum bhagavanthamIdE

maNdangudi adhanai vAzhviththAn vAzhiyE
mArgazhiyil kEttai nAL vandhudhiththAn vAzhiyE
theNdirai sUzh arangaraiyE dheyvam enRAn vAzhiyE
thirumAlai onbathanjum seppinAn vAzhiyE
paNdu thiruppaLLiyezhuchchip paththuraiththAn vAzhiyE
pAvaiyargaL kalavi thanai pazhiththa selvan vAzhiyE
thoNdu seydhu thuLabaththAl thulanginAn vAzhiyE
thoNdaradippodiyAzhvAr thuNaip padhangaL vAzhiyE

11. thiruppANAzhwAr (muni vAhanar)

uRaiyUr
kArthigai – rOhiNi
amalanAdhipirAn

Focussed on SrIranganAthan. Beautifully performed mangaLAsAsanam to the divine form of periya perumAL (SrIranganAthan).

ApAdha chUdam anubhUya harim sayAnam
madhyE kavErathu hithur mudhithAntharAthmA
adhrashtruthAm nayanayOr vishayANtharANAm
yO nischikAya manavai munivAhanam tham

umbar thozhum meygyAnaththu uRaiyUrAn vAzhiyE
urOgiNi nAL kArththigaiyil udhiththa vaLLal vAzhiyE
vambavizh thAr muni thOLil vandha pirAn vAzhiyE
malark kaNNai vERonRil vaiyAdhAn vAzhiyE
ampuviyil madhiL arangar agam pugundhAn vAzhiyE
amalanAdhi pirAn paththum aruLinAn vAzhiyE
sempon adi mudi aLavum sEvippOn vAzhiyE
thiruppANan poRpadhangaL segathalaththil vAzhiyE

12. thirumangai AzhwAr (parakAlan)

thirukkuraiyalUr
kArthigai – kArthigai
periya thirumozhi, thirukkurunthANdagam, thiruvezhukkURRirukkai, siriya thirumadal, periya thirumadal, thirunedunthANdagam

Focussed on many dhivyadhEsams travelling to them on his horse AdalmA. Engaged in many kainkaryams during his time in SrIrangam, etc.

kalayAmi kalidhvamsam kavim lOka dhivAkAram
yasya gObi: prakASAbir Avidhyam nihatham thama:

kalandha thirukkArththigaiyil kArththigai vandhOn vAzhiyE
kAsiniyoN kuRaiyalUrk kAvalOn vAzhiyE
nalam thigazh AyiraththeNpaththu nAluraiththAn vAzhiyE
nAlaindhum ARaindhum namakkuraiththAn vAzhiyE
ilangezhukURRirukkai irumadal IndhAn vAzhiyE
immUnRil irunURRirupaththEzhIndhAn vAzhiyE
valam thigazhum kumudhavalli maNavALan vAzhiyE
vAtkaliyan parakAlan mangaiyar kOn vAzhiyE

gukAra: anthakAra vAchya Sabdha: – gu represents the aspect of ignorance that our intelligence is covered with. rukAra: than nivarthaka: – ru represents the true knowledge that will remove that ignorance. guru means the teacher who removes our ignorance and guide us into the true path of knowledge. guru and AchArya are synonyms and both mean spiritual teacher.
OrAN vazhi guru paramparai means disciplic succession of spiritual teachers who carried the great message of scriptures through history.
Our OrAN vazhi guru paramparai starts with SrI ranganAthan (SrIman nArAyaNan), centered with SrI rAmAnuja (who is hailed as jagadhAchArya – meaning the AchArya of the whole universe) and ends with SrI maNavALa mAmunigaL (who was declared by SrI ranganAthan himself as his own AchArya in SrIrangam). Let us now see each AchArya’s details one by one.

13. periya perumAL (SrIman nArAyaNan)

panguni – rEvathi
bhagavath gIthai, SrI SailESa dhayApAthram thanian

Popularly known as SrI ranganAthan. prathamAchAryan (first AchAryan) to everyone. Descended from paramapadham to sathya lOkam – worshipped by brahmA, then to ayOdhya – worshipped by sUrya vamsa kings upto SrI rAman himself, finally brought over to SrIrangam by SrI vibhIshaNan and settled there.

SrI sthanAbharaNam thEja: SrIrangEsayam AsrayE
chinthAmaNi mivothvAntham uthsangE ananthabhOgina:

thirumagaLum maNmagaLum siRakkavanthOn vAzhiyE
seyyavidaiththAymagaLAr sEvippOn vAzhiyE
iruvisumbil vIRRirukkum imaiyavarkOn vAzhiyE
idarkadiyap pARkadalai eythinAn vAzhiyE
aRiya dhayarathan maganAy avathariththAn vAzhiyE
anthariyAmiththuvamum AyinAn vAzhiyE
perukivarum ponninadup pinthuinRAn vAzhiyE
periyaperumAL engaLpirAn adigaL vAzhiyE

14. periya pirAttiyAr (SrI mahAlakshmi)

panguni – uthram
Popularly known as SrI ranganAyaki. dhivya mahishi (divine consort) of bhagavAn. bhagavAn’s dhayai (Mercy) personified. Glorified by our AchAryas as purushakAra bhUthai (recommendation authority) for us while approaching emperumAn.

nama: SrIranga nAyakyai yath brO vibhrama bhEthatha:
IsEsithavya vaishamya nimnOnnatham itham jagath

pangayappUvil piRantha pAvai nallAL vAzhiyE
panguniyil uththaranAL pArudhiththAL vAzhiyE
mangaiyarkaL thilagamena vantha selvi vAzhiyE
mAlarangar maNimArbai mannumavaL vAzhiyE
engaLezhil sEnaimannarkku ithamuraiththAL vAzhiyE
irupaththaju utporuL mAl iyampumavaL vAzhiyE
sengamalach cheyyarangam chezhikkavanthAL vAzhiyE
sIranga nAyakiyAr thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

15. sEnai mudhaliyAr (vishwaksEnar)

aippasi – pUrAdam

He is the commander-in-chief of bhagavAn in paramapadham. He takes care of all administrative activities. He is also known as sEshAsanar – one who is the first to accept bhagavAn’s sEsha prasAdham.

SrIrangachandhra masamindhirayA viharthum
vinyasya visvachidha chinnayanAdhikAram
yO nirvahathya nisamanguLi mudhrayaiva
sEnAnyam anya vimukAs thamasi sriyAma

OnguthulAp pUrAdaththudhiththa selvan vAzhiyE
ondodiyAL sUthravathi uRai mArban vAzhiyE
Ingulagil sadagOpaRku ithamuraiththAn vAzhiyE
ezhil pirambin sengOlai Enthumavan vAzhiyE
pAngudan muppaththumUvar paNiyumavan vAzhiyE
pangayaththAL thiruvadiyaip paRRinAn vAzhiyE
thEngupugazh ararangaraiyE sinthai seyvOn vAzhiyE
sEnaiyarkOn sengamalath thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

16. nammAzhwAr (SatakOpan)

AzhwAr thirunagari
vaikAsi – visAkam
thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi, thiruvAimozhi

Hailed as vaishNava kula pathi and prapanna jana kUtasthar ( leader of all SrIvaishNavas). Also known as mARan, parAngusan, kurugUr nambi, etc.

mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi:
sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm
Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam
SrImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA

thirukkurugaip perumAL than thiruththALgaL vAzhiyE
thiruvAna thirumugaththuch chevviyenRum vAzhiyE
irukkumozhi ennenjil thEkkinAn vAzhiyE
endhai edhirAsarkku iRaivanAr vAzhiyE
karukkuzhiyil pugA vaNNam kAththaruLvOn vAzhiyE
kAsiniyil Ariyanaik kAttinAn vAzhiyE
varuththamaRa vandhennai vAzhviththAn vAzhiyE
madhurakavi tham pirAn vAzhi vAzhi vAzhiyE

17. nAthamunigaL (SrIranganAtha muni)

kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram)
Ani – anusham
nyAya thathvam, yOga rahasyam, purusha nirNayam

Located nammAzhwAr’s avathAra sthalam and acquired 4000 dhivya prabhandham and its meanings from AzhwAr by constant meditation on AzhwAr.

nama: achinthya adhbudha aklishta jnAna vairAgya rAsayE
nAthAya munayE agAdha bhagavadh bhakthi sindhavE

Anithanil anudaththil avathariththAn vAzhiyE
ALavanthArkku upadhEsam aruLivaiththAn vAzhiyE
bAnutheRkiRkaNdavan soRpalavuraiththAn vAzhiyE
parAngusanAr soRpirabandham parinthukaRRAn vAzhiyE
gAnamuRath thALaththil kandisaiththAn vAzhiyE
karunaiyinAl upadhEsak kathiyaLiththAn vAzhiyE
nAnilaththil guruvaraiyai nAttinAn vAzhiyE
nalanthigazhum nAthamuni naRpathangaL vAzhiyE

18. uyyakkoNdAr (puNdarIkAkshar)

thiruveLLaRai
Chithrai – kArthigai

Learnt 4000 dhivya prabhandham with meanings from nAthamunigaL and propagated the same.

nama: pankaja nEthrAya nAtha: SrI padha pankajE
nyastha sarva bharAya asmath kula nAthAya dhImathE

vAlaveyyOnthanai venRa vadivazhagan vAzhiyE
mAl maNakkAl nambi thozhum malarppathaththOn vAzhiyE
sIlamiguNAthamuni sIruraippOn vAzhiyE
chiththiraiyil kArththigainAL siRakkavanthOn vAzhiyE
nAliraNdum aiyaindhum namakkuraiththAn vAzhiyE
nAlettin utporuLai nadaththinAn vAzhiyE
mAlaranga maNavALar vaLamuraippOn vazhiyE
vaiyamuyyak koNdavar thAL vaiyagaththil vAzhiyE

19. maNakkAl nambi (SrI rAma misrar)

maNakkAl (near SrIrangam)
mAsi – magam

Reformed yAmunAchAryar and established him as a great AchAryan.

ayathnathO yAumunam Athma dhAsam alarkka pathrArppaNa NishkrayENa
ya: krIthavAnAsthitha yauvarAjyam namAmitham rAmamEya sathvam

dhEsamuyyak koNdavar thAL sennivaippOn vAzhiyE
thennarangar sIraruLaich chErnthiruppOn vAzhiyE
dhAsarathi thirunAmam thazhaikkavanthOn vAzhiyE
thamizhnAtha muniyugappaith thAbiththAn vAzhiyE
nEsamudan Ariyanai niyamiththAn vAzhiyE
nINilaththil pathinmar kalai niRuththinAn vAzhiyE
mAsimagam thanil viLanga vanthuthiththAn vAzhiyE
mAl maNakkal nambi padham vaiyagaththil vAzhiyE

20. ALavandhAr (yAmunAchAryar)

kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram)
Adi – uthrAdam
gIthArtha sangraham, Agama prAmANyam, chathuslOki, sthOthra rathnam, etc.

Great scholar who firmly established SrIrangam as the head quarters, lived there with many sishyas.

yath padhAmbhOruhadhyAna vidhvasthAsEsha kalmasha:
vasthuthAmupayA dhOham yAmunEyam namAmitham

machchaNiyum mathiLarangam vAzhviththAn vAzhiyE
maRaiNAngum Oruruvil magizhnthukaRRAn vAzhiyE
pachchaiyitta rAmarpadham pagarumavan vAzhiyE
pAdiyaththOn IdERap pArvaicheydhOn vAzhiyE
kachchinagar mAyaniru kazhalpaNinthOn vAzhiyE
kadaga uththarAdaththuk kAluthiththAn vAzhiyE
achchamaRa manamagizhchchi aNainthittAn vAzhiyE
ALavandhAr thALiNaigaL anavaratham vAzhiyE

21. periya nambi (mahA pUrNar)

SrI rangam
mArgazhi – kEttai
thiruppathik kOvai

Had great attachment towards ALavandhAr and rAmAnujar. Brought rAmAnujar over to SrIrangam.

kamalApathi kalyAna gunAmrutha nishEvayA
pUrNa kAmaya sathatham pUrNAya mahathE nama:

ambuviyil pathinmarkalai AynthuraippOn vAzhiyE
ALavandhAr thALiNaiyai adainthuynthOn vAzhiyE
umbarthozhum arangEsarkku ugappudaiyOn vAzhiyE
Onguthanuk kEttaithanil udhiththa pirAn vAzhiyE
vambavizhthAr varadharurai vAzhiseythAn vAzhiyE
mARanErNambikku vAzhvaLiththAn vAzhiyE
emperumAnAr munivarkku ithamuraiththAn vAzhiyE
ezhil periyanambi saraN inithUzhi vAzhiyE

22. emperumAnAr (SrI rAmAnuja)

SrIperumbUthUr
chithrai – thiruvAdhirai
sri bhAshyam, gIthA bhAshyam, vEdhArtha sangraham, vEdhAntha dhIpam, vEdhAntha sAram, saraNAgathi gadhyam, SrIranga gadhyam, SrIvaikuNta gadhyam and nithya grantham

The main preceptor who established visistAdhvaitha sidhAntham and took our sampradhAyam every where.

yOnithyam achyutha padhAmbuja yugma rukma
vyAmOthas thathitharANi thrunAya mEnE
asmadhgurOr bhagavathOsya dhayaikasindhO:
rAmAnujasya charaNou sharaNam prapadhyE

aththigiri aruLALar adipaNinthOn vAzhiyE
arutkachchi nambiyurai ARupeRROn vAzhiyE
paththiyudan pAdiyaththaip pagarndhittAn vAzhiyE
pathinmarkalai utporuLaip parinthukaRRAn vAzhiyE
suththamagizhmARanadi thozhudhuynthOn vAzhiyE
thol periyaNambicharaN thOnRinAn vAzhiyE
chiththirayil AthiraiNAL siRakkavanthOn vAzhiyE
sIr perumbUthUr munivan thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

23. embAr (gOvindha perumAL)

madhura mangalam
thai – punarpUsam
vijNana sthuthi, emperumAnAr vadivazhagu pAsuram

Hailed as SrI rAmAnuja’s shadow. Was totally detached from materialistic aspects but was a great rasika in bhagavath vishayam.

rAmAnuja padha chAyA gOvindhAhva anapAyinI
thadhA yaththa svarUpA sA jeeyAn madh visramasthalee

pUvaLarum thirumagaLAr polivuRROn vAzhiyE
poigai muthal pathinmarkalaip poruLuraippOn vAzhiyE
mAvaLarum pUthUrAn malar pathaththOn vAzhiyE
magaraththil punarpUsam vanthuthiththOn vAzhiyE
thEvumepporuLum padaikkath thirunthinAn vAzhiyE
thirumalainambik kadimai seyyumavan vAzhiyE
pAvaiyargaL kalaviyiruL pakalenRAn vAzhiyE
battar thozhum embAr poRpadhamiraNdum vAzhiyE

24. parAsara bhattar

SrIrangam
vaikAsi – anusham
SrIrangarAja sthavam, ashta slOki, SrI guNa rathna kOsam, etc

Illustrious son of kUrathAzhwAn. Hailed as the adopted son of SrI ranganAthan and SrI ranganAchiyAr. Hailed as sarva thanthra svathanthrar due to his masterly control over sAsthram.

SrI parAsara bhattArya srirangEsa purOhitha:
SrIvathsAnga sutha: SrImAn shrEyasE mEsthu bhUyasE

thennarangar mainthan enach chiRakkavanthOn vAzhiyE
thirunedunthANdagap poruLaich cheppumavan vAzhiyE
annavayal pUthUran adipaNinthOn vAzhiyE
anavaratham embArukku AtcheyvOn vAzhiyE
mannu thirukkUranAr vaLamuraippOn vAzhiyE
vaigAsi anudaththil vanthuthiththOn vAzhiyE
pannukalai nAlvEthap payantherinthOn vAzhiyE
parAsaranAm sIrbattar pArulagil vAzhiyE

25. nanjIyar (vEdhAnthi)

thirunArAyaNapuram
panguni – uthram
thiruvAimozhi 9000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams

Reformed by bhattar. Originally an adhvaitha scholar, but due to bhattar’s efforts, he becomes a great SrIvaishNava. Exemplified as the sishya of bhattar. Also, known as vEdhAnthAchAryar.

namO vEdhAntha vEdhyAya jagan mangaLa hEthavE
yasya vAgAmruthAsAra bhUritham bhuvana thrayam

theNdirai sUzh thiruvarangam sezhikkavanthOn vAzhiyE
sImAthavanennum selvanAr vAzhiyE
paNdaimaRaith thamizh pporuLaip pagara vanthOn vAzhiyE
panguniyil uththaranAL pArudhiththAn vAzhiyE
oNdodiyAL kalavithannai ozhiththittAn vAzhiyE
onpathinAyirap poruLai Othumavan vAzhiyE
eNdisaiyum sIr battar iNaiyadiyOn vAzhiyE
ezhilperugum nanjIyar inithUzhi vAzhiyE

26. nampiLLai (lOkAchAryar)

nambUr
kArthigai – kArthigai
thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams

Great scholar in samskritha/dhrAvida sAsthram. First to give detailed lectues on thiruvAimozhi in SrIrangam temple. Hailed as thirumangai AzhwAr’s incarnation.

vEdhAntha vEdhya amrutha vArirAsEr
vEdhArtha sAra amrutha pUramagryam
AdhAya varshantham aham prapadhyE
kAruNya pUrNam kalivairidhAsam

thEmaruvum sengamalath thiruththALgaL vAzhiyE
thiruvaraiyil pattAdai sErmarungum vAzhiyE
thAmamaNi vadamArvum puriNUlum vAzhiyE
thAmaraikkai iNaiyazhagum thadampuyamum vAzhiyE
pAmaruvum thamizhvEdham payil pavaLam vAzhiyE
pAdiyaththin poruL thannaip pagarNAvum vAzhiyE
nAmanuthal mathimugamum thirumudiyum vAzhiyE
nampiLLai vadivazhagum nAdORum vAzhiyE

27. vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai (SrI krishNa pAdhar)

SrI rangam
Ani – swAthi
thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other vyAkyAnams

Most dedicated disciple of nampiLLai. Documented eedu vyAkyAnam of nampiLLai. Gave us two great gems – piLLai lOkAchAryar and azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr.

sri krishna pAdha pAdhAbjE namAmi sirasA sadhA
yath prasAdha prabhAvEna sarva sidhirabhUnmama

Anithanil sOthiNannAL avathariththAn vAzhiyE
AzhwArgaL kalaipporuLai AynthuraippOn vAzhiyE
thAnugantha nampiLLai thALthozhuvOn vAzhiyE
satakOpan thamizhkkIdu sARRinAn vAzhiyE
nAnilaththil pAdiyaththai nadaththinAn vAzhiyE
nalla ulagAriyanai namakkaLiththAn vAzhiyE
InamaRa emaiyALum iRaivanAr vAzhiyE
engaL vadavIthippiLLai iNaiyadigaL vAzhiyE

28. piLLai lOkAchAryar

SrIrangam
aippasi – sravaNam
mumukshuppadi, thathva thrayam, SrIvachana bhUshaNam, etc (18 rahasya granthams and more)

Most merciful AchArya who documented the esoteric principles of our sampradhAyam in the simplest language for every one’s benefit.

lOkAchArya guravE krishna pAdhasya sUnavE
samsAra bhOgi santhashta jIva jIvAthavE nama:

aththigiri yaruLALa ranumathiyOn vAzhiyE
aippasiyil thiruvONaththu avathariththAn vAzhiyE
muththiNeRi maRaiththamizhAl mozhintharuLvOn vAzhiyE
mUthariya maNavALan munputhiththAn vAzhiyE
niththiyam nampiLLaipadham nenjilvaippOn vAzhiyE
nILvasanapUdaNaththAl niyamiththAn vAzhiyE
uththamamAm mudumbaiNagar udhiththavaLLal vAzhiyE
ulagAriyan padhangaL UzhithoRum vAzhiyE

29. thiruvAimozhi piLLai (SrI sailEsar)

kunthI nagaram
vaikAsi – visAkam
periyAzhwAr thirumozhi svApadhEsam

Dedicated his whole life for nammAzhwAr and thiruvAimozhi. Re-established everything in AzhwAr thirunagari and built new temple for SrI rAmAnujar there.

nama srisailanAthAya kunthI nagara janmanE
prasAdhalabdha parama prApya kainkaryasAlinE

vaiyagameN satakOpan maRaivaLarththOn vAzhiyE
vaikAsi visAkaththil vanthuthiththAn vAzhiyE
aiyan aruNmAri kalai AynthuraippOn vAzhiyE
azhagArum ethirAsar adipaNivOn vAzhiyE
thuyyavulagAriyan than thuNaippadhaththOn vAzhiyE
thol kurukApuri athanaith thulakkinAn vAzhiyE
theyvanagar kunthi thannil siRakkavanthOn vAzhiyE
thiruvAymozhippiLLai thiruvadigaL vAzhiyE

30. maNavALa mAmunigaL (ramya jAmAthru muni)

AzhwAr thirunagari
aippasi – thirumUlam
many sthOthrams, thamizh prabhandhams, vyAkyAnams

Re-incarnation of SrI rAmAnuja. Lectured on thiruvAimozhi eedu vyAkyAnam for a year in front of SrI ranganAthan and his parivAr. At the end of the lecture series, SrI ranganAthan accepts him as his AchAryan and offers him his most popular SrIsailEsa dhayApAthram thanian.

srisailEsa dhayA pAthram dIbhakthyAdhi guNArNavam
yathIndhra pravaNam vandhE ramya jAmAtharam munim

ippuviyil arangEsarkku IdaLiththAn vAzhiyE
ezhil thiruvAymozhippiLLai iNaiyadiyOn vAzhiyE
aippasiyil thirumUlaththu avathariththAn vAzhiyE
aravarasap perunjOthi ananthanenRum vAzhiyE
eppuviyum srIsailam EththavanthOn vAzhiyE
ErArum ethirAsar enavudhiththAn vAzhiyE
muppurinUl maNivadamum mukkOl thariththAn vAzhiyE
mUthariya maNavALamAmunivan vAzhiyE

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan

Source :  http://pillai.koyil.org/index.php/2020/05/know-our-azhwars-and-acharyas-tamil/

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