Koorathazhwan 1000th year celebrations

 arvaanchO yath padha sarasija dhvandhvam aasrithya poorvE
moordhnaa yasyaanvayam upagathaa desikaa mukthimaapu:
sOyam ramanuja munir api sveeya mukthim karastAm
yath sambhandhAdh amanutha katam varnayathe kooranatha: 

How can we speak the greatness of Koorthazhwan within the boundary of words (mozhiai kadalkkum perumpugalaan/vaacha mahOcara)? Everyone gets mOksham through Sri Ramanuja - some (who are elders to Sri Ramanuja) through his thirumudi sambhandham and others (who are younger to Sri Ramanuja) gets through his thiruvadi sambhandam. Such great personality Sri Ramanuja  himself proclaims that it was due to his connection to Koorathazhwan he gets mOksham.

Koorathazhwan is one of the prime disciples of Sri Ramanuja. Born in Kooram village near Kanchipuram in a noble family, Koorathazhwan is considered as an epitome of Srivaishnava Acharyas. He was well known for not having 3 mathams - prides (vidya matham - proud of having high knowledge, dhana matham - proud of having huge wealth, abijathya matham - proud of having born in noble family). He was praised by Thiruvarangathu Amudhanar in Ramanuja Nootrandaadhi as "Mozhiyai kadakum perum pugazhaan vanja muk kurumbaam kuzhiyai kadakum nam Koorathazhwan" and by Manavala Maamunigal in Yathiraja Vimsadhi as "vaachaamagocara mahaaguna desikaagrya Kooraadhinatha" - both indicating that koorathazhwan's vaibhavams are beyond words. In fact both Ramanuja Nootrandaadhi and Yathiraja Vimsadhi are aimed at praising Sri Ramanuja.

Sri Ramanuja is considered as the most important acharya in Srivaishnava sampradayam. This sampradayam truly represents Sanatana Dharma (vedic religion) which contains boundless knowledge about Tattva thrayam (chit - soul, achit - matter and iswara - God Sriman Narayanan). Sri Ramanuja preached this universal dharma all over India. He was a visionary who played many roles - preacher, temple administrator, social reformist, humanitarian, etc. He wrote nine granthas explaining various aspects of vedas, vedanta, bhagawad gita, concept of saranagati ( complete surrender to god) and vaidhiha anushtanams.

Sri Ramanuja is closely related to Sri Parthasarathy swamy temple. It was because of his father's prayers to Sri VenkataKrishnan/Sri Parthasarathy, presiding deity here in Thiruvallikeni, Sri Ramanuja was born into this world.. It is one of the 108 divya desams where Pei Azhwar, Thirumazhisai Azhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar have performed mangalasanams.

This site is a humble effort to present how Koorthazhwan lived an exemplified life which directly relates to Gitacharyan's instructions in the 13th Adhyayam (Chapter) of Bhagavad Gita, where in slokams 7-11, he explains the Atma Gunams (qualities) which are necessary for a mahatma (great person).