Thiruvellur and Srimath Azhagiya Singars

 

The Anandaanubhavams of the sevai of Sri Kanakavalli (Vasumathi) Sametha Sri Veeraraghavan of ThiruveLLUr during their Thirumanjana Uthsavam fill my heart with great joy.

The sampradhAyic way of performing Thirumanjanam for the divya dampathis here with the recitation of Thirumanjana Kattiyam has been preserved meticulously by the Azhagiyasingars, Paramaparai dharma karthAs of this ancient temple.

The sacred feet of many Azhagiya Singars have adorned the Thiruveethis of ThiruveLLUr. Many were born here, many carried this divya desa EmperumAn's name or have their BrindhAvanams here at ThiruveLLUr. It is no wonder therefore that the Vaidhika Sri is shining brightly today at this divya desam.

As one reflects on these illustrious Acharya paramaparai with 45 simhaasanAdhipathis to date, we can not fail to be impressed by the fact that NINE out of the 45 chose the name of Sri VaNN SatakOpa VEERARAGHAVA YATHEENDHRA MAHAA DESIKAN out of reverence for the Archaa mUrthy of THIRUVELLUR DIVYA DESAM. The 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th and the 42nd AchAryAs have their BrindhAvanams at this divya desam, which I had the BhAgyam to visit this time.

The first Azhagiya Singar to carry ThiruveLLUr EmperumAn's ThirunAmam was H.H. the 13th Jeeyar, who was crowned as the peetAdhipathi in September, 1632. He served MaalOlan for 44 years and one month. His reign was exceeded only by Adhi VaNN SatakOpa Jeeyar, who founded the Ahobila Matam and performed AarAdhanam for MaalOlan for 59 years and seven months. The 13th jeeyar was born at ThiruveLLUr and belonged to the Vangipuram vamsam that gave us additional illustrious AchAryAs later.

The other Azhagiya Singars who carried with reverence the name of the ThiruveLLUr EmperumAn and adorned the peetam of Ahobila Matam are:

(2) Fifteenth Pattam

(3) Seventeenth Pattam

(4) Twentieth Pattam

(5) Twenty Third Pattam

(6) Twenty Seventh Pattam

(7) Thirty Second Pattam

(8) Thirty Seventh Pattam and

(9) Forty Third pattam.

Many other Azhagiya Singars, who adorned the peetam of Ahobila Matam were born in or around the divya desam of ThiruveLLUr and as such had great reverence for Sri Veeraraghavan of VeekshAraNya KshEthram. For instance, the Sixth Azhagiya Singar, H.H. Shashta ParAnkusa Yatheendhra Mahaa Desikan was born in Karalapaakkam, a famous agrahAram close to ThiruveLLUr. This is the great AchAryA, who settled new agrahaarams like Injimedu, ThayyAr, Purisai near ThiruveLLUr with Ubhaya VedAntha Simhams. These villages housed stalwarts of Sri Bahgavadh RaamAnuja SiddhAntham. Some of their descendants adorned the AchArya Peetam later.

The Eleventh PeetAdhipathi was born at ThiruveLLUr and ascended the Acharya Peetam of Ahobila Matam during July 1559. He reigned for nearly 39 years and blessed his sishya paramparai.

The twelfth pattam Azhagiya singar belonged to the same ThiruveLLUr Vangipuram Vamsam and ruled for 34 years.

The other Ahobila Matam Azhagiya Singars, who were born in villages around ThiruveLLUr are: H.H. the 15 th Jeeyar (YesanUr Tattai). My grandfather belongs to the Tattai Vamsam and settled later at Poundarikapuram and moved on to Oppiliappan Koil afterwards.

H.H. the 17th Jeeyar born at SohatthUr. H.H. the 18th Jeeyar born at ThiruveLLUr (Veeravalli Vamsam). H.H. the 20th Jeeyar at PiLLaippAkkam of Tattai Vamsam, H.H. the 21st Jeeyar at ThyaaRu of Vangipuram Vamsam, H.H. the 34th Jeeyar (Atthipattu Azhagiya Singar), H.H. the 37th Jeeyar (PiLLaippAkkam Azhagiya Singar), H.H. the 42nd Jeeyar (Injimedu Azhagiya Singar). Other villages that blessed us with other Azhagiya Singars like ParanthUr, KaLatthUr, Parutthippattu also are not too far from ThiruveLLUr- Kanchipuram arc.

It was a blessing to spend the EkAdasi-Friday (Oct 16) of BahudhAnya PurattAsi at the sacred feet of the Divya Dampathis of ThiruveLLUr, witness their Thirumanjanam and have their MahA prasadhams.

It is a blessing for many of us to have taken part in the Mahaa SamprOkshaNam of the Divya Dampathis during July of this Year and contribute towards the growth of the principal for the Ubhaya Vedanthaa Trust set up by Sri K.G.K. Swamy to continue without interruption the Veda PaarAyaNam and divya prabhandham recitations during the two BrahmOthsavams at ThiruveLLUr.

Sri Kanakavalli SamEtha SrI VeerarAghava Para BrahmaNE Nama: Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

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Thirumangai AzhwAr’s Paasuram on

tiruvaNpuruDOttamam

Annotated Commentary in English by

kalyANi kRshNamAcAri

 

SrImate rangarAmAnuja mahA deSikAya namaH