The event
We had a fabulous event celebrating the Vaibhavam of Kulasekara Azhwar, Manakkal Nambi, Thirumaalai Andaan and Thirukkacchi Nambi at Sri. Srikanth Navale and Smt. Nandini’s thirumaligai.
The bhagavathas recited the Prabandhams and Stothrams of the Azhwar and Acharyans. The rockers and bhagavatha sang beautifully. Dhanyosmi to Sau. Sarasija, Sau. Vasudha, Sri.. Sunil Swamy.
Sri. Srikanth swami talked about Kulasekhara Azhwar’s devotion to not only Lord Sri Rama, but also to other bhagavathas.
Finally, the bhagavathas relished divine and sumptuous prasadam. Dhanyosmi to Sri. Srikanth and Smt. Nandini’s family for organising this memorable event, and to all the bhagavathas who participated.
About Kulasekara Azhwar
Kulasekara Azhwar was a king and a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He was born in Vanchi (present-day central Kerala and western Tamil Nadu) during the early Chera Dynasty. He is one of the twelve revered Azhwars in the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Born in a royal lineage, Kulasekara Azhwar ruled with justice and wisdom. However, he eventually renounced his throne to dedicate his life entirely to spiritual pursuits and service to the Lord.
What makes him unique is his deep emotional devotion towards the Ramayana. He would often immerse himself completely into the stories of Lord Rama that he felt as if he were living with them. Once, he even sent his army to assist Rama in the battle against Ravana, forgetting that it was a past event.
His main work, the Perumal Thirumozhi, is a devotional set of 105 verses, is a poetic masterpiece where he expresses his longing for service to the Lord in any form, whether as a bird near His temple or as an object in His sanctum. Kulazekara Azhwar’s life is a testament to the power of surrender and devotion, showing us that no matter one’s position in life, the path of bhakti is always open and deeply transformative.
About Manakkal Nambi
Manakkal Nambi, also known as Sri Ramamisra, was a highly respected acharya (spiritual teacher) in the Sri Vaishnava tradition and a key link in the guru parampara (lineage) leading to Bhagavad Ramanuja. He was not only known for his profound knowledge of Vedanta but also for his humility, discipline, and unwavering devotion to Lord Narayana.
Manakkal Nambi was a disciple of Uyyakondar and went on to become the guru of Yamnuacharya (Alavandar), playing a crucial role in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Vishishtadvaita philosophy. The philosophy was later refined and formally established by Sri Ramanuja.
One of the most cherished stories from his life was when he used to personally carry water every day for temple rituals at Srirangam, emphasising that service to the Lord was just as important as scholarly knowledge.
About Thirumaalai Andaan
Thirumaalai Andaan was a prominent disciple of Sri Nathamuni, the great acharya who revived the Divya Prabandham hymns. Deeply learned and spiritually grounded, Thirumaalai Andaan played a key role in preserving and teaching the sacred verses of the Azhwars.
He is best known as one of the early teachers of Sri Ramanuja, guiding him in the recitation and understanding of Thiruvaimozhi, the most profound work of Nammazhwar. His name, “Thirumaalai Andaan,” is believed to be derived from his deep association with Nammalvar’s Thiruvaimozhi (also called Thirumaalai in reverence), highlighting his mastery over these hymns.
His legacy lies in his unwavering devotion to the Azhwar’s works and his role in passing them on to future generations, being a torchbearer of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. His life reminds us of the quiet strength of those who preserve tradition through teaching, discipline, and heartfelt devotion.
About Thirukkacchi Nambi
Thirukkacchi Nambi, also known as Gajendra Dasar, was a revered Sri Vaishnava saint and one of the pivotal acharyas in the early spiritual lineage of Sri Ramanuja. He was a deeply devoted servant of Lord Varadaraja at Kanchipuram and is most famous for his direct conversations with the Lord, especially during the offering of Thirumanjanam. Due to his unwavering devotion and pure service, Lord Varadaraja would speak directly to him, granting him the privilege of being a spiritual messenger.
He is famous for delivering six words from the Lord to Ramanuja. The words are “aham eva param tatvam, darsanam bheda eva cha, upayeti prappattisyat, antima smriti varjanam, dehavasane muktisyad, poornacahrya samasraya“
- Aham eva param tatvam – The Supreme Truth is Lord Narayana
- Darsanam bheda eva cha – This refers to the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita, which posits that the individual soul and the Supreme Being are distinct, yet interconnected
- Upayeti prapattisyat – This highlights the importance of complete self-surrender to the Lord as a path of liberation
- Antima smriti varjanam – Those who have surrendered to the Lord do not need to consciously remember him at the time of death to attain liberation
- Dehavasane muktisyad – Liberation is attained immediately upon shedding of the physical body after complete surrender
- Poornacahrya samasraya – This emphasises the importance of a spiritual guide in the path of devotion and liberation
Good reads
Kulasekhara Alvar – A quick article on the backstory of Kulasekara Azhwar
maNakkAl nambi – A quick article on the backstory of Manakkal Nambi
thirumAlai ANdAn – A quick article on the backstory of Thirumaalai Andaan
thirukkachi nambi – A quick article on the backstory of Thirukkacchi Nambi
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