Nathamunigal: Icons of Bharatavarsha

Introduction

Not many of us will be familiar with the name Nathamunigal. However, without this great Acharya (preceptor), Vishistaadvaita in South India as we know it today would not have existed. Such are the great services rendered by Nathamunigal. He is considered the foremost preceptor of Vishistaadvaita from whom other great philosophers such as Sri Aalavandar, Sri Ramanuja, Sri Vedanta Desika and Sri Manavala Mamunigal have emerged. Apart from compiling the Naalaayira Divya Prabandham (4000 verses of Aazhwars), he also introduced tunes for them and wrote various treatises on Yoga and Nyaya Shastra.

Birth

Nathamunigal was born as Sri Ranganatha in the 9th Century CE at Veeranarayanapuram (currently known as Kaattumannaar Koil) to Ishvara Bhattar. He became well-versed in all scriptures soon and dedicated his early days to serve Lord Mannanar who is the presiding deity of Veeranarayanapuram. In due course, a son Isvaramuni was born to him.

Compilation of Divya Prabandhas

In those days, Hinduism was under the weather while other religions such as Buddhism, Mimamsa (ritualistic traditions), Jainism and Charvaaka philosophy were flourishing. Thanks to the contributions of Adi Sankara (8th Century) there was some revival of Hinduism and Advaitic Philosophy. However, the great works of the 12 Aazwars (saints of Vaishnavaite sect) were completely lost during this period.

It is during this time that Nathamunigal came across a group of saints who visited Veeranarayanapuram and sang 10 hymns in chaste Tamil. Mesmerised by the deep meaning and beauty of these lines, he realized that these 10 verses belonged to the work Thiruvaimozhi which was composed by Nammazhwaar and had over 1000 hymns in it. When he requested the saints to sing the rest of the hymns, they expressed their ignorance and advised him to go to Thirukkurugur, which is the birthplace of Nammazhwar.

Nathamunigal then set out to Thirukkurugur, where he met Paraankusadasa who was from the lineage of Madhurakavi Azhwar. Though not familiar with the 1000 hymns, Paraankusadasa taught him the work, Kanninun Siruthambu which was composed by Madhurakavi on his guru Nammazhwar. He also advised that if Nathamunigal can chant this work 12,000 under the same Tamarind Tree where Nammazhwaar took abode, he might get a solution.

A lesser mortal would have simply given up. However Nathamunigal took it upon him to chant the work 12,000 times with full devotion. As a result he was blessed to get a glimpse of Nammazhwar himself who taught him not just Thiruvaimozhi, but also his other three works and finally all the works of the remaining 11 Azhwars which amounted to a total of 4000 verses. Elated, Nathamunigal returned to his place and submitted the entire work in front of Lord Mannanar. The Lord was very pleased with him and requested him to propagate the work everywhere. Thus Naalayira Divya Prabandham was born.

Revival of Thiru Adhyayana Utsavam – 21 days of bliss

Having received the 4000 verses from Nammazhwar, Nathamuni then rearranged them into four collections of about a thousand verses each. He then set out to Srirangam where he learnt that the last Aazhwar Thirumangai had instituted a tradition at Srirangam. Accordingly, during Margazhi month’s Shuklapaksha Ekadashi , the idol of Nammazhwar was placed in front of the Lord and Tiruvaimozhi was sung for 10 days. Due to various reasons, the practice had come to a standstill. On hearing this Nathamunigal took it upon himself to revive this practice. This was later extended to 21 days by Sri Ramanuja who included all 4000 verses of Divya prabandham to be chanted. The practice continues till date.

Nathamunigal also established the order for chanting  the 4000 hymns (for example, chanting will always start with Periazhwar’s Thiruppallaandu) in temples and also in households.

It is interesting to note that the saints and acharyas of yesteryears placed Tamil and Sanskrit on equal footing.  The Prabandas are in fact called ‘Dravida Veda’, meaning Vedas from Tamil. Even today during temple processions, both Sanskrit Vedas and Tamil Prabandhas are chanted side by side. 

Araiyar Sevai – Music and Dance

Nathamunigal was also an expert in the arts of music and dance. Once when there was a dispute around a particular divine tune, Nathamuni played several cymbals (a percussion instrument) and determined the weight of each cymbal from the sound pitch they produced. Such was his musical prowess. During his time at Srirangam, he taught his nephews Melai Agathaazhwaan and Keezhai Agathaazhwaan, all the 4000 hymns along with musical tunes. He also developed mudras and dance movements to explain the intricate meanings of these verses. Thus begun the Araiyar Sevai tradition which continues to date.

In Araiyar sevai, the priest (Ariar) wears traditional clothes and a garland during the performance. Each verse is performed in three steps. In the first, the araiyar sings the verse. Second, he dances and performs a series of gestures indicating the literal meaning of the verse. In the third step, he showcases the inner meaning of the verse. Araiyars spend several years studying the Divya Prabandham and their  commentaries before being able to perform at the temple. 

Identification of Ramanuja as the future preceptor

Nathamunigal also had an idol given to him by Nammazhwar which foretold the birth of Sri Ramanuja who will lead the Srivaishnava sect (Bhavishyad Acharya). He shared it with his grandson who became another great preceptor, Aalavandhar. On seeing the striking resemblance between the idol and the young Sri Ramanuja, Aalavandhar seems to have exclaimed, ‘aam muthalvan ivan’ (‘Yes, he is the Leader!’).

His Works

Nathamunigal is credited with writing two books namely Nyaya Tatva and Yoga Rahasya. Unfortunately both the works got lost and made the Srivaishnava tradition poorer. However the one verse ‘Thanians’ that he composed have stood the test of time. The Tiruvaymozhi Thaniyan and also the two Thaniyans for Madurakaviazhwar’s Kanninum Siruthambhu are Nathamunigal’s compositions.

Conclusion

In summary, Nathamunigal can be termed as the foremost Guru of SriVaishnava tradition. He retrieved the great works of Azhwars for the well-being of everyone in this world, set them to music and dance and spread it relentlessly. He established that Divya Prabhandhams were the essence of Vedas, thereby providing them parity with Sanskrit Vedas. It is impossible to imagine the course of Srivaishnavam without the contributions of Sri Nathamunigal. It is for this reason that the Srivaishnava Guruparampara Thaniyan (Sloka on lineage of Gurus) makes a special mention of the great spiritual leader as follows:

lakshminaatha samaarambhaam naathayaamuna madhyamaam|
asmad aachaarya paryanthaam vande guru paramparaam ||

Meaning: “I hereby salute the great lineage of Gurus which starts from Lord Lakshminarayana himself in the beginning, the great Nathamuni and Yaamuna (Aalavandhar) in the middle with my immediate guru bringing up the end”

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