Sri Manavala-mamuni was the son of Thikalakidanthan Thirunavirudayapiran Thatharannan, a disciple of Sri Pillai-lokacarya, and Sriranga Nacciyar. He was born in Kidaram (Tamilnadu) and was the first acarya to comment of the works of earlier acaryas.
His parents named him Azhakiya Manavalan (the handsome groom), after the Lord Himself. He learnt the Vedas, Vedangas and all other sastras from his father. He was an outstanding student, who knew the Dravida veda (Divya prabandhas), the Vedas and had a boundless knowledge of religion. He married at the proper time and lived as a true vaisnava. He moved to Alvar Tirunagari and became a disciple of Tiruvay-mozhip pillai.
It is said that Manavala mamuni’s devotion to Nammalvar, Ramanuja and to his own Acarya grew as he studied the Alvars’ hymns and doctrines (rahasyas) at Alvar Tirunagari. On observing his devotion to Ramanuja, Tiruvay-mozhip pillai ordered the construction of a Shrine for Ramanuja at Tirunagari and appointed Manavala mamuni to oversee the activities of the shrine. During this time Manavala mamuni composed his first work Yatiraja Vimsati, twenty Sanskrit stanzas in praise of Ramanuja. Tiruvay-mozhip pillai read the works and gave him the title Yatindra Pravanar.
After the death of his guru, Tiruvay-mozhip pillai, Manavala mamuni moved to Srirangam with his family and co-disciple Ramanuja Jiyar (later known as Vanamamalai Jiyar). He was very well received at Srirangam and started to institute some reforms at the temple, very much in line with what Ramanuja did. He started to research the manuscripts of earlier acaryas and had them restored and recopied.
He went on a pilgrimage to Kanchipuram Tirupati and Sriperumpudur. While in Kanchipuram he studied Sri Bashya with Kitambi Nayanar, a disciple of Brahamatantra Svatantra Jiyar. After his return to Srirangam he renounced his householder status and took up monkhood to concentrate on temple activities. He renovated the old monastery of Ramanuja and had an icon of Pillai Lokacharya installed in Srirangam temple.
Around 1430 AD, Lord Ranganatha had all festivals stopped for a year to hear Manavala mamuni’s discourse on Nammalvar’s Tiruvaymozhi according to all the five commentaries. At the end of discourse Lord Ranganatha appeared as a young boy and placed at his feet the written verse that became to be known as Manavala mamuni’s Taniyan
His parents named him Azhakiya Manavalan (the handsome groom), after the Lord Himself. He learnt the Vedas, Vedangas and all other sastras from his father. He was an outstanding student, who knew the Dravida veda (Divya prabandhas), the Vedas and had a boundless knowledge of religion. He married at the proper time and lived as a true vaisnava. He moved to Alvar Tirunagari and became a disciple of Tiruvay-mozhip pillai.
It is said that Manavala mamuni’s devotion to Nammalvar, Ramanuja and to his own Acarya grew as he studied the Alvars’ hymns and doctrines (rahasyas) at Alvar Tirunagari. On observing his devotion to Ramanuja, Tiruvay-mozhip pillai ordered the construction of a Shrine for Ramanuja at Tirunagari and appointed Manavala mamuni to oversee the activities of the shrine. During this time Manavala mamuni composed his first work Yatiraja Vimsati, twenty Sanskrit stanzas in praise of Ramanuja. Tiruvay-mozhip pillai read the works and gave him the title Yatindra Pravanar.
After the death of his guru, Tiruvay-mozhip pillai, Manavala mamuni moved to Srirangam with his family and co-disciple Ramanuja Jiyar (later known as Vanamamalai Jiyar). He was very well received at Srirangam and started to institute some reforms at the temple, very much in line with what Ramanuja did. He started to research the manuscripts of earlier acaryas and had them restored and recopied.
He went on a pilgrimage to Kanchipuram Tirupati and Sriperumpudur. While in Kanchipuram he studied Sri Bashya with Kitambi Nayanar, a disciple of Brahamatantra Svatantra Jiyar. After his return to Srirangam he renounced his householder status and took up monkhood to concentrate on temple activities. He renovated the old monastery of Ramanuja and had an icon of Pillai Lokacharya installed in Srirangam temple.
Around 1430 AD, Lord Ranganatha had all festivals stopped for a year to hear Manavala mamuni’s discourse on Nammalvar’s Tiruvaymozhi according to all the five commentaries. At the end of discourse Lord Ranganatha appeared as a young boy and placed at his feet the written verse that became to be known as Manavala mamuni’s Taniyan
sri sailesa daya paatram dhi-bhaktyaqdi gunarnavam |
yatindra-pravanam vande ramya-jamatram munim ||
I pay my obeisance to the sage Manavala mamuni who is an ocean of virtues such as intelligence and devotion and who received the mercy of his guru Sri Sailesa and is so attached to Ramanuja
By this proclamation the Lord Himself had accepted Manavala mamuni as His guru. After this incident, Manavala mamuni started writing commentaries on the works of earlier acaryas, composed independent works and compiled source documentation and cross-referencing on some important works.
He composed the commentary on Acarya Hrdayam with great difficulty as his health was failing. When he became very ill and unable to worship at the temple, he dedicated one Tamil stanza a day, expressing to Ramanuja his anguish at staying in this world and his eagerness to reach Vaikuntha. These collected verses became known as Arti Prabhantham, his last work.
Manavala mamuni had many disciples, however, the following eight were the chief disciples known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions):
* Vanamamalai Jiyar,
* Bhattar Piraan jiyar,
* Tiruvengada jiyar,
* Koil kanthaadai annan,
* Prathivaadhi Bhayankaram annaa,
* Erumbi appaa,
* Appillai
* Appillan.
They and their disciples made contributions to promote Srivaisnavism.
By this proclamation the Lord Himself had accepted Manavala mamuni as His guru. After this incident, Manavala mamuni started writing commentaries on the works of earlier acaryas, composed independent works and compiled source documentation and cross-referencing on some important works.
He composed the commentary on Acarya Hrdayam with great difficulty as his health was failing. When he became very ill and unable to worship at the temple, he dedicated one Tamil stanza a day, expressing to Ramanuja his anguish at staying in this world and his eagerness to reach Vaikuntha. These collected verses became known as Arti Prabhantham, his last work.
Manavala mamuni had many disciples, however, the following eight were the chief disciples known as Ashtadiggajas (elephants of the eight directions):
* Vanamamalai Jiyar,
* Bhattar Piraan jiyar,
* Tiruvengada jiyar,
* Koil kanthaadai annan,
* Prathivaadhi Bhayankaram annaa,
* Erumbi appaa,
* Appillai
* Appillan.
They and their disciples made contributions to promote Srivaisnavism.
Aalvaar Emberumaanaar Jeeyar Thiruvadikale Saranam.
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