Swami Pillai Lokacharyar

Today is Swami Pillai Loka charyar's Thirunakshatram (Aipasi Thiruvonam). Today is also Poigai azhwar's thirunakshatram. A quick recap of Swami Pillai lokacharyar's history:

1. Birth Details: He was born in 1205 A.D in the month of "Aipasi" and in the star of "Thiruvonam".
2. Birth Story: His father was "Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai" (his acharyan who is there in guru paramparai also). Swami Nampillai asked Swami Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai's mother "Ammi" about her welfare. She told that all is well except that their family need an offspring for bhagavath and bhaagavatha kainkaryam. Since her son Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai is not interested in gruhasthraashramam, the continutation of the lineage might be hampered. On hearing this, Swami Nampillai asked her to bring Swami Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai unto him. He blessed him and asked him to indulge in gruhasthraashram to get children to spread the deep purports of "Emberumaanar Darisanam". Thus, with the blessings of Swami Nampillai, Swami Pillai lokacharya was born. His father gave him his acharya's name (took "Pillai" from Swamy Nampillai's name and added "Lokacharyar" that was Swami Nampillai's another name. Swami Nampillai, whose original name was "Namboor Varadarajar" was given the name "Lokacharyar" by Swami Kanthaadai Thozhappar.
3. Brother:  After two years of Pillai Lokacharya's birth Swami Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai was blessed for a second time by Namperumal himself with a baby boy. He was named "Azhagiya Manavaala Perumal Naayanar". Thus Swami Vadaku Thiruveedhi Pillai had two sons, one through bhagavath kataksham and one throught bhaagavatha kataksham.

4. Incarnation of Kanchi Deva Perumal: Kanchi Deva Perumal incarnated as Swami Pillai Lokacharyar. A person was listening to  rahasyartham in Kanchipuram due to the divine blessings of Kanchi Devarajan. Suddenly he had a bad luck of not listening to it any more for no reason. Later Kanchi Deva Perumal asked that person to go to Srirangam after sometime and continue the lectures. Upon reaching Srirangam after a while, he came to know about Swami Pillai lokacharyar. When he joined his kalakshepa goshti, the person was very much surprised to see that Swami continued exactly from that point where the person had stopped listening. He had an insight that Swami Pillai lokacharya may be Kanchi Devarajan Himsel. So the person went and asked Swami "Avaro Neer"? for which Swami replied "Aam. Sevadhu yen?", meaning "Yes. I am verily Devaraja Perumal. What can I do for you now? Thus, Kanchi Devarja Perumal is Swami Pillai Lokacharyar. Kanchi Devarja Peruamal, now born in Thiruvonam (Thiruvenkatmudayan thirunkashtaram) served in Srirangam and even protected Namperumal. The big 3 of our srivaishnava dhivya desams are all assembled here.
5. Sishyas:
1. Koorakuloththama dasar
2. Manarpakkam nambi
3. Kollikavala dasa (Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Pillai)
4. Kotturilannar and
5. Vilanjolai Pillai.
6. Works: He wrote 18 works that are known as "Ashtadasa Rahasyangal" that can be divided into three categories. The first category talks about Rahasya Thrayam: There are 8 such works in this category including:  
• Yaadrichikapadi, Sriyapadhipadi,Mumukshupadi ,Parandhapadi,Thani Pranavam,Thani Dwayam ,Thani Charamam and Sara sangraham
• The second categroy talks about Thathva thrayam.These are 5 in number and include Thathva Thrayam,Artha Panchakam,Thathva Sekaram ,Premaya Sekaram and Archiradi.
• The third category talks about the essence of Srivaishnavam. These are 5 in number and include Samsara Samrajyam,Navavidha sambandham,Navarathnamalai,Prapanna Parithranaam and Srivachanabushanam (the magnum opus and the most magnificient masterpiece)
7. Rahasyam Vilaindha Mann:  Swami Pillai lokacharyar used to give discourses to his sishyas in "Kaatazhagiya Singar" mandapam in Srirangam. He wrote the aforementioned 18 works in this same mandapam. Swami Manavala Mamunigal referred to this place as "Rahasyam Vilaindha Mann" as this was the place upon which Swami Pillai lokacharyar sat and revealed the esoteric purports of Rahasya thryam and other grantham. Swami Maamunigal picked handful of sand and preserved it. It can now be seen in Swami Manavala Maamunigal sanndhi in Srirangam.
8. Thaniyan:
• லோகச்சர்யாய குரவே  கிருஷ்ண பாதஸ்ய சூனவே
• சம்சார போகி சந்தஷ்ட   ஜீவ  ஜீவாதவே  நம: 
9. Vaazhi Thirunamam:
• அத்திகிரி அருளாளர் அனுமதியோன் வாழியே
• ஐப்பசியில் திருவோனத்து அவதரித்தான் வாழியே
• முத்தி நெறி மறைத்தமிழால்  மொழிந்தருள்வோன் வாழியே
• மூதரிய  மணவாளன்  முன்புதித்தான்  வாழியே
• நித்தியம்  நம்பிள்ள பதம்  நெஞ்சில்  வைப்போன்  வாழியே
• நீள் வசன பூடணத்தில்    நியமித்தான்  வாழியே
• உத்தமமாம்  முடும்பை  நகர் உதித்த வள்ளல்  வாழியே
• உலகாரியன்  பதங்கள்  ஊழிதொரும்  வாழியே
10. Reference in Upadesa Rathna Maalai: Swami Manavala Maamunigal had elaborately praised Swami Pillai lokacharyar's work from pasuram 53 to 59 in his Upadesa Rathna Maalai. He is awestruck with Sri Vachan Bushanam and says only few people can understand the majestic Sri Vachana Bushanam, only a very few people can practice (those selected by Lord's Nirhetuka Krupai). He feels sorry for those who does not know Sri Vachana Bushanam. It is everyone's duty to learn this and his other 17 rahasya granthams from their own acharyan (preferably) and try to practice them in our daily life. If we can follow at least 1% of it, a sea of good positive change awaits us very soon.
11. Attack on Srirangam: During his time, Srirangam was attacked thrice. During the last attack, Swami covered Periya Perumal's sannidhi with a big rock (kal thirai) and took Namperumal vigraham and proceeded towards Madurai. On reaching the outskirts, he hid himself in a place called "Jyothishkudi" (Kodikulam) and protected Perumal in a cave and did thiruvaradhanam to him. This place is now accessible to bhagavathaas and one should really go to this place to see how much Swami has struggled in his later days to protect Namperumal. It is at this place that he attained Paramapadam. Thus, he not only protected the Pramanams (scriptures that talk about Lord), he protected the prameyam (Lord Himself) as well.

12. Vaikunta Praapthi: He attained Paramapadm in 1311 A.D at Jyothishkudi. His sishya "Thiruvaimozhi Pillai" was his successor in the acharya guru paramparai.

Azhwar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale Saranam!!!