Sri Parasara Bhattar, son of Sri Kurattazhwan and Andal is an important Srivaishava Acharyar whose contribution to visishtadvaita is significant. It was said that Parasara bhattar was born as a result of the grace of Lord Ranganatha. He was the Elder of twins born to his mother. It is also stated that to perpetuate the memory of Parasara, the author of Vishnu Purana, this child was named Parasara Bhatta and the other child as Vedavyasa Bhatta by Swami Ramanuja himself.
Parasara Bhattar was a child prodigy. Even while he was a young boy, he defeated a popular scholar Sarvajnya Bhattar. He initially had his education at his father sri Kurattazhwan’s feet. Later by Swami Ramanuja’s desire Swami Embar has became his preceptor.
He was brought up with parental affection by divine couple. Parasara bhattar was officiating as the chief-priest and expunding the puranas in SriRangam temple, so he was also known as Purohita of Lord Ranganatha, SriRangesa Purohitah.
Once on his visit to Thirunarayanapuram, he defeated a famous Advaithi Madhwacharya. It is said that the scholarly duel went on for a week and finally Madhwacharya accepted the defeat and became Sri Parasara Bhattar’s disciple under a new name Ranganatha (consequent to his conversion to srivaishnavam). Ranganatha is popularly known as Nanjiyar and is the celebrated commentor on Thiruvaymozhi done at the instance of Sri Parasara Bhattar. This commentary of Thiruvaymozhi is called 9000 padi, replete with several instances of how Parasara Bhattar interpreted and explained (nirvaha s) the knotty passages of Thiruvaymozhi in accordance with the spirit of the school.
Due to some displeasure with Chola King Virasundara on King’s demolishing the thirumaligai (house) of a Srivaishnava to raise Madhil (outer wall) of Srirangam temple, Parasara Bhattar went to Thirukkotttiyur for some period and returned to srirangam only after his death.
Parasara Bhattar whos is thus reputed to have been a great successor of Swami Ramanuja was a prolific writer of greatdistinction. All his works in Sanskrit or in tamil bear the impress of amazing scholarship and unquestionable command of the language concerned. He works in Sanskrit are Astasloki, BhagavadGunaDarpanam (magnopus on sri Vishnu sahasranamam), SriGunaRatnakosam, SriRanganathaStotram, Sri Ranganatha Stavam. His tamil compositions, comprise his commentary on the Kaisika puranam, also know as Kaisika Mahatmyam . Also gave us thaniyan for Thiruppavai (neela tuNga….) , Azhwar udaiyar thaniyan in iyalsatru (bhootam sarasya …..).
Sri Parasara Bhattar’s life was full of several incidents and anecdotes, which are cherished by all srivaishnavas.
Once Veerasikhamani Pallavaraya, the king of the region was an ardent devotee ardent devotee and disciple of Sri Parasara Bhattar. One day he came to SriParasara Bhattar and requested him to teach him an easy way to tackling his problems of stat and also make him spriritually oriented. Sri parasara Bhattar then advised him to concentrate on the form of Sri Rama, who was camping with his vanara sena on Suvela Mountins on the other shore of oceans, ready to lay siege to city of Lanka. Sri Bhattar asked the king to constantly contemplate on this form of Sri Rama without fail. The ing was unable to know the implication of this advice. He requested the great acharya himself to clarify. Then Sri Parasara said “ By the time Sri Rama reached Lanka with his army it was evening time. As they reached the Suvela Mountain, The Sun had already set. Darkness was spreading everywhere. That was the time when rakshasas grow stronger. The capital Lanka was not far off. So the vanara army decided to protect SriRama and Lakshmana the whole night without wink and they even arranged among themselves to take care by shifts. But as hours advanced, the vanaras slowly slipped into deep slumber, induced by cool sea breaaze. As soon as they slept, both SriRama and Lakshmana got up, took the bows and arrows and kept vigil for sleeping vanaras. Thus Sri Rama himself Protected the vanaraas who thought of protecting him. So, entrust all your responsibilities and care and anxieties to Sri Rama. He will take good care of you”. King fell down at the feet of Parasara Bhattar and thanked him for the enlighment”
( This is the verse in question that all of usshould chant everyday with absolute faith and devotion
agratah prishtaschaiva paarshvatascha mahaabalau |
Sri Parasara Bhattar, son of Sri Kurattazhwan and Andal is an important Srivaishava Acharyar whose contribution to visishtadvaita is significant. It was said that Parasara bhattar was born as a result of the grace of Lord Ranganatha. He was the Elder of twins born to his mother. It is also stated that to perpetuate the memory of Parasara, the author of Vishnu Purana, this child was named Parasara Bhatta and the other child as Vedavyasa Bhatta by Swami Ramanuja himself.
Parasara Bhattar was a child prodigy. Even while he was a young boy, he defeated a popular scholar Sarvajnya Bhattar. He initially had his education at his father sri Kurattazhwan’s feet. Later by Swami Ramanuja’s desire Swami Embar has became his preceptor.
Parasara bhattar was officiating as the chief-preiest and expunding the puranas in SriRangam temple, so he was also known as Purohita of Lord Ranganatha, SriRangesa Purohitah.
Once on his visit to Thirunarayanapuram, he defeated a famous Advaithi Madhwacharya. It is said that the scholarly duel went on for a week and finally Madhwacharya accepted the defeat and became Sri Parasara Bhattar’s disciple under a new name Ranganatha (consequent to his conversion to srivaishnavam). Ranganatha is popularly known as Nanjiyar and is the celebrated commentor on Thiruvaymozhi done at the instance of Sri Parasara Bhattar. This commentary of Thiruvaymozhi is called 9000 padi, replete with several instances of how Parasara Bhattar interpreted and explained (nirvaha s) the knotty passages of Thiruvaymozhi in accordance with the spirit of the school.
Due to some displeasure with Chola King Virasundara on King’s demolishing the thirumaligai (house) of a Srivaishnava to raise Madhil (outer wall) of Srirangam temple, Parasara Bhattar went to Thirukkotttiyur for some period and returned to srirangam only after his death.
Parasara Bhattar whos is thus reputed to have been a great successor of Swami Ramanuja was a prolific writer of greatdistinction. All his works in Sanskrit or in tamil bear the impress of amazing scholarship and unquestionable command of the language concerned. He works in Sanskrit are Astasloki, BhagavadGunaDarpanam (magnopus on sri Vishnu sahasranamam), SriGunaRatnakosam, SriRanganathaStotram, Sri Ranganatha Stavam. His tamil compositions, comprise his commentary on the Kaisika puranam, also know as Kaisika Mahatmyam . Also gave us thaniyan for Thiruppavai (neela tuNga….) , Azhwar udaiyar thaniyan in iyalsatru (bhootam sarasya …..).
Sri Parasara Bhattar’s life was full of several incidents and anecdotes, which are cherished by all srivaishnavas.
Once Veerasikhamani Pallavaraya, the king of the region was an ardent devotee ardent devotee and disciple of Sri Parasara Bhattar. One day he came to SriParasara Bhattar and requested him to teach him an easy way to tackling his problems of stat and also make him spriritually oriented. Sri parasara Bhattar then advised him to concentrate on the form of Sri Rama, who was camping with his vanara sena on Suvela Mountins on the other shore of oceans, ready to lay siege to city of Lanka. Sri Bhattar asked the king to constantly contemplate on this form of Sri Rama without fail. The ing was unable to know the implication of this advice. He requested the great acharya himself to clarify. Then Sri Parasara said “ By the time Sri Rama reached Lanka with his army it was evening time. As they reached the Suvela Mountain, The Sun had already set. Darkness was spreading everywhere. That was the time when rakshasas grow stronger. The capital Lanka was not far off. So the vanara army decided to protect SriRama and Lakshmana the whole night without wink and they even arranged among themselves to take care by shifts. But as hours advanced, the vanaras slowly slipped into deep slumber, induced by cool sea breaaze. As soon as they slept, both SriRama and Lakshmana got up, took the bows and arrows and kept vigil for sleeping vanaras. Thus Sri Rama himself Protected the vanaraas who thought of protecting him. So, entrust all your responsibilities and care and anxieties to Sri Rama. He will take good care of you”. King fell down at the feet of Parasara Bhattar and thanked him for the enlighment”
This is the verse in question that all of usshould chant everyday with absolute faith and devotion
agratah prishtaschaiva paarshvatascha mahaabalau |
aakarnapoorna dhanvaanau rakshetaam Raama Lakshmanau ||
may Sri Rama and Lakshmana of immense strength with bows strung and streached to corners of their ears, protect me in front, in the rear and on both the sides!
The innumerable references to the interpretations he gives to several azhwar’s hymns and his wonderful repartees to his disciple Nanjiyar’s questions are source of immense delight to all devotees and students of the Srivaishnava literature. These are recorded in commentaries on the Divyaprabhandam called as Bhattar Nirvaha s. He is thus a shining star in firmament of Srivaishnavism.
aakarnapoorna dhanvaanau rakshetaam Raama Lakshmanau ||
may Sri Rama and Lakshmana of immense strength with bows strung and streached to corners of their ears, protect me in front, in the rear and on both the sides! )
The innumerable references to the interpretations he gives to several azhwar’s hymns and his wonderful repartees to his disciple Nanjiyar’s questions are source of immense delight to all devotees and students of the Srivaishnava literature. These are recorded in commentaries on the Divyaprabhandam called as Bhattar Nirvaha s. He is thus a shining star in firmament of Srivaishnavism.
