Manakkal Nambi

His original name was Rama Misrar.He was born in Anbil, near Trichy in the year 832CE,in the month of Masi. His birth star is Magam. He rendered personal Service to his Acharya i.e. Uyyakkondar including preparation of food. His devotion to his Guru is unbelievable. Once the two daughters of Uyyakkondar had to cross the slush on the way back to their home after bath in the river. They hesitated to step down on the slush fearing they will get dirty. Sri Rama Misrar without hesitation laid down on the slush and asked the girls to walk over on his back. Since the sands at the feet of his Guru’s daughters were on his body, he was called “Manal Kaal Nambi”. He took Sanyasam and he was instrumental in guiding alavandar to became a Sanyasi to propagate one Sampradhayam. He is considered as fourth Rama, after Parasurama, Rama and Balarama.



He was born as the Amsam of Kumudan, one of the Nityasuris in
Paramapadam. He was born in the MaNakkAl AgrahAram adjacent to ANBIL,
in Lalgudi Taluk, Trichy District. His date of birth is also
variously placed by scholars: 832 AD; 870AD; 876 AD.
But, all are agreed that he was born in the year VirOdhi, month of
Masi in the constellation of Magam.

The credit for transforming Yamunai thuraivan into YAmuna Muni goes
to him . For 12 years, he rendered personal service to his
Acharya, Uyyak KonDAr and after the demise of UyyakKonNDAr's wife, he
took over the culinary duties and cooked food for his Acharya.

EmbAr describes that Nammalwar drank of the ocean of mercy of the
Lord Narayana and rained it through Natha muni and that PuNDarikAksha
was like the fountain spring that let the stream reach AalavanDAr.
PuNDarikAksha learned the holy collects and Yoga Rahasya from Natha
Muni and passed them on to AalavanDAr.

His devotion to his Guru was such that on an occasion when two
daughters of PuNDarikAksha had to cross the slush on their way back
home after bath in the river, he laid himself down on the slush and
asked them to walk over on his back. Since, the sands at the feet of
the Guru's daughters were on his body, he came to be known as ' Manal
Kaal Nambi' .

He took to Sannyas. He does not seem to have written
any work. But, citations of his teachings are found in the works of
other AchAryas. Swami Desikan quotes his teachings in NyAya
Parisuddhi. So, he is known as "Yathaartha Khyaadhi" Swami Desika in
Sloka 7 of his YatirAja Saptadhi praises MaNakkAl Nambi as follows:

Anujjitha Kshamaa Yogam Apunya Jana Bhaadakam |
Asprushta Madha Raagam Thum Raamam Turiyam Upaasmahe ||

(meaning) The one who learned through UpadEsam all the Sastaraarthas
from UyyakkoNDAr was MaNakkAl Nambi. There were only three Ramas
before. Here comes the fourth Rama. The defects noticeable in the
other 3 Ramas were totally absent in this 4th Rama.

ANUJJITHA KSHAMAA YOGAM : ParasurAma had no patience. Out of
jealousy, he fought with 'Chakravarthi Tirumagan'. With an
uncontrollable rage, he embarked on destroying the entire Kshatriya
race. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never lost his composure and kept his
senses under absolute control.

APUNYA JANA BHAADAKAM: Dasaratha Rama destroyed the Rakshasas,
otherwise known as 'Punya Jana'. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never harmed
anyone but always did all the good he could to SAdhus who are also
known as 'Punya Jana'

ASPRUSHTA MADHA RAAGAM: BalarAma became reddish in color by excessive
attachment. MaNakkAl Nambi never exhibited any pride or prejudice or any
excessive attachment to anything worldly. Let us prostrate before
this blemish less 4th Rama.



Gajaananar is a nityasuri in Sri Vaikuntham who is an assistant of
Vishwaksenar along with Kumudan, KumudAkshar and Harivaktrar.
Gajaananar took avataaram as Nathamuni
Kumudan took avataaram as Uyyakondar
Kumudaakshar took avataaram as Manakaal Nambi and
Harivakktrar took avataaram as Yamunacharya

Srirangam Srinivasa Raghava dasan




Manakkal Nambi was born in Manakkaal , Trichy District.
His devotion to his Guru UyyakoNdaar was immense and
great. His Acharya bhakti was so intense that on one
occasion when Swami UyyakoNdaar's two daughters were
to cross the mud on their way back home after bath in
the river, he laid down on the ground- on the muddy
water and asked them to walk over on his back. Hence,
the sands at the feet of the Guru's daughters were on
his body, and he came to be known as maNal Kaal Nambi.


He rendered personal service to his Acharya, Uyyak
Kondaar and it is told that he took over also as the
cook for his AchArya after the demise of Uyyak
Kondaar's wife.

Swami Desika in Sloka 7 of his Yatiraja Saptadhi
praises Manakkaal Nambi as follows:

anujjitha Kshamaa Yogam Apunya Jana Bhaadakam |
asprushta Madha Raagam Thum Raamam Turyam Upaasmahe ||

We meditate on Raamamisrar (MaNakkaal Nambhi), who is
forbearing, who is dangerous to unholy persons, who
had forsaken taste for lust and anger, - who thus was
the fourth Rama (i.e.- unlike: (1) Parasuraama- who
was not forbearing, (2) Ramabhadra -who was dangerous
to PuNyajanas (euphemism for Raakshasaas), and (3)
Balaraama, - who was used to drinking liquor)

The one who learned through Upadesam all the
Sastaraarthas from Uyyakkondaar was Manakkaal Nambi.
There were only three Ramas before. Here comes the
fourth Rama. The defects noticeable in the other
3 Ramas were totally absent in this 4th Rama.

Parasurama had no patience. Out of jealousy, he fought
with 'Chakravarthi Tirumagan'. With an uncontrollable
rage, he embarked on destroying the entire Kshatriya
race. But, Manakkaal Nambi never lost his composure
and kept his senses under absolute control.

Dasaratha Rama destroyed the Rakshasas, otherwise
known as 'Punya Jana'. But, Manakkaal Nambi never
harmed anyone but always did all the good he
could to Sadhus who are also known as 'Punya Jana'

Manakkaal Nambi never exhibited any pride or prejudice
or any excessive attachment to anything worldly. (like
BalarAmA)

So, he is better than for RAMAs. (what a verse from
DesikA!)

Let us prostrate before this blemish less 4th Rama,
Sri Rama Misrar, MaNakkal Nambhi.

It is this great Acharya purusha Sri Raamamisrar
[MaNakkaal Nambhi] who transformed Sri YamunAcharya
[Swami Alavandhaar -grandson of Sriman Nathamuni] into
a Srivaishnava acharya purusha.

Rama Misra (maNakkaal nambhi) was trying to catch
Yamunacharya's attention to fulfill his promise to his
Guru to install Alavandar as the spiritual successor
to Nathamuni.. But, he could not meet Alavandar, being
a king now to discuss the matter. He came out with an
idea. He came to know that the king relishes thoodhu
vaLai keerai (kind of spinach). He supplied that
spinach to the royal kitchen daily. After few months,
he stopped. The king asked the cook as to why the
spinach is not being served. They replied saying "one
brahmin used to supply. He does not come nowadays."
Alavandhar told them that he would like to meet him,
if he comes next. Next day, they met each other.

Rama misrar told Alavandhar that his grandfather Sri
Nathamuni had passed on the family wealth (kula
dhanam) that needs to be handed over to Sri
Alavandhar. Alavandhar said, "in that case, give me
that."

"No. It is not here. Come with me.". He took him all
the way to Srirangam Koil. (ArAdha aruLamudham
podhintha kOil). He showed Alavandhar, the Divya
mangaLa vigraham of Sri Ranganathan. Looking at the
Lord, in such divine splendour, the divine beauty- and
looking (with tears rolling down his cheeks) at those
"kariyavaagi, pudai parandhu, miLirndha,
sevvariyOdiya, neeNda, ap periya vaaya kaNgaL.."
(those dark, well spread, shining, ruddy lined, long,
large eyes)-

He bursts out:

I have nothing to give you. None at all. I have no
quailifications. I am not religious. What a Great
person my Grand Father was! What am I! I have no one
but You(the embodiment of mercy! Compassion!- dayA) as
my refuge. He performed Saranagati at the Lotus Feet
of Lord Ranganathan.

na dharma nishtOsmi na chaatma vEdi
na bhaktimaan tvaccharaNAravindE
akinchanOananyagatih saraNya!
tvat paadamoolam saranam prapadye.
(Sthothra Rathnam- 22nd sloka)

Oh you worthy of being sought as refuge! I am not one
established in Dharma, nor am i a knower of the self.
I have no fervent devotion to your lotus-feet. Utterly
destitute as I am, and having none else for resort, I
take refuge under your feet.

Rama Misra explained the purpose of his mission and
requested Alavandar to take over the reins of
spiritual leadership bequeathed to him by his
illustrious grandfather, Nathamuni. Alavandar took to
Sannyas and was then known as YAMUNA MUNI.

Thus Sri Ramamisrar [MaNakkaal Nambhi] is one of the
greatest links of our Sampradayam.

Acharyan ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam
asmadhAchArya paryanthAm vandhE Guru paramparAm
Regards
Namo narayana
dAsan

Source: Article in Srirangasri




Thanian :

Anujjitha Kshamaa Yogam Apunya Jana Bhaadakam
Asprushta Madha Raagam Thum Raamam Turyam Upaasmahe

Meaning: We meditate on Rama (ManakkAl Nambi) the fourth Rama in order, (after
parasuramar, Dasaratharamar, and Balaramar) who has not abandoned forbearance,
(as different from parasuramar) one who has not harmed the rAkshasAs( as
different from dasaratha raman) unblemished by love for madas (in contrast to
Balarama)



MASI ? MAGAM
3. MANAKKAL NAMBI

He was born as the Amsam of Kumudan, one of the Nityasuris in
Paramapadam. He was born in the MaNakkAl AgrahAram adjacent to ANBIL,
in Lalgudi Taluk, Trichy District. His date of birth is also
variously placed by scholars: PPM: 832 AD; MSR: 870AD; MKS: 876 AD.
But, all are agreed that he was born in the year VirOdhi, month of
Masi in the constellation of Magam.
The credit for transforming Yamunai thuraivan into YAmuna Muni goes
to him (PPM). For 12 years, he rendered personal service to his
Acharya, Uyyak KonDAr and after the demise of UyyakKonNDAr's wife, he
took over the culinary duties and cooked food for his Acharya. (PPM)
EmbAr describes that Nammalwar drank of the ocean of mercy of the
Lord Narayana and rained it through Natha muni and that PuNDarikAksha
was like the fountain spring that let the stream reach AalavanDAr.
PuNDarikAksha learned the holy collects and Yoga Rahasya from Natha
Muni and passed them on to AalavanDAr.
His devotion to his Guru was such that on an occasion when two
daughters of PuNDarikAksha had to cross the slush on their way back
home after bath in the river, he laid himself down on the slush and
asked them to walk over on his back. Since, the sands at the feet of
the Guru's daughters were on his body, he came to be known as ' Manal
Kaal Nambi' . He took to Sannyas. He does not seem to have written
any work. But, citations of his teachings are found in the works of
other AchAryas. Swami Desikan quotes his teachings in NyAya
Parisuddhi. So, he is known as "Yathaartha Khyaadhi" Swami Desika in
Sloka 7 of his YatirAja Saptadhi praises MaNakkAl Nambi as follows:
Anujjitha Kshamaa Yogam Apunya Jana Bhaadakam |
Asprushta Madha Raagam Thum Raamam Turiyam Upaasmahe ||
(meaning) The one who learned through UpadEsam all the Sastaraarthas
from UyyakkoNDAr was MaNakkAl Nambi. There were only three Ramas
before. Here comes the fourth Rama. The defects noticeable in the
other 3 Ramas were totally absent in this 4th Rama.
ANUJJITHA KSHAMAA YOGAM : ParasurAma had no patience. Out of
jealousy, he fought with 'Chakravarthi Tirumagan'. With an
uncontrollable rage, he embarked on destroying the entire Kshatriya
race. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never lost his composure and kept his
senses under absolute control.
APUNYA JANA BHAADAKAM: Dasaratha Rama destroyed the Rakshasas,
otherwise known as 'Punya Jana'. But, MaNakkAl Nambi never harmed
anyone but always did all the good he could to SAdhus who are also
known as 'Punya Jana'
ASPRUSHTA MADHA RAAGAM: BalarAma became reddish in color by excessive
drinking MaNakkAl Nambi never exhibited any pride or prejudice or any
excessive attachment to anything worldly. Let us prostrate before
this blemish less 4th Rama