First Azhagiyasingar of Sri Ahobila Matam Srimad Adhivan Satakopa Yatindra Maha Desikan

Anbezhil

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॥ श्रीः ॥

Ahobila Matam is one of the ancient and revered institutions of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam. Established more than six centuries ago, its history is inseparably associated with Ahobilam, the sacred abode of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, and with its first Jeeyar, Srimad Adhivan Satakopa Yatindra Maha Desikan.

His principal Thaniyan beautifully pays homage to this great Acharya:

Sanskrit

केशवार्थ कृपापात्रं श्रीरङ्गेश कृताश्रमम् ।लक्ष्मीनृसिंह योगीन्द्रं शठकोपमुनिं भजे ॥

Transliteration

Keśavārtha kṛpāpātraṃ Śrīraṅgeśa kṛtāśramam ।Lakṣmīnṛsiṃha Yogīndraṃ Śaṭhakopamuniṃ bhaje ॥

Meaning

केशवार्थ कृपापात्रं: He who was the recipient of the great affection and grace of Sri Kesavacharya, revered as Ghatikasatam Ammal.

श्रीरङ्गेश कृताश्रमम्: He who entered Sanyasashrama in accordance with the divine command of Sri Ranganatha. According to tradition, at Ahobilam, Lord Narasimha Himself initiated him into Sanyasa.

लक्ष्मीनृसिंह योगीन्द्रं शठकोपमुनिं भजे: I worship Sri Satakopa Muni, who received the grace of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha and who was foremost among Yatis.

Birth and Early Life

Born at Thirunarayanapuram in 1379, in the Tamil month of Purattasi under the star Kettai, he was the son of Kidambi Sri Kesavacharyar and was given the name Srinivasan.

At the appropriate age, Sri Kesavacharyar performed Pancha Samskaram for his son and taught him the Vedas, the Divya Prabandhams of the Azhwars and the Sastras. Just as the promise of a good crop can be seen in the young shoot itself, the father recognised the extraordinary jnana of his son and rejoiced in it.

Sri Kesavacharyar later sent Srinivasan to Kanchipuram to study under Ghatikasatam Ammal, the great great grandson of Nadadur Ammal. Srinivasan prayed to this great Acharya to accept him as his disciple.

Recognising his exceptional qualities, Ghatikasatam Ammal accepted him as his sishya and instructed him in Sri Bhashyam, Gita Bhashyam, Bhagavad Vishayam, Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram and other works of the Sampradayam. In due course, Srinivasan became an outstanding exponent of Ubhaya Vedanta.

The Divine Call from Ahobilam

One day, Srinivasan had a remarkable dream. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha of Ahobilam appeared before him and commanded:

“Come to Ahobilam and worship Me.”

After receiving the blessings of his Acharya, Srinivasan set out on foot for Ahobilam. In 1398, when he was about twenty years old, he reached the sacred hills and climbed them to have darshan of the Nava Narasimhas.

There, according to the revered tradition of Ahobila Matam, he encountered an aged Yati who told him that he had been waiting for him. The Yati gave him kashaya vastram and the tridandam and initiated him into Sanyasashrama, bestowing upon him the name Satakopa Jeeyar.

The Yati was none other than Lord Narasimha Himself.

Thus began the extraordinary life of the first Jeeyar of Ahobila Matam.

Sri Malolan Chooses His Jeeyar

What happened next is one of the most beautiful episodes in the history of Ahobila Matam.

As Satakopa Jeeyar worshipped the Nava Narasimha Murthis of Ahobilam, Sri Malola Narasimha leapt into the sacred hands of the Jeeyar and chose to remain with him.

From then onwards, Sri Malolan became the Nitya Thiruvaradhana Perumal of Ahobila Matam.

This is what makes the tradition of Ahobila Matam so unique. Instead of waiting in one temple for His devotees to come to Him, Sri Malolan Himself travels with the Azhagiyasingar, going from place to place and blessing devotees. That divine journey which began more than six centuries ago continues even today. Wherever the Azhagiyasingar travels, Sri Malolan travels with him.

{This incident can be seen now in the form of images, carved on a pillar in the Ranga mandapa of the Lower Ahobilam temple (vide History of the Cult of Narasimha in Andhra Pradesh by Dr. Madabhoosi Narasimhacharya).}

Now a look at the 'Malola' Moorthi will reveal that He wears a Paduka indicating that He is ready to proceed on tour and thus both the Jeeyar and his God fully equipped commenced their historic travel giving spiritual and material succour to all who prayed in the course of their travel.

Azhwar Thirunagari and Nammalwar

On another occasion, Azhwar appeared in Satakopa Jeeyar’s dream and commanded him to come to Azhwar Thirunagari, on the banks of the Tamiraparani, and have his darshan.

Jeeyar placed Sri Malolan in a palanquin and set out with Him for Azhwar Thirunagari.

On reaching the Divya Desam, however, he was distressed that he could not have darshan of Nammalwar. The idol of Nammalwar was not to be found anywhere.

Setting up his camp there, Satakopa Jeeyar went about his routine of preaching the doctrine of surrender (prapatti) and gradually his fame spread as a mystic saint of great powers and efficacy. Distressed at the loss of Nammalwar and his shrine, he constantly recited Madurakavi's Kanninun Siruthambu, when Nammalwar appeared before him in a vision, told him that his idol lay in the bed of a river adjacent to a ravine and that the Jeeyar should recover and restore it. It so happened that the Pandya King of that place was on a hunting trip around those parts and the Jeeyar's divine personality instantly attracted him. He fell at the Jeeyar's feet and solicited to become a convert to Vaishnavism. Accompanied by this king, the Jeeyar went to the spot of the difficult terrain and prayed to Nammalwar and lo! the image slowly emerged from the riverbed and settled on the outstretched arms of the Jeeyar just as 'Malola' Moorthi had done so

earlier!!

With royal assistance, Jeeyar recovered the sacred murthi and restored Azhwar to his rightful sannidhi. The association between the First Jeeyar and Nammalwar became an enduring part of the tradition of Ahobila Matam. The Hamsa Mudra ring associated with Nammalwar has also been preserved in the Matam tradition and is ceremonially associated with the Azhagiyasingars.

The First Jeeyar came to be celebrated by the illustrious name:

Srimad Adhivan Satakopa Yatindra Maha Desikan.

Even today, the name Satakopa remains inseparably associated with the Jeeyars of Ahobila Matam.

The Pandya king whoever he was had built Mandapams etc., at the temple and made other arrangements for worship at the instance of the first Jeeyar. The mandapam and other structures stand even Today on the banks of the river Tamraparani as also a shrine for Vedanta Desika constructed by this saint. The king so adored this Jeeyar that he made a true image of this Adivan Satakopa Jeeyar and had it duly installed in the Nammalwar shrine 'in Alwarthirunagari.

Pleased with the loving service of this Jeeyar, Nammalwar gave him the name Adi (first), Van (powerful) Satakopa (Nammalwar's own name) by which the Jeeyar came to be called. Henceforth the successive Jeeyars have always the prefix "Van Satakopa". Vedanta Desika for his part gave this Jeeyar the suffix Mahadesikan as also the various titles (i) Srimat Vedamarga Pratishtapanacharya, (ii) Paramahamsa Parivraajaka, (iii) Ubhaya Vedantacharya, (iv) Sarvatantra Swatantra and (v) Bhagavat Ramanuja Siddhanta Nirdharana Sarvabhouma.

It will be significant to note that even today, whenever and wherever the Jeeyars go, the air resounds with the cries of these names chanted loudly by the followers of the matam. Suffice it to say that Yateendra (best of saints) applied very appropriately not only to this Jeeyar but to every successive Jeeyars. This term is not applied to any other holy order of which there are many.

The Golden Palanquin

During Sri Adhivan Satakopa Jeeyar’s pilgrimage to North India, a king named Mukunda Devaraya, who had lost his kingdom, approached Jeeyar and prayed to be accepted as his disciple. Jeeyar accepted him. In due course, the king regained his kingdom. Filled with gratitude towards his Acharya, he presented Jeeyar with a golden palanquin. He seated his Acharya in the palanquin and, carrying one side himself, took Jeeyar in procession through the streets. The golden palanquin continues to occupy an honoured place in the tradition of Ahobila Matam. During the Pattabhishekam of an Azhagiyasingar, the Jeeyar is traditionally taken in procession in the palanquin.

Sancharam to Various Places

Taking leave of the Orissa King, the Jeeyar, Sree Adivan Satakopa Yateendra Mahadesikan then proceeded towards Vijayanagar Kingdom whose Rajah received him with full honours and gave him grants and presents. It was at this time that one Manappakkam Thozhappar became the Jeeyar's disciple getting Panchasamskara as also expert knowledge in Sreebhashyam, Bhagawad

Vishayam and Rahasyatrayasaram at the Jeeyar's feet.

Marveling at the wisdom and learning of this Thozhappar, the Jeeyar asked him to write authoritative text on various Sastras which Thozhappar did under eight different heads earning the deserving title 'Vaidika Sarvabhouma'. As the head of the 74 Simhasanadhipathis, this Jeeyar Adivan Satakopa then trekked his way to Thirukudantai (Kumbakonam) to worship Lord Aravamudhan and then proceeded further south to Nammalwar's place where he constructed a Matam with all conveniences for the benefit of Srivaishnavas. From here the Jeeyar went to Thirunarayanapuram (Melkote) where after worshipping Ramanuja, Selva Pillai and Yadugiri Nachiyar, he set up a camp on the banks of the Kalyani Pushkarani where he taught Sreebashyam and Rahasyatrayasaram to many Srivaishnavas..

The Serpent that Listened to Sri Bhashyam

Oneday, people beheld the wonder of a five-headed serpent spreading its hood and listening to the exposition of the Jeeyar's lucid interpretation of Ramanuja's philosophy. The class was not perturbed and at the end of the session, the serpent glided slowly and disappeared. That Ramanuja was the incarnation of Adisesha impressed heavily on the audience who with one voice agreed that Ramanuja Himself gave darsan now in the guise of a serpent and gave his

approval of Jeeyar's interpretations! He then recited a sloka from Yatiraja Saptati. The serpent immediately disappeared. That night, Emperumanar appeared in Jeeyar’s dream and commanded him: “Establish a sannidhi for our Vedanta Desikan at Thirunarayanapuram.” Jeeyar obeyed the divine command and established the sannidhi.

His Kainkaryams

The King of those parts sought the Jeeyar's benediction to get rid of his ailment and lo! his cure came as soon as he renovated the Rajagopuram of the Thirunarayanapuram Ternple at the instance of the Jeeyar, who also installed the Vigraha of Vedanta Desika there. In fulfillment of the desire in a vision of Lord Venkatesvara, the Jeeyar then went to Thirupathi and camping there for sometime, he built a Matam both at Thirumala and Thirupathi, where idols of

Lakshminarasimha were consecrated by him. He also provided steps to climb the Thirumala Hills and constructed several Mandapams on the way so that the pilgrims could rest while negotiating the steep climb. The jiyar then reached Kancheepuram where he built a 1,000 pillared Mandapam in the Varadaraaja swami Temple and even now, one can witness a Lakshminarasimha image in one pillar opposite to which is the figure of the Jeeyar in another pillar. It is said that this mandapam was, constructed from out of the wealth surrendered to the Jeeyar by a scholar by name Udayabhanu Misra who lost to the former in vedantic debate. It seems this debate lasted nearly a fortnight when Vedanta Desika appeared to the Jeeyar in a vision and told him to deal the matter by referring to his (Desika's) treatise Sathadooshani, with the result Udhayabhanu accepted defeat and became a disciple of the Jeeyar, who also built a frontal Mandapam

and temple for Deepa Prakasa at Thooppul and also a mandapam and Sannidhi for

Vedanta Desika whose idol was also duly installed there.

After all this, the Jeeyar took the road towards Sholingar visiting Thirupathi on the way again and

then proceeded to Sriperumbudur, the birthplace of Ramanuja. From there he found his way straight to Srirangam where he was received with full honours given to the prince among ascetics. Never was the reception so spontaneous as was given here. Staying in this holy city, he renovated the saptaprakara walls as was done by Thirumangai Azhwar earlier and Jataavarman Sundarapandya a little later.

At the northern entrance of the temple, he constructed his Matam wherein the idol of Lakshminarasimha as also his own image were installed. Then on divine command, he built a frontal mandapam at Dasavathra Mandapam (built by Thirumangai Azhwar). Again as per Ranganatha's wishes, he built a Sannidhi for Vedanta Desika in front of the Srirangam Nachiyar Sannidhi and made arrangements for the daily worship there.

The northern Gopuram was built at his instance where his image can be seen even today. He also constructed a Matam at the eastern gate of the Uttara Street duly consecrating an icon of

Lakshminarasimha. Having thus given fixity and method to the activities, the Jeeyar was called upon to go to Melkote for the worship of Thirunarayanan.

It is significant after that sixty years of divine service in his Sanyasa asrama', and at an advanced age, the Jeeyar should come back to his place of birth where he shed his mortal frame so as to be in the constant company of Sreeman Narayana in Sreevaikunta. This happened in April 1458 C.E. and his Brindavan in Melkote is a beacon light to his followers even to this, day. He

was succeeded by the eminent Nambakkam Swami Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana

Yateendra Mahadesikan

A Divine Tradition that Continues

But the journey that began when a young Srinivasan obeyed the call of Lord Narasimha did not end with him. Sri Malolan, who chose to leap into his hands at Ahobilam, continues as the Nitya Thiruvaradhana Perumal of the Matam and continues to travel with the Azhagiyasingars. Generation after generation, the Jeeyars of Ahobila Matam have carried forward Emperumanar Darsanam, preserving the teachings of Bhagavad Ramanuja and Swami Vedanta Desikan and taking them to devotees across the country and beyond.

There is something extraordinarily beautiful about this tradition.

At most sacred kshetrams, devotees undertake a pilgrimage to have darshan of Perumal.

In the tradition of Ahobila Matam, Perumal Himself travels to bless His devotees. Sri Malolan began this divine journey with the First Azhagiyasingar more than six centuries ago. Through an unbroken succession of Acharyas, that sacred journey continues even today, carrying the grace of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha and the teachings of our Poorvacharyas to generations of devotees.

May Sri Malolan and the sacred feet of the Acharya Paramparā continue to guide and bless us always.

ஸ்ரீமதே ஆதிவண் சடகோப யதீந்த்ர மஹாதேசிகாய நம:

श्रीमते आदिवण् शठकोप यतीन्द्र महादेशिकाय नमः ।

Srimate Adhivan Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikaya Namaha.

Sri Malola Nrisimha Parabrahmane Namaha.

Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam

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Sri Vaishnava Acharya Paramparai and the Azhagiyasingars of Sri Ahobila Matam

The sacred Acharya Paramparai through which the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam has been handed down from Acharya to sishya begins with Sriman Narayana Himself. The lineage shown below leads to Srimad Adhivan Satakopa Yatindra Maha Desikan, the First Azhagiyasingar, and thereafter continues through the successive Azhagiyasingars of Sri Ahobila Matam to the present 46th Pattam Srimad Azhagiyasingar.

1. Sriman Narayana

2. Mahalakshmi

3. Visvaksenar

4. Swami Nammazhvar

5. Sriman Nathamunigal

6. Srimath Uyyakkondar

7. Srimath Manakkal Nambi

8. Srimath Alavandhar

9. Srimath Periya Nambi

10. Swami Bhashyakarar

11. Srimath Embar

12. Srimath Parasara Bhattar

13. Srimath Nanjeeyar

14. Srimath Nampillai

15. Srimat Vadakku Thiruveedi Pillai

16. Srimath Srirangachariyar

17. Srimath Kesavachariyar

18. Srimath Kamalavasar

19. Srimath Kesavachariyar

20. Srimath Athivan satakopan

21. 2m Pattam Sriman Narayana Yathindra Maha Desikan

22. 3m Pattam Sri Paranguasa Yathindra Maha Desikan

23. 4m Pattam Sri Srinivasa Yathindra Maha Desikan

24. 5m Pattam Sri SarvaThanthra Swanthra Satakopa Yathindra Maha Desikan

25. 6m Pattam Sri Shasta Parangusa Yathindra Maha Desikan

26. 7m Pattam Sri SatagopaYathindra Maha Desikan

27. 8m Pattam Sri Parangusa Yathindra Maha Desikan

28. 9m Pattam Sriman Narayana Yathindra Maha Desikan

29. 10m Pattam Sri Satakopa Yathindra Maha Desikan

30. 11th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Srinivasa Yathindra Mahadesikan

31. 12th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan

32. 13th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraraghava Yathindra Mahadesikan

33. 14th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan

34. 15th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Kalayana Sri Veeraraghava Yathindra Mahadesikan

35. 16th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Satakopa Yathindra Mahadesikan

36. 17th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraraghava Vedanta Yathindra Mahadesikan

37. 18th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan

38. 19th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Srinivasa Yathindra Mahadesikan

39. 20th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraraghava Yathindra Mahadesikan

40. 21th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Parangusa Yathindra Mahadesikan

41. 22th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan

42. 23th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraraghava Yathindra Mahadesikan

43. 24th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Parangusa Ramanuja Yathindra Mahadesikan

44. 25th Pattam Sri Srinivasa Yatindra Mahadesikan

45. 26th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yathindra Mahadesikan

46. 27th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraraghava Yathindra Mahadesikan

47. 28th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Satakopa Yathindra Mahadesikan

48. 29th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Parangusa Ramanuja Yathindra Mahadesikan

49. 30th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Srinivasa Vedanta Yathindra Mahadesikan

50. 31st Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sriman Narayana Vedanta Yatindra Mahadesikan

51. 32nd Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Veeraragahava Yatindra Mahadesikan

52. 33rd Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

53. 34th Pattam Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Ramanuja Yatindra Mahadesikan

54. 35th Pattam Sri Ranganatha Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

55. 36th Pattam Sri Srinivasa Yatindra Mahadesikan

56. 37th Pattam Sri Veeraraghava Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

57. 38th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Srinivasa Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

58. 39th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Parangusa Yatindra Mahadesikan

59. 40th Pattam Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

60. 41st Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

61. 42nd Pattam Sri Sriranga Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

62. 43rd Pattam Sri Veeraraghava Satakopa Yatindra Mahadesikan

63. 44th Pattam Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra Mahadesikan

64. 45th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yathindra Mahadesikan

65. 46th Pattam Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yathindra Mahadesikan