Manavala Mamunigal
Manavala Mamunigal | |
|---|---|
 Statue of the theologian | |
| Personal | |
| Born | Alagiya Manavalan 1370 CE |
| Resting place | Tamil Nadu, India |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Denomination | Sri Vaishnavism |
| Other names | Varavaramuni Sowmyajamatrumuni Ramyajamatra Muni Soumyopayanthrumuni Sundarajamatrumuni Periya Jeer Yathindra Pravanar |
| Philosophy | Vishishtadvaita |
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Alagiya Manavalan,[1] best known by his epithet Manavala Mamunigal lit. 'The great saint, Manavalan' (1370–1450), was a Hindu theologian. He was a major proponent of the Sri Vaishnavism tradition in the 15th century in Tamilakam, disseminating it with the help of his eight disciples. The disciples of Manavalan established places of learning to teach the Vishishtadvaita philosophy in Tamilakam.
Yathindra Pravana Prabhavam by Pillai Lokam Jeeyar is the earliest work on which scholars and historians rely for information for the biography of Manavala Mamunigal.
Life
Manavala Mamunigal was born in 1370 at
Manavalan was schooled by father and maternal grandfather, who taught him the
Tiruvaymolipillai was instrumental in reviving the archa tirumeni (idol) of
Journey towards Srirangam
On his deathbed, Tiruvaymolipillai instructed Manavalan to learn and propagate the
Manavalan was inconsolable upon the death of his master. He immersed himself completely into studying and delivering discourses on Divya Prabandham, and rahasyas. Word of his abilities spread and he gained various disciples. Prominent among them was Sri Alagiya Varadar, who undertook sanyasashrama (asceticism) from Manavalan. The sanyasa name was given as "Ramanuja Jeeyar" (also known as Ponnadikkal Jeeyar). Thus began the most illustrious jeeyar matha in the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya, the Vanamamalai matha, that continues the great unbroken lineage of acharyas to this day.[3]
Intending to fulfil the wishes of his acharya, Manavalan and his disciples left for Srirangam, spending some time at
Life at Srirangam and visit to Kanchipuram
Srirangam, at that point, was facing the worst consequences of the Muslim invasion that took place in the early 14th century. It was structurally dilapidated, sacramentally bare, intellectually barren and spiritually, socially and morally corrupt. Misuse of rights, corruption and disorder were rampant. Manavalan had to exert tremendous effort and bring to force his organizational skills to restore the original pristine glory for daily sacramental and festival procedures at Srirangam, without antagonizing the people who were functioning in different capacities at that point in time. He realized the importance of bringing the focus back to the essential tenets of Sri Vaishnavism and achieved this objective by bringing to fore scholarly works of acharyas, that had hitherto been pushed into the background. As a result of his devotion, Manavalan was put in charge of everyday temple administration, as well as anointed the leader for all the Sri Vaishnavas of his time.[4]
With normalcy returning to Srirangam, Manavalan set on a pilgrimage to
After visiting several other holy places, Manavalan returned to Srirangam to fully manage the temple affairs. He undertook sanyasashrama (asceticism) from Sri Sadagopa Jeeyar of Alwarthirunagari (who was his classmate earlier) at Srirangam, to fully involve himself in service to Sri Vaishnavism. It was during this time that he received the appellation Alagiya Manavala Mamuni.
At this point of time, some prominent scholars, namely, Koil Kanthatai Annan, Prathivadhi Bhayankaram Annan, Erumbi Appa, and Appillai became his disciples.
Philosophy
Manavala Mamunigal continued to live in
After some time, he returned to Alwartirunagari and started to write commentaries for Acharya Hrudayam. This is a seminal work written by Alagiya Manavalaperumal Manavalan (Pillai Lokacharya's brother), which lays bare the philosophy and basic tenets of Sri Vaishnavism, with words chosen from Nammalvar's Tiruvaymoli. The text was written completely in Manipravalam, but when trying to teach Acharya Hrudayam, Mamunigal encountered some difficulties. So, he decided to consult with Ayee Jananyacharya, who was a co-disciple of Tiruyaymolipillai. Ayee was on his way to Alwartirunagari to meet Manavalan. They both met at the outskirts of Alwartirunagari and returned to Manavalan's residence, and the latter studied the secrets of the Acharya Hrudayam.[9]
Literature
Manavala Mamunigal wrote nineteen books known as grantha. Three of these were in Sanskrit, and the rest were in the Tamil language and Manipravalam.
Commentaries
- Sri Vachana Bhushanam
- Mumukshuppadi
- Tathvathrayam
- Acharya Hrudhayam
- Gnana Saram
- Prameya Saaram
- Periyalvar Tirumoli
- Ramanuja Nutrantati
- Bhagavad Gita (known as Gita Tatparyadipika) - Kanchi Sri Bhayankaram Annangaracharyar Swami lists this commentary in his Sri Manavala Mamunigal Vaibhavam book (1971) as a work of Swami Manavala Mamunigal, but also says it is lost forever.
Compilations
Pramana Tirattu
- Eedu
- Sri Vachana Bhushanam
- Tathvathrayam
Independent works
- Upadesa Ratnamalai
- Tiruvaymoli Nutrantati
- Iyal Satthu
- Thiruvaradhana Kramam (known as Jeeyar Padi or Nityam)
- Yathiraja Vimsathi
- Devaraja Mangalam
- Sri Kanchi Devapperumal Stotram
- Arti Prabhandham
- Independent quatrains on the Vishnu Temples of Kanchipuram, the various sanctums of the Kanchi Varadaraja Temple, and the Vishnu Temples around the birthplace of Nammalvar, Alwartirunagari.
According to tradition, during his old age, Manavalan discovered that part of Periyavachan Pillai's commentary on Periyalvar Tirumoli was missing. So, he duly restored the lost portion of the commentary. It is also noted that he composed the commentary on Acharya Hrdayam with great difficulty, as his health was failing. When he became very ill, preventing him from worshiping at the temple, he dedicated one Tamil stanza a day, expressing to Ramanuja his anguish at staying in this world, and his eagerness to reach Vaikuntham. These collected verses became known as Arti Prabandham, his last work.[10]
Burial site
Manavala Mamunigal's burial site, called the Tiruvarasu in Tamil, is located along the Kollidam Flood Bank Road in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India.[11]
Archaeological and radar surveys in the Tiruvarasu area yielded conclusive evidence of his burial site along with locations of temples destroyed during invasions prior to his period.[12][13]
Legacy
Manavalan's devotional practices towards Vishnu, especially the presiding deity of Srirangam, and the lineage of teachers like Ramanuja, left an indelible influence on his followers, numbering several millions throughout India. His influence can be traced to everyday observances till this date.
His eight famous disciples are known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions): Vanamamalai Jeeyar, Paravasthu Bhattar Piran Jeeyar, Tiruvengada Jeeyar, Koil Kandhaadai Annan,
The traditional Sri Vaishnava mathas at Srirangam, Tirumala, Kanchi, Melkote, Vanamamalai, Sriperumbudur, Alwarthirunagari, Srivilliputthur, and descendants of most of the Acharya Purushas follow and propagate Manavala Mamunigal's teachings. The Vijayanagara kings and Nayak kings patronized Sri Vaishnavism, inspired by the teachings of Manavala Mamunigal, and his disciples.
The taniyan or vandana slokam (eulogy) of Manavala Mamunigal, "Sri Sailesa dayapattram", is chanted across Sri Vaishnava temples, including Tirumala, Srirangam, Kanchi, Melkote, Yadadri (Telangana), and many more across India and abroad.
References
- ISBN 978-81-7074-198-5.
- ISBN 978-1-5381-0686-0.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "History of Vanamamalai Mutt" (PDF). vanamamalai.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Swami Manavala Mamunigal in a historical context". srivaishnava.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2000. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Devaraja Mangalam". antaryami.net. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "The Hindu: A manifestation of Adisesha". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Upadesa Rathinamalai". antaryami.net. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Arthi Prabandham". antaryami.net. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "Commentaries and Works". srivaishnava.org. Archived from the original on 26 April 2001. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
- ^ "The Hindu: Outstanding works of Manavala Mamunigal". hinduonnet.com. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Google Maps". Google Maps. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "India's Temple Island - Archaeology Magazine". www.archaeology.org. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- doi:10.1002/arp.1724.
External links
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