Hastigiri moksham.

The Srivaishnavites of Kanchi do not feel the necessity to go to Srirangam or Tirupathi. For them, Koil is Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Thirumalai is the Hasthigiri Hills and the temple is Perumal Koil – all three in one place. Tirupati is famous for Vadai, Srirangam for Nadai and Kanchi for Kodai. You can enjoy all three in one go in the Kanchi Brahmotsavam. Every evening you get tasteful Vada prasadam at Gangai Kondan Mandapam. The pathu ulathal on the fourth morning inside the temple will remind you of Namperumal Nadai Azhagu 

Rishbathunadaya serukkum,

matha gajathinudaya thimirppal vandha pisipithalum,

Puliyunadaiya sivitkudaimaiyaal vantha urattuthalum,

simhathinnudiya menanipaal vantha parapi vanamum

ivai ellam nammakku (why Namperumal alone?) Devaperumal Nadai azhagile kanalaam.

Kanchi is famous for its town planning — Nagareshu kanchi, Narishu Ramba, Purusheshu Vishnu, Pushpeshu Jathi (Baravi).

The peak day of the year is the third day of the Brahmotsavam. The thronging crowd on the Rajaveedhi go ecstatic while Lord Varadaraja appears in Garudotsavam to the singing of ‘Thirukkanden, Ponmeni Kanden.’ Truly He has been designated as Arulicheyal Pithan. The Veda Parayana goshti follows the Lord and He follows the Prabandha Goshti. This tradition was first established in Kanchi and was followed in other temples.

Innumerable epigraphic evidence inside the temple point to the legendary origin of the Lord after the Brahma yagna. Image of the original deity up the Hills was made of athi tree and hence called Athi Varadar. According to ancient Sanskrit texts, the original deity up the Hills, was in a standing posture. The athi(ficus glomerate) or udumbura wood is of special significance to Srivaishnavites. The Vishnu Sahasranamam includes udumbura among the thousand names of Vishnu. The original Athivaradar idol was displaced sometime in the 15th century A.D. according to historian and archaeologist Dr. K.V. Raman. The present one was brought from Pazhaya Seevaram and reconsecration done at the instance of Azhagiya Manavala Jeer, who was the Koil Kelvi of the temple at the time. The original Athivaradar image was kept inside the Anantha Saras and the deity is brought out once in 40 years.

Lord Varadaraja is Satyavrataa Kshetra Vasi and Charanagatha Rakshaka. Hasthigiri derived the name from Gajendra Moksham. Gajendra moksham festival is celebrated during the Adi Garuda Sevai festival.

The temple is full of epigraphical inscriptions dating back to 1073 A.D. The garbagraha on the Hill has a prakaram with two-walled mandapams and a maha mandapam. Lord Varadaraja stands majestically inside this mandapam. The Punyakoti Vimanam adorns the mandapam. The pradakshina pada around the sanctum sanctorum is vayya malikai meaning house on earth signifying the Lord’s presence in Nithya vibhuti and Leela vibhuti.

For going up the Hill, we have to ascend a flight of 24 steps to enter the second prakaram. The Dwajasthamba peeta is 24 ft tall, Anantha Saras has 24 steps, height of the wall at the Hill is 24 ft. — the Gayatri has 24 aksharas and the Valmiki Ramayanam has 24,000 slokas.

We have the Senaiyarkon Thirumutram and then the Alwar pradakshinam. At the foot of the Hill is the shrine for Lord Narasimha conceived in the form of a cave. An epigraph of AD 1053 describes the sub-shrine as ancient. As we go round the Hill, we find the Andal shrine. Every time Lord Devaraja returns to the Hill, He bestows His garland to Sri Andal. There are also shrines for Dhanvantri, Ganesa and Malayala Nachiyaar. The third prakara houses the Thirumadappalli (the temple kitchen). This prakaram is known as Yamunai Thuraivar Thirumutram, the place where Alavandar spotted Ramanuja. The abisheka mandapam is at the centre — a sanctum sanctorum lined with mirrors. It is said to have been constructed in AD 1236. On the right hand side is a stone sculpture narrating the episode of Athan Jeer bringing back Lord Devaraja from Udayar Palayam in 1705. On the Western side is the shrine for Perundevi Thayaar. Custom requires first worship at this shrine before entering the shrine of Varadaraja.

Raja Raja Chola III had made endowments for Arulala Perumal and Periya Pirattiyaar according to an epigraphic inscription of 1236 AD. The Kili Mandapam is on the other side of the Abisheka Mandapam. As we come out, we can see the 100-pillared kalyana mandapam, which is spellbinding and rich in architecture.

The temple is known as Perumal Koil and Thyaga Mandapa. This is mentioned in the Guru parampara of Pin Azhagiya Perumal Jeer 13th century AD and Acharya Hridayam of Azhagiya Manvala Jeer of 14th century (Pushpa Thyaga Bhoga Mandabangalil pani poovum alavattamum veenaiyum ….Acharya Hridayam 85). Probably the reference is about the way Lord Devaraja parted with Ramanuja for the sake of Srivaishnava Darshanam and Ramanuja established himself at Srirangam. Dwaya kshetra signifies that Perumal and Piratti are found together on most of the occasions. The ten-day Navaratri festival at the 100-pillared mandapam with padiyettam — Deva Devathi Raja Yecharikkai is a feast to the eyes and the ears
Asthu Sristhana Kasthuri Vasana Vasithora se

Sri Asthigiri Nathaya Devarajaya Mangalam.

Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathacharia

Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariaor Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan or Tathacharya (Sanskrit): श्री लक्ष्मी कुमार ताता देसिकन, Tamil: ஸ்ரீ லக்ஷ்மி குமார தாத தேசிகன்) (1456–1543) ^[1] was a prominent Vaishnava saint and Guru in the Hindu tradition in Vaishnavism, India. Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan was a devotee of Lord Narayana specially Lord Rama and the Vaishnava Guru /acharya Swamy Vedanta Desika. He has the title Kottikannikadhana Thirumalai Edur Immadi Royadurgam Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan. He was the Royal Preceptor "Raja Guru" of king of Vijayanagar Empire Krishnadevaraya. He was the "Manager-General" of the Divya Desam Temples including Sri Rangam, Kanchipuram, Tirumala, Melkote, Srivilliputtur, He is recorded as one of the greatest Aacharyas in the lineage of Sri Ramanuja's Vaishnavism.

Sri Thatha Desika was the adopted son of the famous Sri Pancha Madha Bandhana Thatha Desikan^[2] (his paternal uncle), a learned scholar and most revered aacharya of the Indian Philosophy and Sri Ramanujacharya's "Visishtadvaita".

Taking the roots from Sri Satamarshana maharishi in Krutha Yuga Satya Yuga, the first among the yugas, Sri Thatha Desikan hails from a very glorious acharya lineage with the hereditary relations from various Aacharyas of Sri Vaishnava philosophy like Sriman Natha Munigal (Nathamuni), Sri Alavandhar, Sri Thirumalai Nambigal (who is believed to be called by the Lord of Seven Hills, Tirumala Tirupati Sri Balaji as "Thathah:" the Sanskritequivalent of the English Term "Holy Father"). Sri Thirumalai Nambigal being the maternal uncle of Sri Ramanujacharya (Ramanuja) and the one who corrected Sri Govinda Bhattar alias 'Embar' the brother of Sri Ramanujaand a venerated saint of Sri Vaishnava Sampradhaya. Sri Thirukurugai Piran Pillan being the son of Sri Thirumalai Nambigal was appointed as the 'Sri Ubhaya Vedhanta Sri Bhashya Simhasanathipathi' - literally meaning the 'Divine Incharge' of the 'Sri Bhashya' (Sri Bhasya) the treatise to Sri Veda Vyasa's "Brahma Sutras" written by Sri Ramanujacharya and the "Nalayira Dhivya Prabandham" (especially 'Thiruvaimozhi' of Sri Nammalvar) the collection of 4000 songs sung by Tamil Saints known as Alwars.^[3]

Sri Thatha Desikan traces his origin from the most celebrated aacharya purusha Swamy Nikamantha Maha Desikan (Vedanta Desika) of Thoopul. Sri Thatha Desikan comes in the chronology of 22nd Generation of Sriman Nathamunigal (Nathamuni).^[4] He is believed to have got all the divine knowledge fed to him by the Divine Mother Goddess Sri Lakshmi Devi known as Sri Komalavalli, the consort of the presiding deity of Sri Sarangapani Temple in Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu (India). Sri Thatha Desikan was the Raja Guru of the Venkatapathi Rayas I and II (known as Sriranga Raya) and was the chief minister of Sri Vijayanagar Empire. Prior to Thatha Desikan, His father Sri Sundara Thatha Desikan and Paternal Uncle Sri Pancha Madha Bandhana Thatha Desikan were adorning the courts of the Vijayanagar Kingdom as Raja Gurus or Divine Preceptors.

Sri Thatha Desikan during his regime brought a large army from Vijayanagar and drove away the unrighteous people from the Divya Desams of Sri Rangam, Kanchipuram, Srivilliputtur, Thirumalirum Cholai. Kumbakonam and many other places and restored the worships and conducts as directed by the greatest philosopher Sri Ramanujacharya and Swamy Sri Nikamantha Maha Desikan of Thoopul. Sri Thatha Deiskan appointed His Heirs in these places and gave a lot of grants to these Temple, to take special care on the Temple Proceedings. Sri Thatha Desikan gold plated the 'Moolavar Vimanam' (the pyramidal structure over the sanctum sanctorum) of Tirumala Tirupati, Kanchipuram and renovated the parts of Srirangam Temple constructions. He constructed the 100 pillared mandapa in Kanchipuram Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple. He also renovated various Shrines of the said temple. Around 15 stone Tablets with inscriptions stating the same is available in the Alavandhar Thirumuttram (The Circum circle pathway around the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple Enclosure). A lot of historical evidence and archaeological proofs are available in various temples like Kanchipuram Temples, Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Temple, Sri Rangam, Srivilliputtur, and in many other places.

He guided the Kings of Vijayanagar Empire^[5] in following the righteous path known as Dharma. He is the only person to hold the twin positions of Raja Guru and Chief Minister of the state. The contribution of Sri Thatha Desikan in protecting the cultural values of South India and Sri Vaishnavism could be traced from a lot of references available in the forts of the Kingdom like Chandragiri. During his lifetime Sri Thatha Desikan travelled all around ancient Bharath for the purpose of educating people from various cadres of the society to follow the codes of Righteousness. He is been referred by lot of philosophers and saints owing to various sampradhayas or walks of Hindu religion. The great contemporary writer and philosopher Sri Appaya Dikshitar of Adayapalam has referred and praised Thatha Desikan in many of his works. He considered Thatha Desikan to be the Divine Incarnation.^[6]

Sri Thatha Desikan constructed a temple in Ayyankar Kulam, a small village near Kanchipuram known to be as "Thatha Samuthram – Sri Lakshmi Saras Sri Maruthi /Sri Sanjeevirayar Temple" for Sri Hanuman with a temple tank^[7] measuring more than 150 acres known as "Thatha Samudhram" literally meaning "Sri Thatha Ocean". The presiding deity of Sri Varadharaja Perumal visits this temple once in a year during the festival named "Natabhavi Uthsavam".^[8]

Legends say that, Sri Thatha Desikan was a very pious devotee of Lord Sri Rama. Once Sri Thatha Desikan was travelling with all the wealth he got as a reward for his knowledge and as a tribute from various kings. He was intended to offer them to the Lord of Kanchipuram Sri Varadharaja Perumal. On reaching the outskirts of Kanchi, it was late night. So Thatha Desikan decided to stay with his disciples at the place for a while and decided to continue the travel once the sun rises. So all the treasure was kept near a tree and Thatha Desikan along with his disciples fell asleep. On knowing the wealth assimilated there, a group of thieves came there to loot them. So without any one's knowledge they came there and started bundling all the resources available there without any one's notice. By then, immediately a crew of monkeys led by a senior monkey came there and started beating the thieves very badly and drove them away from the treasures. The monkeys started guarding the treasure. Thus the treasure, which was meant to be offered to the GOD, got saved from getting plundered. As a miracle, Thatha Desikan had a dream in which he was shown the entire happenings and was blessed with the Darshan of Sri Hanuman. Thatha Desikan realised that it was none other than lord Hanuman a sincere servant of Lord Ramacame there in his rescue. So Thatha Desikan was very much moved in Joy and tears started flowing down from his eyes. He immediately woke up and saw the thieves who have fallen unconscious being beaten heavily and the treasure being guarded by a crew of monkeys. Thatha Desikan also found his treasures saved. He was overwhelmed in devotion and decided to spend a part of the saved sum in building a magnificent temple for Lord Hanuman^[9] along with Sri Rama, Sri Sita, Sri Lakshmana. He also built a very big lake near the constructed temple and named it as 'Sri Lakshmi saras', that means the 'Pond of Goddess Lakshmi' who happened to be his mother of Divine Origin as the presiding Goddess of Kumbakonam by name Sri Komalavalli of Sri Sarangapani Temple fed him the Mother's milk and the presiding Goddess of Kanchipuram Sri Perundevi saved him throughout his life and was Herself a teacher of various Arts and Philosophies to him.

But later this lake was fondly called as "Sri Thatha Samudhram" in remembrance of this great Aacharya, as the Lake was appearing majestically like an ocean running for about 150 acres in area. Even during the present days, this Temple stands to be the Biggest Temple dedicated to this form of Lord Hanuman known as "Sri Sanjeeviraya" built during the ancient times of India. Sri Thatha Desikan also composed a famous literary work called "Srimath Hanumath Vimsathi" in praise of this Lord Hanuman, which are inscribed on stone tablets and are kept in the prakarams (the circle enclosure surrounding the main temple) by the then King of Vijayanagar Empire. Later the entire surroundings of this Temple came to be known as "Sri Thathayyangar Kulam" in the remembrance of Sri Thatha Desikan. This small hamlet of village with a very great historic importance is situated near to the present day Kanchipuram.

Sri Thatha Desikan has composed a lot of literary works including "Sri Hanumath Vimsadhi", "Nikama Parimalam", "Sri Panduranga Mahathmiyam", "Sri Desika Prabandha Eedu" and many more in the languages of Sanskrit and Tamil. These works are preserved in the libraries of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The work "Sri Thatha Vimsathi" composed on the greatness of Sri Thatha Desikan clearly records various acts and deeds of this great scholar.

Sri Thatha Desikan has also composed various literary works to substantiate various philosophical truths of Sri Vaishnavism. His devoutness towards Sri Ramanujacharya and Swamy Vedanta Desikan could be very much traced from his works. He was a master of Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrut Languages. The "Sri Desika Prabandha Eedu"^[10] serves as a testimony for his mastering the Tamil Literary skills. This work stands as a guide to the Tamil works of Swamy Vedanta Desikan.

Sri Thatha Desikan followed the Vadakalai sect of modern Vaishnavism and his thoughts were deeply rooted his works. He was a sincere follower of Swamy Sri Nikamantha Maha Desikan of Thoopul (Vedanta Desika) and followed his foot steps. He had Sri Rama with Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, Satrugana and Hanuman as his personal deity and carried them in a golden box to all the places where ever he travelled. Sri Thatha Desikan was considered as an embodiment of Truth, Devotion, Supreme Knowledge and Literature. He was revered as an "Aacharya Mahanubhava" which is the "Greatest Teacher and Philosopher".^[11] Sri Thatha Desikan abided to the codes of Vaishnavism and its philosophical values as drafted by the Lineage of Teachers starting from Nammalvar to Swamy Vedanta Desika. Even though Sri Vaishnavism has a broader perspective of having existence from time immemorial, the accountability in this Kali yoga as marked by the Hindu calendar starts with the teachings of Alwars who are the saint-people who are believed to be sent by Sriman Narayana the Supreme God-Head, to relieve the people of this materialistic world from the glitches of Maya, an equivalent term of 'illusion'. Sri Thatha Desikan was praised and celebrated not only for the great knowledge level of him, but also for being so simple and entirely proud-less, as a person who has done a variety of contributions to the religion of Hinduism – Sri Vaishnavism and to the Sampradhaya (the way) shown by Vedanta Desika.^[12]

Sri Ramanujacharya's 'Vedaartha Sangraha', works of Swamy Vedanta Desika are capsuled in the works of Sri Thatha Desikan. The Key concepts of Sri Ramanujacharya's Vishistadvaita like: Tattva, Hita and Purushartha; The Upaya and Upeya; Chit, Achit, Eswara; the truth behind the concept of Karya, Karana; are well explained in most of the works of Sri Thatha Desikan like "Nikama Parimalam, Lakshmi Niyudam, Panchagranthi Nipaharam, Sapthagranthi Nipaharam, and Satvika Brahmana Vidya Vilasa". It is praise worthy to note that, Sri Thatha Desikan wrote the explanatory text of "Sri Desika Prabandha Eedu" which falls under the title of "Eedu" works, that holds as a guide to the works of Swamy Vedanta Desika. Similar Eedu work is "Thiru Aarayira Padi" (the holy 6000 verses) written by an Aacharya 'Swamy Thirukurugai Piran Pillan' as a guide for the work of Nammalvar known as 'Thiruvaimozhi' in Nalayira Divya Prabandham. It is praise worthy to note that Sri Thatha Desikan comes in the paternal family lineage of 'Swamy Thirukurugai Piran Pillan' who is again considered to be the 'Abhimana Puthran' (equivalent term for adopted son) of Sri Ramanujacharya.

Sri Thatha Desikan is revered as,

Thasmai Dharma Swaroopaya, Nirmalodhara Keerthaye | Sri Lakshmi kumara Thathayarya Desikaya Namon Namah: ||

This literally means "we salute the great Aacharya "Sri Thatha Desikan", who is the embodiment of the Righteousness Dharma and innumerable valor".

Sri Thatha Desika was the royal preceptor of the Vijayanagar Empire and was revered with high respects and fame. He was the 'Raja Guru' – 'The Royal Teacher' of Krishnadevaraya. The King patronised the contributions of this legend and made Him the "Manager-General" known as "Sri Karya Thurantharar" of all the Divya Desam Temples existing in their Empire, which are the 108 temples offered to Hindu God-Head Vishnu in India, with the acharya having the base at Kanchipuram.^[13] Also Swamy Thatha Desikan inherited the office of "Sri Karyam" ( known colloquially as "Dharmakartha-ship") of Kanchipuram, Sriperumbudur and Kumbakonam temples from his ancestors also he governed various other temples Vishu Temples of India along with his heir apparents and the other aacharyas belonging to this clan of "Thathacharya".

Also the family of "Thirumalai Nambi", maternal uncle of Sri Ramanujacharya) of Tirumala possessing the title of "Thathachariars" are the adherent followers of Sri Ramanuja and Swamy Vedanta Desika and served as the Raja Gurus (Divine Preceptors) of various Dynasties which ruled India during various periods. Sri Thatha Desikan's Paternal lineage were the Raja Gurus for the rulers of Vijayanagar Empire including the dynasties of Saluva, Tuluva and Sangama. Even the empires of Hoysala and Chalukya shows references to these great men with the title of "Thathacharya" being the important aacharya clan of their respective empires, who belong to the gothra of Sadamarshana Maharishi. After the fall of Vijayanagar Empire the descendants of Swamy Thatha Desikan continued to be the Royal Preceptors for the Nayaka rulers who were appointed as the Governors of various Vijayanagar Empire territories including Vilankuppam, Kanchipuram, Trichy, Madurai, Chandragiri and parts of modern days Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

The Love of this great Aacharya for the poor and suffering was well known by the excellent generous contributions that He made to bring them up in their lives. He established a lot of "Anna Chatrams" – "Feeding Halls" and established the so-called "Desanthri Kattalai" the "Order to serve Travelers" in various Temples to feed the devotees visiting those temples daily. He sponsored the wedding of a lot of needy couples and hence adorned with the Honorary Title "Koti Kannikadhana" that reveres Him to have helped almost ten million couples or literally couples in a large crowd known as "Koshti"!^[14] He was praised as "Ubhaya Vedantha Chariyar", meaning "The master of both Sanskrit Sacred Texts – Vedas and Upanishads and Tamil works of Alwars known as Prabandhas"

Even today the Descendants^[15] of Sri Koti Kannikadhana Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan are living in various Divya Desams as the teachers of the Philosophical values and rich Indian Culture and are continuing many righteous deeds that are bound for them.^[16]

The Thathacharyas are the custodians of the Kanchipuram Perarulalan Kovil popularly known as Varadaraja Perumal temple. They are the Pradhana Acharya Purushas in the protocol to receive and deliver the temple honors. In retrospection Tirumalai Nambi's son Tirukkurukai Piran Pillan was ordained by Ramanuja himself as the first and foremost among the 74 Peetadhipathis to propagate Visishtadwaita philosophy after him. Pillan was also chosen by Ramanuja as the competent person to write the commentary on "Tiruvaimozhi. The annotation of Tiruvaimozhi thus brought out by Pillan under the behest of Ramanuja is called the famous 'Araiyarpadi' the first gloss in Manipravala, an elegant mixture of Tamil and Sanskrit words, on the Divya Prabhandam. After Pillan, Tirumalai Srinivasacharya Thathachariar in the fifth generation of Thathacharyas was installed by Vedanta Desika as the Sri Kariyam of the Devaraja Swamy Kovil (Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple of Kanchipuram). Since then the office of Sri Kariyam is institutionalized in the diligence and devotion of the Thathacharyas to the Varadaraja Perumal temple in Kanchipuram. Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan inherited this mantle from his ancestors and made epoch making contributions to the temple annals. He was the Sri Kariya Durandhara – a phrase connoting absolute dedication and authority – of the temple affairs. Simultaneously he was also the Raja Guru of the Vijayanagar king Venkatapathi Deva Maharaj. In Ayengarkulam, a village named after him near Kanchipuram, he built a tank and temple to Sri Rama and Hanuman.

In the city of modern Kanchipuram, the Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple's Sri Vedantha Desikan Sannidhi houses a six-feet idol of Sri Lakshmikumara Thatha Desikan along with His consort Sri Kamala Ammangar paying their homage to their aacharya Sri Swamy Nikamantha Maha Desikan. Whenever the presiding deity of Sri Varadharaja Perumal starts for procession,^[17] the respect to these Aacharyas – Swamy Sri Nikamantha Maha Desikan and Swamy Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan are offered the "Satari" – the religious crown shaped structure with the imprints of the Lotus Feet of the Lord Vishnu in it, with the "Theertham" – sacred water and the Garland "Malai" "Mariyadhai" – "Respect". Sri Varadharaja Perumal Temple also houses the processional deity of Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathadesikan.

great scholars through; more light on Vardaraja perumal.

Saving Brahma’s Yaga was only one of them

The legend of a yagam, which Brahma planned to perform in Satyavratakshetram (Kanchipuram), in order to get back his task of creation (he had lost it because of Brihaspati’s curse) and the efforts his consort Saraswati made to scuttle the sacrificial fire is well-known and is in circulation with the rise of Athivaradar. Thanks to Mahavishnu’s intervention, Saraswati is mollified and the Yagam takes place. From the fire emerges Mahavishnu as Varadaraja, It is a Sunday, in the month of Chithirai (the first of the Tamil months), with the Conch, Discus and Gadha, his right hand sporting Abhaya mudra.

Brahma is overwhelmed and thanks the Lord. His mission is accomplished, his consort is back with him and he has got his job of creation back all due to the kindness of Mahavishnu. But Brahma has one more request. Says he to Varadaraja: “Oh, Devadhiraja! Whatever I have accomplished is all due to your Grace. And you have blessed me with this darshan of your glorious form. But I have one more wish. Please remain in this sacred place, for ever and bestow your kindness on human beings, just as you fill us celestials with happiness by your presence in the Milk of Ocean.

Vaikunte thu yathaaloke yadhaiva ksheerasaagare! thatha Sathyavratha kshethre nivaasasthe bavedhiha! Hasthisailasya sikhare sarva loka namaskruthe! punyakoti vimaanesmin pasyanthu thvaam narsaas sadhaa!

Lord Varadaraja obliged and in turn asked Brahma to conduct Brahmotsavam in the Tamil month of Vaikasi, to culminate on the day of Sravana Nakshatra.

Several divine acts are associated with Lord Varadharaja.

Made Nammazhwar Sing his famous Thiruvoimozhi.

Gave enough wealth to Thirumangai Azhwar to bring him out of a crisis.

Pointed out to Alavandar that Sri Ramanuja was the unparalleled Acharya of Srivaishnava Sampradhaya.

Conversed with Thirukkachi Nambigal in the Archa Form itself.

Sent Ramanuja to Srirangam to be the Pitadhipati of Srivaishnava Simhasanam.

Partook the milk offered by Nadadhur Ammal.

Reincarnated as Pillai Lokacharya and gave the 18 rahasyas to the world, in line with the preaching of Ramanuja.

Showered His blessings upon Vedanta Desika, believed to the avatar of the Ghanta Mani at Tirumala.

Earned the name, ‘Arulicheyal Pitthan’ (meaning, one that craves for the nectar like hymns).

Blessed Manavala Mamunigal, the reincarnation of Ramanuja, to compose verses on Himself, to ward off the evil eyes that He incurred due to the above mentioned act

In fact, Peria Thirumozhi of Thirumangai Azhwar is about Varadaraja

Any ready reckoner about Divya Desams will tell you that there are seven pasurams about Varadaraja. You will not find mention of any Nammazhwar pasuram in the list. But for a temple that is among the three most important Divya Desams for Sri Vaishnavas, how can there be only seven pasurams? Are we missing something? Vedanta Desika, whose favourite deity was Varadaraja (he has composed eight works about Varadaraja), shows us that there are many more references to Varadaraja in the Divya Prabandham.

In Thiruvoimozhi 1-4-6, Nammazhwar talks of Arulazhiamman. In his Upakara Sangraham, Desika shows us clearly that this pasuram is a reference to Varadaraja. Desika wrote a work called Meivrata Manmiyam, a sthala purana of the Varadaraja temple. And in this work, he uses the same name Arulazhiamman to describe Varadaraja.

In the same verse, Nammazhwar also says ‘pul kadaveer.’ ‘Pul’ is a reference to Garuda, and Nammazhwar is talking here about the Lord on His mount — Garuda. Since Varadaraja’s Garuda sevai remains unmatched in attracting crowds, this is another indication that Nammazhwar is most certainly talking about Varadaraja here.

In fact, in his Dramidopanishad Tatparya Ratnavali, Desika states that the first 100 verses of Nammazhwar’s Thiruvoimozhi refer to Varadaraja — ‘prathama satake veekshya Varadam.’

Thirumangai Azhwar was the one, who sang about the maximum number of Divya Desams. Usually, it is said that he sang four verses in praise of Varadaraja. But is that all? The answer would be an emphatic no. While singing about the Lord of Badrikasrama, Thirumangai Azhwar refers to Him as Perarulalan, a name that rightfully belongs to Varadaraja.

Thirumangai Azhwar’s ‘Thirumamagalai petrum yen nenjam koilkonda Perarulalan’ is quoted verbatim by Desika in his Meivrata Manmiyam, again showing that this too is a reference to Varadaraja.

There are many works in the Divya Prabandham collation, which take the name of Thirumozhi. Thus, we have Nachiar Thirumozhi, Perumal Thirumozhi and Periazhwar Thirumozhi. But when we just say Thirumozhi, it is a reference to Thirumangai Azhwar’s Peria Thirumozhi, wrote D. Ramaswamy Iyengar, scholar and devotee of Varadaraja.

Balarama and Parasurama also are avataras of Vishnu, but when we say Rama, it can only be a reference to the hero of Valmiki’s Ramayana. Likewise, drop the prefixes and say Thirumozhi, and the work that comes to mind is Thirumangai Azhwar’s Peria Thirumozhi.

Desika, in his Tiruchinnamalai, a work about Varadaraja, says of the deity — ‘Thiru uraiyaai thaam porulaai nirpaar.’ While urai is usually taken to mean commentary, here it just means ‘utterance’ or ‘spoken word.’ But the word ‘mozhi’ also takes the same meaning. So, if we substitute ‘mozhi’ for ‘urai’ in Desika’s statement, we get Thirumozhi, in place of thiru urai, and the sentence then becomes ‘Thirumozhiyai thaam porulaai nirpaar.’ As we have already seen, Thirumozhi used without a prefix is taken to mean Thirumangai Azhwar’s Peria Thirumozhi. So, according to Desika, the entire Peria Thirumozhi of Thirumangai Azhwar is about Varadaraja, argues D. Ramaswamy Iyengar.

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