TIRUKKACHCHI NAMBI

 

TIRUKACHCHI NAMBI

The one with whom Varada conversed.

 

 

 Tirukkachchi Nambi was an exceptional devotee of kAncheepuram VaradarAja PerumAL.  He was born to parents Veeraraghavan and Kamala in Poovirunthavalli (Poonnamallee near Chennai), on mAsi mRugaseersham nakshatram.  He was named ‘Gajendradaasar’.  His father was a devotee of Tirumazhisai Azhvar alias Bhaargava. Hence, he was also named ‘Bhaargavapriya’.

 Tirukachchi Nambi set up a garden in Poovirunthavalli and took flowers to kancheepuram VaradarAja PerumAl.  Pleased with his devotion, Varada ordered that he stay in kaancheepuram and do AlavaTTa kainkaryam – fanning service for Him.   Lord Varada used to tell tirukkachchi nambi to stay back late and continue the fanning service.  In due course, He became the closest devotee of Lord Varada.   He started conversing with Lord Varada and clear the doubts and worries of devotees.  Varada fulfilled all his wishes like garland, prasaadam by conveying it to nambi.   In deep devotion,  Kaanchipoorna composed one stuti of eight verses called DevarAjAshTakam.   He became a shishya of Alavandaar, who gave him the name “PeraruLALan dAsar”. 

When Swaami Raamaanuja returned from his Varanasi trip, He approached Tirukkacchi Nambi and requested him to accept him as shisya. But, Tirukkachchi Nambi said that He, being abrAhmaNa (Vaishya caste), could not be a guru for rAmAnuja. Instead, He asked Raamaanuja to approach Periya Nambi.  He was very much moved by the simplicity and divinity of Kaanchipoorna.  Slowly, Raamaanuja become very much attached to Kaanchipoorna. 

 One day, Raamaanuja had six doubts about the supreme Lord in this mind. He requested Tirukkachchi Nambi to ask Lord Varada.  The Lord gave tirukkachchi nambi six answers (aru vArtaigaL) which turned out to be the six assertions (Aru vArtai) of our VaishNava Sampradaayam.  They six answers are:

 1. अहम् ऎव परं तत्वम् । "aham Eva param tatvam" –

 I (VaradarAja/Shreeman nArAyaNa) am the supreme truth. 

2.  दर्शनं भॆद ऎव च । "darshanam bhEda Eva cha" –

The supreme Lord is the inner controller inside all movable and immovable entities but is different from them.  This statement is the assertion of vaishNava philosophy.

3. उपायॆशु प्रपत्तिस्यात् । “upAyEshu prapattisyAt" –

SharanAgati or surrender is the best way to attain mOksha. 

4. अन्तिम स्मृति वर्जनम् । "antima smRuti varjanam" –

Remembering the Lord during our final journey is not mandatory.  

5.  दॆहावसानॆ मुक्तिस्यात् । "dEhAvasAnE muktisyAt" –

The AtmA shall attain mukti/freedom at the fall of the body. 

6.पूर्णाचार्यं समाश्रय। "poorNAchAryam samAshraya" –

Accept the virtuous MahApoorNa/Periya Nambi as AchArya (or) Approach a qualified Acharya and receive samAshrayaNam samskaaram from him.  

 Raamaanuja was instrumental in getting the six truths from the Lord's mouth, hence rAmAnuja became tirukachchi nambi's abhimAna shishya (favorite student).  As advised by Varada, Raamaanuja became Periya Nambi’s shisya as per Guru-Shishya tradition.

Tirukkachchi Nambi requested Varada for mOksha. The Lord told him that service done to a paramabhAgavata will grant him liberation. Hence, Kanchipoorna disguised himself and served Tirukoshtiyur Nambi by taking care of the cows in the goshaalaa.   Satisfied with his kainkaryam, Tirukoshityoor Nambi fondly addressed him as “Nampayal” meaning “my boy”. After few years of service, Tirukkachchi Nambi attained mOksha.

The message in Tirukkachchi Nambi’s story: -

 BhAgavata Kainkaryam is the highest service.

**Serving the Lord’s devotee is the highest service**

श्री काञ्चिपूर्णमिश्रॆण प्रीत्या सर्वाभिभाषिनॆ

अतीतार्चाव्यवस्थाय हस्त्यद्रीशाय मङ्गलम ॥

shree kAnchipUrNamishrENa preetyA sarvAbhibhAShinE

ateetArchAvyavasthAya hastyadrIshAya mangalam || 

May all auspiciousness be upon the Lord of Hastigiri, who, out of great affection for Thirukkachchi Nambi, broke His silence in archAvatAram and spoke with him regularly.