Sri Parakala Matham

Sacred and divine is the Sri Sampradayam as laid out of Bhagavan Ramanuja, sacred is the true religion and philosophy of our Srutis and Smritis, namely SriVaishnavism and sacred are the mystical, devotional and emotional outpourings of Azhwar Saints. Swamy Desikan with his 'divya drishTi' realized that a new line of acharyas is required to uphold the above and hence caused the advent of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Matham and established Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer as the first of the Acharyas of this Matham with Swamy Desikan himself recognized as the Founder Acharya of the Matham.

Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer in his poorvashramam was known as Veeravalli Perarulalaiyyan or Hasteeshar. He was born in 1286 ACE and hailed from Kaundinya gothram. He was born in the month of Purattasi and Shravana nakshatram just like Swamy Desikan and PerumaL Venkateshwara. He undertook tutelage at the feet of the greatest acharya of those times – Sriman Nigamantha Maha Desikan. Initially, he studied all shastras including Vedanta at the feet of his acharya Sri Vedanta Desika and took to the holy ascetic order with the title, Perarulaala jeer at a very early age. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar was blessed to have Swamy Desikan as his Samashrayanam, Kaalakshepam and Sanyasa Sveekaram acharya and shone similar to Swamy Desikan as an acharya of all three paramparais. It is said that when one has to take to the ascetic order, he has to get initiated into that order by another sanyaasin, or get initiated from perumal directly or get initiated at the brindavanam of an acharya who also should be an ascetic. But this initiation has many parts to it and initiation into certain portions of it could be obtained from a grihasta also, while the rest of it should be obtained from a sanyasi only. It is this way that Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar obtained initiation into some portions of the mantras from Swamy Desikan. He later moved with his acharya Desikan wherever he went. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar along with Nayanaacharya studied Vedanta along with their esoterics at the feet of Swamy Desikan. During the muslim devastation at Srirangam in 1327 ACE, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar moved to Satyagalam along with Swamy Desikan. After many years of study at Satyakalam, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar along with Swamy Desikan moved to Thirunarayanapuram. Even here Swamy Desikan conducted Vedanta kalakshepam to many of his disciples including Nayanacharya and Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar. He taught his students Araayirappadi (6000) along with his commentary to it titled Nigama Parimalam. It was during this time that Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar composed the psalm:

"raamaanuja dayaapaatram jyaana vairaagya bhuushaNam |
sriimad vEnkaTanaathaarya: vandE vEdaanta dEsikam ||"

and submitted it to Swamy Desikan. Swamy Desikan then accepted that this taniyan be sung at the start of Divyaprabandhams and other Srisooktis in Tamil. Sri Brahmatantrar had great respect for Swamy’s son, Sri Kumara Varadacharya and out of his own accord chose to study Sri Bhagavadvishayam only under Sri Kumara Varadacharya, just to get his 'thiruvadi sambandham', though Sri Kumara Varadacharya was much junior to him. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar composed the famous taniyan on Kumara Varadacharya that runs as:

"sriimallaxmaNa yOgiindra siddhaanta vijayadhwajam |
vishwaamitra kulOdbhUtam varadaaryamaham bhajE ||"

This was in the year 1338 ACE, Kali 4440 Bahudaanya Samvatsara Avani Shuddha Dvitiya that corresponds to August 18th.

Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer as Srikaaryam of Sri Varadaraaja Swamy Kovil, Kanchipuram

Swamy Desikan also appointed Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar as the Srikaryam of Sri Varadarajaswamy Koil at Kanchipuram. The stone inscriptions on the walls of the second prakaaram at Sri Varadaraja perumal koil, in the holy divya desham of Kanchipuram are very important. These inscriptions delineated in traditional Tamil script mixed with Sanskrit are very important in the history of Srivaishnavism, as it stands a witness to the Sri Vaishnava history of those days. The inscription says that a Sri Matham was established at Kanchipuram and as per the ordainment of the Lord of Hastigiri, Sri Varadaraja Perumal, a Sri Vaishnava dasar by name Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar who was Sri Vedanta Desika’s foremost shishyar, was established as the first yatishvara acharya of this matham with the authority of the Sri Matham established at Kanchipuram being handed over to him. The time of these inscriptions date to Shaka 1282 Vikaari Samvatsaram, Mesha Maasam Shuddha Prathama Tithi (Friday) in the constellation of Ashvati, which would be 1359 ACE March 29th. The inscriptions do not refer itself to the reign of any king, but refers being worded directly by the Lord of Hastigiri. This inscription also confirms that one Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar, who used to recite the Thiruvaimozhi of Nammazhwar in front of Veeravallaazhan throne on which presided Lord Varadaraja’s Utsava Murthy, was given the administration of the Sri Matham at Kanchipuram along with the rights to use the huge reserve of books at the temple in order to propagate Sri Ramanuja Sampradayam further. The inscription concludes saying that these writings are a direct order from Lord Varadaraja Perumal of Hastigiri Himself and that the temple accountant has engraved His thirumugam here on the stone walls.

"hastiishaam lOkavikhyaatam kaunDinya vidushaam varam |
raamaanujaarya siddhaanta sthaapanaachaaryam aashrayE ||"

Other inscriptions that support these and provide further information can be found in the temples of Southern Arcot, Thirunelveli district during the 14th and 15th centuries. During his days in Kanchipuram, Swamy Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer was invited to a debate on Vedanta by a scholar from Kashmir. The debate started with Sri Thirumalai Srinivasacharya as the judge. After many days of debate, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar finally won. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra had such profuse knowledge in Sri Bhasyham, that Swamy Desikan hailed him as "Paryaaya Bhashyakaara" (Bhashyakaara reincarnated again).

The Title: Brahmatantra Swatantra

After 1360, when the muslim invaders were driven away, Swamy Desikan returned to Srirangam along with his disciples. Once some scholars had come from Kashi to Srirangam to have disputation debates on Vedanta. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra upon the direction of Swamy Desikan, participated in the debate and overthrew all his opponents' arguments into thin air with his powerful intellect and divine anugraham of Swamy Desikan. Swamy Desikan greeted his dearest disciple who returned victorious after many days of debate. He then conferred on him the title "Brahmatantra Swatantra" (one whose is a master or an authority on Vedanta) and also hailed him as "Brahmatantra Adhyaapaka". At Srirangam, there was a new problem after the Maha Samprokshanam. Many people belonging to other philosophies protested against the conduction of Thiruadhyayanotsavam during Maargazhi and demanded that the divinity of Azhwars be established before doing so. Swamy Desikan successfully established the divinity of Azhwars and made arrangements for the re-establishment of Azhwars inside Periya koil and also conducted the Thiruadhyayanotsavam in great grandeur. It was during this time that Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar proclaimed the following:

"poorvam tat parakalanaatha yatiraaDaachaarya siddhaantitam |
srii rangEddhyayanOtsavam pratihatam bhUya: pratishThaapayan |
vEdaantadvaya bhaashyamapyakalu sambhaarya sadvigrahaaM -
SchaakalpaM nigamaantadEsikamaNir jiiyaadajayyaatmadhii: || "

"Victory to the great Nigamanta Desika who successfully re-established the adhyayanotsavam of Sriranganatha, which was established by Parakala guru (Thirumangai Azhwar), and renewed by Yatiraja, and which had stopped in between. Victory to Vedanta Desika who, successfully re-established the authority and authenticity of ubhaya vedantam and the great Azhwars, with his unmatched intellect."

Swamy Desikan then composed his Magnum Opus, Srimad Rahasyatrayasaram, and taught the same to his disciples with Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar being in the forefront. After having studied this great work at the feet of Desikan, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar was fully equipped to lead as a paramacharya of Ramanuja Sampradayam. It was Ranganathan's divine proclamation then that Swamy's taniyan "ramanujadayapatram ... ... vedantaDesikam" which shows his greatness should be sung at temples, homes and at the beginning of prabandha goshti. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra swamy composed a psalm on his Paramaachaarya Swamy Desikan that runs as:

"nama: padimadam bhUyaattasmai vEnkaTasUrayE |
yadvaagamrutasEkEna sanjeevitamidam jagat ||
bhagavantamivaananta kaLyaaNa guNa saagaram |
vEdaantadEsikanaumi vEnkaTesha gurUttamam || "

"I bow to the divine feet of that Vedanta Desika by whose divine words of wisdom, this dead world came back to life. I bow to the great Vedanta Desika who is rich with all auspicious divine attributes like Paramatma Sriman Narayana."

Swamy Brahmatantra Swatatra Jeer's exemplary devotion towards his acharya, Swamy Desikan also led him to compose a tamil paasuram in praise of his Acharya, when the aadaikaai sambhavanai was offered to him and to all the Azhwars as per the ordainment of Bhashyakarar:

"naaNilamuntaan vaazha, naanmaRRaigaL taam vaazha, maanagarin maaRRanmaRRai vaazha,
jn~yaaniyargaL senniyaNisEr tUppul vEdaanta dEsikanE !
innumoru nURRaaNDirum"

Having studied entirely at the feet of Swamy Desikan, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar was now a great genius. Swamy Desikan appointed Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar along with Swamy's son Sri Kumara Varadacharya as his successors and ordained them with the duties of propagating Sri Ramanuja sampradayam. His polemic style was so wonderful that Swamy Desikan gave him the title "Parakala"- -Destroyer of all other faiths and philosophies, when he won over advaitins at a nearby agraharam in Melkote in the year 1338, in a powerful debate lasting many days. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar would never speak a word unless and until his acharyas Swamy Desikan and Kumara Varadacharya had finished. But on that day he had to take the initiative as both of his achaaryas were unable to be present. He recalls this title in his work on Swamy Desikan titled "Acharyaavataaraghattarthah" wherein the first slokam runs as follows:

"brahmatantra swatantrENa parakaala yatiindunaa |
aaryaavataara ghaTTartha: sangrahENa prakaashyatE ||"

Swamy Desikan also gifted the vigraham of Sri Lakshimi Hayagrivar that he was worshipping to Sri Brahmatantra Swamy who made it the presiding deity of the Sri Matham. Swamy Desikan also gave Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar a pair of Shankham and Chakram used during Chakrankanam. Swamy Desikan gave all instructions regarding the establishment and administration of this aasthaanam till 1369. Swamy Desikan in the year 1369, while placing his feet on Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar and his head on Nayanacharya's lap, attained his acharya'sthiruvadi.

Life After Swamy Desikan

After Swamy Desikan attained paramapadam, the head quarters of the Matham remained at Kanchipuram for some time. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer took over the entire administration of the Sri Matham at Kanchipuram. Sri Kumara Varadanatha Nayanacharya, the distinguished son of Swamy Desikan provided a great deal of support to Brahmatantra Swatantrar in administering the day to day activities of the matham. Sri Brahmatanra Swatantra Swamy along with Nayanaacharya completely catalogued all works of Swamy Desikan, produced many copies of the same and safeguarded them with great care. At Vennaatrankarai they arranged for the recitation of taniyans of Naalaayira (4000) Divya Prabandhams, Desikan taniyan and Desika prabandham during times of anadhyayanam. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar Jeer also arranged for Nayanaachaarya's Pillai Anthaadi and Vaazhi Thirunaamam to be recited along with these. These can be seen followed till to this day. If not for their efforts, Swamy Desikan's works would not have come to us this day. He later took to a pilgrimage of holy shrines and reached Tirupati. During this period the Jeer at Tirupati attained paramapadam. By divine ordainment Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar was handed the responsibilities of the entire temple administration. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar then built a new building for the Sri Matham at Tirupati and shifted the Matham headquarters to Tirupati in 1379. Sri Lakshmi Hayagrivan presented by Swamy Desikan was then installed at the Sri Matham. It soon became a chief propagating center of Ramanuja Sampradayam. Shrines to Swamy Desikan was also built at Govindaraja Pattanam and at Thirumala, and Sri Brahmanatantra Swatantrar took over the overall temple administration efficiently and was appointed as the Srikaryam of Tirupati shrine in succession to Tirumalai Srinivasacharya Swamy. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar fulfilled the wishes of his master Swamy Desikan very well. He conducted Vedantic discourses, debates on philosophical issues, prabandham recitations and many more and in the process, attracted numerous disciples. Prominent names among these were Kidaambi Nayanaar, Ghatikaashatam Ammal, Komandur Achchaan, Pillai Appai, Perarulaalayyar Appai, Kandhaadai Andaan and Veeravalli Pillai.

In fact, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar is present in all the acharya paramparas or spiritual hierarchies as one of the acharyas:

Mantrartha Parampara

Bhagavan Ramanuja, Kidambi Achchaan, Kidambi Ramanujapillan, Kidambi Rangarajar, Kidambi Appullar, Swamy Vedanta Desikan and Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar.

Sribhaashya Parampara

Bhagavan Ramanuja, Thirukkurugaippiraan Pillan, Engalaazhwan, Nadadur Ammal, Kidambi Appullar, Swamy Vedanta Desikan and Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar.

Bhagavat Vishaya Parampara

Bhagavan Ramanja, Thirukkurukaippiraan Pillan, Engalaazhwan, Nadadur Ammal, Kidambi Appullar, Swamy Vedanta Desikan, Kumara Varadacharya and Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar

Taniyan of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer

Ghatikaashatam Ammal, grandson of Sri Nadadur Ammal, studied Vedanta at the feet of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar and composed his taniyan starting with the same words "Paryaaya Bhashyakaara", used by Sri Swamy Desikan to praise Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar:

"paryaaya bhaashyakaaraaya praNataarti vidhUnvatE |
brahmatantra swatantraaya dwitiiya brahmaNE nama: ||"

At Thirumala Thirupati, he made the matham a rallying center of all classes of people eager to adopt the means of prapatti. Sri Matham remained here for a long time. Sri Yaduraaya, who was appointed the dandanayaka, on his way back to Mysore went to Tirupati on a pilgrimage and received the blessings of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar. After pleading for and obtaining samaashrayanam and prapatti, he requested his acharya to be their Rajaguru. After seeing the king's dedication to Sri Sampradayam, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar accepted his request. In the mean time, Perarulaalayyar Appai, a great scholar in Advaita school of philosophy and who had many shishyas, once came with them to Kanchipuram for a Vedantic debate with Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar won over his opponent and showed him the true path of Moksha, the path of Bhagavan Ramanuja. Not only did Perarulaalayyar Appai became an ardent disciple of Swamy Brahmatantra Swatantrar and a scholar is Sri Sampradaayam, with the blessings of his acharya, he went on to become the successor of his acharya in the Sri Matham acharya parampara! Swamy Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeer crowned him as "Sri Dvitiya Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan" and made him his successor in order to show the path of Moksham for the coming generations.

Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar wrote several works, which include: 1) Acharyaavataaraghattarthah, 2) Acharya Mangalam, 3) Vijayendra Parajaya and 4) Divyasuristuti. The Andhra King, Sri Sarvaja Singappa Bhupaala, who ruled over Rajamundry, performed numerous kaimkaryams to Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar and Sri Kumara Varadacharya. He also sponsored many of their works and provided them all the support they needed. At the invitation of Kumara Kampanna, Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar even toured Karnataka desham and propagated Ramanuja sampradaayam. At Thirunarayanapuram, which was now a great center of SriVaishnavam faith on par with Arangam and Kanchipuram, he built a huge gateway or Rajagopuram (unfinished). The religious line of Vedanta Desikan has continued uninterruptedly in this Matham.

Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan attained the thiruvadi of his acharya in the year 1386, at the age of 100. The Mathaadhipatyam was then the responsibility of Sri Vatsya Vedanta Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Yatiindra Maha Desikan, also called as Sri Dwitiiya Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Yatiindra Maha Desikan. Yaduraya, after coming back to Mysore, subsequently became the ruler of Mysore in 1399 ACE and dedicated himself to the task of furthering the practice of Sri Vaishnavism, as he had already become one of the disciples of Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Swamy. This connection established between Yaduraaya and Sri Brahmatantra Swatantrar as the head of the Tirupati shrine is still perpetuated eternally. The great lamp adorned by the rulers of Mysore, is kept burning inside the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine at Thirumalai all through these centuries.