PiLLai lOchAryar - Ulagasiriyan

PiLLai lOchAryar emerged as the revered leader of our sampradhAyam, and he diligently imparted his teachings to his disciples in Srirangam. During this time, a devout Srivaishnava named maNappAkkathu nambi sought guidance from dhEvaperumAL, who graciously offered him valuable instructions on our sampradhAyam. However, before fully completing the instructions, dhEvaperumAL directed nambi to proceed to Srirangam, where the teachings would continue.

As nambi arrived at the Kattazhagiya Singhar temple in Srirangam, he came across the Kalakshepa Goshti (the group engaged in reciting scriptures) led by piLLai lOchAryar. Intrigued, nambi hid behind a pillar to eavesdrop on piLLai lOchAryar's teachings. To his astonishment, he realized that piLLai lOchAryar's words were an exact continuation of what dhEvaperumAL had instructed him earlier.

Overwhelmed by this divine revelation, nambi prostrated himself at the lotus feet of piLLai lOchAryar and asked, "Are you dhEvaperumAL?" In response, piLLai lOchAryar humbly replied, "Avathu; yEthu?" (Yes, what to do now?). Thus, it became evident that piLLai lOchAryar was none other than dhEvaperumAL manifesting in human form.

Another incident found in YathIndhra PravaNa PrabhAvam further corroborates the divine identity of piLLai lOchAryar as dhEvaperumAL himself. During his final days at JyOthishkudi, piLLai lOchAryar instructed nAlUr piLLai to teach vyAkyAnams (commentaries) to Thirumalai AzhwAr (also known as ThiruvAimozhi piLLai). When Thirumalai AzhwAr visited dhEvaperumAL to offer his MangalAsAsanam, dhEvaperumAL directly addressed nAlUr piLLai, who was standing nearby, and instructed him to fulfill the teachings given in JyOthishkudi by imparting the meanings of aruLicheyal (sacred scriptures) to Thirumalai AzhwAr.

These incidents reinforce the divine connection between piLLai lOchAryar and dhEvaperumAL.