81st Tirunakshatram Celebration of H.H. Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Swami
From the Bhakti List Archives
• February 16, 2001
Sri:
SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,
Dear Bhaktas,
Adiyen wishes to share the following appeal from U.Ve. Dr. V.N.
Vedanta Desikan Swamin for the rapidly approaching 81st Tirunakshatram
MahOtsavam of H.H. U.Ve. Dr. VNV Swamin takes us through a wonderful
spiritual journey as he consummately describes the greatness of
Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam and several Acharyas, who have adorned
the Peetam of Andavan at the Ashramam.
Namo Narayana
SriMuralidhara Dasan
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THIRUVINNAGAR TO THIRUVARANGAM
A FEW PAGES OF A GREAT SPIRITUAL SAGA
Among the forty Divyadesa shrines of the Chola country, Thiruvinnagar
gets accorded a prime place. It has been sung of by two (early) Mudal
Azhavars, Nammazhvar and by Thirumangai Azhvar. Nammazhvar describes
his experience as Parankusa – Nayeki – a damsel in God love – in many
decades. In VI 2, of Thiruvoimozhi he narrates the love – quarrel.
At the end he was given the love-experience of the Lord whom he
describes as "having seen Him at Thiruvinnagar". He names the Lord in
the equivalent of "Oppiliappan', though the Lord is fit to be referred
to as "Uppiliappan" also, on the basis of a classic legend.
The shrine is housed in a small calm village. Every activity in the
village is centred around the Lord. All live there as His servants,
mind you. It is Vaikunta on earth and so is watered by Viraja
(Thirunattaru). East of the village, a couple of furlongs off, is the
hamlet, Devanarvilagam and a couple of miles to the south-east is
Poundarikapuram. The mother of Sri H H Devanarvilagam Azhagiyasingr
(Jeer, the 43rd in order) hailed from the latter village.
The Lord is a great benefactor even to this day. But 300 years back,
He blessed a couple from Royampettai with a divine child – in the
image of Sri Desika who was similarly blessed by Lord Venkatesa – this
child growing in later life as a great spiritual patriarch, called
Thirukkudanthai Desikan. He is to this day regarded as a great
water-shed preceptor, head of a fairly large family of the so-called
Munitraya Sampradaya, since for one reason among many others, three
ascetics prostrated before this householder and learnt Vedanta at his
feet – a rather unique phenomenon in Indian spiritualism.
There lived in this village one great scholar-saint, called 'Sri
Navanitam Swami' (1874-1949). His name was Vangipuram Navanitam
Krishnamacharya. The Navanitam prefix is derived from a forefather
who had written a Sanskrit work, 'Chandogya – Navanitam' for which he
had received many honours and land-conferments by the then ruler. The
prefix became particularly appropriate to the Swami when he brought
out, among others for the first time into print, a book called
'Dasopanishad-Bhashyam' of Sri Rangaramanuja Muni ('Upanishad -
Bhashyakarar, ca-1550AD) Descendants can claim the initials as V.N. in
their right, but the honorific 'Navanitam Swami' is his own, not fit
to be appropriated by another! He was a stalwart, but simple,
unassuming, austere, self-denying, ever at the service of the Lord
here. When he lived, for almost 75 years here in his old house, he
had been host to many scholars of high orthodoxy, including a few
ascetics like H H Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Sri Mannarkoil Andavan,
Sri Kozhiyalam Swami and Sri Thiruvahindipuram Swami (his own
preceptor). They were all familiar guests thereat!. Indeed there is
a famous comment of Sri Kozhiyalam Swami:- "you people don't know that
we ascetics have also got a father-in-law's home where we enjoy
hospitality. I mean Sri Navanitam Swami's house!"
"Navanitham Swami" had left off train-travel when he was some 40 years
old. He did not reckon travel, honours, money, fame, etc. as things
of relevance. He was devoted to publication of rare books that were
all high-class and were really relevant to that age. He was a friend
of all Vaishnavites irrespective of their school, clan or sect. He
was a great devotee of the Archa. When a social circumstance arose in
early 1948 that prevented him from worshipping the Lord without
compromising on his basic codes of orthodoxy, he was so shocked
mentally that he lost his speech. He lived a dumb devotee for 16
months and died on an Ekadesi in April 1949.
'Sri Navanitham Swami' had definitely influenced many, not excluding
Dr V Sadagopan who had initially grown under his shadow and later
under his sons, who were also scholars in the old form. To-day he
lives in USA though with the true heart of a pious Prapanna, a devotee
of the Lord, a disciple of H H Jeer, a lover of Carnatic music, a
philanthropist of the first order and what is more, a discerning
propagator of oriental philosophy. His broad outlook, his simplicity
and his flawless respect for all things of spiritual antiquity deserve
praise.
Returning to Sri Navanitam Swami (Sri VNK) he was a few years senior
to Sri Injimedu Swami (who later become the 42nd Jeer) in the Tarka
course at Kumbakonam. They were very thick friends. The friendship
between the Navanitham family and the Devanarvilagam family is rather
too long and too close. Sri Lakshmi-Narasimhacharya studied many
advanced treatises with Sri Navanitam Swami, before he became the 43rd
Jeer. As with many earlier-mentioned ascetics, the Jeers too used to
be honoured guests at the village house. This friendship, never
marred by any mundane events, has continued between the successors in
the Sri Ahobila Mutt and successive generations in the Navanitham
family too! – till this day !
Sri Poundarikapuram Swami had a large stock of affluence. He left off
all in his supreme self-denial and became an ascetic by almost
compelling his preceptor to grant him the saffron robe. He was some
25 years senior to Sri Navanitam Swami. He swayed, as spiritual king,
the Srirangam town for almost five decades. He was no ordinary
scholar, nor an ordinary ascetic, nor even an ordinary pontiff at
that. He taught many; taught Sri Bhashya every day; believed that it
was his chief goal and inaugurated the present headquarters of the
Asramam on the banks of the Coleroon river, a few yards west of Sri
Dasavatharam Sannidhi (of Sri Ahobila Mutt). Mark that this Sannidhi
is a creation of Thirumangai Azlvar and that Desika's Dasavatara –
Stotram is in its praise. What a hoary association!
Sri Navanitam Swami banked on the Asramam for lending cadjan leaves,
that Sri H H Poundarikapuram Andavan had meticulously copied for
posterity. The former would not travel then but the latter would
visit Oppiliappn shrine once in a way, and he had an unrelentingly
orthodox friend for Bhikshai! What is more, in 1928, when the
affluent devotees of Poundarikapuram village – nevertheless not his
disciples – had arranged for renovation and consecration, It was H H
Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan who was invited to lend the 'holy hand'
for karasparsam (by a great man). With what results! All can see
today how the small shrine of Oppiliappn has grown as Southern
Thiruppathi, with gala and festivity, fund-flow and pomp and fame and
attraction, all after 1928! The event has a precedent in
Thirukkudanthai Desikan lending his 'kara-sparsam' to Aravamuthan some
200 years back!
Sri Vinnatrangarai Swami, a scion of upanishad-Bhashyakara, was a
familiar person at Oppiliappan Sannidhi. He was the Vasista, so to
say, who officiated at the weddings in Navamitam home for many
decades. He was a master in Samaveda. As Andavan Sri Vinnatrangarai
Swami was on uncompromising Acharya, making heavy demands – on what ?
on the discipline and personal outfit of the disciples! That indeed
marks this Asramam as a true hallmark!
A special kind of link between the Ahobila Mutt and Sri
Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam deserves mention in this connection.
Down from 1750 to this day the Acharya hierarchy is unbroken, uniquely
continuous in this Asramam. The Acharyas are also native to the
school; inbred and brought up by Kalakshapam / invitation by earlier
Pontiffs at some time. Once a gap occurred in the Ahobila Mutt; for
some five years (1900-1905). The Poundarikapuram Andavan of this
Asramam had proudly helped in securing a deserving candidate and
giving him Sannyasa – order and installing him as the Pontiff (the
38th). This happened in 1905.Only incidentally though, I would
mention that my uncle's name (I mean, Sri V N Srirama Desikacharya)
used to be mentioned in regard to the drafting for the Asramam head,
for this as well as for Kozhiyalam Swami's at different stages. He
was not willing for reasons of the urgency that he felt in his
publishing work. What is more, the great Poundarikapuram Swami had
helped Sri Kozhiyalam Swami to take the ascetic garb in 1940's.
The unique role of this Asramam in preserving spiritual heritage of
Sri Vaishnavism can be understood from these records, which are
broadly indicated. The emphasis is that notwithstanding the fact that
the Acharyas of this Asramam seldom go on tours, their service to the
religious cause is none the less important.
Sri Navanitam Swami's sons, both scholars in their own right, were
regular visitors to the Asramam, especially on Sadas days and other
festivals. They were not disciples though. Indeed there is an
interesting sidelight on this. We used to be told that there would be
a reference everyday to Sirangam-pilgrimage in the court of
Kulasekhara Azhvar ('Ghushya-te yasyanagare Rangajytra dine dine). In
a similar manner, at our home at Oppiliappan Sannidhi, there would be
reference to 'Swami Sannidhi' ever and ever! It is in special
reference to the one swami, the Andavan of Sri Poundarikapuram Swami
Asramam. (That I really became a 'disciple' in 1980 along with my
brothers is incidental to this narration).
Sri Desika's Rahasya works are cardinal to our Sampradaya. Of them,
'Srimad-Rahasyatraya-saram' is his magnum opus. It is the first to be
studied, among the four religious classics. My uncle Sri V N Srirama
Desikacharrya was commissioned to bring out a modern edition, using
Devanagari script for Sanskrit and with helpful annotations. Sri
Mannarkoil Andavan (1880-1954) did the great service (to provide
financial support and moral encouragement) and remember that the
edition is holding the field ever since 1960's. It was given a second
edition (in 1986) and has been given a third edition (in April 2000)
by the present pontiff, Sri H H Paravakkottai Andavan. The Asramam
has, as ever, been subsisting on faith and devotion, not on money.
The present Andavan is a traditionalist to the core. He never
compromises on his discipline or demands of orthodoxy. He may be
sweet-mannered to all, but sticks to the old ways and practices. That
is why he is not able to tour around, nor worship in shrines. Indeed
the only Divyadesa Lord he can confidently worship is Malola, when the
Jeer visits Srirangam and camps at the Dasavataran Sannidhi. The Jeer
and the present Andavan are in most friendly terms – it is mere
continuation of what was existing over many decades. H H Sri
Paravakkottai Andavan daily gives Kalakshepam, e.g. on Sri Bhashyam
every forenoon. Daily parayanam as well as special parayanams on
Ekadesi and Dwadesi go on; of course all in a moderate scale
permissible. He takes personal care with regard to re-editions of
Chillarai Rahasyam (Vol I to III) brought about by the Asramam. He
writes regularly for religious magazines also.
Till about 1890's there was only one Andavan Asramam, situated
somewhat near further up-stream the coleroon. Sri Andavan,
particularly called Peria Andavan had many disciples, among whom two
were Tatacharya cousins; Sri Valianallur Andavan is the one finding a
place in the hierarchy of Sri Poundarikapuram Asramam. The other
pontiff, Sri Chinnandavan headed the Mela (or Peria) Asramam. The two
were naturally intense friends [only incidentally I would mention that
my aunt - the daughter of Sri Navanitam Swami had been given in
marriage to Sri V R S Tatacharya, the grandson of Sri Chinnandavan.
This gentleman was more than a son-in-law to my grandfather!].
Certain circumstances might have necessitated the setting up of this
new Asramam for Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan but we - the modern
educated disciples ought to bear in mind that the more there are
Acharyas, the more they serve the religious cause in a broad canvas.
It is relevant to mention that Sri Vinnatrangarai Swami was accepted
as Sama teacher by Sri Thenbarai Andavan (of Peria asramam), since the
latter had a feeling of regret that he had not mastered his own Sakha,
Sama veda! Very interestingly, in the Sannyasa life too, Sri
Vinnatrangarai Andavan exhibited great concern for the health (that
was rapidly declining) of Sri Thenbarai Andavan (1960's). Everyday he
would walk to and fro. What it means is that he should take bath
every time on return! Once indeed, a moving event occurred, Sri
Vinnatrangarai Andavan walks to Peria Asramam, meets Sri Kannan Swami
on the way, learnt that the latter was going to Madras on some urgent
work since the Thenbarai Andavan's health would sustain life for some
three days, but Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan warns the latter that it
was not so, takes him back to the Asramam and almost influences him to
take to the saffron order. Yes, it was urgently necessary. Readers
would realise the risk, the confusion, etc. That often results on the
successor not taking over immediately without a gap in time.
Indeed on later occasions, Sri Vinnatrangarai Andavan used to
congratulate Sri Thirukkudanthai Andavan on the growth, expansion,
increasing affluence, etc. of his Asramam, with a legitimate
satisfaction that He himself had worked for it by forcing Sri Kannan
Swami to accept Sannyasa at the right moment.
How I wish disciples of both the Asramams bear this in mind and help
the cordial spirit to grow ever and ever. There is - and there can be
- no reason for any other feeling between two such parallel and allied
streams of spiritual propagation, working for the same goals of
spiritual uplift of society according to the great, common, heritage
both inherit.
We are planning to celebrate the Satabhishakam (the 80th Anniversary)
of H H Sri Paravakottai Andavan between March24-30, 2001 at Srirangam.
It is the duty of all spiritually-minded persons to contribute their
mite towards this celebration. To place the Asramam free from want,
to make it self-sustaining, we wish to build a sold fixed edifice.
Disciples or non-disciples do not have a distinction herein. In fact
many top philanthropists of the Mutt circle are in donors' camp for
our Asramam too. A less-financially favoured Asramam, like ours,
depends on the patronage of all. The cause is great; other
considerations are irrelevant. The US team has been most charitable
for all our good causes here.
Yours at
Sri Andavan's service
V N Vedanta Desikan
***************************************************************
Contributions from the USA are tax exempt. Please mail your checks to:
SMSA Inc,
c/o Smt. Nagu Satyan,
7821 W Alder Drive
Littleton, CO 80128
Please indicate on the memo of your check that your contribution
is for Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam. To ensure that contributions
reach India in time for the celebration, adiyen requests donors to
send their checks to SMSA Inc., by March 3, 2001.
For those in India, please send the cheque or drafts in favour of
"S.P.A.V Trust, 81st Jayanthi a/c and send to Srikaryam, Srimad
Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam, 43- A/13, Asramam Road, Srirangam,
TRICHY. PIN 620006, India.
Namo Narayana,
SriMuralidhara Dasan
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- SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH -
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