Anukūlar — The Favorable Ones
Anukūlar (Sanskrit: anukūla — favorable, agreeable) denotes those who are well-disposed toward Bhagavān and his devotees — those who support, encourage, and align themselves with the path of bhakti and prapatti. In the threefold classification of jīvas in relation to Bhagavān, anukūlars are contrasted with pratikūlars (hostile ones) and upekṣitars (those who are indifferent).
Anukūlars in turn are of different grades:
- Those who have received pañcasaṃskāra and are actively on the path
- Those who are well-wishers of the sampradāya even without formal initiation
- Those who simply do not create obstacles
The term also appears in the context of the anukūla-saṅkalpa — the commitment made in prapatti to be favorable (anukūla) to Bhagavān in thought, word, and deed, never being contrary to his will (pratikūla-varjanam).
In Yathīndra Pravaṇa Prabhāvam, Māmunigaḷ's community of disciples and patrons are described as anukūlars who supported the propagation of the Manipravāḷa commentary tradition.