THE TAMRAPARNI FAMILY

By T.S.V.Krishnan, Coimbatore

1834-1931 A.D.

Shri Madhwanatharu - Jivana Charitre - By Shri D.V.Subbachar👇

Shri Madhwanatharu - Jivana Charitre - By Shri T.S.V.Krishnan👇

History of Sri Madhwanatha Theertharu Sri Madhwanatha Theertharu was born in the year 1834 (Ananda naama Samvatsara). His father Sri Srinivasachar was a very great scholar in all the 4 branches of shastras namely philosophy, logic, grammar and meemamsa. He was also a great scholar in Carnatic music. Many musicians used to consult him in the subtleties of music and instrumentalists used to play before him and get certified for their competencies. Sri Krishnamrutamahaarnava written by Srimad Acharya contains lots of ethics and morals. It contains about 220 slokas. Sri Srinivasachar used to sing these 220 slokas in 220 different ragas. That was the competency and merit he had to his credit. Sri Srinivasachar was the only son to the couple Sri Venkataramanachar & Smty.Subamma. Smty. Subamma hailed from Tamraparni family. This couple (belonging to Saudha vamsha) unfortunately had to lose few infants. She felt out of devotion to her vamsha she would name her son as Tamraparni Srinivasachar. That is why, though Sri Madhwanatharu was born in Saudha Vamsha, he is known as Tamraparni Madhwachar.

It may be noted that his maternal grandson Sri.D.V.Subbachar hailed directly from the male descendants of Tamraparni Vamsha. That was the reason even Sri Madhwanatharu did vishesha anugraha to Sri. D.V.Subbachar and also use to acknowledge the fact that Sri D.V.Subbachar belonged to Tamraparni Vamsha. Sri Venkataramanachar was the paternal grandfather of Sri Madhwanatharu who was also a versatile scholar. He has written lot of granthaas on Tarka and Meemamsa. However, those works are not available except Venkatesha Gadhyam on Lord Srinivasa. Wherever Lord Anjaneya has to be installed, Sri Venkataramanachar used to preside over the function and will do the prathisthaapana from his holy hands. People in those days were taking him through pallak. Wherever Sri Venkataramanachar had to attend Sabhas, two persons will carry lamps; that was the honour given to him. But at the same time, Sri Venkataramanachar was known for his simplicity and humility and he was not after fame or glory. He was accepting the honour because of Saudha Vamsha which deserved that honor.

Once Sri Venkataramanachar visited SMSO Sabha with his disciples and it was very unfortunate that no one noticed him. He was an ocean of mercy, free from all egos and never got perturbed. He had a strong belief that everything will take place according to God’s Will. He was teaching tatvaprakaashika to his disciples in a hall which was very near to the bathroom. Inside the bathroom, the then secretary was taking bath who was also a scholar was dumbfounded listening to the presentation of Sri Venkataramanachar. He came out and spontaneously prostrated Sri Venkataramanachar and took apology for not recognizing him earlier. The other scholars also took apology. Sri Venkataramanachar was requested to be a Chairman for the Sabha later.

One evening Lord Hayavadana appeared in Sri Venkataramanachar’s dream. The lord told that He is immersed in the holy tank of madhwasarovara and that deity was Swami Vadiraja Karaarchita with Hanuman Vahana. The Tashildar of Udupi also got the similar dream that Sri Venkataramanachar is coming from Coimbatore and the said deity shall be handed over to him. Surprisingly, the then paryaaya Swamiji got the same dream as well. Sri Venkataramanachar went to Udupi with his disciples. In those days, it took nearly 20 days to travel from Coimbatore to Udupi. After reaching Udupi, in Madhwasarovara the deity of Lord Hayavadana was found with samputa and everyone was astonished of the greatness of Sri Venkataramanachar. In this context, the ‘swapna being satya’ as advocated by Srimad Acharyaru has become true in the history of Sri Venkataramanachar. Though Sri Venkataramanachar was a grahastha, he had all the qualities of a great saint. That is all the time he was propagating Hari Sarvottama through shastras, and was doing pratima archana of Lord Hayavadana daily.

On one such day, Sri Venkataramanachar was doing pratima archana in the presence of many scholars. The pooja krama was that Srimad Bhagavatha and Sutra Bhashya must be elaborately discussed. On this occasion one scholar by name Sri.V.R.Achar had to recite the mangalaacharana of Anubhaashya. Sri Madhwanatha Theertharu was only 3 years old boy listening to the same. Sri Achar was doing paarayana as Soothraarta muchyate. Immediately, the young prodigy Sri.Madhwanatharu got up and questioned the scholar whether it was to be recited as ‘Soothraarta muchyate’ or Soothraarta uchyate’? He also categorically said that it must be recited as ‘Uchyate’ only. Both Sri Venkataramanachar (Sri Madhwanatharu’s grandfather) and Sri V.R. Achar (the other scholar) were stunned at the intellect of Sri. Madhwanatharu. After few years, the same scholar V.R.Achar became the father in law of Sri Madhwanatharu. Sri Madhwanatharu was the second son of Sri.Tamraparni Srinivasachar. The first son was also named as Sri.Tamraparni Venkataramanachar. He was a good scholar but he had an untimely demise at the age of 55. Sri Venkataramanachar, grandfather of Sri Madhwanatharu passed away at the age of 88.

Tamraparni Srinivasachar with great devotion wanted to perform nitya shraardha and wanted to take holy bath in the river Godavari at Rajamundhry and it was a wish of Subamma also to take bath daily in the river Godavari. Sri Madhwanatharu accompanied his father to Rajamundhry at the age of 13. Srinivasachar taught tatvaprakaashika and Vishnutatvavinirnaya at Rajamundhry with all theekas and tippanis. At the age of 13 Sri Madhwanatharu had memorized the moola texts with all meanings and commentaries. This is not something impossible for a person who did Sri Sumadhwa Vijaya mangala in just 15 days when he was 7 years old. His memory power was simply outstanding. Once Tamraparni Srinivasachar was invited for a sabha but it was a custom those days that those hailed from very big vamsha, will not attend many sabhas. Therefore, Tamraparni Srinivasachar asked their sons to attend the sabha.

In that sabha, the tarka scholar questioned in nyaaya shastra a portion regarding saamanya nirukti. Both the brothers could not answer because they had not learnt tarka at that point in time. Both of them rushed back home and prostrated before their father and regretted their ignorance in tarka shastra. They wanted permission to go out of Srirangam to learn tarka shastra. It was God’s sent, a very renowned scholar in Nyaya shastra namely Navadweepa Bhimachar visited Srirangam. Sri Madhwanatharu with great interest learnt Nyaya Shastra for nearly 12 years by observing gurukula vaasa with Navadweepa Bhimachar. The way in which Sri Madhwanatharu studied tarka cannot be explained in words.

To make it short, it is known as Praacheena Paanditya. Everyday after learning nyaaya shastra from his guru Sri Madhwanatharu will come and take bath. This is due to traditional belief that Nyaaya Shastra that is pure logic is not a madi grantha. It is only an exercise like mathematics. It is only Brahma tarka which is correct and all the sarva moola granthaas are based on Brahma tarka. The Pramaana Paddathi an independent work by Sri Teekacharya is also based on Pramaana Lakshana which in turn is based on Brahma tarka. Sri Madhwanatharu used to submit all objections and fallacies of Nyaaya Shastra as per Nyaaya Sudha but unfortunately his Guru did not accept them. This is due to his Guru’s lack of involvement and confidence in Madhwa Shastra. But Sri Navadweepa Bhimachar taught Nyaaya Shastra with all sincerity and Sri Madhwanatha Thirtharu was very grateful to him for the same. This Nyaaya shastra only strengthens the thinking faculty and most of the tippanis are in the nyaaya style and therefore for a student it is essential to know the prakriyaa of nyaaya shastra. But it is not pramaana.

Sri Madhwanatharu learned all the granthas very well from his father and when he was just 26 years old he was invited by the king of Trivandrum. Even at a very young age he had large number of disciples not only in Tamil Nadu but also from Andhra Pradesh. He was famously called a Prasiddha Acharya Purusharu. He accepted the invitation and both the father and son decided to go to Trivandrum. In those days, getting appointment from the king of Trivandrum was very difficult. Sri Madhwanatharu and his father stayed in a choultry. Sri Madhwanatharu had a dream that someone called him in singular noun (ekavachana). From the boyhood days, no one will address him in singular one. He will be called only as “Chikkaacharu”.

Therefore, he got surprised that who was calling him in singular noun. It was a great joy for Madhwanatharu to notice that it is Lord Padmanabha appeared in the dream and addressed him so and did vishesha anugraha. Immediately Sri Madhwanatharu composed a sloka on Lord Padmanabha. In the choultry one great scholar who was attached to the king, interviewed Madhwanathru and was very impressed by his expertise. Immediately he fixed the appointment with the king. The Trivandrum king was a great scholar in Advaita. He was also very much impressed by the presentation and tejas of Sri Madhwanatharu. He requested Sri Madhwanatharu to preside over the navaratri sabha as the chairman. He took up Aarambanadhi adhikarana by which Advaitins establish their school of thought and pointed out all the fallacies in Advaita Bhashya.

At that stage, one Advaita scholar without answering the objections raised by Sri Madhwanatharu, he wanted to know the point of view according to Madhwa Bhashya. This sounded like a mischief and not according to the rules of debate. When an opponent rises on objection one must only answer to the point and argue that the objection raised is not maintainable. But the opposite side should not question our view and thereby distract the attention of the sabha. Sri Madhwanatharu prayed Sri Lord Padmanabha for a moment and to a great surprise one great scholar by name Sri Anantharama Shastri who was an Advaita scholar condemned the other scholar stating “Don’t ask about Madhwa Bhashya. You prove that Advaita Bhashya is flawless”.

In that way, in vedanta samrajya, Sri Madhwanatharu defeated all the scholars. Later on, the king wanted to hear the subtleness of Nyaaya shastra from Sri Madhwanatharu. He delivered lectures on Nyaaya for 9 days. The king was simply stunned at the scholarship and he took out Madhwanatharu for a procession to felicitate him. He also wanted to present a gold chain. But Sri Madhwanatharu had taken an oath not to accept any benefit from anyone just like Drona Acharya. But out of great compulsion from the king the chain was presented in the sanhidhana of Lord Padmanabha and he never used that chain and gave it to his family members.

After that, Sri Madhwanatharu returned home. After few months he was blessed with a male child who was named as Padmanabha. This child later became an outstanding scholar and member of the Coimbatore Bar Association and also a giant in the Madras High Court popularly known as C.M.Padmanabhachar. He was an accredited scholar who was written many books and also was a well recognized criminal lawyer. Even the Madras High Court was declared holiday when he passed away. Justice Norton who was the judge of the Madras High Court was questioned for declaring a holiday when an advocate died. The justice replied that he is very upset and cannot pass any orders and hence he declared holiday to the Court. That was the merit of C.M.Padmanabachar and even today his portrait is present in the Coimbatore Bar Association. It was a prediction by the astrologers that Sri C.M.Padmanabachar will not be alive to perform last rites for his father.

Sri Madhwanatharu was saddened hearing this prediction. He decided to take Sanyasa Ashrama which may negate this prediction. By taking Ashrama, his son will no longer be obligated to perform last rites. But this was just a trivial reason.

The main reason for Sri Madhwanatharu to take sanyasa ashrama is due to gyaana, bhakti and vairagya. Unfortunately the prediction became true and Sri C.M.Padmanabhachar passed away at the age of 55 when His Holiness was 85 year old. His Holiness consoled himself and was always praying Lord Hari Vayu for his son’s eternal peace. He was reciting Bhagavat Gita commentary written by his son and praying Lord Hari for his eternal happiness. He lived 12 years after his son’s demise and performing all the rites in karma and gyaana as per the code of conduct enunciated by Sri Vedavyasa.

He used to say that if all the adhika maasas are taken into account he has completed 100 years of age. He knew when he will leave the mortal coil and requested Sri D.V.Subbachar to burry him near Sri Raghavendra Swamy temple at Srirangam which was known as Natesan Pillai Thottam then. He also instructed him after six months from the date of burial to exhume and take the mortal remains and after holy bath in the Cauvery river and build a brindhavana in his house. But to a great surprise Sri D.V.Subbachar found after exhuming the entire body was found without any decay whatsoever. Even the tulsi maala was as fresh as it was 6 months ago. Sri D.V.Subbachar was fortunate to take a darshan of his Guru as he was not able to attend the ceremonies during his demise.

Later, His Holiness’s grandsons and Sri D.V.Subbachar took the tulsi mruthika and by reciting Sri Sumadhwa Vijaya consecrated the brindavana at his house. The first year aradhana celebration was performed in January 1931. All the great scholars namely Pt.Ramachar who was the grandfather of Sri Vattangadu Hari Achar, Sri.Gopalachar participated and even the great flute vidhwan Sri Palladam Sanjeev Rao performed during the aradhana celebrations. Sincere thanks to Shri T.S.V.Krishnan(son of Shri Subbachar) who wrote all the details above as per the lectures of Shri Subbachar. Shri Krishnan narrates the life history of Shripadaru during every Aradhana in a fantastic and emotional manner.

By T.S.V.Krishnan, Coimbatore

Life history of Shri D.V.Subbachar - By Shri T.S.V.Krishnan👇

Shri Tamraparni D.V. Subbachar was born in 1907 to Shri Venkatanarismhachar and Smty. Saraswathi.

Shri Subbachar lost both his parents at a very young age when he was just one year old. He was brought up by his aunt Smty.Kitti Amma. He was extremely brilliant from a very early age and studied his school/college in scholarship. He joined as an apprentice with his maternal uncle’s son Shri. C.P.Hariachar, Coimbatore and successfully completed in CA examination. He was the first qualified Chartered Accountant of Coimbatore and is photo can be still found in ICAI, Coimbatore branch. He was a very successful auditor. His clientele included Lakshmi Mills, LMW, Central studios etc. He also holds the credit of being the auditor of Late Mr. Shanmugam Chettiar, the first finance minister of India.

Apart from his loukika career, Shri Subbachar was an outstanding scholar in Dwaita philosophy. He was called a “Simha Swapna” by his presence in any Vidwat Sabha. He has attended sabhas of Sri 1008 Shri Sathyadhyana Sripadaru of Uttaradi Mutt and also has learned pAtha from His Holiness Shri Vidyamanyatheertha of Bandarekere Mutt. Shri Subbachar had the most unique feature of writing our shastra in simple language so that anyone can understand it. He has published books in Sanskrit and there are other krodapatras which are unpublished yet.

He had the full blessings of his Guru Shri Shri 1008 Shri Madhwanatha Sripadaru who was the Praatasmaraniyaru for him. Shri Madhwanatha Sripadaru’s brindavana is at Srirangam. His Guru also happens to be Shri Subbachar’s maternal grandfather. Shri Subbachar was very poor when he was born and went through extreme difficult times during his younger days. With his Guru’s blessings and apAra bhakthi in Hari Vayu gurugalu , he not only was successful in becoming a leading auditor and profound scholar, but also earned the goodwill and reputation from all the leading corporate as the most powerful auditor. Not only that, He is still respected in the Madhwa Community and will be remembered ever for his contribution to the Dwaita philosophy and Madhwa society. Even though, he was active in audit practice, he was yet orthodox and following all the upavaasa and anushthaanas.

Shri Subbachar got married to Smty.Kaveri and was blessed with four sons. The couple was famous for their policy – “Simple Living and High Thinking”. With their well planned life, they brought up successfully all the four sons. They also continued during Aradhana to their Guru at Srirangam. Shri Subbachar performed Aradhana for 60 years without any break. Aradhana is performed by reciting all the 16 sargas of Sumadhvijaya everyday for 3 days and having discussion in various topics by inviting scholars from everywhere. Even at his old age he used to get up at 4 am and start reading dwaita shastras. After his schedule of reading , every day he would invite his Madhwa neighbors and Achars for pAtha and discussion in various topics like Pramana Paddathi, Sriman Nyaya Sudha and many more.

I still remember how he used to teach Sanskrit and granthas like Manimanjari, Sumadhvijaya and Vayustuti for the kids in the family at a very early age. We always wondered how he could sit down on the floor without even any support for his back in his 70s and 80s .

Shri Subbachar wrote books even in his late 80s, untill he breathed his last at age of 86. He did lot of charity work . Though he earned a lot of wealth, his simplicity of clothes and way of living was astonishing. He never wore anything more than a Dhoti, Shalya, and sometimes a white long cotton shirt.

His Bhakthi for Hari Vayu Gurugalu , the way he used to do VAADA with the advaita scholars and his Sanskrit proficiency was mesmerising to see. Though he's not there any more with us, he lives in his books and manuscripts which will help the generations to come .

THE TAMRAPARNI FAMILY

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Shri Madhwanathara Aradhana 2021

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Shri Madhwanathara Aradhana Mahotsava 2011

Saturday, January 9, 2010

SHRI MADHWANATHA SHRIPADARA ARADHANA

Friday, February 20, 2009

SHRI MADHWANATHA SHRIPADARU

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

TAMRAPARNI FAMILY TREE

LIFE OF SHRI SUBBACHAR

Popular published books written by Shri Tamraparni Subbachar

About Me