Upadesa Rathna Malai : Azhwarga Vazhi, Acharyargal Vazhi, Arulicheyalgal Vazhi

Upadesa Ratnamaalai
உபதேச ரத்ன மாலை

ஆழ்வார்கள் வாழி 

ஆசார்யர்கள் வாழி 

அருளிச்செயல்கள் வாழி 

I remember to have heard from one the Scholars that Adisesha was given a span of 200 years to live in this world which he fulfilled it in the form of Bhagavath Ramanuja and Varavara Muni. There are real evidences to that in the lives of both Bhagavath Ramanuja and Varavara Muni. It is said that Bhagavath Ramanuja used a thousand hooded serpant form to to debate and win against 1000 scholars simultanously. Varavara Munigal also took his role as Adhiseshan to safeguard himself from a fire set by his enemies.

While Srivaishanva Nambi became sishya of Bhagavath Ramanuja, Lord Ranganatha not only became sishya of Varavara Muni and after listening to a year long discourses on Thiruvoimozhi presented him a Thanian as a small boy and disappeared in to the sanctum.

srIsailEsa dayaapaatram dhIbhakthyAdhi guNArNavam

YathIndhra pravaNam VandhE RamyajAmAtharam munim

Varavara Muni is also fondly known as Manvala Mamuni.

How fortunate and deserving Manavala Mamuni in getting a Thanian from the Lord himself. But Manavala Mamuni is an example of a guru who had immense faith in Purvacharyas, their works, Anushtanams. He took upon himself to write commentaries and give discourses on all Purvacharyas literary works. Lord Ranganatha had foregone all utsavams for  a year in order to listen to Manavala Mamuni Discourses. Such is greatness of Manavala Mamuni.

Manavala Mamuni though he got encomiums right from Bhuloka Vaikunda Ranaganthan, he never forgot his roots, His Acharyas and their works. He decides to recognize them and composed Upadesa Rathna Malai consisting of 73 Pasurams. In Updesa Rathna Malai, Manavala Mamunigal gives recognition to Azhwar, Acharya and Arulicheyal ( Works of Alwar and Acharya). 

Manavala Mamunigal has allotted more pasurams to Periazhwar's Thiru Pallandu, Andal, Ethirajar, Nam Pillai, Perai Vachan Pillai and Sri Vachana Bhushanam. Manavala Mamunigal used the essence of Sri Vachan Bhushanam to convey the role and importnance of Guru, Sishya and Anushtanams in the lives od Srivaishnava. 

Manavala Mamunigal was a leader who practiced before preached. If one reads Purva and Uthra Dhinvahrya composed by Erumbiappa, one can understand the daily activities of Manaval Mamunigal and understand how he led his life as laid out by the Purvacharyas and Sri Vachana Bhushanam

Erumibiappa one of his eight Primary Sishyas(Asta_Dik_Gajangal) composed a psuram highlighling the greatness of Manavala Mamuni and Upadesa Rathna Malai.  After Thiru Pallandu, Upadesa Rathna Malai is the most recited Pasuram in Most Temples.

As Manavala Mamuni utsavam is going on culminating in Aippasi moolam on 25th October, 2017, Upadesa Ratnamalai  is being recited in all temples. Here is a presentation of Pasurams in the form of video. Also included sample pasurams of each Azhwar and a list of works of Acharyas

The presentation is in following segments. 

Pasuam 1-3    Mamunigals lays out the objectives of Upadesa Rathnamalai

Pasuram 4-9  Azhwar Birth stars Poigai, Pei, Bhuthathazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar

Pasuram 10-15  Azhwar Birth stars  Tributes to Five Azhwars

Pasuram 16-20  Tributes to  Periazhwar and Thiruppallandu

Pasuram 21-26  Tributes to  Andal and Madhurakavi Azwar 

Pasuram 27-29   Tributes to  Bhagavat Ramanuja

Pasuram 30-38 Birthplaceof Azhwars, Greatness of Arulicheyal and Emperumaanaar Darisanam

Pasuram 39-50  Tributes to Purvacharyas and their works

Pasurams 51-53 Tributes to Ulagasiriyan


Pasurams 54-59 Tributes to Sri Vachana Bhushanam

Pasurams 60-70  Importance of Guru, their teachings and practice 


Pasuram 71-74 Closing comments, Benefits and need to recite Upadesa Rathan Malai

This is my first attempt in learning and singing Upadesa Rathna Malai. I am sure there may be errors due to my limited knowledge in understanding inner significance of each pasuram.