Sri:
Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Azhvar and Acharya Thirunakshathram Celebrations
Washington DC - November 10th and 11th 2007 : Sign up & AgendaSri Venkateswara Lotus Temple welcomes one and all to celebrate
Mudhal Azhvars, Poorvacharyas (Pillai Lokacharya & Manavala Mamunikal )
and
Chinna Jeeyar Swami's ThirunakshathramsLocation:
Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple
12501 Bradock Road
Fairfax VA 22030Please grace us with your presence and make this a grand celebration.
The month of Aippasi boasts many holy events like Deepavali and the Avathara of many Azhvars and Acharyas whose contributions are the concrete foundations for SriVaishnavism. It is a privilege to celebrate their birth and contributions.
Mudhal Azhvars and Poorvacharyas (Pillai Lokacharya & Mamunikal)Aippasi is a very auspiscious month for Srivaishnavas when the first three of the ten azhvars, came into being on this world, which was filled with darkness.
=> Mudhal Azhvars: Poygai AzhvAr, BhuthaththazhvAr and Peyazhvar, are chronologically the earliest of all AzvhArs. They are “ayOnijAs” (ones who were not born from a womb) and they appeared on water-flowers in three different places.
With darkness prevailing, the jeevathmas were unable to see Lord Srimannarayana. The first two azhvars lit holy lamps and the third azhvar showed us EmperumAn (Lord Sriman Narayana).
=> Many thousands of years later, in the same month, Lord Varadharaja of Kancheepuram, took birth as Swami Pillai Lokachariar (Ulagariyan). He was in this world from 1205 CE. to 1311 CE. The purpose of this avathara was to document the message of Ramanuja Sampradayam. He wrote 18 rahasya grathas.He is the "first Acharya" to document all the rahasyas for future generations.
=> One hundred and sixty five years later, in the same month, Swami ManavAla Mamunikal took birth in this world, as Punaravathara of Swamy Ramanuja himself. He was in this world from 1370 CE. to 1443 CE. 165 years after Swami Pillai Lokacharya's birth, SriVaishnavism was in disarray, due to muslim invasions, and mis-interpretations of poorvacharyas' works. This avathara's purpose was to set right Srivaishnava sampradhayam that was so carefully built by our Poorvacharyas, which was being diluted, modified and in some cases forgotten. Mamunikal gave us lucid commentaries (vyakhyanams) to Poorvacharyas' works including the Rahasya granthas of Swamy Pillai Lokacharyar.
Prakrutham Acharya: Chinna Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami
"Serve all beings as service to God" " Worship your own Respect all"
These two simple statements speaks volumes about His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Tridandi Chinna Sriman Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami and his love for humanity.
Crusader of peace, Champion of Education, Guardian of Vedic Heritage, Scholar and the most benevolent and beloved Acharya of recent history, he is a true Humanitarian. Join us to celebrate his Thirunakshathram, in Washington DC, along with fellow devotees.
We as sishyas and bhagavatas have a duty to celebrate our Acharyas and Azhvars thirunakshatrams, who have given us the light to see EmperumAn ,in the form of Dhivyaprabhandam, Rahasyams, and invaluable lucid commentaries for us to understand.
We do not have anything to give back to them, which goes without saying. However, it is our duty to celebrate their thirunakshatrams, their teachings and unconditional love for us to realize Lord Srimannarayana.
Azhvar EmberumAnar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam
Sri Venkateswara Lotus Temple
