Sri Parasara Bhattar

Sri Parasara Bhattar

Sri parasara Bhattar was the son of Koorthazhwan and a great Disciple of Bhagavath Ramanuja and a Srivaishanav Leader after Ramanauja's time. Parasara Bhattar was a brilliant scholar and also the foster son of Sriranaga Nachiar. Parasara Bhattar has a number of works to his credit. He was well versed in Thiruvoimozhi and he used Thirumangaia Azhwars' Thirunedunthandagam to to defeat and attract Nanjeer as his disciple.

 His works include

Ashtasloki. eight verses focusing on Rahasya Thrayam 

Kriyadipa.  describes the daily religious duties of Srivaishnavas 
Bhagavad gunadarpana.  Commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama 
Sri Gunaratnakosha. Stothram on Sriranganayaki Nachiar
Sri Ranganatha Stotra.  Sloka of s verses on Lord Ranganatah, l

Sri Rangarajastava. Comprises of Purvasataka. (127 slokas) glorifying Lord Ranganatha and Uttarasataka(105 verses) enlisting deficiencies in the philosophies of advaita, buddhist and Jainese. 

Tirumanjana Kavi. Recited in Srirangam Temple during importanat events

Kaisikamahatmya: Commentary on Kaisikapurana and Lord Varaha.. T
Maivannanarungunji. Commentary in tamil on Tirumangai azhvar's Tiruneduntandakam. 

1)  To listen to Sri Ranganatha Stotram composed by Parsara Bhattar plese visit http://srimannarayana108.blogspot.com/2013/04/sri-ranganatha-stotram-by-sri-parasara.html

2) Ashta Sloki ; To see the video on Ashta Sloki by Parasara Bhattar Please Visit
http://srimannarayana108.blogspot.com/2013/04/ashta-sloki-by-sri-parasara-bhattar.html


3) Sri Parasar Uses Thirunedunthandagam to win a debate : To see the video on Thirunedunthandagam please visit

http://srimannarayana108.blogspot.com/2013/07/blog-post_28.html

Nammazhwar's Achievements

Nammazhwar's Achievements

Nammazhwar had the unique distinction of   Lords of the Different Divya Desams granting darshan at the Tamarind tree where he was positioned and got mangalasasanam from Nammazhwar. The List of such Divaya Desams may be found in the slide below.

Nammazhwar composed and sung Thiruviruththam, Thiruvasirium, Peria Thiruvandhadhi and Thiruvoimozhi which are considered as the essence of Rig, Yajua, Atharvana and Sama Vedam. Nammazhwar's works are in Tamil and are called Dravida Veda Sagaram

Nammazhwar's parents named him as Maran but Nammazhwar earned several names from different great people of his time. The List of names are shown in the slide below.

Nammazhwar had the distiction of having as many as six Thanians sung by Nathamuni, Eswara Muni, Sottai Nambi, Anandhazwan and Bhattar(2). 

Last but not the least, Lord Ranaganatha wanted to know if Kamban had composed a poem on on Satakopan. Kamban had gone to Srirangam to present Kamaba Ramayanam to in front of Namperumal. 

Kamaban, it is believed overnight created a Satakopa Andhadhi  on Nammazhwar.  This can be found in Kambar's Andhadhi " நம் சடகோபனைப் பாடினையோ? என்று நம்பெருமாள் 

விஞ்சிய ஆதாரத்தால் கேட்பக் கம்பன் விரைந்து உரைத்த  செஞ்சொல் அந்தாதி"

One has to read the entire Satakopa Andhadhi to understand the depth of knowledge of Kamban about Nammazhwar, His works, His greatness, His Bakthi and devotion to Lord Krishna. All Archavathars appeared as Lord Krishna to Nammzhwar.

Here is a presentation on Thanians on Namaamzhwar.

Nammazhwar and the Tamarind Tree

Nammazhwar and the Tamarind Tree

Nammazhwar was known by the name of Maran from childhood. He was different from other children and pretty abnormal in day-to-day activities and his parents gave him the name Maran, indicating that he was unique and different from the children of his age.  Nammazhwar's parents tried everything under their control to get the child back to normal and ultimately surrendered to Athinatha perumal in Thirukurugoor and left the child under his care. The child moved on its own from Athinathar sannathi into a Tamarind tree in the temple complex and stayed there for 16 long years almost immobile. There was big transformation in Maran at the age of 16.

Adiyen was at the Athinathan temple on 26th November, 2013 and the priest at the temple was narrating the life and greatness of Nammazhwar. The priest also touches upon  several topics such as Emperumanaar, Importance of Kainkaryam etc apart from Nammazhwar's greatness. Just wanted to share that video so that you could listen directly from the priest. Hope you enjoy listening to this on Vaikasi Visakam day,  being narrated at the location where all this happened.


See the attachhed video.

Satakopanum Sadariyum

Satakopanum Sadariyum

Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, in his Thirumaalai Saram discourse, had commented on the focus of each Azhwar on a specific form of Para Vasudeva

 Thirumazhisai Azhwar Focused on Anthayamithvam. Mudhal Azhwars focused on Parathvam. Rest of the Azhwars focused on either Vibhava Avatars such Sri Rama, Sri Krishna and Archa Avatars. Andal, Periazhwar and Nammazhwar Focused on Vibhava Avatar Sri Krishna.

For Nammzhwar all Archavatars appeared as Lord Krishana.  His entire Thiruvaaimozhi may be considered as being devoted to Sri Krishna. In இவையும் அவையும உவையம் Pathigam Nammazhwar expresses  how Lord Krishna has impacted him. He goes on the describe His Closeness to Lord Krishna. Nammazhwar goes on to say

• That Lord Krishna is in His surroundings
• That Lord Krishna is closer to him 
• That Lord Krisha is with him
• That Lord Krisha sat on his hip
• That Lord Krishna is in his heart
• That Lord Krisha is in his tounge
• That Lord Krishna is in his eyes
• That Lord Krishna is in his forehead. 
• That Lord Krishna was is on his head

The fact that Lord Krishna stood on Nammazhwar's head implies that when we receive Satkopam(Sadari) at temple, we are touching Lord's feet through Nammazhwar. Here is the full Pathigam. Please Listen in. 

Ghosti Style Rendering

Parankusa Ashtakam

Nammazhwar's Thirst for Lord Krishna
Parankusa Ashtakam by Parasara Bhattar

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Nammzhwar visualized Lord Krishna in every object ( animate or otherwise), Food and Archavathar.

உண்ணுஞ் சோறு பருகுநீர் தின்னும்வெற் றிலையுமெல்லாம்

கண்ணன், எம்பெருமான் னென்றென் றேகண்கள் நீர்மல்கி,

மண்ணினுள் அவன்சீர் வளம்மிக் கவனூர் வினவி,

திண்ண மென்னிள மான்புகு மூர்திருக் கோளூரே.

This pasuram was addressed to Archhavatar of Thirukkolur Divya Desam by Nammazhwar in Nataka-Nayaki Bhavam. In the first two lines Nammazhwar brings out his attachment to Krishnavatar by stating that the food that is Part taken to appease hunger, The water taken to quench thirst and the Betel leaves consumed after food for digesting the food are all nothing but a form of Lord Krishna. May be Nammazhwar perceived the Antharyamithwam of Lord Krishna in all these i.e food, water and betel leaves. Such was Nammazhwar's attachment and Bakthi to Lord Krishna.

Nammazhwar lived for 32 years and spent his entire life under the shades of tamarind tree.

First 16 years there was no bodily movement in Nammazhwar and in the remaining 16 years he composed 4 prabhandhams namely Thiruvirutham, Thiruvasirium, Peria Thiruvandhadhi and Thiruvoimozhi,  reflecting the Rig, Yajur,  Atharvana and Sama Vedas.

Sri Parasara Bhattar had composed "Parankusa Ashtakam" on Nammazhwar who has Parankusa as one of the 32 other names. 

Bhattar addreses Nammazhwar as Parankusa, Vakula Bharana, Vakula Bhushan Bhaskara, Prapanna Jana Kootar, Satakopa.

In this Ashtakam, Bhattar heaps praise on the Nammazhwar for the Dravida Veda Sagaram in Tamil equivalent to  Rig, Yajur,  Atharvana and Sama Vedas.Bhattar alludes to the the Thirst  Nammazhwar had for Lord Krishna.

Here is a presentation on Parankusa Ashtakam By Sri Parasara Bhattar