Sri Alavandar

Sri Alavandar
His Many works:
  1. Agamapramanya
  2. Mahapurusha Nirnaya
  3. Siddhitraya
  4. Gitarthasamgraha
  5. Chatussloki
  6. Stotra-Ratna
Yamunacharya, also popularly known as Alavandar, was the son of Isvara Bhatta and grandson of the great acharya Nathamuni. He was born in 916 A.D at Viranarayanapuram (present day Kattu Mannargudi) in Tamil Nadu. He mastered several branches of learning in a very short tme, under the guidence of Maha Bhashya Bhatta. It is said that he defeated a conceited court poet by the name Akkialvan. In recognition of this victory, he was given the title Alavandar and was granted a gift of a territory by the king.

It was due to the tireless efforts of Sri Rama Mishra (also known as Manakkal nambi), the desciple of Pundarikaksha (also known as Uyyakkondar), that brought back Yamuna to the spiritual life. Sri Rama mishra initiated Yamuna into the ultimate truths and passed to him the spiritual treasures bequeathed to him by Sri Nathamuni. After the initiation, Yamuna became the leader of Visistadvaita Vedantins and settled at the holy place of Srirangam.

Alavandar's greatness was well known to other Sri Vaishnavas such as Thiruk kottiyur nambi, Thirukkacchi nambikal, Thirumaalai Andaan, Periya Thirumalai Nambikal. Alavandar, after receiving the blessing of Sri Ranganathar, paid a visit to Kanchi. When he entered Sri AruLaaLap perumaaL shrine, Thirukkacchi NambikaL, brought Sri Ramanuja to his attention, saying "He is the one who naturally understands that The Lord Vishnu, who has the eyes that resemble a lotus, is the true meaning of Vedanta". Alavandar was very much impressed with Ramanuja. Periya Nambi, one of his foremost disciples, was with Alavandar all this while.

After returning to Sri Rangam, Alavandar was restless to meet Ramanuja. As his health started to fail, Alavandar requested Periya Nambi to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam. Sir Periya Nambi reached Kanchi and extended Alavandar's invitation to Ramanuja. However, before he could reach Srirangam, Alavandar reached the devine feet of Sri Ranganathar at Vaikundam. Ramanuja returned to Kanchi after promising to satisfy the three requests from Alavandar:

  1. The name of Parasara, should be commemorated on the earth by giving it to a person worthy to bear it.
  2. Compose a commentary on Tiruvaymozhi of St. Nammaazhvaar
  3. Compose a commentary on Upanishads, Vedanta Sutras and Bhagavad Gita
Sri Alavandar composed eight works:

Agamapramanya. This is entirely devoted to vindicating the authoritativeness of Pancharatra Agamas.

Mahapurusha Nirnaya. In this work, Sri Alavandar shows that the ultimate reality is the Supreme Purusha, Sriman Narayana.

Atma Siddhi, Iswara Sidhhi and Samvit Siddhi. Collectively, these three works are known as Siddhitrayam. The three siddhis establish the visistadvaitic conception of soul, God and knowledge.

Gitarthasamgraha. This is a marvellous work on Bhagavad gita, which latter formed the basis of Sri Ramanuja's Gita Bhashya. Chatussloki. This is a poem in praise of Goddess Lakshmi. Stotra-Ratna. This is a poem in praise of Lord Narayana. This poem is also known as The Jewel of a Hymn.