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Great preceptors

CHENNAI: Vaishnava Sampradaya venerates the sacred lineage of preceptors (Acharya Paramparai) beginning with Lord Narayana as the first preceptor followed by Goddess Lakshmi and Vishwaksena. Nammazhwar and Nathamuni are the Acharyas next in line. This is because, among the Azhwars, Nammazhwar occupies a unique status because it was due to his grace that the Divya Prabandham (lost to posterity) was revealed to Nathamuni who complied them in the available form.

In this instance, the Acharya Sishya Bhava was established through yogic greatness alone for there was no chronological proximity between them, while among the line of Azhwars, Madhurakavi Azhwar was Nammazhwar's immediate disciple, said Sri Natteri Rajagopalachariar in a discourse.

It is believed that Nathamuni, a great scholar of the 10th century, happened to hear the recital of 10 verses of Nammazhwar's Tiruvaimozhi pertaining to the deity Aravamudhan in Kumbakonam. He was enthralled by the beauty and philosophic import of the verses and was keen to learn the 1000 verses composed by Nammazhwar as was indicated in them. Nathamuni was advised to go to Azhwar Tirunagari and from there advised to go to Tirukolur.

A descendant of Madhurakavi Azhwar suggested that if Madhurakavi Azhwar's Kanninun Siruthambu songs were recited 12,000 times in front of Nammazhwar's shrine in Kurugur, it could help in bringing about a yogic vision of Nammazhwar. Being a yogi himself Nathamuni achieved this feat and retrieved the Divya Prabandhams. Mankind owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Nammazhwar, Nathamuni and Madhurakavi Azhwar for this service.

The Azhwars have explained the essence of the Vedas in simple Tamil and showed the way leading to God through Bhakti. Their hymns extol the awe inspiring omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence of the Supreme Being as revealed in creation and His many incarnations. Each of these Azhwars experienced the Lord's boundless compassion and infinite charm in many unique ways.

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