Triplets in Srivaishnava Sampradhayam

There is something significant about the number 3 in Srivaishnavam. Some famous triplets in srivaishnava sampradhayam. Please add to this list and if there is anything that is not right, please let me know. I shall correct it immediately.

1) Rahasya Thrayam: Thirumanthram, Dwayam and Charamaslokam.

2) Akshara Thrayam: Aa, Oo and Ma that form "Om".

3) Padha Thrayam: Om, Namaha and Narayanaya that signify seshathvam/paranthanthriyam, upayathvam and kainkaryam respectively.

4) Thaapa Thrayam: Aadhyaathmika (sorrows caused by oneself), Aadhibowthika (sorrows caused by natural calamities) and Aadhideivika (sorrows caused by Perumal). To mitigate the effects of this, they give theertham three times in Perumal kovil.

5) Thatthva Thrayam: Chit (living entities), Achit (non-living entities) and Eshwaran (Sriman Narayanan). This is why all Vishishtadwaitha sanyasis carry "thri"thandam (a set of 3 sticks put together) in their hand.

6) Karana Thrayam:  Mind, Speech and Body. We can remember this by the popular phrase in Thirupavai 5ht pasuram "Maayanai Mannu". The phrase is Vaayinal paadi manathinaal sindithu thoomalar thoovi thozhudhu. Vaayinaal Paadi (Speech), Manathinaal Sindithu (Mind) , Thoomalar Thoovi Thozhudhu (Body)

7) Kaarana Thrayam: Nimitha kaaranam (cause of the cause, nimitham by itself means cause), Upadhana kaaranam (material cause, upadhanam means ingredient) and Sahakaarika kaaranam (ancillary or supporting cause). The most common example is of making a pot. There are three things/causes to make it happen. First a potter who knows how to make it (Nimitha kaaranam). He needs some clay to make it (Upadhana kaaranam) and then he needs a stick or rod to aid the process of making it. The stick / rod is just for support and so it is the Sahakaarika kaaranam.

8) Mandapa Thrayam: Koil (Srirangam = Bhoga Mandapam), Thirumalai (Thiruvenkatam = Pushpa Mandapam) and Perumal Koil (Thiruathigiri = Thyaga Mandapam)

9) Aakaara Thrayam Ananyarha seshathvam (to be servant to no one else apart from Sriman Narayanan), Ananya saranathvam (state of mind where nothing apart from Sriman Narayanan's Lotus feet can be the way to reach HIM) and Ananya Bhogyathvam (not requesting for anything apart from Sriman Narayanan, i.e., if someone asks a person as to what he desires in life and if the other person replies "I do not want wealth, luxuries. I do not want to enjoy my soul for my own happiness (kaivakyam). I do not want to do kainkaryam for Perumal just for my happiness. But I want to do kainkaryam for Sriman Narayanan and HIS devotees, not for my happiness but for THEIR happiness", then the person is said to have got "Ananya Bhogyathvam".

10) Siddhithrayam: A work composed by Swami Alavandhar that has 3 parts to it namely (a) Atmasidhhi ,(b) Samvitsidhi and (c) Ishwara Siddhi.

11)Perumal in idol form talks to 3 persons: Perumal in his idol form (archaa murthy) had talked with just 3 persons only, one for each of the mandapas above. In Srirangam he talked with "Thiruvilaku Pichan, in Thiruvenkatam  he talked with Thondamaan chakravarthy and in Thiruathigiri he talked with Thirukachi Nambigal.

12) Muni Thrayam: Sri Nadhamuni, Sri Yamuna Muni and Sri Ramanuja Muni. This can also refer to "Parankusa Muni, Ramanuja Muni and Manavaala Maamuni in Thenacharya sampradhayam

13 Gadhya Thrayam: Srivaikunta Gadhyam, Saranagathi Gadhyam and Sriranga Gadhyam. These were authored by Swami Ramanuja.

14) Dhivya Thryams: Dhivya Desam, Dhivya Prabandham and DhivyaSoorigal (Aazhwars)

15) Three Gunas: Sathva Gunam (sathvic), Rajo Gunam (activity) and Thamo Gunam (anger)

16)Three Vyapaka Manthras:  These three manthras talks about the omniscience nature (vyaapithu irupadhu and thus the name) of Sriman Narayanan.  They are the twelve lettered (dvadasaakshari) of  "Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya", six lettered (shataakshari) of  "Om Namo Vishnave" and the eight lettered (ashtakshari) of Thirumanthram.

17)Three Achamana Manthras:  Om Achuthaya Namaha, Om Ananthaaya Namha, Om Govindhaaya Namaha

18) Three consorts of Sriman Narayanan: SriDevi, BhooDevi and NeelaDevi.

19) Three types of Chit / Jeevathmas: Baddhaathma (those who have not yet attained moksham), Mukthaathma (those who have attained moksham) and Nithyaathma (those who are forever in Srivaikuntam with Sriman Narayanan)

20) Three types of Achit (Non living entities / those that has no conscience): Prakrutham (nature), Aprakrutham (beyond nature) and Kalam (time) 

21) Three temples where Pirati gets importance than Perumal: Thiruvellarai (Sridevi), Srivilliputhur (BhuDevi) and Thirunaraiyoor (Neela Devi)

22) Three forms of Swami Ramanuja: Thanaana Thirumeni (Ramanuja himself in Srirangam) , Thaan ugandha Thirumeni (Ramanuja's idol that was admired by himself - Sriperumpudhur) and Thamar ugandha Thirumeni (Ramanuja's idol that was admired by his bhaktas -Melkote/Thirunarayanapuram)

23) First 3 azhwars: Poigai azhwar, Bhoodathaazhwar and Peyaazhwar , who are often referred to as "Mudhal Aazhwargal"

24) Famous triplets of Swami Nammazhwar: "Poliga Poliga Poliga", "Kandom Kandom Kandom", "Matrum Matrum Matrum"

25) Three lines (adi) where Andal sings about Govindha: Koodarai vellum seer Govindha (27th pasuram), Kurai ondrum illadha Govindha (28th pasuram), Itrai parai kolvaan andru kaan Govindha (29th pasuram)

26) Three lines (adi) where Andal sings about Vamanan measuring the whole universe with His three steps : Ongi Ulagalandha Uthaman Per Paadi (3rd pasuram), Ambaram oodaruthu ongi ulagalandha (17th pasuram) and Andru Ivvulagam alandhaai adi potru (24th pasuram)

27) Three female states in which Azhwars sing in Naayika Bhavanai: Naayika or the heroine herself who is verily the azhwar themselves (thalaivi pasuram), naayika's mother (thaai pasuram) and naayika's friend (thozhi pasuram)

28) Three types of people who ask different things to Perumal: Aishwarya aarthi (who ask for earthly stuffs like wealth, health, kids, marriage, education etc), Kaivalya aarthi (who ask Perumal that they enjoy their own athmas) and Bhagavallaabha aarthi (who ask for Perumal Himself at Perumal).

29) Mummanikovai: This is one of Swami Desikan's works that was sung in praise of the dhivya dampathis at Thirvahindrapuram. As the name would suggest, this is a necklace that was made using Sthothra Rathnam , Manthra Rathnam and Purana Rathnam . The gem of all Puranas is called Purana Rathnam which is none other than Vishnu Puranam, the gem of all manthram is Dwaya maha manthram and the gem of all sthothras is the one that was composed by Swami Alavndhar's Sthothra Rathnam.

30) Swami Alavandhar's 3 wishes: Swami Alavandhar, when he left his mortal coil and went to the eternal abode of Sriman Narayanan in Srivaikuntam had 3 unfullfilled wishes. So, he had this 3 fingers left open. Swami Ramanuja on seeing them, understood the essence and took a vow to fulfill those, after which, the fingers themselves closed. Those were :

(30.1) To keep Parasara Bhagawan and his progeny's name to someone in Srivaishnava sampradhyam who is deserving and capable of bearing such a name. He kept the name to Koorathaazhwan's sons who were Sri Parasara Bhattar and Vedavyasa Bhattar.

(30.2) To expound Swami Nammazhwar's works and interpret its meaning correctly and spread it.

(30.3) To write commentaries for Brahmasutram, Upanishads and Bhagavad Geetha.

31) Three types of works of Swami Pillai lokacharya: Swami Pillailokacharya wrote 18 works that can be categorized into 3 broad types:

(31.1) That which talks about Rahasya Thrayam: There are 8 such works in this category including:

1. Yaadrichikapadi
2. Sriyapadhipadi
3. Mumukshupadi
4. Parandhapadi
5. Thani Pranavam
6. Thani Dwayam
7. Thani Charamam and
8. Sara sangraham

(31.2) That which talks about Thathva thrayam: These are 5 in number and include:

1. Thathva Thrayam
2. Artha Panchakam
3. Thathva Sekaram
4. Premaya Sekaram and
5. Archiradi

(31.3) That which talks about the essence of Srivaishnavam: These are 5 in number and include:

1. Samsara Samrajyam
2. Navavidha sambandham
3. Navarathnamalai
4. Prapanna Parithranaam and
5. Srivachanabushanan (the magnum opus and the most magnificient masterpiece)

32.Three types of Puranas: There are 18 puranas totally. They are classified into 3 types based on the gunas (Refer Point #9) namely Saathvika Puranas, Raajasa Puranas and Thaamasa Puranas.

(32.1) Saathvika Puranas: Characterized by purity/truth/softness.

1. Vishnu Purana
2. Bhagavatha Purana
3. Naradeya Purana
4. Garuda Purana
5. Padma Purana and
6. Varaha Purana

(32.2) Raajasa Puranas: Characterized by activity / passion etc.

1. Brahmanda Purana
2. Brahma Vaivarta Purana
3. Markandeya Purana
4. Bhavishya Purana
5. Vamana Purana and
6. Brahma Purana

(32.3) Thaamasa Puranas: Characterized by anger:

1. Matsya Purana
2. Kurma Purana
3. Linga Purana
4. Shiva Purana
5. Skanda Purana and
6. Agni Purana

33. Prasthana thrayam: Upanishad - Upadesha Prasthana (Sruti),  Brahma Sutra - Nyaya Prasthana (Yukti) and

Bhagavad gita - Sadhana Prasthana (Smriti)

34. Three types of Kaadhal (love) for Swami Nammazhwar as Parankusa Nayaki:

1. Peramar Kaadhal (5.3.4th Thiruvaimozhi from Maasaru Sodhi padhigam)
2. Pin Nindra Kaadhal and (5.4.6th Thiruvaimozhi from Oorellam thunji padhigam)
3. Kazhiya mikkadhor Kaadhal (5.5.10th Thiruvaimozhi from Enganeyo Annaimeergaal padhigam)

35. Three types of Thuyar (sufferings) for Swami Nammazhwar 

1. Thuyar - The sadness because he was not able to get the sevai (darsanam) of Thrivikirama Perumal as seen in 1.3.10 Thiruvaimozhi (perum nilam kadandha nal adipodhu). So he transformed into parankusa nayaki and sang "Anjiraya Madanaaraai" in 1.4 Thiruvaimozhi.
2. Perum Thuyar - More sadness as he was not able to get the sevai of Thirukurungudi Nambi, who was just nearby. In 1.10.9, he says how can he forget my Nambi who is just nearby in Thirukurungudi yet so far from me. This is perum thuyar and because of this, he sang "Vaayum Thirayugalum".
3. Aara Perum Thuyar - Extreme sadness, sadness at its very low point, as he was not able to enjoy the company of bhagavathas. He yearns for their company in 2.3.10 and 2.3.11. But Perumal did not fructify that wish of azhwar as well then. Azhwar was in the deepest possible sadness. Firstly, azhwar lost sense of himself, got transformed into his female bhaavam (Parankusa Nayaki). Even she lost sense of herself due to extreme sadness and finally assumed the role of "Parankusa Nayaki's mother" and sang "Aadi Aadi Agam karaindhu". 

36. Three journeys that has a special place in Srivaishnava Sampradhyam:

1. Akroora Yaathrai: The expectations that Akroorar had when he was sent by Kamsan to bring Krishna
2. Thiruvenkata Yathrai: The expectations, the desire, dream and the desire associated with our journey to Thiruvenkatam and
3. Archiradi Gathi Yathrai: The journey when jeevathma attains moksham, when it leaves this physical body, transgress multiple worlds, taking a bath in Viraja river in Srivaikuntam, getting "aprakrutha" body, welcomed by one and all and proceed to sit on the lap of Sriyapathi Sriman Narayanan.