SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Sri Madhavanghri jalajadhvaya nitya seva
Premavilasaya Parankusa pada bhaktam /
Kamadidosha haram atma padastrithanam
Ramanujam Yatipatim pranamami moordna //
word-by-word meanings
Sri Madhava anghri jalajadhvaya – at the lotus like feet of Sriyahppati, who is like Sri Mahalakshmi, who attained fame with all things,
nitya seva premavilasaya – with fond hope of doing daily kainkarya for which dilute mind,
Parankusa pada bhaktam – great devotion at the feet of Nammalvar, who is otherwise called Parankusa,
atma padastrithanam – for those who reached at his feet,
Kamadidosha haram Yatipatim – Chief of those saints who erase the desires and controlled limbs,
Ramanujam – Sri Ramanuja who is called Emberumanar,
moordna – by head,
pranamami – I am worshipping.
Simple Translation
The word Sri is adjective to Madhava. Sri means Periya Pirattiyar. The attributes of divine beauty, fragrance, tenderness etc., the attribute of soul‘s great kindness, simplicity and mercy, among these taking vows to safeguard the devotees – with all these greatnesses Sriman Narayana is equal to Periya Pirattiyar. In other words, by adding the word Sri to the feet of Madhava, where Piratti is living at His feet. In such a case, Lord’s feet which are adorned by Piratti, similar to Selvappillai in Melkote. Here the commentator reminds Kuresa’s Sundarabhahustavam Sloka 1 version – Srimanthow Haricharanow Samasrithoham – which means that “Hari who is having eternal relationship with Piratti, such feet I approach as a means”. Nammalvar much desired to do service to Krishna. Nammalvar could not do direct kainkaryam to Krishna and he intended to perform madalural, which means to ride a horse made of palmyra stems, as a disgruntled lover to proclaim his grief and win Lord’s love. Such intention in the mind of Nammalvar was perceived by Mamunigal and this comes in the Sloka as “Madhavangri jalajathvaya nitya seva premavilasaya Parankusa”. Emberumanar had great devotion at Nammalvar’s feet. Tiruvarangaththamudanar in his Prabandham also says “Maran Adipanindu uyyindavan – Ramanusan”. Following him, Mamunigal said “Parankusa pada bhaktam ramanujam”. Para means religions like Jainism, bhuddism etc. and all those that does not accept Veda as a pramana and Advaitas who are misinterpreting Vedas, otherwise metaphor as elephants. Parankusa means that Nammalvar is the hook like controller of such elephants and hence called Parankusa. One can read the commentary of Tiruvoymozhi of Nammalvar in the decad 4.10 about this.
The word Ramanuja means that since He is the reincarnation of Lakshmana, who is the brother of Sri Rama. The Avataras of ten Alwars were considered as Abhinava Dasavatara. Among these, Nammalvar is the incarnation of Ramavatara. Hence, Sri Annappangar Swami considered that Sri Ramanuja is the reincarnation of Lakshmana, the parama bhakti for Sri Ramanuja is unquestionable. Further, Sri Ramanuja is a Chief Sage who controlled the mind, and he has the capacity to eradicate love, anger, greed etc. of those who approach him. This means that one who controls one’s mind will eradicate other’s flaws. Since the feet of Madhava is compared with that of a lotus which is fresh, softness etc., Nammalvar derived the devotion and attributes at the feet of Madhava. Since, the feet of Nammalvar is not compared with that of lotus, the devotion derived for Sri Ramanuja is natural, as he is the disciple whose nature is to be devoted to his Acharya. That is applicable here. Naturally derived devotion on Acharya as stated in Sastra is greater than the devotion derived by the attributes of Lord.
It is to be noted that Mamunigal praises Sri Ramanuja by saying ‘Parankusa pada bhaktam yatipatim Ramanujam’. Here Mamunigal says that the reason for devotion on Sri Ramanuja, who is Acharya for him, is that he has devotion on his Acharya, also a Chief Sage, Nammalvar and hence he is called Parankusa pada bhakta and Yathiraja respectively. The word Yathipati has two meanings. In primitive terms ( Yatinam Patihi Yatipatihi) Pati means that He is Seshi (who is Chief to accept the service of disciple) and in derivative name Paati (Pati Iti Patihi), means that he is the protector. Since Sri Ramanuja is Chief and Protector for the saints, He is also the happiest to accept the service. Actually Tirumantra which has three words give these meanings: Acharya is the Chief, Acharya is the Protector and Happiest person to accept the service. Such greatness is attriubuted to Sri Ramanuja in Yatiraja Vimsati composed by Mamunigal.
Translation by Sri U.Ve.Dr.M.Varadarajan Swami, MA, MA, PhD
Source: http://divyaprabandham.koyil.org/index.php/2015/10/yathiraja-vimsathi-tamil-slokam-1/
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