||    InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar Vaibhavam    ||

In the above qunitessential paasuram , GodhA pirAtti sums up the entire message of ThiruppAvai with the declaration: " unthannODu uRROmEyAvOm , UnakkE naamAtc CheyvOm , MaRRai namm KaamangaL maaRRElOrempAvAi ". Let us pray today with utmost humility to one of our great AchAryAs, who blessed the puNya BhUmi of BhAratham in a BahudhAnya samvathsaram. This great AchAryA followed all his life the above upadEsam of SooDikkoduttha NaacchiyAr and showed us the way for our ujjIvanam.

The following slOkam of SevA Swaami on the significance of his year of birth , BahudhAnya , will put the subject of this posting in excellent perspective:

BahudhAnya samruddhOyam
BahudhAnya vimardhanAth I
BahudhAnya Ramaa sEvI
GururnyAsa krushIvala: II

(Meaning): The The auspicious AchAryA , Swami Sri Desikan is an agriculturalist , who grows the crop celebrated as NyAsam. He is an expert in raising this crop of BahudhA anyam (very differnet from other crops) of nyAsam or prapatthi. He gave the blessings resulting from this crop to the world and became krutha kruthyar. Further, he pointed out the deficiencies of other mathams and established the greatness of Sri VishishtAdvaitham. He is the one , who devoted his life to the worship of BhaudhAnya SvarUpi, Sri MahA lakshmi and became the object of Her anugraham. ( Our PirAtti's purushakAram is vital for our success in getting the phalan of our nyAsam. DhAnya lakshmi is important for an agriculturalist. This is the inner meaning ).

On this BahudhAnya Marghazhi KrishNa Paksha EkAdasi day , when Anusha Nakshathram ( AchArya Naathamuni's ) is in ascendance , I would like to offer my humble salutations to this great AchAryA of Ahobila Matam AasthAnam. No day can be better than today to think about and seek his blessings for the lasting boons that he conferred on the Sri Vaishnavaa Community .One hundred and twenty years ago on a BahudhAnya year, he came to this earth during a Thai month, when the constellation of UtthirAdam was in ascendance. For those suffering from the ill effects of Kali Yugam , he became the answer to their prayers for ujjeevanam and reminded us of the Tamil proverb , "Thai piRanthAl Vazhi Pirakkum". The anugrahms that he blessed us with are countless and lasting.

The Jn~Anam, Seelam ,Vinayam, OudhAryam , Maardhavam, SadAchAram , KaaruNyam , Bhagavadh Bhakthi, BhAgavatha-Bhakthi , AchArya Bhakthi , Sri MalOla AarAdhana Vaimukhyam, and the exemplary Devotion to ArchA mUrthys of Divya desams of this great AchAryan are legendary and can not be described even if one strives to do full justice. I had the greatest soubhAgyam of bearing on my head the Paadhukais of this Soumya-Saantha MUrthy on a Ekadasi day at his Brindhaavanam. This was after participating in the Thirumanjana Uthsavam for Sri Kanakavalli SamEtha Sri VeerarAghava Parabrahmam on that Sukra Vaara EkAdasi day. There at ThiruvellUr , on the banks of the Hridh Paapa Naasini theertham , the ArchA mUrthy of this AchArya gives us his adhbhutha Sevai in the company of his pUrvAchAryAs , H.H.the 32nd , 33rd , 34th and the 35th Jeeyars of the AhObila Matam AasthAnam. Together, they drive away the Kali Kalmasham with their divya dhrushtis.

The AchArya I am referring to is none other than SriVaNN SatakOpa Sri Sriranga SatakOpa YathIndhra MahA Desikan, the 42nd Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam.

As Sri Anand referred to in his earlier posting, a ten day long festival is starting today and will proceed at ThiruveLLUr in the presence of H.H. the current Jeeyar , Sri NaaraayaNa Yathindra MahA Desikan. The actual birthday of H.H, The 42nd Jeeyar is on Thai AmAvasyai day, Janauary 17th in the UttarAyaNa Punya Kaalam. The greatness of Thai AmaavAsyai at ThiruveLLUr and the sacredness of bath in the Hrudh Paapa Naasini pushkaraNI on this Thai AmAvasyai day during the Vaarshika uthsavam of the divya dampathis of ThiruveLLUr has been well documented in other postings on ThiruveLLUr.

This birth day celebration is a special one, since it is the second Shashtiyabdha pUrthy of his avathAram. He was born under the 21st Constellation, UthtirADam , which is followed by SraVaNam . Sri AlavanDAr , the 13th and the 14th Azhagiya Singhars share this UtthirADa Nakshathram as their birth constellations. This constellation is normally chosen for the subha Kaaryam of PattAbhishEkam celebrations. That is the greatness of UtthirAdam as a sObhana nakshathram and we will continue with the highlights of the life and works of this great AchAryA, H.H. The 42 nd Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt in subsequent postings later in the day.

I am sending a modest contribution to Sri P.Dileepan as my KaaNikkai/samarpaNam for inclusion in the special celebrations at ThiruveLLUr presided over by the IdhAnim Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam and invite you all to participate in the same spirit with which you supported the Sahasra Kalasa AbhishEkam of Sri Kanakavalli SamEtha Sri VeerarAghavan and His SamprOkshaNam last year.

kUrmAdhIm divyalOkam tadhanu MaNimayam maNtapam tathra sEsham
tasmin dharmAdhipItam tadhupari kamalam chaamara grAhiNisccha
VishNum dEvI vibhUshAyudha gaNamuragam pAdhukhE VainadhEyam
sEnEsam dhwArapAlAn Kumudha mukha gaNAth VISHNU BHAKTHAAN PRAPADHYE

On this auspicious day , when ANDAL's ThirukkalyANam is being celebrated , I will continue with my salutations to the AchArya Saarvabhouman , Sri InjimEttu Azhagiya Singar (1879-1953 A.D.), who adorned the Ahobila matam peetam as the 42nd Jeeyar in that line of succession.

We will start with his Taniyan followed by a summary of facts related to his life and works.

Sri InjimEttu Azhagiya Singar's sacred Taniyan
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SrI RangEsa yathIndhunA karuNayAasou syAdhithi prEkshitham
khyAtha: SrINarasimhakArijamunID paadhAmbhujEndhindhiram
dhAnthi KshAnthi dayAdhibhi: ubha guNai: bhAntham bhudhAgrEsaram
Srimadh RangasaDAri yOgi nrupathim srEyOnidhim samsrayE

The grandson of InjimeDu Azhagiya Singhar in a scholarly article describes at length the profound meanings behind each of the words of this Taniyan about his revered grandfather. This grandson is none other than the Sri BhAshya SimhAsanAdhipathi and the current Editor of Nrusimha PriyA, Sri Purisai U.Ve. VidhvAn NadADUr KrisNamAchArya Swamy. For the benefit of those, who might not have access to this article, I will summarize the deep meanings and connections behind these words enshrined in the taniyan.

FIRST PAADHAM OF THE TANIYAN
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The first line refers to an incident in the life of H.H. The 42nd Jeeyar , when he was a small boy of 8 years .The year was 1887 A.D. He was blessed with Pancha SamskAram by the then KalatthUr Azhagiya Singar (Sri Ranganatha YathIndhra MahA Desikan/H.H The 35th Jeeyar). The young boy was so effulgent with divya tEjas and was so good at Sanskrit pronunciation that the initiating AchAryA was overwhelmed by the potential for the child to blossom in to a great AchAryan in his own right later and hence blessed the child with the benediction "SthaapakasyAth". KaLathUr Azhagiya Singhar meant that this child will later become a great defender of our Sri SampradhAyam and grow it further. One year later, KaLatthUr Azhagiya Singhar ascended to Sri VaikunTam. His blessings came true and FOURTY TWO YERS LATER, this precocious child became THE FOURTY SECOND JEEYAR OF AHOBILA MATAM AND OCCUPIED THE THRONE FOR 23 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS. He in turn reached Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan's divya CharaNAravindhams on March 1, 1953 at the age of seventy four.

This incident of a child being recognized by the elderly AchAryan is very similar to the one , where another great AchAryA , NadADur AmmAL recognized in 1273 A.D , the tEjas and intellectual power of the five year old child , Sri VenkatanAthan accompanying his uncle AppuLLAr and blessed him to become a great AchAryan at Kaanchi VaradarAjan"s temple. That child went on to become the illustrious Swami Sri Desikan.

The words of the first line of the above Taniyan break up this way: SrI RangEsa Yathi IndhunA karuNayA asou syAth ithi prEkshitham (samsrayE):

I seek refuge at the feet of the One , who was blessed by the most merciful Sri RanganAtha YathIndhra MahA Desikan to become the great sampradhAyaka pravarthakar of our siddhAntham .

THE SECOND PAADHAM OF THE TANIYAN
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The second line refers to the anugrahms of H.H. The 41st Jeeyr of Ahobila matam, Sri LakshmI Nrusimha SatakOpa YathIndhra MahA Desikan , who is known as Kaaraikkuricchi Chinna Azhagiya Singar. The anvaya Kramam here is:

KhyAth SrI NarasimhakArijamuneeD pAdhAmbhujEndhindhiram

(samsrayE): I seek refuge at the sacred feet of the One , who was like a bee that circled the lotus feet of Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha SatakOpa YathIndhrar .

The KhyAthi of the 41st Jeeyar arose from his Bhakthi for his AchAryan, Sri Atthipattu Azhagiya Singhar (H.H. The 34th Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam) and from his skills in performing Sri BhAshyam KaalakshEpam. That is why the taniyan's second line qualifies the 41st Jeeyar as "KhyAth SrI LakshmI NarasimhakArijamunID". This famous 41st Jeeyar initated Sri INjimEttu Swamy in to SanyAsAsramam and Sri InjimEttu Jeeyar's reverence for his AchAryAis compared to the attachment of a bee that circles the Lotus flower for its makarantham (nourishing pollen).

THE THIRD PAADHAM OF THE TANIYAN
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The third line of the taniyan of the InjimEttu Jeeyar respectfully salutes the Auspicuous attributes of this mahAn and his sharp intellect this way:

" DhAnthi KshAnthi dayAdibhi:
Subha GuNai: BhrAntham BhudhAgrEsaram "

DhAnti: refers to Indhriya nigraham or control over the senses; kshAnthi: refers to his great patience and forbearance even under provocation ; dayA refers to his infinite compassion for his sishyAs. These are some of his subha guNams. He shone with all these subha GuNams. In addition , he is being saluted for his sharp intellect and skills in tarkam with the nAmam , "BudhAgrEsarar" ( one who stands in the front line of intellectuals).

THE FINAL PAADHAM OF THE TANIYAN
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The last line of the taniyan says:

" Sreemadh Ranga SaDAri yOgi Nrupathim srEyOnidhim samsrayE " (I seek refuge at the lotus feet of Sri RanganAtha SatakOpa Muni , who is the king of yOgis and who is a treasure house of SrEyas).

In this posting , I will cover factual details on the life and works of H.H. the 42nd Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam to illustrate the greatness of this MahA Purushan. It is important for us to understand the power of the divine light that guides and grooms these great AchAryAs in preparation for the extraordinary role that they have to play for fulfilling their assigned missions. We have a great deal to learn from his life devoted to Saasthra Grahanam , AchArya Bhakthi , Joy in performing AarAdhanam to Sri MalOlan, his choice of sthOthrams for nithyAnusandhAnam , his four immense achievements to preserve the SampradhAyam and selection of another illustrious AchAryA a sa successor for the Peetam (viz)., H.H. the DevanArviLAgam Azhagiya Singhar.

1. Birth: January 21, 1879 at Injimedu agrahAram alias Narasimhapuram established by the great 6th Jeeyar of Ahobila matam, who entered the cave of JwAlA Nrusimhan at Ahobilam in February, 1513, some 366 years before his birth. His parents named this great future AchAryA as Sri Ranganathan.

2. InjimEdu is the same village , where another great Azhagiya Singar (the 34th Jeeyar , the Atthippattu Azhagiya Singhar, Sri SatakOpa RaamAnuja YathIndhra MahA Desikan) was born in 1813, three hundred years after H.H., the 6th Jeeyar entered the cave of JwAlA Narasimhan to perform nithyAarAdhanam for the Lord .

3. The birth constellation of H.H , the 42nd Jeeyar was UtthirAdam, which is shared by both AlawandAr and the Atthipattu Azhagiya Singhar.

4. Pancha SamskAram at the age of Eight by KaLatthUr (H.H. the 35th Azhagiya Singhar , Sri SatakOpa Ranganatha yathIndhra MahA Desikan) in the year 1887 A.D.

5. Completion of the vedAdhyayanam by the age of Thirteen (1892 A.D.). Completion of the studies of Kaavyam and the first portion of NyAya Saasthram soon after; this was continued with the initiation and completion of the Tarka Saasthram in Kaasi under Sri SithArAma Saasthri from MahArAshtrA.

6. Entering grahasthAsramam and the Conductance of Deha YaathrA through unchavrutthi like Swami Sri Desikan, Approaching the 37th Azhagiya Singhar (Sri VeerarAghava SatakOpa YathIndhra MahA desikan) for Sri Bhaashya KaalakshEpam followed. The Interruption to that effort occurred due to H.H , The 37th Jeeyar reaching Sri Lakshmi Nrusimhan's PaadaadhAravindham before such a kaalakshEpam could start. This Azhagiya Singhar adorned the throne for only 11 months. After he ascended paramapadham , the Ahobila matam throne had no occupants for six long years(1899-1905). Sri Ranganathar was 26 years now.

6. InjimEdu Sri RanganAthar was thus left without the benefit of grantha ChAthushtya KaalakshEpam from an Azhagiya Singar directly. Therefore, he approached a great scholar by the name of SwarNam KrishNamAchAryar of SrimushNam, a direct disciple of H.H , the 37th Jeeyar. The eager sishyar completed the KaalakshEpam under SwarNam Swami and performed Prapatthi at this AchAryA's feet in front of Kaanchi VaradarAja PerumaaL.

7. VidvAn Sri InjimEdu Ranganathar spent 8 years with SwarNam Swami engaged in sarvagrantha grahaNam and pariseelanam. Thus a strong foundation was laid for a great role as an AchAryan in his own right. He was now Thirty Four years old and had a daughter. He visited a number of divya desams -- Thirukkudanthai, ThiruviNNagar, Nava Thiruppathis at ThirunAngUr, Thiruvananthapuram and MalainAttu Thiruppathis, Nava Thiruppathis of paaNdya Naadu, ThiruvEnkatam, Srirangam-- with his AchAryan and finally settled down in Kanchipuram with him in Sannidhi Street of Sri VaradarAjan .He was around 44 years of age at that time. He had been deeply involved as an examiner (parIkshAdhikAri) at many a Sadhas, a great upanyAsakar and a deeply respected grantha karthA. His scholarship, AchAram and devotion to his AchAryA and Sri PerumdEvi samEtha Sri PeraruLALan were recognized as exemplary. He was offered positions with good remuneration potential and he turned them down in the spirit of Swami Desikan's VairAgya Panchakam ( asthi mE hasthi sailAgrE vasthu paithAmaham dhanam ).

8. The year was 1923 A.D. InjimEttu Sri RanganathAchAr Swamy's talents in giving most enjoyable upanyAsams , answering difficult questions about the fine points of our SampradhAyam and skills in writing about granthams ( grantha lEkana chAthuryam ) were very well recognized. InjimEttu Swamy was requested to become the AasthAna VidwAn by the new Azhagiya Singhar (Kaaraikkuricchi Azhagiya Singhar, H.H. the 41st Jeeyar). He accepted this offer rightaway and served the 41st Jeeyar. Outstanding granthams on SaraNAgathi were written during this time.

9. In 1929 A.D. the 41st Azhagiya Singar asked Sri InjimEttu RanganathAchAr swamy to succeed him and initiated latter into sanyAsAsramam. Twelve years later , H.H. The 41st Jeeyar reached the lotus feet of MaalOlan and Sri InjimEttu RanganAthAchAr became the next Azhagiya Singhar and reined from 1941-1953. He was chinna Azhagiya Singar from 1929-1941. In 1951 A.D., Sri InjimEttu Azhagiya Singar initiated Sri DevanArviLAgam Lakshmi NarasimhAchAr Swamy as his successor and for two years, both the Azhagiya Singars blessed the matam sishyAs.

10. InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar took avow at the time of his pattAbhishEkam in 1941 A.D. to accomplish four things (karthavya Prathignai):

(a) The Creation of a Veda PaatasAlai at dhvayam viLaintha Thiruppathi: MadhurAnthakam. For more than five decades, it has been thriving and has produced great scholars and AchAryAs.

(b) The holding of Sri MalOla Vidhvath Sathas every year to provide a forum for the great scholars of our darsanam to assemble and discuss our Sri Sookthis and maintain the vitality of our darsanam. VaakhyArthams are debated in front of the Azhagiya Singar and this tradition has been maintained for the past 50 plus years to protect our kula dhanams.

(c) The Creation of a new Journal to publish articles about SampradhAya granthams, Sri Sookthis and AchArya anugraha BhAshaNams. H.H. The 42nd Jeeyar blessed this Journal with the celebrated name of Nrusimha PriyA. The treasures that this journal houses are too many to describe here.

(d) The construction of an Ahobila matam in " the North ". That was completed in the Jeeyar's life time at Bombay and is a model for so may other thriving centers elsewhere in " the North " now.

11. During his life time of 74 years, this great AchArya Purushan has been a link in the chain of the AchAryas of the Ahobila matam paramparai from the 35th (KaLatthUr Azhagiya Singar) to the current 45th Jeeyar , H.H. Sri NaarAyana YathIndhra MahA Desikan. H.H, The 42nd Jeeyar had pancha SamskAram from the KaLatthUr Azhagiya Singhar(35th ) and iniitated H.H. the DevanAr ViLaagam Azhagiya Singhar(43rd Jeeyar) in to SanyAsAsramam as his successor. The two AchAryAs to be, H.H. the 44th and the 45th Jeeyars, served the InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar in different roles in their pUrvAsramams and have been deeply influenced by the InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar. During his last two years, he stayed at ThiruveLLUr and had the mangaLAsAsanam of Sri Vasumathi SamEtha Sri VeerarAghavan. His BrindhAvanam is at this divya Desam. Next to his BrindhAvanam are those of his illustrious predecssors, who adorned the AchArya Peetam at the Ahobila Matam Paramparai:

A. The 32nd Jeeyar ( AathanUr Azhagiya Singhar )
B. The 33rd Jeeyar ( Great Kaimkaryas to ThiruveLLUr PerumAL)
C. The 34th Jeeyar ( Atthippattu Azhagiya Singhar )
D. The 35th Jeeyar ( SamAsrayaNa AchArya for the 42nd Jeeyar)

Thus a span of 106 years (1847-1953) are covered by these four AchAryAs between themselves as PeetAdhipathis of AhObila SimhAsanam and AarAdhakars of Sri MaalOlan.

12. The illustrious InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar has written profusely and blessed us with the following 8 Granthams:

NyAsa NishtA mImAmsA , Ukthi NishtAbharaNam , Ukthi NishtAbharaNOdhyOtham , GeethArtha Sangraha VyAkhyA , KritthikA Deepa Kaala NirNaya: , UpAkarma Kaala NirNaya: , Sri Saara BhOdhini ( Rahasya Thraya VyAkhyA ), VisishtAdhvaitha VedAntha kOsa :

The Thirunakshathram of this avathAra Purushan is being celebrated by the IdhAnim H.H. The 45th Jeeyar at ThiruveLLUR for 10 days from Jan 13. This is his 120th Thirunakshathram that is being celebrated in this BhaudhAnya Year. Please participate and contact Sri Anand regarding your support.

I mentioned earlier about the greatness of BahudhAnya year. One more important event associated with the BahudhAnya Year is the one that happened at MelkOte. It is there that Sri Brahma Tantra Svathanra Swamy placed at the sacred feet of his AchAryA , Sri Swami Desikan, the celebrated Taniyan:

RaamAnuja DayA Paathram Jn~Ana VairAgya BhUshaNam
Srimath VenkatanAthAryam VandhE VedAntha Desikam .

Swami Desikan was in his 70th year (1338A.D.) That was 660 years ago; One hundred and twenty years ago on another BahudhAnya Year , Our revered InjimEttu Azhagiya Singhar was born for our upliftment. This great AchAryan 's birth year , BhaudhAnyA , happens to be also the year in which Adhi VaNN SatakOpa Jeeyar was initated by Sri MalOlan Himself at AhObilam to become the First pontiff of the Sri matam in the year 1398. We celebrated the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Mutt in 1998. The second Jeeyar , Sriman NaarAyana Yathindhra NahA Desikan (1458A.D.), the 17th Jeeyar , Sri VeerarAghava YathIndhra MahA Desikan III (1698 A.D.), the 23rd Jeeyar , Sri VeerarAghava Yathindhra MahA Desikan IV (1758 A.D.)became the pontiffs in the other BahudhAnya years.

Thus H.H. the 42nd Jeeyar of InjimEttu AgrahAram gives aditional srEyas to BhaudhAnya years and is a resplendent diamond in the Naayaka Haaram of our illustrious AchAryAs.

AchAryan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam on this Pongal eve and wish You all a delightful makara SankarAnthi,

Oppiliappan Koil varadachAri SadagOpan


 

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