srImatkrushNasamAhvAya namO yAmunasoonavE |
yatkadAkshaikalakshyANAm soolapa: srIdharas sathA ||
(Salutations to that Srimatkrishnar (Sri Periyavaccan Pillai) who is the son of Yamuacharya, and to whose followers (those who are the target of his grace) Sridhara is always easily attained).
Sri Periyavaccan Pillai (PVP) was born in the sarvajith year (1167), in the month of avani in Krishnashtami Rohini. He was born to Yamunacharya and Nacciyaramman, in the town of Sanganalloor near Thiruvelliyankudi (in Tanjore district). He was born as the amsam of Lord Krishna and was named as Sreekrishnar.
He was the right hand of Sri Nampillai (like Lakshmana was to Rama), and wrote several vyAkhyAnams based on Sri Nampillai’s upanyAsams.
It was said that one can speak all the glory of even periya perumAL, but one cannot complete speaking of Sri PVP. He was without equal in the cause of the spreading of Srivaishnava philosophy. He shone as an example in the qualities of being a disciple as well as in the qualities of being an Acharya. He was given the titles paramkAruNikar and apArakaruNAmruthasAkarar.
Sri Pillai Lokacharyar once said “periyAzhvAr is like no other azhvar”. It could be said that Sri PVP is like no other acharya.
