srIvaishNavam – know our AzhwArs and

AchAryas

A simple introduction to AzhwArs and AchAryas

prepared by: sarathy ramanuja dAsan

website: http://koyil.org, http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.org ,
http://guruparamparai.wordpress.com
email id: mailto:sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com
 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Know our AchAryas

srIvaishNavam (also known as sanAthana dharmam) is an eternal sampradhAyam and many
great personalities have propagated it throughout the history. Towards the end of dhvApara
yugam, AzhwArs started appearing in southern part of bhAratha varsham at the banks of
various rivers. The last AzhwAr appeared in the early part of kali yugam. vyAsa rishi, in srI
bhAgavatham identifies that exalted bhakthas of Sriman nArAyaNan will appear in the banks of
various rivers and will enrich every one with the divine knowledge of emperumAn. AzhwArs are
10 in number - poigai AzhwAr, bhUthathAzhwAr, peyAzhwAr, thirumazhisai AzhwAr,
nammAzhwAr, kulasEkarAzhwAr, periyAzhwAr, thondaradip podi AzhwAr, thirumangai
AzhwAr and thiruppAnAzhwAr. madhurakavi AzhwAr is an AchArya nishtar and ANdAL is the
avathAram of Bhoomi pirAti. AzhwArs (except ANdAL) are all jIvAthmAs hand picked by
emperumAn from samsAram. emperumAn gave the AzhwArs the most perfect knowledge
about thathva thrayam (chith - soul, achith - matter, Isvara - God) through his own sankalpam
and through them he re-established the bhakthi/prapatthi mArgam when it was lost. He also
made them realize past, present and future events fully and clearly. Azhwars sung 4000 divya
prabhandham (popularly known as aruLicheyal) which were direct outpourings of their
bhagavadh anubhavam.

After the time of AzhwArs, AchAryas started appearing. Many AchAryas starting from
nAthamunigaL, centered by srI rAmAnuja and ending with maNavALa mAmunigaL appeared
and propagated our sath sampradhAyam. This AchArya paramparai continues through the 74
simhAsanadhipathis and jeeyar mutts (established by emperumAnAr and maNavALa
mAmunigaL) until today. These AchAryas wrote several commentaries on aruLicheyal,
explaining the meanings of the pAsurams in great detail. These commentaries are the great
wealth they have left behind to us - for us to read them and immerse in the bhagavadh
anubhavam. The AchAryas, by the mercy of the AzhwArs were able to exactly understand the
divine message in the pAsurams and explain them from different angles.

Let us now first see the AzhwArs in sequence.

Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy. Also known as sarO
munIndhra.

avathAra sthalam: thiruvekkA (kAnchIpuram)

thirunakshathram: aippasi - sravaNam
Works: mudhal thiruvanthAdhi

poigai AzhwAr kAnchyAm sarasi hEmAbjEjAtham kAsAra yOginam

(kAsAra yOgi) kalayE ya: shriya:pathyE ravim dhIpam akalpayath
Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy.

avathAra sthalam: thirukkadalmallai (mahAbalipuram)

thirunakshathram: aippasi - avittam)
Works: iraNdAm thiruvanthAdhi

mallApura varAdhIsham mAdhavI kusumOdhbhavam

bhUthathAzhwAr bhUtham namAmi yO vishNOr gyAnadhIpam akalpayath

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 2

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Focussed on emperumAn's supremacy.

avathAra sthalam: thirumayilai (mayilApUr)

thirunakshathram: aippasi - sathayam
Works: mUnRAm thiruvanthAdhi

dhrushtvA hrushtvam yO vishNum ramayA mayilAdhipam

pEyAzhwAr
(mahathAhvaya) kUpE rakthOthpalE jAtham mahathAhvayam AshrayE
Focussed on antharyAmi emperumAn. Also, established that we
should only be surrendered to srIman nArAyaNan.

avathAra sthalam: thirumazhisai

thirunakshathram: thai - magam
Works: nAnumgan
thiruvanthAdhi, thiruchantha viruththam
thirumazhisai AzhwAr
(bhakthisAra)
sakthi panchamaya vigrahAthmanE sUkthikArajatha chiththa
hAriNE
mukthidhAyaka murAri pAdhayOr bhakthisAra munayE namO
nama:
Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Considered as the leader of all
AzhwArs and srIvaishNavas. Brought out the essence of 4
vEdhams in 4 prabhandhams.

avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari

thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam
Works: thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi,
thiruvAimozhi
nammAzhwAr
(satagOpan) mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi:
sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm
Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam
srImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA
Focussed on nammAzhwAr. Established the importance of
AchArya bhakthi.

avathAra sthalam: thirukkOLUr

thirunakshathram: chithrai - chithrai
Works: kaNNinuN chiRuth thAmbu
madhurakavi AzhwAr avidhitha vishayAntharas chatArEr upanishdhAm upagAna mAthra
bOga:
api cha guNa vachAth thadhEka sEshi madhurakavir hrudhayE
mamAvirasthu

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 3

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Focussed on srI rAmAvathAram. Showed the importance of

developing attachment towards bhAgavathas and dhivya dhEsams.

avathAra sthalam: thiruvanjikkaLam

thirunakshathram: mAsi - punarpUsam
Works: perumAL thirumozhi, mukundha mAlai

gushyathE yasya nagarE rangayAthrA dhinE dhinE

kulasEkarAzhwAr thamaham sirasA vandhE rAjAnam kulasEkaram
Focussed on krishNAvathAram. Established the importance of
mangaLAsAsanam (praying for the well being of bhagavAn) which
is the highest state of love towards bhagavAn.

avathAra sthalam: srIvilliputhUr

thirunakshathram: Ani - swAthi
Works: thiruppallANdu, periyAzhwAr thirumozhi

periyAzhwAr gurumukam anadhIthya prAhavE thAn asEshAn

(vishNu chiththan) narapathi parikluptham sulkamAdhAthu kAma:
svasuram amara vandhyam ranganAthasya sAkshAth
dhvija kula thilakam vishNuchiththam namAmi
Focussed on krishNAvathAram. An incarnation of bhUmi dhEvi
(divine consort of bhagavAn). Appeared in this world for the
upliftment of everyone.
avathAra sthalam: srIvilliputhUr
thirunakshathram: Adi - pUram
Works: thiruppAvai, nAchiyAr thirumozhi

nILA thunga sthanagiri thatI suptham uthpOdhya krishNam

ANdAL pArArthyam svam sruthi satha siras sidhdham adhyApayanthI
(gOdhA) svOchishtAyAm srajinikaLitham yAbalAth kruthya bhungthE
gOdhA thasyai nama itham itham bhUya EvAsthu bhUya:
Focussed on srIranganAthan. Established the glories of nAma
sankIrthanam, saraNAgathi and clearly explained the glories of
srIvaishNavas.

avathAra sthalam: thirumaNdangudi

thirunakshathram: mArgazhi - kEttai
Works: thirumAlai, thiruppaLLiyezhuchchi

thamEva mathvA paravAsudhEvam

thoNdaradippodi AzhwAr rangEchayam rAjavadharhaNiyam
(bhakthAngri rENu)
prAbhOdhikIm yOkrutha sUkthimAlAm
bhakthAngrirENum bhagavanthamIdE

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 4

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Focussed on srIranganAthan. Beautifully performed

mangaLAsAsanam to the divine form of periya perumAL
(srIranganAthan).

avathAra sthalam: uRaiyUr

thirunakshathram: kArthigai - rOhiNi
Works: amalanAdhipirAn

thiruppANAzhwAr ApAdha chUdam anubhUya harim sayAnam

(muni vAhanar) madhyE kavErathu hithur mudhithAntharAthmA
adhrashtruthAm nayanayOr vishayANtharANAm
yO nischikAya manavai munivAhanam tham
Focussed on many dhivyadhEsams travelling to them on his horse
AdalmA. Engaged in many kainkaryams during his time in
srIrangam, etc.

avathAra sthalam: thirukkuraiyalUr

thirunakshathram: kArthigai - kArthigai
Works: periya thirumozhi, thirukkurunthANdagam,
thiruvezhukkURRirukkai, siriya thirumadal, periya thirumadal,
thirumangai AzhwAr thirunedunthANdagam
(parakAlan)
kalayAmi kalidhvamsam kavim lOka dhivAkAram
yasya gObi: prakAshAbir Avidhyam nihatham thama:

gukAra: anthakAra vAchya shabhdha: - gu represents the aspect of ignorance that our
intelligence is covered with. rukAra: than nivarthaka: - ru represents the true knowledge that
will remove that ignorance. guru means the teacher who removes our ignorance and guide us
into the true path of knowledge. guru and AchArya are synonyms and both mean spiritual
teacher.

OrAN vazhi guru paramparai means disciplic succession of spiritual teachers who carried the
great message of scriptures through history.

Our OrAN vazhi guru paramparai starts with srI ranganAthan (srIman nArAyaNan), centered
with srI rAmAnuja (who is hailed as jagadhAchArya - meaning the AchArya of the whole
universe) and ends with srI maNavALa mAmunigaL (who was declared by srI ranganAthan
himself as his own AchArya in srIrangam). Let us now see each AchArya's details one by one.

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 5

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Popularly known as srI ranganAthan. prathamAchAryan (first

AchAryan) to everyone. Descended from paramapadham to
sathya lOkam - worshipped by brahmA, then to ayOdhya -
worshipped by sUrya vamsa kings upto srI rAman himself, finally
brought over to srIrangam by srI vibhIshaNan and settled there.

thirunakshathram: AvaNi - rOhiNi

periya perumAL
Works: bhagavath gIthai, srI sailEsa dhayApAthram thanian
(srIman nArAyaNan)
srI sthanAbharaNam thEja: srIrangEsayam AsrayE
chinthAmaNi mivothvAntham uthsangE ananthabhOgina:
Popularly known as srI ranganAyaki. dhivya mahishi (divine
consort) of bhagavAn. bhagavAn's dhayai (Mercy) personified.
Glorified by our AchAryas as purushakAra bhUthai
(recommendation authority) for us while approaching
emperumAn.

thirunakshathram: panguni - uthram

periya pirAttiyAr
(srI mahAlakshmi) nama: srIranga nAyakyai yath brO vibhrama bhEthatha:
IsEsithavya vaishamya nimnOnnatham itham jagath
He is the commander-in-chief of bhagavAn in paramapadham.
He takes care of all administrative activities. He is also known as
sEshAsanar - one who is the first to accept bhagavAn's sEsha
prasAdham.

thirunakshathram: aippasi - pUrAdam

srIrangachandhra masamindhirayA viharthum

sEnai mudhaliyAr vinyasya visvachidha chinnayanAdhikAram
(vishwaksEnar)
yO nirvahathya nisamanguLi mudhrayaiva
sEnAnyam anya vimukAs thamasi sriyAma
Hailed as vaishNava kula pathi and prapanna jana kUtasthar (
leader of all srIvaishNavas). Also known as mARan, parAngusan,
kurugUr nambi, etc.

avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari

thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam
Works: thiruviruththam, thiruvAsiriyam, periya thiruvanthAdhi,
thiruvAimozhi
nammAzhwAr
(satagOpan) mAthA pithA yuvadhayas thanayA vibhUthi:
sarvam ya dhEva niyamEna madh anvayAnAm
Adhyasyana: kulapathEr vakuLAbhirAmam
srImath thadhangri yugaLam praNamAmi mUrdhnA

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 6

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Located nammAzhwAr's avathAra sthalam and acquired 4000

dhivya prabhandham and its meanings from AzhwAr by constant
meditation on AzhwAr.

avathAra sthalam: kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram)

thirunakshathram: Ani - anusham
Works: nyAya thathvam, yOga rahasyam, purusha nirNayam

nAthamunigaL nama: achinthya adhbudha aklishta jnAna vairAgya rAsayE

(srIranganAtha muni) nAthAya nAtha munaye agAdha bhagavadh bhakthi sindhavE
Learnt 4000 dhivya prabhandham with meanings from
nAthamunigaL and propagated the same.

avathAra sthalam: thiruveLLaRai

thirunakshathram: Chithrai - kArthigai

nama: pankaja nEthrAya nAtha: srI padha pankajE

nyastha sarva bharAya asmath kula nAthAya dhImathE
uyyakkoNdAr
(puNdarIkAkshar)
Reformed yAmunAchAryar and established him as a great
AchAryan.

avathAra sthalam: maNakkAl (near srIrangam)

thirunakshathram: mAsi - magam

ayathnathO yAumunam Athma dhAsam alarkka pathrArppaNa

NishkrayENa
maNakkAl nambi ya: krIthavAnAsthitha yauvarAjyam namAmitham rAmamEya
(srI rAma misrar) sathvam
Great scholar who firmly established srIrangam as the head
quarters, lived there with many sishyas.

avathAra sthalam: kAttu mannAr kOil (vIra nArAyaNa puram)

thirunakshathram: Adi - uthrAdam
works: gIthArtha sangraham, Agama prAmANyam, chathuslOki,
sthOthra rathnam, etc.
ALavandhAr
(yAmunAchAryar) yath padhAmbhOruhadhyAna vidhvasthAsEsha kalmasha:
vasthuthAmupayA dhOham yAmunEyam namAmitham

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 7

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Had great attachment towards ALavandhAr and rAmAnujar.

Brought rAmAnujar over to srIrangam.

avathAra sthalam: srI rangam

thirunakshathram: mArgazhi - kEttai
works: thiruppathik kOvai

kamalApathi kalyAna gunAmrutha nishEvayA

periya nambi pUrNa kAmaya sathatham pUrNAya mahathE nama:
(mahA pUrNar)
The main preceptor who established visistAdhvaitha sidhAntham
and took our sampradhAyam every where.

avathAra sthalam: srIperumbUthUr

thirunakshathram: chithrai - thiruvAdhirai
works: sri bhAshyam, gIthA bhAshyam, vEdhArtha sangraham,
vEdhAntha dhIpam, vEdhAntha sAram, saraNAgathi gadhyam,
srIranga gadhyam, srIvaikuNta gadhyam and nithya grantham

emperumAnAr yOnithyam achyutha padhAmbuja yugma rukma

(srI rAmAnuja) vyAmOthas thathitharANi thrunAya mEnE
asmadhgurOr bhagavathOsya dhayaikasindhO:
rAmAnujasya charaNou sharaNam prapadhyE
Hailed as srI rAmAnuja's shadow. Was totally detached from
materialistic aspects but was a great rasika in bhagavath
vishayam.

avathAra sthalam: madhura mangalam

thirunakshathram: thai - punarpUsam
embAr
works: vijNana sthuthi, emperumAnAr vadivazhagu pAsuram
(gOvindha perumAL)
rAmAnuja padha chAyA gOvindhAhva anapAyinI
thadhA yaththa svarUpA sA jeeyAn madh visramasthalee
Illustrious son of kUrathAzhwAn. Hailed as the adopted son of srI
ranganAthan and srI ranganAchiyAr. Hailed as sarva thanthra
svathanthrar due to his masterly control over sAsthram.

avathAra sthalam: srIrangam

thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - anusham
works: srIrangarAja sthavam, ashta slOki, srI guNa rathna
kOsam, etc
parAsara bhattar
srI parAsara bhattArya srirangEsa purOhitha:
srIvathsAnga sutha: srImAn shrEyasE mEsthu bhUyasE

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 8

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Reformed by bhattar. Originally an adhvaitha scholar, but due to

bhattar's efforts, he becomes a great srIvaishNava. Exemplified
as the sishya of bhattar. Also, known as vEdhAnthAchAryar.

avathAra sthalam: thirunArAyaNapuram

thirunakshathram: panguni - uthram
works: thiruvAimozhi 9000 padi vyAkyAnam and other
vyAkyAnams

nanjIyar namO vEdhAntha vEdhyAya jagan mangaLa hEthavE

(vEdhAnthi) yasya vAgAmruthAsAra bhUritham bhuvana thrayam
Great scholar in samskritha/dhrAvida sAsthram. First to give
detailed lectues on thiruvAimozhi in srIrangam temple. Hailed as
thirumangai AzhwAr's incarnation.

avathAra sthalam: nambUr

thirunakshathram: kArthigai - kArthigai
works: thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other
vyAkyAnams

vEdhAntha vEdhya amrutha vArirAsEr

nampiLLai vEdhArtha sAra amrutha pUramagryam
(lOkAchAryar) AdhAya varshantham aham prapadhyE
kAruNya pUrNam kalivairidhAsam
Most dedicated disciple of nampiLLai. Documented eedu
vyAkyAnam of nampiLLai. Gave us two great gems - piLLai
lOkAchAryar and azhagiya maNavALa perumAL nAyanAr.

avathAra sthalam: srI rangam

thirunakshathram: Ani - swAthi
works: thiruvAimozhi 36000 padi vyAkyAnam and other
vyAkyAnams

vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai
(srI krishNa pAdhar)
sri krishna pAdha pAdhAbjE namAmi sirasA sadhA
yath prasAdha prabhAvEna sarva sidhirabhUnmama
Most merciful AchArya who documented the esoteric principles of
our sampradhAyam in the simplest language for every one's
benefit.

avathAra sthalam: srIrangam

thirunakshathram: aippasi - sravaNam
works: mumukshuppadi, thathva thrayam, srIvachana
bhUshaNam, etc (18 rahasya granthams and more)

piLLai lOkAchAryar lOkAchArya guravE krishna pAdhasya sUnavE

samsAra bhOgi santhashta jIva jIvAthavE nama:

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 9

 srIvaishNavam – Know our AzhwArs and AchAryas

Dedicated his whole life for nammAzhwAr and thiruvAimozhi. Re-

established everything in AzhwAr thirunagari and built new
temple for srI rAmAnujar there.

avathAra sthalam: kunthI nagaram

thirunakshathram: vaikAsi - visAkam
works: periyAzhwAr thirumozhi svApadhEsam

nama srisailanAthAya kunthI nagara janmanE

prasAdhalabdha parama prApya kainkaryasAlinE
thiruvAimozhi piLLai
(srI sailEsar)
Re-incarnation of srI rAmAnuja. Lectured on thiruvAimozhi eedu
vyAkyAnam for a year in front of srI ranganAthan and his parivAr.
At the end of the lecture series, srI ranganAthan accepts him as
his AchAryan and offers him his most popular srIsailEsa
dhayApAthram thanian.

avathAra sthalam: AzhwAr thirunagari

thirunakshathram: aippasi - thirumUlam
works: many sthOthrams, thamizh prabhandhams, vyAkyAnams

srisailEsa dhayA pAthram dIbhakthyAdhi guNArNavam

maNavALa mAmunigaL
(ramya jAmAthru muni)
yathIndhra pravaNam vandhE ramya jAmAtharam munim

In addition, we will also learn a little about ponnadikkAl jIyar who is the first jIyar of our
vAnamAmalai mutt.

Very confidential sishya of mAmunigaL who stayed with

mAmunigaL right from very young age. Established srI
vAnamAmalai mutt per the orders of mAmunigaL. srIvaramangA
nAchiyAr considers ponnadikkAl jIyar as her own father.
Performed many kainkaryams for dheivanAyagan emperumAn at
vAnamAmalai and many other dhivya dhEsams.

avathAra sthalam: vAnamAmalai

thirunakshathram: kanni (purattAsi) - punarpUsam
works: thiruppAvai svApadhEsam, Glorifications on mAmunigaL

ponnadikkAl jIyar
ramya jAmAthru yOghIndhra pAdharEkhA mayam sadhA
thathA yaththAthma saththAdhim rAmAnuja munim bhajE

AzhwAr emperumAnAr jIyar thiruvadigaLE charaNam

jIyar thiruvadigaLE charaNam
AchAryan thiruvadigaLE charaNam

http://srivaishnavagranthams.wordpress.com sarathy.thothathri@gmail.com Page 10