JR
Hare Krishna
Today being the last day of Marghazhi for 2014/15, let us all remember why Sri Ramanujar was fondly called 'aNNan' by none other than Sri Andal herself!
"RamaanujA is also known as the "elder brother" of AndAL or Koil ANNar. Ramanuja was reciting paasuram of NacchiyAr Thirumozhi (NT) , Naaru Narum Pozhil , (NT 9.6) as he approached ThirumAlirumcholai on his way to Srivilliputhur. In that NT pAsuram, AndAL desires to offer a hundred vessels of butter and a hundred more vessels of KshirAnnam (AkkAravadisil) to Lord SundararajA of ThirumAlirumcholai. Suddenly, RamAnujA got worried whether AndAL did indeed fulfil her prarthanA. He therefore decided to fulfill her wish and offered the Naivedhyam of Butter and KshirAnnam in hundred vessels each. Thereafter, RamAnuja continued on his journey to Srivilliputthur. As he entered the ardha ManTapam of AndAL's temple, he was surprised to see AndAL waiting for him in person to thank him for the services he rendered on Her behalf at ThirumAlirumcholai. She moved out of the Inner sanctum (Garbha Graham) and waited for him at the ardha Mantapam to greet Her "elder brother" for carrying out Her wish across the span of centuries just as a responsible elder brother would fulfill the dear wishes of his younger sister. She broke Her archa silence and called RamAnuja as Her aNNan. She never went back into the sanctum and stays even today at the Ardha Mantapam with Her consort. RamAnujA is therefore saluted in his ashtottaram as " GodhAgrajO digvijethA GodhAbhishta prapuraka: ".
http://www.thiruppavai.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=89:-sri-ramanuja-and-andal-&catid=38:related-articles&Itemid=41
