THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-70

Sutri kidantheno Thirumalaiandanai pola

Yamunacharya, who once ruled as a king, became a Sri Vaishnava Acharya. He wanted to make Ramanuja the next Acharya, but he was not able to meet him.

So he decided to designate five responsibilities to five of his disciples to teach Ramanuja the selected topics.

1. Periya Nambi was given the responsibility of performing his Panchasamaskaram.

2. Dvayam Manthiram delivery Thirukoshtiyur Nambi was given the responsibility of teaching ‘Thirumanthram and charama slokam’.

3. Periya Thirumalai Nambi was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the Ramayanam.

4. Thirumalaiandan was given the responsibility of teaching Nammazhwar’s ‘Thiruvaimozhi’ along with its meaning.

5. Thiruvaranga Perumal Arayar, with responsibility for the rest of the 3000 pasurams of Divya Prabandham.

Thirumalai Andan's actual name was Gyanapoornan. He belonged to Thirumaliruncholai. One of his ancestors was Kannukku-iniyan. Once, black magicians from Kerala came to rob Kallazhagar’s beauty and power through tantric magic. Kannukkiniyan evaded the incident, and he got the title Thirumalai Andan. Whoever followed him got the same title.

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi instructed Ramanuja to learn Thiruvaimozhi from Thirumalai Andan. Ramanuja requested Thirumalai Andan, and he agreed. While learning a particular pasuram of Thiruvaimozhi, Ramanuja put his head down, so Thirumalai Andan asked him the reason.

'Could this pasuram also have an alternate meaning?' he asked Thirumalai Andan. Thirumalai Andan didn’t like this, but he continued with his explanation. This happened a few more times. One day, Thirumalai Andan said, “Ariya kalathulla adimai kann anbu sevithu ariya mamaiya thadiyene veithayal.”

He explained, "During my younger days, I was taught to do a lot of service. Still, what is the use when I have to step back into this materialistic world? This is how Nammazhwar feels bad."

Again, Ramanuja was not convinced, so Thirumalai Andan asked him for his interpretation.

Ramanujam said, “The previous and next pasurams depict happiness, so this pasuram can’t depict sadness. What I think is that Nammazhwar is happy that he got into service at a young age itself.”

Despite being convinced by Ramanuja’s explanation, Thirumalai Andan didn’t accept it outwardly and told Ramanuja to stop coming, as he was already aware of Thiruvaimozhi.

On hearing this, Thirukoshtiyur Nambi met Thirumalai Andan and asked him the reason behind stopping Ramanuja. Thirumalai Andan said, “Whatever I say, he has an opinion of his own and he already knows everything.”

For that, Thirukoshtiyur nambi explained, “Lord Rama knew everything, yet he went to Sage Vasishta for knowledge. Lord Krishna, who delivered the Bhagavad Geeta, took his lessons from Sage Sandeepani. Likewise, Ramanuja knows everything yet he came to you so that the tradition of teacher and student relationship should not go extinct. Alavanthar assigned us this responsibility, which provided us with an opportunity to experience immense joy.

Alavanthar, in Charama sloka 3, folded his fingers. Ramanuja said he would fulfil all three wishes of Alavanthar, and the three fingers unfolded immediately. Whatever meaning Ramanuja attributes is from our Guru Alavanthar. You will need to restart the lessons for Ramanuja."

Immediately, the lessons restarted. Thirumalai Andan asked how Ramanuja knew the meanings and the interpretations for Thiruvaimozhi.

Ramanuja said, “I always meditated upon Alavanthar. I acquired this knowledge only like that, am I not his Ekalavyan?” Upon hearing this, Thirumalai Andan became an admirer of Ramanuja and followed him everywhere, eventually enrolling his son, Sundaratholidayan, as a student of Ramanuja.

Did I go around Ramanuja like Thirumalai Andan? Did I go around Perumal like him? What rights do I have to be in this place? says Thirukolur

Ramanuja is deeply pleased. He says, “Very nicely said, what are you going to talk about now?"

“Shulravu kondeno Thirukoshtiyur polae” 

This sweet girl is saying things about Ramanuja to himself. He is listening to all the anecdotes with such humility, just like Perumal.