Life and Legacy
Maṇavāḷa Māmunigaḷ (Tamil: மணவாள மாமுனிகள் — c. 1370–1443 CE), also known as Varavaramuni, Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar (before initiation), and Ramya Jamathru Muni, is the supreme post-Rāmānuja ācāryan of the Teṉkalai Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition.
Commentarial Work
Māmunigaḷ wrote extensive commentaries on Piḷḷai Lokācārya's 18 Rahasya-Granthams, especially:
- Commentary on Mumukṣuppadi (the definitive Teṉkalai exposition of Tirumantram)
- Commentary on Srivachana Bhushanam
- Commentary on Tattva-trayam
- Commentary on Acharya Hrudhayam
These commentaries (vyākhyānams) are considered the authoritative guides to understanding Piḷḷai Lokācārya's terse sūtra-style writings.
The Lord's Disciple
The most famous episode in Māmunigaḷ's life: he conducted a 12-month kalakṣepam on the Nampillai commentary on Tiruvāymozhhi at Śrīraṅgam. At the conclusion, a divine child appeared and recited a taniyan (verse of praise) glorifying Māmunigaḷ — this child was widely understood to be the Lord Śrīraṅganātha Himself. The taniyan 'Śrīśaileśa-dayāpātra...' is now recited in all Śrī Vaiṣṇava homes and temples.
His Own Works
Māmunigaḷ also composed original works: Upadesa Rattinamālai (instructions on the guru-paramparā), Tiruppāvai Nurrantādi (a century of verses on Āṇḍāḷ's Tiruppāvai), Yatirāja Viṃśati, Ārtiprabandham, and several taniyans for the Āzhvārs and ācāryans.