Nathamunigal

Nathamunigal

Nathamunigal was living in Veeranarayanapura with his father Isvaramuni and his grandfather Isvarabhatta Alwar. The temple of Veeranarayanapur was Mannarkoil ant the  lord Mannanar was the deity (Lord Krishna or Rajagopala). One day all the three of them took the approval of Lord Mannar and proceeded to visit the holy shrines in North India like Mathura, Brindavana, Bank of Yamuna, Govardhana, Dwaraka, Ayodhya, Saligrama, Badarikashrama, Naimisharanya, Nrisimhagiri and others.

On the way they reached a holy place called Govardhanapura on the bank of Yamuna and they worshipped  god Krishna known as Yamunai turaivan. They were so fascinated by the place and they decided to spend the rest of their days here. Time passed, one day Nathamunigal had a dream in which Lord Mannanar commanded them to return to Viranarayanapura.

They took the permission of Lord Yamunai Turaivan and started their return journey. On the way back they visited Purushottama kshetra, Simhadri or Ahobila, Tirupati, Ghatikachala, Hastigiri (Kanchi), Tiruvahindrapura, Tirukkovalur, Srirangam, Tirukkudandai and finally reached Veeranarayanapura. Nathamunigal made a flower garden for Mannanar and served him.

Once a group of srivaishnavas came to Veeranarayanapura. They sung 10 verses from Nammalwar Tiruvaimozhi and the 11^th which said “these 10 verses out of 1000 sung by Kurugur Shadagopan”. Hearing this Nathamuni asked them to sing the remaining verses. They said that they know only these 10 verses.

Nathamunigal was anxious to find the remaining verses of Nammalwar Tiruvaimozhi, he thought it might be recoverable in Kuruga land as mentioned in the last verse sung by srivaishnavas in Mannanar temple (Alwar Thirunagari). He travelled to Alwar Thirunagari. He worshipped Nammalwar and Polindu Ninna Piran, the deity of Alwar Thirunagari temple and started enquiring about Tiruvaimozhi. He met Parankusa Dasar (disciple of Madhura Kavi Alwar) and enquired about the remaining prabhanda. He said not only the Tiruvaimozhi, but the prabhandam of all other Alwars has been forgotten in these years. My Acharya Madhura Kavi Alwar has left a message “that whoever will concentrate his mind on Nammalwar and repeat Kanninun Shirutambu for 12000 times, will then bless with the vision of himself.

Nathamunigal requested Parankusa Dasar to preach him Kanninun Shirutambu. Parankusa Dasar preached him the “Knninun Shirutambu”. Nathamunigal sat down in meditation and repeated the mantra for 12000 times. At the end, image of Nammalwar opened the mouth and asked Nathamunigal the object of his invocation. He requested him to provide the last knowledge of the prabhanda. Tiruvaimozhi of 1000 verses and remaining 3000 verses of Prabhandam appeared before Nathamunigal. And in addition Nammalwar taught the doctrine of three Rahasya as well as secrets of Yoga.

Nathamunigal felt himself blessed and remained in Tirunagari absorbed in the services of Nammalwar and Adinatha. The Lord Mannanar appeared in his dream again and commanded him to return to Veera Narayanapura. He took the permission of Nammalwar and Adinatha and returned to Veera Narayanapura. As commanded by Mannanar he recited all 4000 verses in front of him. Lord Mannanar commanded him to set them to music. As commanded by Lord Adinatha, Nathamunigal set 4000 verses to music and sung in front of him every day.

Nathamunigal had 8 disciples. 1. Uyyakondar 2. Kurukkai Kavalappan 3. Nambi Karunakara Dasar 4. Erutiru Vudaiyar 5. Tirukannan Mangaiandan 6. Vanamamalai Deviyandan 7. Uruppattur Achaan Pillai 8. Shokkatur Alwan. Nathamunigal taught them Nalayira Divya Prabandham and left the legacy of work.

Nathamuni wrote three works:

Nayaaya-tattva 
Purusa-ninnaya 
Yoga-rahasya

After few years, Nathamunigal retired from active habits of life and went to Samadhi state. One day he called his son Iswara Munigal and told him, you will be blessed with a son, name him as Yamunai Turaivan. And command his disciple Uyyakkondar to impart all the sastras and Yoga to Yamunai Turaivan.

One day when Nathamunigal was in Samadhi Yoga, king Chola passed Veeranarayanpura with his soldiers, monkeys and what not after a hunting exercise. Nathamunigal’s young daughter watched this and told his father two men with bows and women came to visit him. Nathamunigal imagined that lord Rama with his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita is have come to visit him. He ran out and started searching for them. He ran around and couldn’t find them. At the end he was so disappointed and fell on the ground and departed from this world. The family was not able to take the pain of his departure. But at the end they decided it is all fate and they reached the place where Nathamunigal fell down. His son Iswara munigal performed the last rituals. His disciple Uyyakkondar took the place of Nathamunigal where they used to practice Yoga and Kurugaval Appan practiced Yoga and he lived for 540 years.