Sri Alavandar is one of the foremost Sri Vaishnava
Acharyas. He was the grandson of Sriman Nathamunigal and a sishya of Sri Manakkal Nambi.
He studied under the tutelage of Sri Maha Bashya Battar. At
that time, Sri Akki Azhwan who was thye court poet in the King's court challenged Sri
Sri Mahabashya Bhattar for a debate. Sri Alavandar
decided to head to the court in place of his Guru, who was
indisposed at that time.
Everyone in the court was surprised that a young boy
has challenged the mighty Aki Azhvan. However, the queen
was facinated and taken by Sri Alavandar's manifest brilliance
and courage. She made a wager with the king, that if Sri
Alavandar loses, the queen will serve the king, as a servant
and if not, the king should give half his kingdom to Sri
Alavandar. Sri Alavandar asked the court poet to prove
false the following three statements: (1) The court poet's
mother is infertile. (2) The king is an Emperor (rules the
whole world) (3) The queen is not chaste. The court
poet could not prove false any of the statements and
accepted defeat. Sri Alavandar proved all the
statements as false through the following Sastras.
(1)Since the court poet is the only child, according to
Sastras, his mother can technically be called
infertile. (2) An Emperor is one who rules the whole
world, but the king rules only the Chozha land and (3) In
Hindu Vedic marriage, the bride is married (through Mantras)
to different Devas like Soman, Agni etc., and the king is
married to the queen only as the fourth groom and so the
queen can technically be called unchaste. The queen
immediately called out "Emmai Alavandeero?" (you
are my savior) and
hence, his name became "Alavandar". Sri
Alavandar was given half the land and so, he became a King
himself.
Sri Manakkal Nambi (a) Rama Mishrar, carrying
out his Guru Sri UyyaKondar's orders, brought Sri Alavandar
into Sri Vaishnava Acharya lineage
He learnt yoga rahasyas from Sri
KurukaiKavalappan (Sri Nathamunigal's sishya).
He is the main reason behind bringing Sri
Ramanujar (Emperumanar) into Sri Vaishnava fold, even though
he did not teach Sri Ramanujar directly.
He noticed Sri Ramanujar, doing service to Sri
YadavaPrakasar and prayed Sri Varadaraja Perumal (Kanchipuram)
to make Sri Ramanujar come into Sri Vaishnava fold and spread
Sri Vishishtadvaitam philosophical doctrine.
On his deathbed, he instructed Peria Nambigal
to invite Sri Ramanujar to visit him. But, before Sri
Ramanujar came, Sri Alavandar had left for Paramapadam (died)
but had three fingers clenched together to direct Sri
Ramanjuar. When Sri Ramanujar came and promised that he
will do (1) Vishnu Purana Bhasyam (2) Spread Sri Nammalwar's
works through a Bhasyam and (3) A bhasyam for Sri Veda Vyasa's
Brahma Sutras, from Vishishtadvaitha principle's point of
view, Sri Alavandar's clenched fingers became straight.
His famous works include Sri Chatusloki, Sri
Stotra Ratnam etc.,
His famous sishyas include Periya Nambi, Thiru
Koshtiyur Nambi and Thiru Malai Andaan.
He authored texts including Agamapraamanyam, Purusha Nirnayam, Athmasiddi, Samvithsiddi, Iswarasiddi, Geetharttha Sangraham, Chatusloki, and Sthothra Rathnam.
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