Radhekrishna! Dear bhaktas you must have enjoyed the great Swami Ramanujar's divya charithram last month. Swami Ramanujar was very much impressed by Swami Nammazhwar.Once Swami Ramanuja went to Azhwar Thirunagari. There he met one washerman, where the washerman requested Swami Ramanujar to (give ashirwadhams) bless his sons. Swami Ramanujar accepted the humble request of that washerman and immediately the washerman called his sons.Swami Ramanuja was very much excited after hearing the names of the washerman's sons.The names of the children were Sadagopan, Kaari Maaran And Vagulabaranan. After hearing, those names itself, for a moment, Swami Ramanujar regretted being a sanyasi(celibate) and hence could not have children and give them those names of Swami Nammazhwar and enjoy by calling his children with that names.Radhekrishna………………

Born on the banks of Thamirabarani river in Tamilnadu

The birth of Swami Nammazhwar was already quoted in Srimadh Bhagawatham 12th conto

This is the power of Swami Nammazhwar's names.The names of Swami Nammazhar made Swami Ramanujar himself to regret being a sanyasi… when the names itself is so powerful, imagine how powerful and strong should be the personality and history of Swami Nammazhwar.

According to Hinduism, a child before birth in the mother's womb is in a position with its hands bowing to GOD. At this point of time the child knows all about its previous births, who it was, what it was and everything else. It is called a 'Rishi' at that point of time. But the moment it comes out of the mothers womb a vayu (air) called 'sadam' engulfs it and it entangles the child in he world of Maya, says 'Sukabrahmarishi' in Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Swami Nammazhwar was born to Udaiya Nangaiyar and Kariyar, at a place called Tirunagari on the banks of the river Tamraparni in Tamil Nadu. It is now called Alwar Thirunagari.When baby Nammazhwar was born, Sadam vayu came to engulf him also in this Maya. But Swami Nammazhwar made a sound in anger and drove away the sadam vayu. Because of this miraculous incident Swami Nammazhwar was also known as 'Sadagopan'.It might seem very unbelievable to you and you may laugh.But this is the truth and to realize this you have to do bhakti.

After his birth, Swami Nammazhwar never behaved like a normal baby. He did not cry, did not laugh, did not drink milk and did not do any activity, which any normal child would do. Seeing this his parents got worried. After 12 days they took Swami Nammazhwar to a temple in Thirukurugoor where the deity was 'Polindunindrapiran' and they shared their worries with the bhagavan about this child's peculiar unworldly behavior. At that time a miracle happened. Swami Nammazhwar who was just a 12 days old baby started crawling towards a tamarind tree in the temple. The tamarind tree was infact an incarnation of 'Adisheshan' (the divine serpent-god of Bhagavan Shri Krishna) who had been waiting from years together for Swami Nammazhwar's arrival. There was a big hole in the tamarind tree. Swami Nammazhwar got into the hole and sat in a position of padmasana and started doing meditation. Most of the people who do meditation do it hardly for 15-20 minutes or one hour or to the maximum a few hours. But are you aware how long did infant Swami Nammazhwar meditate? Swami Nammazhwar who was just 12 days old sat in meditation for 16 years i.e., 192 months, which is equal to 832 weeks, which inturn comes to 1,40,256 hours.

Although he was meditating continuously for 16 years, without any food, water, sleep or any kind of worldly activities, his body was growing properly. Because of his unworldly activities and yet growing normally, the parents named him as 'Maran'. Because of his father's name as Kariyar, Swami Nammazhwar was named as 'Kaarimaran'. For 16 long years the blessed parents guarded the child by keeping turns, with full enthusiasm, zeal and zest.

They tied Swami Nammazhwar's hairlocks with Magizhampu flowers and also put garlands of the same flowers on his body.Because of that Swami Nammazhwar was also named as 'Vagulabharanan' (magizhampu is also known as vagulapushpam ) This is how the parents are supposed to be. Even if the child is not fulfilling the materialistic needs of the parents, the parents have to take care of all the needs of the child. These parents are really supposed to be the role models for all the parents in this world. Swami Nammazhwar's parents just considered him as a child of Bhagavan Shri Krishna and not as their own child.This is the way of parenting the children.

At that period, an elderly Brahmin named 'Madhurakaviazhwar' of Thirukoloor (a place nearby the birth place of Swami Nammazhwar) had gone on a pilgrimage. While he was in Ayodhya one fine night, he saw a bright light in southern direction. He thought that there might be a fire in the city or in the forest. But Madhurakaviazhwar saw the light for 3 consecutive nights. So he was very much interested to know the actual reason from where the light originated from. He felt it must be a divine light, so he started travelling towards south. As the light was visible only at night he followed the light during the night time and slept during the daytime. He went to Tirupathi, Srirangam but still the light was visible, therefore he continued his journey more towards the south. At last he reached Thirukurugoor.He enquired to some villagers that was there any speciality in this village. All the villagers said that the speciality of their village was 'Swami Nammazhwar'. Madurakaviazhwar went to the temple and saw Swami Nammazhwar sitting in the hole of a tamarind tree in all his luster and glory. Sri Madhurakaviazhwar was greatly amazed by the young 16 year old Swami Nammazhwar.He pelted a stone on the ground to test whether Swami Nammazhwar could hear. At that time Swami Nammazhwar opened his divine eyes after 16 years of astounding meditation. Sri Madhurakaviazhwar could feel and see the radiance and the divine power of 16 years of meditation in Swami Nammazhwar's lotus eyes. Now Madhurakaviazhwar wanted to see whether Swami Nammazhwar could speak. So he asked a great question related to human body and the soul.