Tears welled in Madhurakavi Azhvar’s eyes as his guru Nammazhvar broke the news to him as they sat on the banks of the Tamaraparni river. The time had arrived for Nammazhvar to return to paramapadam (the divine abode of Sriman Narayana).
Since that first day they had met, Madhurakavi had always been in Nammazhvar’s company. Madhurakavi’s devotion to him was so immense that he revered his guru above even Sriman Narayana.
Many years back, Madhurakavi had traveled to northern India to see Lord Krishna. But by the time he had reached Dwaraka, Krishna’s avatara had come to an end. Crestfallen, Madhurakavi led a simple life in Ayodhya until he met his guru, Nammazhvar. Ever since he found solace with Nammazhvar, Madhurakavi revered his acharya above the Lord.
“How can I live without you?” Madhurakavi asked his acharya, when Nammazhvar had said that it was time.
Nammazhvar consoled his disciple, telling Madhurakavi to boil the water of the nearby Tamaraparni river to obtain a lifelike idol of Nammazhvar. Madhurakavi, never the one to question his guru, happily did as he was told. Within a few minutes, a beautiful idol arose. But Madhurakavi was shocked. The idol looked absolutely nothing like his acharya.
“Who is this?” he asked, confused.
Nammazhvar explained to Madhurakavi that this was the idol of a bhavishyacharya (acharya of the future) who would come many years later and do great things for the Srivaishnava Sampradayam – indeed none other than our Ramanuja.
Nammazhvar then instructed Madhurakavi to continue boiling the Tamaraparani water. At last, the idol of Nammazhvar appeared. Madhurakavi was delighted and worshiped the idol as his acharya. Both the idols of Ramanuja and Nammazhvar can be found in Thirukurungudi to this day.
