An article contributed by Geetha Vasudevan
13)Sri Aalvandhar had 3 unfulfilled desires, when he left for paramapadham, represented by his 3 folded fingers & wanted swamy Ramanuja to fulfill the same, they were
1)to write commentary for bramha sutra by veda vyasa according to the Bodhayana Vritthi from the angle of Visishtadvaitha
2)To propogate Sri Nammalwar's prabhandham as ALavandhAr had great desire for Sri Nammalwar
3)To perpetuate the memory of Veda Vyasa & Parsara
14)We all know puranas are 18 in number, but they are classified under 3 sections according to their qualities
1)Sattvika Puranas -
Vishnu puranam, Bhagavatha puranam, Naarada Puranam,
Paadma Puranam,varaaha Puranam and the Garuda Puranam.
2)Rajas Puranas
Vaamana, Brahma, Markandeya, Bhavishya, Brahmanda and Brahmavaivartha Puranas.
3)Tamas Puranas
Matsya, Koorma, Agni, Linga, Siva, Skandha Puranas.
15)Usually a mankind tend to possess 3 egos which comes to him
1)by his birth being in a rich or pious family
2)by his education and qualifications
3) by his fortunes, riches or wealth
All the above 3 egos, where shed by a great mahan Koorthalwan, which is beautifully described by Amudhanar in his "Ramanuja Nootriandadhi" as
"Vanjama kurumbam kuzzhiyyai kadakkum nam koorthlwan charan koodiya pin"
16)Again similar to the above, we Human being have 3 debts, they are
1) Debts to Devas (Devar Kadan) - which can be repaid by performing yagas and yagnas
2)Debts to Pitru (Pitru Kadan) which can be repaid by continuation of the race
3)Debts to Rishi (Rishi Kadan) which can be repaid by learning vedas
17)Again the sin accumulated by us over the no of births by us is also 3 types
1)Praarabdham
2)Sanchitham
3)Aagaami
18)Karmas are also of 3 types they are
1) Nithya karman (which is shastra bound and which is to be done daily ex Sadhya Vandhanam)
2)Naimithika Karma (which is not shastra bound, not necessarily a duty ex taking bath after eclipse)
3)Kamya Karmas (which is done with a desire to achieve, ex begetting children.
19) The Bhagavath Geetha 18 chapters is divided into 3 sections, each containing six chapters called shatkam
20)Sandhya Vandhanam is to be performed by men thrice daily
1)One during sun rise (when day proceeds from night)
2)One during midday (which is the transition from ascending sun to descending sun)
3)One during sunset (when night takes over from day)
21)The fire is also classified under 3 classes they constitute Tretagni
1)Aahvaniyam
2)Garhapatya,
3)Dakshinagni
22)Thirumangai Alwar in "thiruveezhu Kuttrikkai" describes emperumaan as
"Sundara naal thool, munneer vanna" here munneer means 3 types waters, that is
river water, spring water and rain water, all the water ultimately go and reach the kadal or ocean emperumaan is in the same complexion just like the ocean water.
23)The Yagnopaveetham is a set made of 3 threads, for bramhachari it is 1 set, for grushta it is 2 sets and for sanyasai it is again 1 set, similarly the thirumangnalyam is tied with
3 knots during marriage ceremonies.
24) The sloka of Vishnu Sashranamam says Trilokathma, Trilokkesha keshava kesi ha hari:
Here Trilokatma meaning -
1)One who moves about in the 3 worlds
2)One who makes the 3 worlds to move about
3)one who is the athma for everything in the 3 worlds
Trilokesha means
One who is the ruler and lord of the 3 worlds. Thus the lord is the Protector of all the 3 world.
25)Last but not the least, of all the works we were blessed by Swamy Ramanuja, the most important is Gadya trayam (3 Gadyams), with which Swamy Ramanuja performed Sharnagathi, on a Panguni Utthiram Day, first pleads Piratti to recommend to the Lord
The three prose pieces (Gadyas) are expressions of the inner experiences of the great Acharya and are to be ranked with the mystic poetry of our Azhvars.
The gadyas are
1)Sharangathi Gadyam
2)Sri Ranga Gadyam
3)Sri Vaikunta Gadyam
Thus goes the importance of the Number 3, Let us all take refugee in the Lotus Feet
of Swamy Ramanuja, who is the Jagat acharyan, and who leads us to the eternal
Sri Vaikuntam as explained in Dhaati panchakam as
"Vishnu Loka Mani Mandapa Maargadayee"