Nathamuni
Encyclopedia
Nathamuni was a Tamil Vaishnava scholar who founded the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
According to Sri Vaishnava history, Acharya Shriman Nathamunigal was born at Veera Narayana Puram near Kattumannarkoil
. It is believed that his other names were Sadamarsana Kula Tilakar and Sottai Kulaththu Arasar.
He is notable for collecting and codifying the 4,000 hymns of the Alvars
known as the "Naalayira Divya Prabhandham" in the Tamil language
. In addition to teaching the hymns to his two nephews at Srirangam
, he introduced them into the Srirangam Temple Service at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam where he was the Temple Administrator.
He is thought to be the originator of the Araiyar Sevai
. The modern days 'Thathachariars' a sect of Tamilnadu Iyengars are the decendants of this Aacharya, housing a lot of great people in SriVaishnavism
ranging from Sri Alavandar ( Sri Yamunacharya
), Sri Thirumalai Nambikal, Sri Emberumanar, Sri Kurugesar, Sri Panchamatha bandhana Thatha Desikan, Sri Kotikannikadhana Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariar
. The disciples of this Aacharya known as 'Melayagaththalwan' and 'Keelayagaththalwan' families propagated this Aarayar Sampradhayam.
Yamunacharya
, the next Sri Vaishnava Acharya
, is his grandson.
Tamil
poet Kambar
recited the Ramavatharam before him for approval before it was included into the holy precincts.
According to Sri Vaishnava history, Acharya Shriman Nathamunigal was born at Veera Narayana Puram near Kattumannarkoil
Kattumannarkoil
Kattumannarkoil is a panchayat town and taluk headquarter in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Kattumannarkoil Town Panchayat constituted in the year of 1892. The Town is coming under the administrative territory of Cuddalore District. The Town extends over an area of...
. It is believed that his other names were Sadamarsana Kula Tilakar and Sottai Kulaththu Arasar.
He is notable for collecting and codifying the 4,000 hymns of the Alvars
Alvars
The alwar or azhwars were Tamil poet saints of south India who lived between the sixth and ninth centuries A.D. and espoused ‘emotional devotion’ or bhakti to Visnu-Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. Sri Vaishnava orthodoxy posits the number of alvars as ten, though there are...
known as the "Naalayira Divya Prabhandham" in the Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. In addition to teaching the hymns to his two nephews at Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
, he introduced them into the Srirangam Temple Service at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam where he was the Temple Administrator.
He is thought to be the originator of the Araiyar Sevai
Araiyar Sevai
Araiyar sevai is a Tamil performing art form, centered around the ritual singing and enactment of the religious hymns of the Divya Prabandham. Araiyar sevai is generally performed only inside Vaishnavite temples in the presence of the temple urcavar - the temple's processional deity - by...
. The modern days 'Thathachariars' a sect of Tamilnadu Iyengars are the decendants of this Aacharya, housing a lot of great people in SriVaishnavism
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
ranging from Sri Alavandar ( Sri Yamunacharya
Yamunacharya
Yamunacharya or Alavandar was a vishistadvaita philosopher in Srirangam. Ramanuja, one of the leaders of the srivaishnava school sought to be his disciple. He was born in early 10th century CE and was the grandson of a brahmin, Nathamuni. Nathamuni was a famed yogi who collected to the works of...
), Sri Thirumalai Nambikal, Sri Emberumanar, Sri Kurugesar, Sri Panchamatha bandhana Thatha Desikan, Sri Kotikannikadhana Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariar
Lakshmi Kumara Thathachariar
Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan was a prominent Vaishnava saint and Guru in the Hindu tradition in Vaishnavism, India. Sri Lakshmi Kumara Thatha Desikan was a devotee of Lord Narayana specially Lord Rama and the Vaishnava Guru Swamy Vedanta Desika. His birth name was Sri Abharyapthamrudhan...
. The disciples of this Aacharya known as 'Melayagaththalwan' and 'Keelayagaththalwan' families propagated this Aarayar Sampradhayam.
Yamunacharya
Yamunacharya
Yamunacharya or Alavandar was a vishistadvaita philosopher in Srirangam. Ramanuja, one of the leaders of the srivaishnava school sought to be his disciple. He was born in early 10th century CE and was the grandson of a brahmin, Nathamuni. Nathamuni was a famed yogi who collected to the works of...
, the next Sri Vaishnava Acharya
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
, is his grandson.
Tamil
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
poet Kambar
Kambar
Kambar was a medieval Tamil poet and the author of the Tamil Ramayanam known as Kambaramayanam, the Tamil version of Ramayana. Kambar also authored other literary works in Tamil such as Erezhupathu,Silaiezhupathu, Kangai Puranam and Sarasvati Anthati.-Life:Kambar belonged to the Ochchan or Occhan...
recited the Ramavatharam before him for approval before it was included into the holy precincts.