Srimathe Ramanujaya Nama:
Srimath Varavaramunaye Nama:
The ruler of Gangaikkonda-chozhapuram came to know of the immense prowess of Swami Nathamuni in celestial music and wanted to bestow many riches in his recognition of Swami’s genius. However, Swami was least interested in the wealth of the king. Such lures of wealth are of no interest to one who has recognized the lotus feet of Lord Mannanar and service unto them as the greatest of all riches.
Nathamuni had eight disciples – Uyyakkondar, Kurugaikkavalappar, Nambi Karunakaradasar, Eruththiruvudaiyar, Thirukkannamangaiyandan, Vanamamalai Deviyandan, Urupattur Achchan Pillai and Sokaththurazhwan.
Nathamuni blessed his disciples with profound knowledge of Divya Prabandham and Sanskrit Veda. It is believed that he authored a work called ‘Nyayathathvam’. This work is unavailable today. Only a verse of invocation from that work appears to be known which runs as “yo veththi yugapathsarvam prathyakshena sadhasvatha:, tham pranamya harim sasthram nyayathathvam prachakshamahe”. It can be recognized that this work was available until about the time of Swami Vedanthacharyar as it is evidenced from his work Nyaya Siddhanjanam.
Swami Nathamuni remained in yoga for long periods of time as even Alavandhar says, “Lokevadhirna paramarththa samakra bhakthi yogaya nathamunaye yaminamvaraya”. Swami Nathamuni instructed Kurugaikkavalappar to practise Yoga Rahasya and taught him Ashtanga Yogakramam. To his own son, Iswara Bhattarazhwan, Swami instructed that he would have a son who should be named as ‘Yamunaiththuraivar’. He also instructed Uyyakkondar to teach all concepts of tradition to this prodigy of his grandson Yamunaiththuraivar.
Having made all these instructions, Nathamunikal returned to yoga.
Once, while the Chozha king was returning with his troupe after hunting, the daughters told Nathamuni that two bowmen with a lady and a monkey came calling for Nathamuni. Swami understood them as Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman, and started out in search of them. He kept querying everyone on the way if they had seen them. They replied that they had. Thus proceeding, Nathamuni reached very far upto gates of Gangaikkonda chozhappuram. The people of that place however told Swami that they had not seen anybody like those he had come in search of. At that same time, the two bowmen appeared and disappeared in front of his eyes, as Swami gasped and fainted, and subsequently reached the abode of the Lord.
His disciples came to great sorrow of the knowledge of Swami’s departing our world. In time, they overcame their grief, offered obeisances the last form of Swami Nathamuni and completed the last rites. His disciple Kurugaikkavalappar settled in Yoga at a place close to where Swami used to remain in yoga.
Sriman-Nathamunikal Thiruvadikale Saranam
Azhwar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadikale Saranam..
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