- 01
Several Srivaishnavas were climbing from Srirangam, tired on the path, when a young brahmachari served them temple prasāda. They asked who he was before receiving it. He said he was a Srivaishnava, known as Madhurakavidāsa, a disciple of Ananthalvan, sent to feed them. Still not satisfied, they asked him to recite the taniyan of his Acharya.
- 02
He recited: Akhilātmaguṇāvāsam ajñānatimirāpaham / āśritānāṃ susaraṇaṃ vande Anantāryadeśikam. They asked why the verse made no reference to Ramanuja. Was he composing on the spot? He said there were two taniyans — one of character, one of connection: Śrīmad Rāmānujācārya śrīpadāmbhoruhadvayam / sadhūttamāṅgasandhāryam Anantāryam ahaṃ bhaje. Convinced, they received the prasāda. The lad took leave and returned to the Hills.
- 03
Ananthalvan received them at the entrance. They thanked him for the bright young disciple. He was bewildered. He had sent no prasāda, engaged no youth. The Lord had helped them in their hour of trouble. That was His līlā. They recited the two verses. The assembly realised that Srinivasa had declared Himself Ananthalvan’s disciple and chosen the name Madhurakavidāsa. Even among so many ācāryas and siṃhāsanādhipatis, the second verse showed that it was Ananthalvan who could be fittingly considered equal to the lotus feet of Ramanuja. From then the pāduka (satari) at Ramanuja’s shrine on the Hills is named Ananthalvan, and the two verses became the taniyans in his praise.
श्रीमद् रामानुजाचार्य श्रीपादाम्भोरुहद्वयम् । सदुत्तमाङ्गसन्धार्यम् अनन्तार्यमहं भजे ॥
I worship Anantharya, who is equal to the two lotus feet of Sri Ramanuja, and whom the good bear upon their heads.
Second taniyan — recited by Srinivasa as Madhurakavidāsa