Pondarikapuram Andavan Swami

span style="font-weight:bold;">Poundarikapuram Andavan

Srivasa Ranga Parakala Munithrayaptha
Lakshmanath Rakshana Yudutvayugamantham
Acharya Bakhthi Paribhoothamatharkaseelam
Gopala Desika Munim Gurmaachrayama:

It was in 1990- in the course of my 60th birthday –for the first time I had opportunity to meet my Acharya. My mother took me to Acharya to pay my humble respects and get the blessings. My mother enjoyed the respects and affections of all the Acharyas-who in their poorvashramam were her relatives.

I was wonderstruck and ashtonished to see the divine grace of Swami. Tall, golden colour, simple-Swami in every sense a sanyasi. After Shastanga Namaskar I started to tell Abhivadaye. Swami told me that we should not tell this to yathis and asked me whether I am doing Sandyavandanam. He adviced my mother and wife to make a practice to offer Coffee in the morning only we finish Sandyavandanam.

Till now this principle is followed and I am happy that an easy way was shown to me by Acharya.. Swamiji is strict in achara and anushtana and insists that before entering the house or ashramam we should wash our legs and head and we should do sandyavandanam at least twice-in the morning and evening.

I have attended since then many discourses of Swami and Thirunaksharams including 80th birthday and 25-years of Peeta Arohanam of theAshramam and recently his 88th birthday also. Every time I met him he used to enquire family background, whether I follow the Acharam and Anushtanam and I am fortunate that Swami initiated me to Prabathi-Baranyasam . Swamiji is the symbol of purity. – Swamiji is well described by great scholars and other Acharyas in their own words:-

In 1938, when the Swami was studying in the Siromani class in the Sanskrit College, Tirupati, we shared the same room and stayed together in the Ahobila Mutt.

So, I am an Eyewitness to his fastidious and punctilious adherence to Aachaaram and Anushtaanam, which were of a very high order and do not come by easily for others.

I have never seen in this Mahaan from then on and till now, any trace of Kaama, Krodha etc. It is indeed a marvel, how he has mastered these and kept them under perfect control.

With a imposing majestic appearance matched only by his inimitable majestic Swabhaava, a mellifluous voice matched only by an impressive delivery- he proved himself an incomparable "Poorvabaashi", a "Mithabaashi" and a "Vairaaghya Seela". In thought, word and deed, he upholds and what is more important actually practices, the high standards of Aachaara and Anushtaana with a single pointed devotion.

It is amazing to see how he conducts the Saturday Sadas every week on Sri Baashya and other Granthas in a calm and serene atmosphere. His discourses are as entertaining and enlivening as his comments and elucidation are educative and revealing his mastery of the nuances. They certainly gladdened the hearts of the listeners and chastened their minds by removing all doubts.

He delights in doing this purely as a Bhagavad Kainkaryam in the true spirit of what Swami Desika says-

"Santhoshaartham Vimsruti Muhur Adhyaathma Vidyaam"

and he performs the "Uttara Kriya" in such a way that cannot fail to steep an onlooker without wondering.

It is such Mahaans who should be our Aachaaryas. Never can one find any blemish to detract him from his high code of conduct he has laid down for himself and which he has been observing with utmost diligence and care. In short, he is a perfect Yathivara and sets the standard for other Sannyaasis.

At the same time, his administrative capacities are none the less impressive. With almost no wherewithal, he has renovated and is maintaining Swami Desikar Sannidhi at East Uttara Street, Srirangam: he has brought out admirable publications of Srimad Rahasya Traya Saaram and Chillarai Rahasyams of Swami Desikan which will be a valuable treasure for posterity.

We pray to the Divya Dampathis that this great Mahaapurusha , Sri Parama Hamsetyaadhi Paravaakkottai Srimad Aandavan Sri Gopaala Desika Maha Desikan Swami should live long for hundreds of years more in perfect health and guide us all".
-Purasai U.V.Narasimhachariar-Editor Narasimhapriya

Srinidhi Swami has composed and dedicated the above poetic tribute to Prakritam Paravaakkottai Aandavan Swami. We offer here a few flowers from the Maalikaa:
Ajasya Thaare Bhuvane Avatheernaha
Gajasya Samrakshakam Aasrayam Thum /
Rajasya Magnah Tamasas Sudoorah
Vrajasya Naathah Kila Satva Bhaajaam //


(meaning) "Sri Paramahamsetyaadhi Paravakkottai Aandavan Swami was born in the same Rohini Nakshatra of Brahma Prajaapathi (Ajasya); He propitiates the Gajendra Varadha who saved the elephant (Gajasya); He has banished both Rajo (Rajasya) and Tamo Gunas; by his Sattva Guna, he shines as the master of all Prapannas (Vrajasya Naathah)".
Thishyasi Cha Thigma Bhaavam
Nirasya Thimiram Thiras Kurvan /
Tilakam Sri Yathiraaja Deepyathi
Saptathy Upetha tho Ayam //


(meaning) "This Swami who dispels darkness of ignorance shines like the 'Tilakam' among Yathiraajas.
Sri Rohinee Thaara Samudbhavassan
Dhrito Vichitram Vasudeva Vrinda /
Brindaavanam Saadhu Vidhraaya Nandhyam
Gopaala Thaam Vamsa Karo Vibhaathi //


(meaning) " Lord Gopalan appeared in Rohini Nakshatram and was brought up by Vasudeva, his family and friends. Living in Brindavanam, he held the bamboo flute in his hands. This Gopalan (Swami Paravakkottai Aandavan) also appeared in the same Rohini Nakshatram and is always surrounded by Sishyas; He repaired the Brindavanam and holds the "Tridandam" made of bamboo."

Sri. U.Ve. Perukkaranai Chakravarthiyaachariar Swami Aasthaana Vidwan, Ahobila Mutt

"Gopala who was born somewhere under the constellation of Rohini grew up somewhere else and fed people with the milk of Gnaana. Likewise, our Aachaarya was born somewhere under the same constellation of Rohini. Leaving behind Brahmacharyam and Grihasta Aasramams, he came elsewhere to take over Sannyasam and stands as a great preceptor. And he is also freely giving us, the milk of Gnaana.

Lord Krishna who left his place of birth and grew up elsewhere solely for giving us the celestial song. So also, this Swami also had left his near and dear ones and adopted Sannyasa Aasrama solely for the purpose of lighting the lamp of Gnaana in the minds of his Sishyas.

Even in his Poorva Aasramam, this Swami was well known for a high level of Aachaaram, Anushtaanam and Paramaikaanthitvam and righteous conduct. After assuming Sannyasa, he is adhering strictly to the disciplines enjoined for Sannyasis and stands a beacon light and a veritable "Vairaghya Nidhi"

-U.Ve.Chakravarthiyacharyar Swami-Sri Karyam Ahobila Mutt.

" Sri Swami hails from 'Paravaak kottai' - a fort that stands firm and does not fly away. He shines as a 'Paravum Kottai'- a fort that spreads our Siddhanta. Through sage advice, the Swami redeems numerous Sishyas; By publishing Granthas like Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram, he does real service to the growth of Srivaishnavam; By such silent but steady activities, he has become renowned throughout the Vaishnavite world true to Swami Desika's words- 'Disaasu Dasasu Khyaathih Subah'. He shines as a beacon light that sheds its floodlight far and wide so that everyone could see clearly and appreciate the greatness of the edifice that is Visishtaadvaitam. Indeed, 'Roopameva Asya Yetan Mahimaanam Vyachashte'

U.Ve. Thaiyar Vangipuram, Nyaya Vedanta Vidwan,
Sri Ahobila Matam Aaraadhakar Sri Rangarajachariar Swami

" This Srimad Aandavan has devised a novel method for illuminating the knowledge of Vedanta; for the last several years, he has been conducting classes for explaining one Adhikaram of Sri Bashyam and similarly one Adhikaranam of Srimad Rahasya Traya Saram every week. These sessions are not only through discourses but a critical discussion with audience participation of Vidwans attending the Sadas. This has been a real boon to people like us- a shower of milk and honey indeed.

Here is an "Aadarsha Aachaarya" (Preceptor Perfect) who exemplifies 'Achaarya Lakshanam' in its entirety and truly represents what Swami Desika says- 'Kaakkum Karuthudai Desikar Kanru Yena Nammai Yenni Surakkum Suravigal Pol Soriginranar Sollamudhe'- (meaning) Like the mother cow that feeds her calves with abundant love, our Aachaarya in his infinite grace deems us as his very calves and feed us with his nectar- like words of wisdom.

If one needs to see what is the ideal and blemishless Anushtaanam of a Sannyasi - Come, See it in its pristine glory in our Swami, Srimad Paravakkottai Aandavan. Swami.

Observing Ahimsa and avoiding jeevahimsa are among his top priorities. Even while lifting water from the well, one has to be careful in this regard. Such is his strict emphasis on Ahimsa.

A Sannyasi is expected to beg alms (Biksha) from a Grihasta and then only, he can perform the 'Antharyaami Nivedanam'. The Grihasta should be equally an impeccable Anushtaatha. At least a Grihasta can expiate sins of himsa accruing during his routine chores by performing Vaisvadevam. But, since a Sannyasi has no 'Agni Kaaryam', he has to be doubly careful to ensure that the Grihasta who offers him biksha scrupulously observes the Saastraic injunctions in this regard. Otherwise, he would have to starve!

Even if it is a poisonous snake or scorpion, he would not allow anyone to even harm it , let alone kill it. He would say-' Leave it alone; it would not harm anybody'. Though on many occasions such poisonous creatures were sighted in the Asramam premises, never have they hurt anyone. This is an example of his compassion and adherence to the principles prescribed for yathis in Yathi Dharma Sastras.

The very presence of such Yathiswaras alone contributes to the greatness of this Koil. That is why the Koil becomes "Aaraatha Arul Amudham Podhindha Koil"

-U.Ve. Vangipuram Navaneetham Gopaladesikachariar Swami.

Adiyen is fortunate to be blessed by this great Acharya and I prostrate at the feet of the great mahan.

Subam
Dasan
Madapusi Jagannathan.