SrI:
Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Parabrahmane Nama:

AdiyEn ventures into sharing key aspects of Sri Koorathazhvan's Avathara Vaibhavam.

The Thiru Avatharam:

Sriman Narayana - the Vathsalyan that He is – was immensely pleased by Sri Anathazhvar's Nithya
Kaimkaryam in Sri Vaikuntam. Our Lord was further pleased by the dedicated devotion and Kaimkaryam shown by Sri Anathazhvar during the Lords incarnation of various Thiru Avatarams in Boo Logam. Our Lord wanted to reward Sri Anathazhvar for his dedicated devotion and our Lord chose the route of Kaimkaryam. Yet another instance of our Lord's Kalyana Guna in action!

When our Lord blessed Sri Anathaazhvar to incarnate as Bhagavad Ramanuja, our Lord found it a fitting
opportunity to 're-pay' the dedicated devotion shown by Sri Anathazhvar. Thus the Thiru Avatharam as
Koorathazhvan.

Sri Koorathazhvan's wealth:

Sri Koorathazhvan was born in illustrious family - illustrious in wealth, knowledge and devotion. Sri
Koorathazhvan lived in a place called Kooram - a small village close to Kancheepuram and the palace
of Sri Koorathazhvan was an epitome of material wealth. Sri Koorathazhvan was known for his generous
help to all and sundry, who lived in the village; who came for help and those who visited their palace.

The main door of the palace had huge bells in it and when the family retires for the day, the main door
used to be closed with a loud bang. The bang was so loud that the noise would reach the Perumal Koil
[Sri Varadarajaswamy Koil, Kancheepuram], which was at least 5 kilometers away.

The Call by PirAti:

Goddess Perundevi ThAyAr used to wonder at the kind of wealth that Sri Koorathazhvan had and discusses this with none other than our Lord DevAadirajan. Both of them felt it was time Sri Koorathazhvan spent more time in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

PirAti Perundevi ThAyAr sent for Sri Koorathazhvan and blessed him to be involved in Bhagavat and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

Sri Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam:

The devout Sri Koorathazhvan instantly obeyed and asked his Devi Smt. Andal to follow him. It is amazing
fact that they detached themselves instantly from all that huge material wealth.

While they were walking towards Kancheepuram, in dark night, Sri. Koorathazhvan found his Devi worried about something. He found that, out of compassion, she was carrying the golden plate which Sri Koorathazhvan used for eating.

Sri Koorathazhvan instantly asked her to throw the plate on the streets and said any kind of material
attachment will hamper Bhagavath and Bhagavata Kaimkaryam.

Such was Sri. Koorathazhvan's Vairakyam, through which we can see a parallel in our Swami Desikan's life, when Swami Desikan reacted the same way on seeing small pieced of gold in rice.

Amazing Skills:

Sri Koorathazhvan was a devout disciple of Bhagavad Ramanuja. Bhagavad Ramanuja taught the sampradayam in detail and took Sri Koorathazhvan along in various sancharams. While they were in place near current day Kashmir Bhagavad Ramanuja won an Tharkam and rightfully claimed Sri Bodayana's vyakyanam to Brahma Sutram. However, jealous elements followed Bhagavad Ramanuja to snatch the works. Sensing this, Sri Koorathazhvan glanced through the vyakyanam in a single evening. When eventually, the work was snatched away, Sri Koorathazhvan could reproduce the entire vyakyanam -
verbatim. It was this amazing feat that helped Bhagavad Ramanuja to compose Sri Bashyam.

Acharya Kaimkaryam:

Sri Koorathazhvan stood as an epitome of sishya lakshanam. He served Bhagavad Ramanuja with complete
devotion and diligence. His daily routine will be to serve his Acharyan and quickly do what he wanted to
do, when the Acharyan rests. In light of this, the above mentioned feat of Sri Koorathazhvan takes
further significance.

Thiruarangathu Amudanar was then managing the administration of Koil [Srirangam]. Sri Koorathazhvan
sought from Amudanar that the temple administration be handed over to Bhagavad Ramanuja. Amudanar knew the greatness of Bhagavad Ramanuja who willingly handed over and Sri Amudanar went on to compile "Sri Ramanuja Nootrandhadhi"

A Chozha King was a devotee of Siva and went on to forcibly establish the superiority of Siva over all
others [including Sriman Narayana]. Bhagavad Ramanuja, Sri Koorathazhvan and Other disciples were in
Sancharam in that Kingdom. Ill-advised by Nalooran, the King sent his men to invite Bhagavad Ramanuja to the court - to establish his belief.

Bhagavad Ramanuja was taking his bath in the river and Sri Koorathazhvan was waiting on guard. Seeing the King's men and sensing trouble, Sri Koorathazhvan instantly took the red garb of Bhagavad Ramanuja and told the King's men that he was Ramanuja. Accompanied by Sri Peria Nambi. Sri Koorathazhvan went to the King's court and refuted the King's belief.

Angered at this, the King ordered Sri Peria Nambi and Sri Koorathazhvan to be blinded. Sri Koorathazhvan
took his eyes himself, saying that he does not these eyes that saw a sinner like the King. While Sri Peria Nambi succumbed to the torture and Ascended to Sri Vaikuntam, Sri Koorathazhvan joined
Bhagavad Ramanuja.

NanEdhan Ayiduga:

Bhagavad Ramanuja was deep in sorrow for what happened and was consoling Sri Koorathazhvan. Sri Koorathazhvan said that his predicament of losing his eyes could have been because - maybe for a split second he would have thought ill about someone sporting Urdhva Pundaram.

Sri Koorathazhvan showed by example of the most important Sri Vaishnavite quality, where you accept
the blame for anything that happens, irrespective of the fact whether you are the cause or not. What's more! Sri Koorathazhvan went on to seek Paramapadha Baghyam for Nalooran, who was the cause of Sri Koorathazhvan to loose eye-sight.

Sri Koorathazhvan's works:

Sri Koorathazhvan brought out 5 works – popularly known as Panchastavam. They are:

Sri Sthavam - 10 slokas [on Sri Ranga nachiyar]
Sri Vaikunta Sthavam - 100 slokas [on Paramapada Nathan]
AthimAnusha Sthavam - 61 slokas [on Emperuman]
Sri Sundara Bahu Sthavam - 132 slokas [on Azhagar]
Sri Varadaraja Sthavam - 102 slokas [on Hastigiri Varadan]

 Sri. Velukkudi Krishnan mentions that:

vEdham enRa peNNukku -- vEdaanta vEdangangaL ellaam aabharaNangaL thaan,

Itihaasa puraaNa SaaStramellAm aabharaNangaL thaan,

AzhwAr aruLiccheydha divya prabandham ellAm AbharaNangaL thAn,

AchAryaLudaya vyAkhyAna stOtrangaLellAm AbharaNangaL thAn,
----
aanaal, vEdham enRa sthreenudaya kazhutthukku kattuva
thirumAngalya AbharaNam vandhu --

[Meaning: for the Veda mAthA, [who is like the divine consort of the Lord] the ithihAsas, purANas, sthOthras, divya prabandhams etc add to Her beauty and glorfiy her and hence are the ornaments. While Sri
KooratthAzhwAn's sthothras are the maangalyam for Her as they declare the Supreme Lordship's Glories that He is the Lord of Vedas.[as declared in Vedas] .. unambiguously.

As SriThiruvarangathu Amudanar(Ramanuja noortru andanthi) points out, he was one who crossed 3 most
important pitfall human beings usually fall. they are
1. proud that you are learned.
2. proud that you are wealthy
3. proud that you are born in so called high caste.

like rAmAnuja and vEdAnta dEsika in our sampradayam, his works on sanskrit shows his mastery over his language skills.

[vanja mukkuRumbaam kuzhiyaik kadakkum KooratthAzhwAn]

SrIvathsa chinha misrEbyO nama ukthi mathi mahE| yathukthaya stareyee kantE, yaanthi mangala
Suthratham.

swaami kooratthAzhwAn ThiruvaDigaLE SaraNam