Swami Preiyavachan pillai did not have his own son and adopted his sister’s son (Nayanarachan Pillai) who learnt the meanings of Bhagavat vishayam and poorvacharya works from him. It is also learnt (from periya thirumudiyadaivu and other works) that other than Sri Nayanaraccan Pillai, Vadikesari Azhagiyamanaval Jeeyar (who wrote panneerAyirappadi), Srirangacharyar (who was the Acharya of Adivansadagopa Jeeyar who established Ahobila Mutt), and Parakaladasar (who wrote Parakalanallan Rahasyam, and vyakhyanams for maivaNNa naRunkunchi and other works) were also Swami Preiyavachan pillai’s disciples. It is also said that after Sri Nampillai’s time, Sri Vadakkuththiruveethippillai learnt the meanings of some works from Sri swami and that Sri Pinbazhagiyapperumal Jeeyar was also his disciple.
An episode in his life illustrates how he saved Sri Vadikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeeyar (VAMJ). Sri VAMJ in his poorvashram was not a learned person and used to work in the kitchen of Sri PVP. Once a few scholars had come to see Sri PVP and were examining some granthas while at his home. Sri VAMJ asked them about what they were studying and they said “musalakisalayam” (refering to him being like a iron piece that cannot understand even the name of a grantha). When Sri VAMJ asked Sri PVP about this grantham, Sri PVP told him sadly that the scholars had made fun of him. Sri VAMJ then fell on Sri PVP’s feet and requested that he educate him. Sri PVP then taught him the vedas, sastras and other works and made him a scholar. Sri VAMJ then wrote a grantham called musalakisalayam and showed it to the very scholars who made fun of him. Sri VAMJ wrote in his “thathva niroopaNam”
abayaprathanAmAnam asmathgurumuham baje |
yathkadAkshAthayam janthu: apunarjanmathAm gatha: ||
(I salute our Acharya who is known as abayaprathar, upon whose grace I who was like an animal that knew nothing became one who will not have another birth).
Sri PVP lived 95 years before reaching emperumAn’s thiruvadi.
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