A Tamil poem of 74 verses (the last one added by his disciple Erumbiappa) that celebrates the Azhwars and Acharyas and their works. It also gives the heart of Pillai Lokacharya's Srivachana Bhushanam in short, easy verses.
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Meaning
Manavala Mamunigal opens by honouring his own acharya, Thiruvaymozhi Pillai. Whatever line of teaching came to him through that teacher's kindness, he has thought it through and now sets it out as plain instruction. He puts it in the venba metre so that those who come after him can learn it too.
Meaning
Those who are already learned will be glad to see this work, and those who long to learn will rejoice at having found it and will study it. If some people mock it out of jealousy, Mamunigal tells his own heart, what does it matter? It is no surprise that such people find fault.
Meaning
A blessing on the whole tradition: may the Alwars flourish, may their sacred Tamil hymns flourish, and may the faultless acharyas flourish. May the commentaries those acharyas gave for the good of all the worlds flourish too, together with the Vedas.
Meaning
This verse names the Alwars in the order in which they appeared: Poigai Alwar, Bhoothath Alwar, Pey Alwar, Thirumazhisai Alwar, Nammalwar, Kulasekhara Alwar, Periyalwar, Thondaradippodi Alwar, Thiruppan Alwar and Thirumangai Alwar. Each is called by a loving title, such as 'the dust at the feet of devotees' for Thondaradippodi Alwar.
Meaning
The Alwars came into this world to drive away its darkness, and they gave us fine works in beautiful Tamil. So that everyone may know them, Mamunigal says he will now tell the months and birth stars on which they appeared.
Meaning
In the month of Aippasi come three days without equal: Thiruvonam, Avittam and Sadayam. They are the birth stars of Poigai Alwar, Bhoothath Alwar and Pey Alwar, whose fame the whole world speaks of.
Meaning
These three Alwars came before all the other Alwars. They gave the land its first Tamil hymns and lifted it up, so the world came to call them the Mudhal Alwars, 'the first Alwars', and the name stayed.
Meaning
Mamunigal asks his simple heart whether it knows how great today is. If it asks why, he answers that this is the Karthigai star in the month of Karthigai, the day Thirumangai Alwar was born.
Meaning
Thirumangai Alwar came to give six works that stand beside Nammalwar's Tamil Veda, as the six limbs stand beside the Vedas. Mamunigal tells his heart to praise the feet of the devotees who joyfully celebrate Karthigai Karthigai as their own festival.
Meaning
Rohini in the month of Karthigai is the day Thiruppan Alwar was born. Devotees who have learnt his hymn Amalanadhipiran celebrate this day with great love.
Meaning
Kettai in the month of Margazhi is the birth day of Thondaradippodi Alwar, the great knower of the Vedas. Those learned in the Vedas celebrate it.
Meaning
Magam in the month of Thai is the day Thirumazhisai Alwar, a saint of pure wisdom, was born. Holy people honour this day.
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Punarpoosam in the month of Masi is the birth day of Kulasekhara Alwar, the king of Kolli Nagar. Good people celebrate it.
Meaning
Mamunigal proclaims the greatness of Visakam in the month of Vaikasi. On this day Nammalwar was born at beautiful Tirukkurugur (Alwar Tirunagari), the true one who gave the Veda to us in Tamil.
Meaning
Is there any day equal to Vaikasi Visakam? Is there anyone equal to Nammalwar (Sadagopan), any work equal to Thiruvaymozhi, any town in the world equal to Tirukkurugur? The verse answers by asking: none can be found.
Meaning
Mamunigal asks his heart whether it knows why today is great. It is Swathi in the month of Ani, the day Periyalwar was born, who sang Thiruppallandu, a song of blessing for the Lord.
Meaning
Those who cherish Swathi in Ani, the day Periyalwar appeared, have no equal in this world. So Mamunigal tells his heart to keep this day always in mind.
Meaning
The other Alwars wished the Lord well in measure with their own love. Periyalwar of Srivilliputhur did so out of an overflowing, protective concern for the Lord, and that is why he alone came to be called Periyalwar, 'the great Alwar'.
Meaning
Thiruppallandu stands at the head of all the Alwars' works, just as Om stands at the head of the Vedas. It holds the essence of all of them in brief and it is a song of blessing, so it rightly comes first.
Meaning
Is there any work equal to Thiruppallandu? Is there anyone equal to Periyalwar? Mamunigal asks his troubled heart to look across all the Alwars and all their works and see for itself.
Meaning
Next Mamunigal turns to Andal, Madhurakavi Alwar and Sri Ramanuja (Ethirasar). He will tell the world the months and stars on which they appeared, and why those days are special.
Meaning
Today is Thiruvadippooram, Pooram in the month of Adi. On this day Andal set aside the endless joy of Vaikuntha and came down here for our sake, as the daughter of Periyalwar.
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Is there any day as great as Thiruvadippooram, when Andal was born as Periyalwar's daughter? Only if someone equal to Andal could be found could another day equal this one.
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Andal stands as the one child of the Alwars' lineage, and her devotion goes beyond even theirs. She ripened in devotion while still young. Mamunigal asks his heart to praise her every day with love and joy.
Meaning
Chithirai in the month of Chithirai is the birth day of Madhurakavi Alwar. Among all the days on which the Alwars appeared, this one suits us best, because Madhurakavi Alwar's devotion was given wholly to his acharya, Nammalwar.
Meaning
Madhurakavi Alwar's short hymn, Kanninun Siruthambu, was placed by the acharyas in the middle of the Alwars' collected hymns. They did this knowing its purpose, placing it at the centre just as a middle word sits at the centre of the Thirumanthram.
Meaning
Thiruvathirai in the month of Chithirai is greater than any other day, and Mamunigal says why. It is the day Sri Ramanuja (Ethirasar) was born, and so the whole world celebrates it.
Meaning
Of all the days on which the Alwars appeared, the one that truly gives us life is Thiruvathirai in Chithirai. On that day Sri Ramanuja came into the world so that all the worlds might be uplifted.
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Because this is the day Sri Ramanuja, our father, came into the world for our sake, Mamunigal asks his heart never to forget the greatness of Thiruvathirai. He wants it held in mind always, not only once a year.
Meaning
Here begin the Alwars' birthplaces. The first three Alwars were born at Kanchi (Poigai Alwar), Mallai, today's Mamallapuram (Bhoothath Alwar), and Mylapore (Pey Alwar). Thirumangai Alwar was born at Thirukkuraiyalur by the river Manni, and Thiruppan Alwar at Uraiyur.
Meaning
Thondaradippodi Alwar was born at Thirumandangudi, and Kulasekhara Alwar at Thiruvanjikkalam. People everywhere honour both places.
Meaning
Thirumazhisai Alwar was born at Thirumazhisai, Nammalwar at Tirukkurugur, and Periyalwar at Srivilliputhur. These are the towns where they appeared.
Meaning
Andal was born at Srivilliputhur, Madhurakavi Alwar at Thirukkolur, and Sri Ramanuja at Sriperumbudur. With this verse the list of birthplaces is complete.
Meaning
Mamunigal now promises to tell the world four things: the greatness of the Alwars, the greatness of their hymns, the acharyas who nurtured those hymns, and the commentaries the acharyas wrote for everyone's good. The verses that follow carry out this promise.
Meaning
People who look down on the Alwars and their hymns bring ruin on themselves. So Mamunigal tells his heart to keep away from such people always.
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Who truly knows the greatness of the Alwars and their hymns? Only our acharyas, beginning with Nathamuni, who received that grace. Mamunigal asks his heart whether anyone else could.
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The earlier acharyas passed on the deepest teachings to one disciple at a time. Sri Ramanuja, out of compassion, told his followers to teach everyone who longed to learn, and so he removed that limit.
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Namperumal, the Lord of Srirangam, gave this tradition the name 'Emperumanar Darsanam', after Sri Ramanuja. He did this so the world would know that Sri Ramanuja nurtured and spread it.
Meaning
Mamunigal names the teachers who guarded Thiruvaymozhi through their commentaries: Pillan, Nanjeeyar, Periyavachan Pillai, Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai and Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar. He asks his heart to remember them.
Meaning
If Pillan and the acharyas after him had not written their commentaries, who in our time could explain the meaning of Thiruvaymozhi? Mamunigal asks his heart to answer.
Meaning
By the grace of Sri Ramanuja, Pillan wrote the first commentary on Nammalwar's Thiruvaymozhi, the 'six thousand' (Arayirappadi). It is a commentary full of joy, written with deep love for Nammalwar's words.
Meaning
Nanjeeyar, praised by the wise, wrote the 'nine thousand' (Onbathinayirappadi) commentary on Thiruvaymozhi by the grace of his teacher, Parasara Bhattar. He wrote it with great eagerness to bring out Nammalwar's meaning.
Meaning
At Nampillai's bidding and by his grace, Periyavachan Pillai wrote the 'twenty-four thousand' (Irupaththunalayirappadi) commentary on Thiruvaymozhi. Devotees enjoy it for the sweetness of its devotion.
Meaning
Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai wrote down Nampillai's lectures on Thiruvaymozhi so the whole land could know them. This is the Eedu, the 'thirty-six thousand'.
Meaning
So that people of later times could learn it, Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar wrote the 'twelve thousand' (Panneerayirappadi) commentary on Thiruvaymozhi out of his deep learning. It is praised as a commentary without flaw.
Meaning
Periyavachan Pillai wrote commentaries on the rest of the Alwars' hymns as well. Because of him, later acharyas could understand the meaning of those hymns, which would otherwise be very hard to grasp.
Meaning
Nanjeeyar wrote commentaries on only some of the hymns, not all. The younger brother of Pillai Lokacharya, and Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar, also wrote commentaries on a few works.
Meaning
When Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai had written the Eedu, Nampillai asked for it and received it. He then handed it to Eeyunni Madhava Perumal to keep and pass on.
Meaning
This verse traces how the Eedu was handed down: from Eeyunni Madhava Perumal to his son, then to Naloor Pillai, then to Naloor Pillai's son, who taught it to the acharyas after him. Through this chain it reached Thiruvaymozhi Pillai, Mamunigal's own teacher.
Meaning
The names Namperumal, Nammalwar, Nanjeeyar and Nampillai, each beginning with 'Nam' ('our'), were given out of love because of each one's greatness. Mamunigal asks his heart to praise them by these names today.
Meaning
Kandhadai Thozhappar, delighted by Nampillai, exclaimed, 'Is he the teacher of the whole world?' From then on the name Lokacharya stayed with Nampillai.
Meaning
Out of love for his teacher Nampillai, Vadakku Thiruveedhi Pillai gave the same name to his own son. That is how the name Pillai Lokacharya came about and spread everywhere.
Meaning
Among all the works of Pillai Lokacharya, Srivachana Bhushanam has no equal. Mamunigal says this is plain truth, not flattery.
Meaning
Pillai Lokacharya gathered the sayings of the earlier acharyas and set them together as a shining jewel for the learned. So he named the work Srivachana Bhushanam, 'the ornament of sayings'.
Meaning
Who knows all the deep meaning of Srivachana Bhushanam, and who lives by it? If even one such person exists, he is rare, Mamunigal says, for this is not something everyone can reach.
Meaning
To all who wish to be saved, Mamunigal gives this advice: learn Srivachana Bhushanam, the work Pillai Lokacharya gave, under your acharya, and live in the way it teaches. He says this out of care for everyone who wants to reach the Lord.
Meaning
Those who can hear Srivachana Bhushanam from their acharya, reflect on it and live by it: why would they fail to learn it? Mamunigal wonders at those who neglect it.
Meaning
Mamunigal says how to approach Srivachana Bhushanam: if there are explanations praised by those of the true tradition, learn it through them with an open, balanced mind. It is a work to be studied under one's acharya.
Meaning
Whether he thinks about Srivachana Bhushanam or speaks it aloud, it is sweet to Mamunigal every day. He asks others, with sorrow, what joy they could find that compares with it.
Meaning
Those who have no love for their own acharya's feet will not reach the Lord's eternal abode, even if they show love to the Lord Himself. The Lord, consort of Lakshmi, will not give it to them.
Meaning
If one goes to an acharya who has both true knowledge and good conduct, Mamunigal tells the world, the Lord, consort of Lakshmi, will Himself give that person Vaikuntha. Reaching such an acharya is itself the way to the Lord.
Meaning
If you wish to be saved, place your love on your acharya's feet. Mamunigal says truly that the Lord's supreme abode then becomes as sure as a gooseberry in your palm.
Meaning
If the great help your acharya has done for you shines clearly in your heart, you will not be able to bear living far away from him. Mamunigal says he cannot see how anyone could.
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One can serve one's acharya only while he lives in this world. Knowing this, Mamunigal asks his heart, who would stay away from him without longing to serve?
Meaning
The acharya cares for the disciple's soul, and the disciple cares for the acharya's bodily needs with loving service. Many have heard this fine teaching, yet Mamunigal says it is hard for anyone to live by it.
Meaning
Pinbazhagiya Perumal Jeeyar set aside even his longing for Vaikuntha and served Nampillai with deep love. Mamunigal asks his heart to reflect on that example always.
Meaning
Do not be misled by the talk of people who do not know how the acharyas lived. Mamunigal tells his heart to hold to the noble way of the earlier acharyas.
Meaning
There are three kinds of people: those who reject the scriptures, those who accept them and live by them, and those who accept them in name but do not follow them. Mamunigal tells his heart to leave the first and the last and to follow the true believers in the middle every day.
Meaning
Something kept close to a fragrant thing becomes fragrant itself. In the same way, those who stay in the company of good people take on their good qualities.
Meaning
Something kept close to a foul-smelling thing takes on its smell. In the same way, those who keep company with people of bad character take on their bad ways.
Meaning
Some people do not carefully learn the teaching the elders gave. They speak what occurs to their own minds and call it pure teaching handed down. Mamunigal calls them foolish.
Meaning
Learn from the words of those who faithfully pass on the knowledge and conduct of the earlier acharyas, and become clear in mind. Then, Mamunigal says, live joyfully even in this dark world by holding fast to a wise acharya.
Meaning
Those who think about this Upadesa Ratnamalai every day become the object of Sri Ramanuja's grace for ever, and they live well, says Mamunigal. With this blessing he closes his own verses.
Meaning
This closing verse is traditionally said to be by Erumbiappa, a disciple of Manavala Mamunigal. He tells all souls that if they place Mamunigal's lotus feet on their heads in loving thought, Amanavan, the being who receives souls at the threshold of Vaikuntha, will take them by the hand as his duty.
The text is checked verse by verse against koyil.org, acharya.org, Tamil Wikisource. The meanings are simple ones to help the reader; learn the recitation from an adhyapaka.
These are short introductions to help the reader; the works themselves are best studied under one's acharya.
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