ACHARYA PARAMPARA (LINEAGE)
The renowned Poundarikapuram Swami Ashramam situated at Srirangam, a temple town in Tamil Nadu, follows the footsteps of Vedanta Darsanam, as propounded by Sri Ramanuja i.e. the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam. There is no iota of doubt that the coveted ashram minutely follows the tenets of ‘Swami Vedanta Desika’ and ‘Sri Gopalarya Mahadesika’, (Avataram – 1701 Vikrama year) popularly known as ‘Sri Thirukkudanthai Desikan), who lived roughly about 400 years ago.
It is pertinent to note that there were three revered Srivaishnavas namely, ‘Sri Ranganatha Swami of Vatirayiruppu near Azhagar Kovil(as the amsam of Alavandar), ‘Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Swami’ (as the amsam of Bhashyakara Sri Ramanuja) of Vazhuthur and ‘Cheyyanam Sri Srinivasa Swami’ (as the amsam of Nathamuni). The almighty appeared before the trio in their dreams and urged them to become ‘Sanyasis’ and perform ‘Kalakshepam at the feet of Tirukkudanthai Desikan. The three Yatis, similar to the Mudalazhwars, met at the ashramam of Thirukkudanthai Desikan, who was subsequently hailed as “the Muni Traya Sampradaya Pravartaka”.
1.SRIMAD VAZHUTHUR ANDAVAN: (Avatharam: 31/8/1743)
The main pillar of this new order was Sri Vedanta Ramanuja, also known affectionately as Vazhuthur Andavan. He was a veritable storehouse of our ancient wisdom embedded in the Vedic lore. During his tenure, the term “Andavan” (meaning one who came to rule the hearts of his followers) was coined and applied with utmost reverence. This trend continued for all the Acharyas who succeeded him. Thereafter, the parampara itself has been affectionately called as the “Andavan Parampara” for propagating the Munitraya Sampradaya. Poundarikapuram Andavan Asramam is the only Asramam with a distinguished “Avichchinna Guru Parampara” from Vazhuthur Andavan till date.
SRIMAD PERIYA ANDAVAN:
Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan, entered the holy order of ascetics in the year 1831, barely at the age of 30. Being a Jitendriya,, he did not even want to be acknowledged as a saint. He was a person who bent his ‘Tirumeni’ to the service of the supreme soul. He had a penchant for teaching by practice, rather than by words alone. He wielded enormous influence on his disciples, who hailed him as “Peria Andavan”. He observed 55 ‘Chaturmasya’ austerities during his life span of 85 years.
SRIMAD POUNDARIKAPURAM ANDAVAN:
He went on a pilgrimage to all Divya Desas, i.e. right from Kanyakumari to Tirumala and was awarded the Turiya Astama (Sanyasa) by Velianallur Andavan at Vennatrankaral in Thanjavur district. After some time, he proceeded to Srirangam and resided at ‘Periasramam’ for a brief period. Due to various issues, his disciples set up a separate Asramam for the Swami known as the ‘Poundarikapuram AndavanAsramam’ to help in his mission to propagate the satsampradayam.
The Asramam under Sri SrinivasaMahadesikan was a centre of religious activities and philosophical discussions. Srimad Andavan was an exemplar of ethical excellence, ritual purity and righteousness.
VENNATRANKARAI ANDAVAN SrinivasaMahaDesikan:
“A great Sama Veda Adhikari. He was proficient in YajurVeda and DivyaPrabandham, too. Qualified to perform Yaghyas, he was an authority on dharmasastras
PARAVAKOTTAI SRIMAD ANDAVAN Sri Gopala Desika Maha Desikan:
Born on 17/03/1921, Srimad Andavan was named Rajagopalan after the presiding deity of Mannargudi temple as he was born in the day of the Tiruther (Car) festival. After the Upanayana Samskara, he was bestowed with ‘Pancha Samskaram’ from Poundarikapuram Srimad Andavan. He studied Vedas and Sanskrit under several Vidwans at various Patasalaas, including Tirupati for six years, besides studying at ‘granthachathushtyam’ under the tutelage of Srimad Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra ParakalaSwami. “During his Grihastasrama days, he was appointed Srikaryam of the Asramam and his immense talent was amply evident when he was acclaimed as a great Upanyasaka in Ithihasas and Puranas. Subsequently, he received ‘Preksha Manthra Upadesam’ from Srimad Vennatrankarai Andavan.
Paravakottai Srimad Andavan undertook many spiritual activities, including construction of the 12th-tier of Srirangam Rajagopuram undertaken by the 44th Jeer of Ahobila Mutt, who was affectionately addressed as “Mukkur Azhagyasingar” by devotees. He also published the important Kalakshepa granthas, namely, Swami Desikan’s Rahasya Traya Saram and Chillarai Rahasyangal, apart from the entire 28 Desika Stotrams with Vyakhyanam (rendered by Vidwans knowledgeable in Sanskrit and Tamil, besides a brief commentary in English), as well as Vyakhyanam to all Desika Prabandhams.
Paravakottai Srimad Andavan’s flair for writing was amply evident, when he translated ‘Srimad Ramayana’ with aplomb in Tamil, called “RAMAPIRANAI KARPOM”, a magnum opus in six volumes, covering Valmiki and Kamba Ramayanam, which had ultimately became a reference book for the speakers, who rendered discourses on Srimad Ramayanam. He had also proved that a busy man creates time, when he conducted Veda Vidwat Sadas and AV Gopalachariar Vidwat Sadas at regular intervals every year, which during the course of time became the centre of attraction for eminent Vidwans.
Within a short-span of time, he constructed two branches of the Asramam at Bengaluru, as well as at Thiruneermalai in Chennai. He advised the Sishyas and kainkarya paras that successive Acharyans of our Asramam must proceed with ‘Vahana sancharam’ for Sishya Anugraham and Srivaishnava Sampradaya Abhivritthi.
Paravakottai Srimd Andavan lived as a genuine “Jagadacharyan” and true to the term “Gyana Valraghya Anushtana Bhushana”. He attained the Paramapadam on 12/11/2011.
ROYAPURAM SRIMAD ANDAVAN:
He studied Sanskrit & Sastras In Raja Patasala, Kumbakonam & Sriperumpudur Patasala.
Srimad Andavan has authored spiritual books like Tiruppavaium Godhastutiyum, Sudarshana Satakam, and, booklets about Kurukshetra, Tulasidas etc. When he was residing at Delhi, he had performed Parayanam of Srimad Ramayanam several times, besides delivering Ramayana and Thiruppavai Upanyasams.
Srimad Andavan also underwent Sri Rahastraya Saram, Sri Bhashyam, and Chillarai Rahasyam Kalakshepam and received Preksha manthra upadesam from Paravakkottai Srimad Andavan. He is the first Acharya in the parampara to undertake “Vahana Sancharam” by travelling to Mysuru, Bengaluru, Hosur and Tiruppullani.
PRAKRUTAM PARAVAKOTTAI CHINNANDAVAN: (Avatharam: 03.06.2018)
Born to Vidwan Paravakkottai Rajagopalachariar Swamy (Paravakkottai Srimad Andavan in purvasramam), he had his Pancha Samskaram from Vennatrankarai Srimad Andavan Sri Srinivasa Mahadesikan, Prapatti from Paravakottai SrimadAndavan and Prekshamanthropadesam from Royapuram Andavan. He also had his early initiation into Vedantas and Divyaprabhandham from his beloved father. As duly instructed by his revered Acharyan and father, he met various scholars like Vyakarana Siromani Kankoduthavanitham, Sri Tirumalachariar Swami, Purisai Nadadur Sri Krishnamacharya Swami(Sri Bhashyam), Villivalam Krishnamacharya Swamy (Srimad Rahasyatraya Saram) (45th pattam Azhagiyasinger in purvasramam), Perukkaranai Sri Chakravarthyacharya Swami (Chillarai Rahasyangal).
Prakrutam Paravakottai Chinna Andavan had finished his Kalakshepam in Sri Bhashyam, Vedanta Deepam, Vedanta Saram, Gadyatrayam, Adikarana Saravali, Sruta Prakasika, and so on, under Nyaya Vidwan Tirumala Chaturveda Shatakratu Sri Narasimha Thatacharya Swami and Vedartha Sangraham and Vedanta Deepam, among others from Kudavasal “Sravana Deepam” Sri Srinivasa Gopalacharya Swami.
After becoming the 10th Pontiff of Sri Poundarikapuram Ashramam, Paravakottai Chinna Andavan undertook vahanasancharams for Sishya Paripalanam to Chennai, Bengaluru, Mysuru, Madurai, Nellore, Hyderabad, Tirupati and Kanchipuram.
HH performed Mangalasasanams at temple towns like Srirangam, Kanchipuram, Thoopul, Nava Tirupathis and Ahobilam, among other Divya Desams. He also performed mangalasasanams of Sri Venugopalan and Peria Andavan in Brindavanam at Srirangam Srimad Andavan Asramam, besides to Lord Lakshmi Hayagreevan and HH Abhinava Vagisha Jeer at Sri Parakala Mutt in Mysore and Lord Malolan and HH 46th Azhagiasingar at Sri Ahobila Mutt.
