M.R. Govindaswamy Naidu

1.Thiru M.R.GOVINDASWAMY NAIDU was born on 26th september 1893 as eldest son to Thiru M. Ragavalu Naidu and Thirumathi Thayammal. He had his school education and studied upto 10th standard. As the country was under British Empire, English was given prominence and M.R.G. became proficient in English and also in Tamil, being the second language. It appears he showed special interest in Tamil subject. Perhaps this interest only made him to love Tamil writers and pandits and improve in tamil literature in later part of his life. Simultaneously, his mind was turning towards religious activities. He did not continue his studies further, as he was required by his father to attend the business. Therefore he started assisting his father at the age of 15 or 16 to carry on the business of M.R. & sons.

3. As mentioned in the first para, Periavar had plunged himself in reading the Tamil Ethics Viz. Ramanayam and Mahabaratham. Amongst them, he was more attracted to the great Kamba Ramayanam that was written in Tamil by The Great Kambar, The Tamil poetic Scholar who lived in. Our Periavar not only went through the various padalams of Ramayana Kaviyam but also enjoyed immensely by reciting them. Here I wish to mention about one fact. Our periavar, before he became a staunch Vaishnavite, was said to be a Saiva Baktha due to saivisam imparted on him by his close associate. He was able to recite "Thevaram", "Thiruppuagazh" etc very well. But his saivism attachment did not lost long. Periavar used to attend discourses and upanyasams conducted by many Vaishnavite scholars. The one scholar attracted by periavar was Sri Thirukkannapuram Pattappa swami (Mahan shri Thiruvenkatachariar) who was conducting upanyasams in Madras city for several years. Periavar became ardent devotee of the above-mentioned Swamiji and became his disciple also. From then on he began to realise the importance of the Vaishnavite philosophy. No doubt he became staunch Vaishnavite and began to indulge in reading Kamba Ramayana and works of Great Aazhwars. His affection towards Vaishnavism was so much that he named, every child born in the family, after the names of Vaishnavite Gods and Goddesses. However, he did not have the least hatred towards Saivism. He was subscribing to the journal called "Divyartha deepigai" published by shri P.B.Annangarachariar swamy of Kancheepuram. Swamiji was elaborating the meanings of the Naalaayira Divyaprabandha pasurams (poems) in his above-mentioned journal. As our periavar was greatly amazed on reading the Divyaprabandham pasurams (poems) he and his beloved brother sri M.R.Kanniah Naidu decided to undertake the printing and publishing of "Divyartha deepigai". Accordingly they approached the Swamyji to express their willingness to do this religious service. The basic concept of Vaishnavism is doing kainkaryam (Service) Here I will reproduce the praisings written by Swamyji himself in the journal 'SRI RAMANUJAN published by him, while expressing the deep condolences on the demise of our periavar. I am writing this at this juncture only to show to the 'visions' about the greatness, philosophical and spiritual attitude of our periavar. I shall continue his short biography after this:

4. As mentioned in the previous para, Swamiji commenced writing elaborate meanings of Naalaayira Divyaprabandha Pasurams, blessed by revered twelve Aazhvaars, in Tamil language, which was also known as Thamizh Vedas. Our Periavar will get first, the manuscripts of Swamyji's writings in batches. After getting printed and proof corrected by our Periavar, it will be sent for final printing after getting approval from Swamyji. Thus our Periavar was greatly enchanted on going through each and every pasurams and its meanings written by Swamyji. This devoted service was carried on by our Periavar from the year 1927. In the same manner the writings of Swamyji was being published in the journal Dhivyaprabandha Divyartha deepigai. Simultaneously, separate books in specially calico bound, were also printed and brought out for Mudhalayiram, Yiyarpa etc by our Periavar. The numbers of such books printed were in thousands. While acknowledging the services rendered by our Periavar, Swamyji has written about our Periavar in 'Padhippurai', in the book Mudalayiaram containing Pasurams blessed by Periaazhvaar, which is reproduced below. This book includes the elaborate meanings of these pasurams. The humble regenerative service undertaken by our 'Periavar' was to make innumerable Vaishnavites to be aware of the revered works of Great 12 Aazhvvars.

5. While narrating in the above-mentioned appreciation about the editor (Our Periavar) by the Writer Shri P.B.Annagarachariar Swamyji, he had explained in his introductory part about the revered works of great Aazhvaars and their blessed pasurams as detailed below:

"The revered and great Aazhvaars were blessed to born in this universe in several communities, by Lord Thirumal in order to retrieve the people from the worldly Maya such as ocean of births. As they were possessing the blessings of The Lord and as they were deeply involved in their services, they were said to be called as Aazhvaars. Amongst them Thiru Nammaazhvaar was said to be the chief of other Aazhvaars as he had the highest wisdom, right from his birth. As a personification, the other Aazhvaars were said to represent the various parts of the body of Thiru Nammaazhvaar as detailed below. viz. Thiru Booadhathaazhvaar represents as his 'The Head', Thiru Poigaiaazhvaar represents as his 'Eyes', Thiru Periaazhvaar represents as his 'Face', Thiru Thirumazhisaiaazhvaar represents as his 'Neck', Thiru Kulaseakaraazhvaar and Thiru Thiruppanaazhvaar represents as his 'hands', Thiru Thondaradippodiaazhwaar represents as his 'chest', Thiru Thirumangaiaazhvaar represents as his 'Abdomen' and Thiru Madurakaviaazhvaar represents as his 'feet'. As such The Nalaayira Divyaprabandhams blessed by the above mentioned Aazhvaars are as follows:

1. Poigaiyaazhvaar blessed 'Mudal Thiruvanthathi' -                         100 Pasurams

2. Boodhathaazhvaar blessed 'Erandam Thiruvanthathi' -               100 pasurams

3. Peyaazhvaar blessed 'Moondraam Thiruvanthathi' -                     100 pasurams

4. Thirumazhisaiaazhvaar blessed 'Nanmugan Thrivanthathi' -        96 pasurams
                                                               'Thiruchandhavirutham' -             120 pasurams

5. Nammazhvaar blessed 'Thiruvirutham ' -                                          100 pasurams
                                                 'Thiruvasiriyam' -                                               7 pasurams
                                                 'Peria Thiruvanthathi ' -                                 87 pasurams
                                                 'Thiruvaaimozhi ' -                                      1102 pasurams

6. Kulasekaraazhvaar blessed 'Perumal Thirumozhi ' -                    105 pasurams

7. periyaazhvaar blessed 'Thiruppallandu ' -                                           12 pasurams
                                                  'Periyaazhvaar Thirumozhi'                      461 pasurams

8. Thondaradippodiyaazhvaar blessed' Thirumaalai' -                         45 pasurams
                                                   'Thruppalliyezhuchi ' -                                  10 pasurams

9. Thiruppanaazhvaar blessed 'Amalanathippiran ' -                           10 pasurams

10.Thirumangaiyaazhvaar blessed 'Periathirumozhi' -                     1084 pasurams
                                                  'Thirukkurunthaandagam ' -                       20 pasurams
                                                   ''Thirunedunthaandagam ' -                       30 pasurams
                                                   'Thiruvezhukootrirukkai' -                            1 pasuram
                                                    'Siriyathirumadal'                                           1 pasuram                                                   'Periyathirumadal' -                                        1 pasuram

11. Madhurakaviyaazhvaar blessed 'Kanninunsiruthaambu' -          11 pasurams

12. Andaal blessed 'Thiruppavai'                                                               30 pasurams
                                             'Nachiyarthirumozhi'                                        143 pasurams

It is further explained by Swamyji that elaborate meanings for the above Divya Prabandham pasurams were said to be originally written by Sarvashri 1. Thirukkurugaippiran pillan ,2. Nanjeear, 3. Vadakku Thiruveedipillai Azhagia Manavalapperumal nayanaar, 4. Vaadhikesari Azhagiamanavaalaseeyar, 5.Thiruaaimozhippillai, 6. Manavaalamaamunigal, 7. Appillai and 8. Pillailoganseeyar. It is also stated that full elaboration of meaning (Vyakkiyanam) for Naalaayiram was written by Periyavaachaan pillai only. The above elaboration of meanings were said to be not in pure Tamil the south Indian language. Therefore Swamyji had decided to write fresh 'vyakiyanam' (detailed meaning) for the Naalaayira Divyaprabandham Pasurams in Thamizh. Accordingly, they were all written by Shri P.B.Annangharachariar swamy and the same were got printed in beautiful books form and brought out in thousands by our Periavar Thiru M.R.Govindaswamy Naidu with much co-operation of his brother Shri M.R.Kanniah Naidu. Thus we could realise about our periavar's deep involvement in Tamizh literature and thirst in doing religious service. He began doing these services from his young age itself, besides carrying on his business. His younger brother Sri M.R.Kanniah Naidu also fully co-operated with our periavar in this regard. Our periavar had dragged our entire family into the religious activities and worship.

7. After the demise of his wife, Periavar was not inclined to marry again, though he was only 33 years of age. However in pursuance of the advice given by Mrs Pattappa swamyji, who was called by one and all in our family as 'Swamyamma', periavar appears to have agreed to marry again. At the instance of swamyamma, periavar married Thirumathy Alamelu ammal, last daughter of Thiru Rama naidu and Thirumathi Guruvammal of Sidharajukandiga, Chittoor District, Andhrapradesh. The marriage was celebrated on 5th May 1927 at Thiruvallur, the holy place of SHRI VEERARAGAVA PERUMAL. Thiruvallur is one of the 108 Vaishnavite Divya Desams. The following children were born to them. Their details will be dealt with in seperate pages:

1. Thiru M.G. Azhagiasingar - Born on 6th November 1934.

2.Thiru M.G.Alavandhar - Born on 18th March 1936.

3. Thirumathy Seethalakshmi - Born on 25th September 1938 (alias Janaki)

4. Thiru M.G.Thiruvengadam - Born on 15 june 1941.

5.Thirumathy Vijayalakshmi - Born on 12th December 1945

8. As a part of his religious services, due to his efforts Divyaprabandham upanyasams (discourses) were conducted by Shri P.B.Annangarachariar swamy in the premises of Thondaimandalam High school, Mint street, then Madras-1 now Chennai-1 for several years. Similarly, Kamba Ramayanam discourses were conducted by Azhvar Thirunagari Shri Ramakrishna Iyengar for some years in the premises of The Hindu Theological High School, Mint Street, then Madras-1 and other places in the same area. Katha Kalakshebams were conducted by one shri Sadagopa Iyengar. Again Ramayanam discourses were conducted by one Shri Vasishta Bharathi, who had immense knowledge in Kamba Ramayanam. Another respected person viz. Shri Santhanakrishna Iyengar conducted Ramayanam discourses. Our periavar had continuous close acquintance with all the above-mentioned respected personalities. While discourses were being conducted in The Hindu Theological High School, the then Head Master Shri Gurukula Dharamacharya K.Rangaswamy Iyengar became good friend of our periavar. It should be mentioned that fullest co-operation was forthcoming from his beloved brother Thiru M.R.KanniaNaidu, who was respectfully called by one and all as 'chinnavar'.

9. Periavar's religious activities and services were carried on without any obstacle. About sixty years back one yagnam(Homam) was performed in our house at 31, Nannian street, P.T.Madras by one Bramhashri Anakaputhoor Ramaswamy Sasthrigal who composed 'SRI RAMA NAMAVALI' and brought out in a small book called SRI RAMATHARAKAM. This holy book contains LORD RAMA'S namavali in several forms so as to one who recites and followed by many will enchant one and all undoubtedly. Needless to say that our periavar loved this book very much. He was an ardent devotee of LORD RAMA. On any auspicious occasion, this 'Ramatharakam' would be read without fail. This practice is being continued even to day in our family. As a sample one page of 'Ramatharakam' is reproduced below for the benefit of the viewers to know about this holy book.

10. In later years Periavar had opportunities to move closely with great and reputed Tamil scholars and literary personalities viz . 'Rasigamani' Shri T.K. Chidhambaranatha mudaliar, who was popularly known as 'T.K.C' and Shri Thiru V.Kalyana sundaranar who was popularly known as 'Thiru vi ka'. The above-mentioned celebrities have done immense services to Tamil literatures. Other important religious service our periavar had done included the installation of 'Urchavamurthi' idols for Kumudavalli Nachiar in Thirukkannapuram temple and Kanakavalli Nachiar in Ekkadu temple situated at two kilometers distance from Thiruvallur Veera Ragava Perumal temple. He had offered reasonable finance to The Veera Ragava perumal temple for cleaning the temple tank. These are all everlasting service of our periavar. He had visited several vaishnavite holy temples in Tamilnadu along with the members of the family. He was a loveable person and used to be very kind to anyone. He had done innumerable service in his lifetime , not only towards religious activities but also to the people who came to him seeking his any kind of help. There were no enemies to him as he had the guts to convince politely even a person who might have scolded him. There were several instances in his life, which would go to show his appreciable qualities. He used to say 'DO GOOD TO EVERY ONE AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU'. He practiced his preachings by him till his lifetime. I wish to show below the services rendered by our periavar, as mentioned in the 'Ramatharakam' book, when it was republished by our family members to commemorate the occasions of 75th year and 100th year of our periavar:

11. Thiru M.R.Govindaswamy Naidu had lived with principles. He did not know how to utter lies. He also insisted everyone to be truthful. Although he was brave to do anything without fear or fervor, he would move with everyone with love and affection. He was a kind-hearted person. One instance I could remember clearly was that when The Great Mahatma Gandhi was shot and died on 30th January 1948, our periavar was fasting the whole day in expressing his anguish. Our periavar was well known for keeping up punctuality on any occasion. As far as my knowledge goes and from the informations gathered from my elders, he was an ideal person. I personally feel proud for having born as his son. I am following his footsteps to maximum possible extent.