The saint who was praised by the Lord

CHENNAI, OCT. 30. In the religious history of our country, it was not uncommon to find even famous temples facing threats for brief spells, either from external invasion or through maladministration internally, by those who were engaged in Divine service. Even about ten centuries ago, at the time of Ramanuja, the Srirangam temple witnessed indiscipline and callousness on the part of some of its servants and the saint set right matters by resorting to punishments or reprimanding them when necessary. Some decades later, the management was entrusted to another equally distinguished religious leader, who too saw some deterioration in the service to the Lord. The eminent personality did not take any harsh action but went to the Lord and addressed the idol directly shedding tears as to why such a situation had been allowed by Him. The temple servants, deeply touched by the saint's anguish, were totally transformed, resulting in proper care of the temple. The credit went to Sri Manavala Maamunigal, one of the unmatched torchbearers of Ramanuja's philosophy.

The fact that Sri Maamunigal's various works and commentaries refer to 1774 sources to substantiate his profound statements, reveal how he ought to have digested so many books such as the Vedas, Sri Bashyam, the Upanishads, the epics and the Puranas. A glorious feature of his life was the presence of Lord Ranganatha to listen to the saint when he was delivering expositions daily for one year on Thiruvoimozhi in the temple premises. Admiring his genius, the Lord, through the priest's son, praised him and caused the delivery on the concluding day, of a benedictory verse which is being recited by devotees even today. The offerings made to the Lord are being taken to the shrine of the great Acharya in the temple on his birthday and the day of laying down his mortal coils, for distribution among people.

Sri R. Kannan Swamigal, in a discourse, explained how a major portion of the commentaries of another great saint, Sri Periavachan Pillai, on Thiruvoimozhi was lost through termites and the privilege of re-writing them and making good the loss to the Srivaishnavite community was conferred on Sri Manavala Maamunigal. Another notable contribution by the Acharya was the concise version of the procedure for the Lord's worship (Aradhana) in temples. In all his works, no one can find any statement which offended anyone nor had even a tinge of animosity towards those who held views contrary to what had been said in other commentaries. He had relied on the Upanishads to establish who among Gods is ``Supreme''.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Miscellaneous
Previous : Solution to puzzle 7196
Next     : dated October 31, 1951: Delhi Public Library
           Inaugurated