PiLLai lOkAchAryA

PiLLai lOkAchAryA was the son of Vadakku Tiruveedhip PiLLai. He was born in 1205 CE (Krodana) at Srirangam in Mudumbai Kulam, Srivatsa Gotram, in the month of Avani and in Rohini Nakshatram His other names were Ulaga Aasiriyar and lOkAchAriAr. In fact, the latter name was conferred on him by his AchAryA NampiLLai.

Though PiLLai lOkAchAryA was about 63 years older to our Swami, he perceived in his young friend ( our Swami) the potential to become a World Savior through his works. He was the foremost AchAryA of Tenkalai branch of Srivaishnavas. Yet, this did not detract from his being an ardent admirer of our Swami and attended his KAlakshEpams. He worked very closely with our Swami in rescuing the idol of Lord Ranganatha during the raids by Muslim predators. He was so sincere in his praise of our Swami and composed the Pasuram:

Seeronru thoopul thiru vEenkata mudaiyAn pAr Onru Sonna pazha mozhiyuL |
OronRu ThAnE AmaiyAdhO dharaniyil VAzhvArkku vAnErap pOmalavum vAzhvu ||

No greater acknowledgment of the greatness of Swami Desika is needed in the light of this unambiguous declaration by this doyen of TennAchAryA sampradAya. His works include - Mumukshup Padi, Sri vacchana bhushaNam, sAra sangraha, sriyah pathip padi, yAdrichikap Padi, Tattva Trayam, Artha Panchakam and other rahasya granthAs. It was he who advised his brother Azhagiya PerumAL nAyanAr to write AchArya Hridayam.

Younger brother of PiLLai LOkAchAryA and another doyen of TennAchAryA sampradAyA, he was also a close associate and admirer of Swami Desika. He remained a bachelor throughout his life. His works include - AchArya Hridayam, vyAkhyAnams including 6,000 Padi of TiruppAvai, Amalan AadhiPiraan, Kanni nun SiruthAmbhu, PattOlai Rahasyam etc.

Junior Contemporaries of Swami Desika

Brahma Thantra Swanthanthrar (a) Hastheesar

Brahma Thanthra Swanthanthrar aka Hastheesar and pEr ArulAla Jeeyar. He was born in 1286 CE and therefore was 18 years younger to Swami Desikan. He was also born in PurattAsi month in Sravana Nakshatram similar to Swami Desikan. (MSR) Ved: "Among the disciples of Swami Desikan, Brahmathanthra Swathanthra Jeeyar deserves special mention. He had such mastery over several subjects that he was honored with the title "Brahma Thanthra Swathanthra" by Swami Desika himself. He was in general charge of the Kanchi school after our Swami. He founded the Kanchi Mutt and was appointed as Srikaaryam of the shrine at Tirupathi in succession to the Tirumala SrinivasachArya Swami.

In his PoorvAsramam, he was known as Veeravalli pEr AruLALa rAyar. After becoming SannyAsi, he assumed the name of ParakAla Jeeyar. Later, at the invitation of Kumara Kampanna, he moved to MElkote in Karnataka and established the famous ParakAla Mutt. The religious line of Sri Vedanta Desika has continued uninterruptedly in this mutt.

He studied Bhagavad Vishayam at the feet of NainAr AchArya (the son of our Swami) even though the latter was at least 13 years younger to him, of course with the approval of Swami Desika). And composed the thanian on NainArachArya thus

"Sriman Lakshmana Yogindra SiddhAnta Vijaya Dwajam /
ViswAmithra kulothbhootham varadAryam Aham Bhaje //" (PPM)

and the famous thanian in honor of his teacher, Swami Desikan.

"Ramanuja dayA PAthram gnAna vairAghya Bhooshanam / Srimad vEnkata nAthAryam vande VedAntha dEsikam " //

When our Swami breathed his last, he kept his feet on the lap of Brahma Tantrar. It was he who established the recitation of Iyal Goshti, 4.000 thanian and dEsika prabhandam during Anadhyayana periods in the thanjai Maa Manik Kovil at VennAtrankarai. He arranged for the recitation of NainAchArs Pillai AnthAdhi (a poem on Swami Desika) also along with others mentioned above.

It was Brahma thantra Swami who prescribed the recitation of the psalm " Vaazhiyani Thooppul " when the AdaikAi SambAvanai was offered to him along with those to AzhwArs as per the niyamanam of BhAshyakArar. This SambAvanai in temples and even homes on all auspicious occasions of SrivaishnavAs came to be adopted only from then on. (PPM). When a few pundits from Kasi, came forward to debate condemning our SiddahAntam, Swami asked Brahma thantra to come to Srirangam and engage in the debate. Brahma thantra devastated every one of their arguments. Our Swami praised him as "ParyAya BhAshyakArar" and conferred the title of Brahma Thanthrar. Later, GatikA Satham AmmAL who studied under Brahma Thanthrar actually wrote a SlOka in his honor containing the word "ParyAya BhAshyakaara" and submitted to him. It reads as follows:

ParyAya Bhashya KArAya PranathArthi Vidhoonvatham |
Brahma Thanthra SwathanthrAya Dviteeya Brahmane Namah ||

His Sishyas includedGatikA Satham AmmAL, KidAmbi nAyanAr, KomAndur Acchan, PiLLaiyappa, KandAdai AndAn, Veeravallip Pillai, and Per AruLALayanappai (whom he won over in an argument earlier at Kanchi, and whom he subsequently made his successor with the title of Dwiteeya Brahma Thanthra". Brahma Thanthrar also rendered another Sloka on Swami Desika which runs as follows:

Another doyen of thennAchArya SampradAyam, he was born at Kundigai in PAndya kingdom. His other nmes were Thirumalai AzhwAr and SrisailEsar. He was a disciple of PiLLai LokAchArya who did him Pancha SamskAram and taught him ThiruvAymozhi.

His other AchAryAs were:- AcchAn PiLLai for Bhagavad Vishayam Azhagiya ManavALap PerumAL NAyanAr for Sri BhAshyam and Sruta PrakAsika Koora Kulottama Daasar for AchArya Rahasya Granthas and AchArya Hridayam VilAn Cholaip PiLLai for other Rahasya Granthas. Staying at Thirunagari, he wrote the SvApadEsa VyAkhyAnam for PeriyazhwArs Thirumozhi.

His Sishyas include- ManavALa mA MunigaL known as Periya Jeeyar who was the immediate predecessor of Bhattar PirAn, the Prathama Yathipathi of VanamAmalai Mutt. NammAzhwAr koil EmperumAnAr Jeeyar EmperumanAr koil SatakOpa Jeeyar Tattvesa Jeeyar (ATA) His thanian reads as follows:

He was the illustrious son of Swami Desika. He was born in 1317 CE (Pingala). VED: "Swami Desika was succeeded by his son and disciple, KumAra VaradAchAryA also known as NainArachAryA". A scholar, like his illustrious father, NainAr AchAryA was an able exponent of Sri VisihtAdvaita VEdhAntA. In a philosophical debate, he defeated the Sakalya MallA, the author of UdhAra RAghavA and an expert in black magic. NainAr AchAryA toured extensively in Kerala country and helped many to follow SriVaishnavism.

In Andhra, one Sarvagna Singappa of Nayak family of Rajahmundry became a key supporter of him and became his disciple. NainAr Acharya_s chief objective in life was to apotheosize his father and propagate his doctrines and writings. At the Srirangam temple, he set up an idol of his famous father. He vanquished many Advaitins in debates held in TirukkOshtiyur, Thiru mAl irum chOlai, and Madurai. During his stay at VennAr bank, Thanjavur, he installed an image of his father in the temple of NeelamEgha PerumaL. (Later, he installed the images of dEsika for worship at KAnchi, Tiruvaheendrapuram, MadurAnthakam, Thooppul, Sriperumpudur and other Divya Desas.) NainAr AchAryA is said to have authorized the recitation of the Thanians of NAlAyira divya Prabhandam and dEsika Prabhandam during the Anadhyayana period when the recitation of Divya Prabhandam remains suspended.

There were many other contemporaries who learned at the feet of Swami Desika. To mention a few:-

1. PrathivAdi Bhayankaram Annan
2. VardAryar
3. Vennai Koottha Jeeyar
4. Kunjambur RamanujAchAryAr
5. KandhAdai EmbAr
6. Prabhakara Jeeyar
7. Tirumalai SrinivasAchAryAr
8. Tirumalai NallAn
9. Theerthap Pillai
10. KidAmbi Pillai
11. Komandur Pillai

Of these, Vennaikoottha Jeeyar, and PrabhAkara Jeeyar were SannyAsis besides Brahma Tantra Swatantrar.