Thenkalai and Vadakalai sub-traditions Sri Vaishnavism

1 thenkalai , vadakalai sub-traditions

1.1 thenkalai sect ( southern ) - manavala mamunigal

1.1.1 characteristics
1.1.2 demographics
1.1.3 notable thenkalai people


1.2 vadakalais ( northern ) - vedanta desika

1.2.1 characteristics
1.2.2 guru parampara
1.2.3 demographics
1.2.4 notable vadakalai people

thenkalai , vadakalai sub-traditions

the sri vaishnava tradition has 2 major sub-traditions, called vadakalai ( northern ) , thenkalai ( southern ). term northern , southern sub-traditions of sri vaishnavism refers respectively kanchipuram (the northern part of tamil country) , srirangam (the southern part of tamil country , kaveri river delta area ramunuja wrote vedanta treatises from).

these sub-traditions arose result of philosophical , traditional differences in post ramanuja period. vatakalai relied stronger on sanskrit texts such vedas , pancaratras (tantric), while tenkalai emphasized bhakti texts such prabandhas of alvars.

from days, sri vaishnavism movement grew social inclusiveness, emotional devotionalism personal god (vishnu) open without limitation gender or caste, tradition led alvars in 7th 8th century. ramanuja philosophy negated caste, states ramaswamy. ramanuja, led srirangam temple welcomed outcastes temples , gave them important roles in temple operations, medieval temple records , inscriptions suggesting payments , offerings collected temple shared regardless of caste distinctions.

scholars offer divergent views on relative approach of 2 sub-traditions on caste , gender. raman states tenkalai did not recognize caste barriers , more liberal in assimilating people castes, possibly because had been tradition @ srirangam earliest days of sri vaishnavism. in contrast, sadarangani states vatakalai more liberal , did not recognize caste barriers, possibly because competing egalitarian vira-shaiva hindus (lingayatism) of karnataka.

the thenkalai tradition brought fold artisanal castes (shudras) community-based devotional movements, , writes raman, can said tenkalai represented anti-caste tendencies while vadakalai school championed cause of purity of vedic tenets. tenkalai held, adds raman, can spiritual teacher regardless of caste.

the vadakalai tradition, states sadarangani in contrast raman s views, liberal cousin of tenkalai , therefore more successful in gaining devotees, while in southern tamil lands shaivism prospered possibly because of tankalai school of vaishnavism being narrow , orthodox in approach . vadakalai school not succeeded in northern tamil lands, adds, spread inspired egalitarian bhakti movement in north, west , east india bringing in bhakti poet saints entire cross section of class, caste , society .

thenkalai sect ( southern ) - manavala mamunigal

thenkalai sri vaishnava urdhva pundram


characteristics

the thenkalais place higher important tamil shlokas sanskrit, , lay more emphasis on worship of vishnu. thenkalai accept prapatti means attain salvation. consider prapatti unconditional surrender. thenkalais follow tamil prabandham, , assert primacy rituals in tamil language. regard kaivalya (detachment, isolation) eternal position within realm of vaikuntha (vishnu s eternal abode or heaven), though exists @ outer regions of vaikuntha. further god s seemingly contradictory nature both minuscule , immense examples of god s special powers enable him accomplish impossible.

according thenkalais, exalted persons need not perform duties such sandhyavandanam; set example. don t ring bells during worship. thenkalais forbid widows shave (tonsure) head, quoting parashara smriti. while vadakalais support tonsure quoting manusmriti,

demographics

sri kanchi prativadibhayankar jagadguru anantacharya gaddi swamiji, spiritual preceptor of tridandi swami vishwaksenacharyaji

the thenkalai trace lineage mudaliandan, nephew of ramanuja thenkalai followers of philosophy of pillai lokacharya , manavala mamuni, considered reincarnation of ramanuja thenkalais.

notable thenkalai people

srinivasa ramanujan (1887–1920), indian mathematician.
k.s. krishnan (1898–1961), indian physicist.
b.k.s iyengar (1918 -2014) - founder of style of yoga iyengar yoga ,
alasinga perumal - desciple of swami vivekananda , 1 of founder of brahmavadin later became vedanta kesari
sujatha rangarajan - writer, editor , engineer, key person behind development of electronic voting machine awarded vasvik
ariyakudi ramanuja iyengar - renowned musician , architect of modern carnatic music

vadakalais ( northern ) - vedanta desika

vadagalai thiruman kappu 1



parakala mutt painting of vedanta desikan brahmatantra swatantra jeeyar


characteristics

the vadakalais followers of ramanuja , vedanta desika, founded vadakalai sampradaya based on sanskritic tradition. lay more emphasis on role of lakshmi i.e. sri, , uphold sanskrit vedas ultimate pramaanam or authority, although ubhaya vedanta used infer , establish doctrine of vishishtaadvaita. vadakalais infer of alwars compositions derived vedas, , 1 have go ultimate source reference , defend doctrine. vadakalais lay emphasis on vedic norms established rishis , preceptors.

the vadakalai ardently follows sanskrit vedas, , set of rules prescribed manusmriti , dharma shastras. sect based on sankritic tradition, , set of rules prescribed manusmriti , other dharma shastras. in sanskrit vadakalai referred uttara kalārya.

traditionally, vadakalais believe in practising karma yoga, jnana yoga , bhakti yoga, along prapatti, means attain salvation. also, consider prapatti act of winning grace.

the tilak (urdhva pundra) mark of vadakalai men symbolic representation of vishnu s right foot. since vishnu s right foot believed origin of river ganges, vadakalais contend right foot should held in special veneration, , sign impressed on forehead. apply central mark (srichurnam) symbolize goddess lakshmi (vishnu s wife), along thiruman (urdhva pundra). urdhva pundra vertical , faces upwards denotes helps 1 in reaching vaikunta (the spiritual abode of lord vishnu), , considered protection evil. vadakalai women apply red central mark only, symbolizing lakshmi, on foreheads.

guru parampara

sri balmukundacharyaji maharaj of jhalariya mutt, didwana, rajasthan

the vadakalai sect traces lineage thirukurahi piran pillan, kidambi acchan , other direct disciples of ramanuja, , considers vedanta desika greatest acharya of post ramanuja era.

the vadakalai community consists of following groups, based on sampradaya followed:

pancharatra – followers of srimad azhagiya singar (srinivasacharya) of ahobila mutt. majority of vadakalais belongs group. disciples established mutts @ different places in north india, including varanasi, chitrakoot , pushkar. descendents:




narasimhacharya established temple of dwarkadhish in varanasi on spot lord krishna slew tyrannical ruler of poundradesh sudarshanchakra.




acharya swami madhavacharyaji, defeated founder of arya samaj dayananda saraswati in theological debate.
hariramacharya established jhalariya mutt in rajasthan
ramdas ramanujdas achari, disciple of swami balmukundacharya of jhalariya, founded jagannath mandir @ strand road, kolkata






munitraya – followers of srimad andavan of andavan ashramams, , swayamacharyas. srirangam srimad andavan ashramam, poundarikapuram andavan ashramam, , of present-day vadagalai svayam-acharya purusha families directly connected acharya parampara, , follow worship , ritual patterns outlined sri gopalarya mahadesikan.




periya andavan sri srinivasa mahadesikan;




parakala – followers brahmatantra swatantra jeeyar of parakala mutt, mysore. founded in 1399 brahmatantra parakala jeeyar, peetadhipathis of mutt preceptors of royal family of mysore kingdom, wadiyars. has stayed royal mutt of kings since then, , mutt iyengars under category.

other lineages include:

srimad sakshat swamy (srimad vedanta ramanuja mahadeshika swamy); wrote 24,000 padi (elaborate commentary on tiru-arayirappadi).




srimad thirukkudandai gopalarya mahadesikan




uttara saraswadhani, swami desika sahasra namam
srimad srinivasa mahadesikan seyyanam, srimad sri ranganatha mahadesikan vathirayiruppu , srimad vedanta ramanuja mahadesikan vazhuthur






the munitraya sampradaya of vadakalai sect, belongs rahasyatraya parampara of pranatharthiharan, known kidambi achan. sri bhashya , bhagavatvishaya parampara same of rest of vadakalais.
swami janardanacharya, successor of swami gopalacharya, guru of devraha baba. sugriv qila temple @ ayodhya belongs guru parampara.

demographics

traditionally, places of high importance significant vadakalai populations included kanchipuram, kumbakonam, tiruvallur, mysore , kurnool district. however, today of people have moved big cities.

in vrindavan, jankivallabh mandir of keshighat prominent vadakalai sri vaishnava monastic institution , associated spiritual lineage of ahobila mutt. present azhagiya singar has visited known institution in past recently. presently headed swami sri aniruddhacharyaji maharaj.

in rajasthan jhalariya mutt 1 of prominent mutts , branches have spread on neighbouring regions of gujarat , maharashtra. sri swami balmukundacharyaji distinguished scholar , renowned acharya of mutt.

notable vadakalai people

gopala bhatta goswami (1503–1578), born vadakalai iyengar, 1 of 6 goswamis of vrindavan in chaitanya vaishnavism, , highly revered guru in iskcon.
chakravarti rajagopalachari (1878–1972), indian politician , activist of indian independence movement. premier of madras (1937–1939), governor of bengal (1946–1948), governor-general of india (1948–1950), union home minister (1950–1952) , chief minister of madras state (1952–1954). founder of swatantra party.
c. v. rungacharlu (1831–1883), diwan of mysore kingdom 1881 1883.
t. s. s. rajan (1880–1953), indian politician , freedom-fighter. member of imperial legislative council (1934–1936), minister of public health , religious endowments (madras presidency) (1937–1939), minister of food , public health (madras presidency) (1946–1951).
tirumalai krishnamacharya (1888–1989), influential yoga teacher, healer , scholar.
agnihotram ramanuja tatachariar (1907–2008), renowned vedic scholar, , recipient of 2 national awards contribution vedic studies , sanskrit literature.
r. madhavan (b. 1970), indian film actor.




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