Sri Manavaala Maamunigal’s Yatiraja Vimsati is a moving sthOthram, which came in to being as a result of the request of Manavaala Maamunigal’s Acharyan to Manavaala Maamunigal to compose a sthOthra grantham on AchArya RaamAnujA. At that time, Manavaala Maamunigal was a grahasthar and had the name of Azhagiya MaNavALa NaayanAr. He was the trustee and administrator for the special temple built by his AchAryan, ThiruvAimozhi piLLai. NayanAr’s devotion to RaamAnujA was so transparent that his AchAryan requested his sishyan to compose an eulogy in Sanskrit for RaamAnujA, whose nine Sri Sookthis are in Sanskrit. NaayanAr composed a deeply moving sthuthi on RaamAnujA’s glories and his own naicchiyams. NaayanAr begged for RaamAnujA’s grace in a heart rending manner. NaayanAr’s AchAryan was so moved by the reverence of his sishyan for RaamAnujA displayed in the Yatiraja Vimsati that he began to address his dear disciple from then on as YathIndhra PravaNar or one who is an authority on the glories of AchArya RaamAnujA.
Sri YathirAja Vimsathi of Sri MaNavALa MaamunigaL (Manavaala Maamunigal), a salutations to AchArya RaamAnujA has 20 verses. Those who heard the slOkams of Yatiraja Vimsati were profoundly moved by the depth of reverence of NaayanAr.
One of them composed a Taniyan in Tamizh for Yatiraja Vimsati
VallArgal VAzhttum kurukEsar tammai manatthu vaitthu
sollAra VAzhttum maNavAla nAyaNAr tonDar kuzhAm
yellAm tazhaikka yethirAsa vimshati yEnRu alitthon
pullAravinthat tiruthAl iraNDayum pORRu nenjE
MEANING
Remembering the greatness of NammAzhwAr, who is worshipped by all AasthikAs, MaNavALa NaayanAr paid his heartfelt tribute to RaamAnujA so that all of his own disciples could prosper. NaayanAr gave birth to YathirAja Vimsathi and presented it to us as his special gift. Oh My Mind! Please pay homage to the sacred feet of NaayanAr, which are like a pair of fully blossomed lotus flowers.
Another sishyar of Manavaala Maamunigal has described the sweetness of Yatiraja Vimsati putting to shame the taste of grape juice and excelling the delectable taste of honey; he has compared the slOkams of Yatiraja Vimsati as a veritable, cool cascade of nectar.
THANIYAN FOR YATIRAAJA VIMASTHI
यः स्तुतिम् यतिपतिप्रसादनीं
व्याजहार यतिराज विंशतीम्।
तम् प्रपन्न जन चतकाम्बुदं
नौमि सौम्यवर यॊगि पुङ्गवम् ॥
yaH stutim yatipatiprasAdanIm
vyAjahAra yatirAja vimSatIm|
tam prapanna jana catakAmbudaM
naumi saumyavara yOgi pungavam ||
MEANING:
AdiyEn salutes the Sowmya vara Muni (Manavaala Maamunigal), who composed the Yatiraja Vimsati to delight the heart of RaamAnujA. Manavaala Maamunigal is the nectar of moon’s rays (food) for the PrapannAs taking the form of saathakA birds (it is believed that the SaathakA birds exist on moon’s rays alone as their food and reject everything else).
This taniyan equates the PrapannAs to the SaathakA birds insofar as the PrapannAs live only by the grace of Sri RaamAnujA. It is implied that the PrapannAs do not need to go anywhere else for their succor and survival and that Sri RaamAnujA’s sacred feet are their upAyam and upEyam for salvation.
Soruce: Sri Oppiliappan Koil Sadagopan Swami
