Swami Vaduga Nambi is the synonym of Acharya  Bakthi. Madhurakavi Azhwar’s attitude towards Nammazhwar and Swami Vaduga Nambi’s attitude  towards Swami Ramanuja are the towering examples of exclusive surrender to Acharya’s lotus feet. Neither of them took refuge in Lord Srimannarayana, for the only refuge they know is their acharyas’ lotus feet. Many of Great Acharyas have followed their foot steps, eg., the great Ananthazhwar of Tirumala.Swami Vaduga Nambi was born in Saligramam which is nearly 80 KM west of Mysore, now called as Mirle-Saligramam, where paddy grows abundance near Mysore. (Sali means Paddy).  He was born in the star of Ashwini in the month of Chittirai to the blessed Salagrama Aiyan couple. His birth name was Andhra Purnar.

Famous Incidents

Swami Vaduga Nambi was taken on board by Sri Ramanuja as disciple at 1079 A.D and lived in Srirangam spending his life in the seva of Sri Ramanuja. Swami Vaduga Nambi is said to have lived for 95 years.  Swami’s entire life is an example for all Sri Vaishnavas, here are a few famous incidents that inspire us to learn what Acharya Bhakti is.

1. Pall Pongiya Prabhavam:

Once, in Srirangam, Swami Vaduga Nambi was heating the milk to be offered to Sri Ramanuja. Sri Ramanuja called him as, “Swami Vaduga, please come, Namperumal is passing through our place, let us have a glimpse of Him”. Swami Vaduga replied immediately as, “Swami, If I come out worship Umperumal (Your Lord-Renganatha), who will attend to the milk for Emperumal (My Lord –Sri Ramanuja)?”….

2. Mattru Onninai Kaana Prabhavam:

Sri Ramanuja usually visited Nampermal’s Sannathi(Procession Deity of Sri Ranganatha in Srirangam) along with his disciples. Once during such visits, when Sri Ramanuja was enjoying in the beauty of Namperumal Archai Thirumeni, Swami Vaduganambi was enjoying in the beauty of Sri Ramanuja’s Divine form. Sri Ramanuja told Swami Vaduganambi, “Vaduga! look at the Namperumal’s eyes – (Neenda ap peryavaya Kanngal…ummai Pethamai Seiyavillaiya..??”). There was a spontaneous reply from Swami Vaduganambi , saying that “The eyes which have seen my ‘amudhan’ will not see another!-(En amuthani kanda kangal Mattru Onninai Kaanave)”. For Swami Vaduga Nambi , Sri Ramanuja is the only one and all in one.

3. Andaan’s Thirumaligai Prabhavam:

SwamiVadauga Nambi was once visited by some of his relatives from Mysore. They seem to have not obtained the samasrayanam (ceremony of five refinements and surrender at Acharya’s lotus feet) from the acharyas. When they left the place, Swami Vaduga Nambi immediately threw away all the vessels and cleaned the Thirumaligai(divine residence). He then brought the left over old vessels from Mudaliandaan’s (another disciple of Swami Ramanuja) Thirumaligai which were kept as unused. He felt happy in doing that and proclaimed that it is better to use such unused old vessels from Sri Vaishanava as Andaan rather than using vessels used for his relatives who left the place.

4. Thirukurungudi (Vaishnava Nambi Prabhavam):

Once, Swami Ramanjua along with Swami Vaduga Nambi traveled to Kerala for the noble cause of spreading Vishistadvaitham. Due to the consipiracy planned by Namboodiris of Kerala using ‘Garuda Manthram’, both Swami Vaduga Nambi and Sri Ramanuja were separated on either side of the Mahendragiri Hill. (Ramanuja in the Thirukurungudi side and Swami Vaduga Nambi in Kerala Side) . When Sri Ramanuja woke up and called for Swami Vaduga Nambi, Thirukurungudi Perumal went in disguise as Swami Vaduga Nambi. As a usual practice, Sri Ramanuja after adorning the thirumankappu of himself, applied the remaining in his hands to the lord Himself in the form of Swami Vaduga Nambi , without knowing the prabhavam.

After making ready for the daily poojas, the lord disappeared. Later Sri Ramanuja saw the Thirumankappu he applied for Swami Vaduga Nambi in the forehead of the Lord and came to know all the Perumal vaibhavams. Hence named the Perumal as “Vaishnava Nambi” and taught Rahasyaarthams. This is the incident where Sri Ramanuja became the Acharya for the Lord himself. Hence Swami Ramanuja is seen in Jnana Mudhirai(instructing posture) at Thirukarungudi even now. The fact underlying is that even the lord took the form of Swami Vaduga Nambi to get an Acharya Sambantham(association).

5. Acharya Thiruvadi Sampantha Prabhavam:

During 1137 A.D, the concluding time of his Avathara vaibhavam, Sri Ramanuja rested his head on Embar’s lap and his feet on Swami Vaduga Nambi’s lap and amalgamated into Namperumal’s Thiruvadi… listening to Divya Prabandam and Upanishads. Swami Vaduga Nambi who said to have lived for 95 years, spent his last days in Saligramam worshipping Lord Narasimha and Ramanuja’s Thiruvadi and became immortal in the hearts of Sri Vaishnavas due to his Acharya Abhimanam..

Significance of Saligramam:

Sri Ramanuja, during his yatra to Mysore, had visited this Saligramam. During his visit, he ordered Mudaliyandan to dip the feet in the village tank. The Inhabitants of the Saligramam who bathed and drank the tank water became purified and followed as disciples of Swami Ramanuja. It is believed that a serpent is safeguarding the purity of the tank and hence no body is allowed to enter the tank till date except the temple priests of Saligramam.

Swami’sLiterary Works:

Swami composed “Sri Yathiraja Vaibhavam”. This is 114 verses of Sanskrit Sloga. It puts in picture of the entire life history of Sri Ramanuja.

Thanks for Antaryami .com for this nice compilation

Vaduka Nambi Thiruvadikale Saranam.

Aalvaar, Emberumaanaar, Jeeyar Thiruvadikale Saranam.

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