Kurathazhwar was born in Kooram, Tamilnadu (Kanchipuram – Arakonam road crossing vellai gate), in the month of Thai in Hasta Nakshatra. He was the Lord of Kooram, a rich Brahmana of Vatsaya lineage and was married to one Andal who was his helpmate in true sense of the term.
His original name was Sri Vatsanga Mishrar. But due to his devotion to his guru, Sri Ramanujachariar and Lord Narayana, he came to be known as Koorathazhvar and his original name was forgotten. Koorathu referes to his birth place Kooram and Azhvar because of his devotion to Lord Narayana.
His wealthy mansion gate would open early morning and close late night and through the day would resound with the words “Take, give and enjoy”.
From his very boyhood he used to cherish great regard for Sri Ramanuja. Once Sri Ramanuja took sanyasa, he along with wife became the disciples of Sri Ramanuja and served with utmost faith and devotion. When Sri Ramanuja left Kanchipuram for Srirangam, Kuresa lost interest in wealthy possessions.
In the meanwhile, Goddess Lakshmi hearing the loud sound of closing of Kuresa’s mansion gates enquired about the sound. When Sri Lakshmidevi was informed about the same, Goddess sent for Kuresa. Kuresa felt ashamed that this filth of wealth has corrupted his heart and soul; he removed all his costly apparel, threw them and in tattered clothes went before Goddess Lakshmi. He proceeded towards Srirangam (where already his Guru was) along with his wife Andal.
He was well received by Sri Ramanuja who fixed a separate house for the young couple. At Srirangam he began to live by begging. One day when it was raining, he could not go for his usual round of begging. So there was no meal. Andal thereupon prayed to Lord Ranganatha and when food arrived through some priest, Kuresa confronted her. However, he took a little of the Mahaprasad and gave the balance to his wife. It is believed that ten months after taking this consecrated food, she gave birth to twins under the star Anuradha on full moon night of Saha Era 983. Six months later Yatiraja named the elder as Parasura and the younger as Vyasa. Parasura's investiture ceremony (with sacred thread) was done. They were married to two daughters of a relation of Mahapurna.
In Srirangam, as a true disciple he aided Sri Ramanuja in his writing of Sri Bhashyam. It was Kuresha who accompanied his master Sri Ramanujachariar on foot when the latter went to Kashmir to get the learned commentary written by Bodhayana the chief disciple of Vedavyasa. The scholars there refused to hand over the text to Sri Ramanujachariar. On his pleas they allowed him to have a glance of the commentary. Kuresha read the text to his master aloud cover to cover. As he listened intently, Sri Ramanujachariar with his prodigious memory had learnt the text by heart. They went back to Srirangam and began the work of writing “Sribhashyam”, the commentary of Brahma Sutras. Kuresha sat down and wrote the work as dictated by his master. In fact on one occasion, when writing Sri Bhashyam, there was a wordy quarrel between master and disciple; he did not talk to his master for 3 days as he differed on the point saying Athma is knowledge.
In fact, Kuresa laid down 10 important points to be observed.
Affection, kindness and straight forwardness.
Obeisance to the lotus feet of Jagadacharya Sri Ramanuja.
Either by word or deed, one should not hurt others.
Try and do good to those who harm you.
Be patient at all times.
Do not be proud because of your status acquired by birth, wealth and knowledge.
Lord Narayana is Supreme
Do annadana (Alwar fed 1000 people per day).
Follow the precepts laid down by our ancestors.
Engage yourself in singing the praise of the Lord.
He composed 5 devotional hymns of which “Sristharam” was in praise of the Lord of his Birth Place. He had an uncanny memory and was a mighty scholar. It was with his assistance that Sri Ramanuja defeated the great scholar Yadavaprakasha in a contest.
His devotion to his master can be seen from the following incident. At the time Sri Ramanuja was leading his disciple, the Chola kingdom was ruled by one Krinikanta who was a Shaivaite. So he was keen upon bringing the entire kingdom with the Shaiva faith. He was so cruel-minded that he decided to kill Sri Ramanuja, if he refused to embrace this faith. So the King sent his emissaries to bring Sri Ramanuja to his court. When Sri Ramanuja was preparing to leave, Sri Kuresa interrupted him. Kuresa begged his master to let him go instead. There upon Sri Kuresa dressed in olive robes of his guru taking his staff and water pot appeared in the king’s court, knowing fully that he was walking into the jaws of death. After many altercations when Kuresa stuck to his guru’s stand that Lord Narayana was Supreme and would not embrace Shaiva faith, the King ordered the removal of his eyes as a punishment for not embracing Shaivism. Inspite of the extreme pain he was suffering; he was glad that he could save his Guru from this suffering. His Guru was dearer to him than his own life. This is the supreme testimony of his devotion to his Guru. A few days after this incident, the King died of an incurable disease.
From there, Kuresa who had lost his eye sight went with his wife and son Parasura to a place called Krishnachala, where he composed hymns in praise of Sri Sundarabuja, Atimanusha and Sri Vaikuntha.
By that time he became restless to see his Guru and gets his blessings. So he proceeded to meet his Guru. The meeting between the Guru and devoted disciple was a picture of indescribable joy.
There is yet another incident narrated here to show how a disciple should be towards his Guru. He was an aide in the truest sense of the term.
While in Srirangam, it came to the knowledge of Sri Ramanuja that there was no order in the puja conducted for Lord Ranganatha. When Periyanambi passed away, there was nobody to perform the 11th day ceremony for him. Sri Ramanuja requested Kuresa to do the same. He obliged and in return asked for the keys of the temple of Ranganatha and handed it over to Sri Ramanuja, his Guru. Sri Ramanuja was pleased and took over the management of the temple and set the traditions for performance of poojas which is still being followed.
Sri Ramanuja asked Sri Kuresa to go to Kanchipuram and ask the Lord for his eyesight. Accordingly Sri Kuresa appeared before Lord Varadaraja and prayed fervently. When the Lord appeared before him, Kuresa requested for the divine grace for the masters of Chaturgrama (arch enemies who had caused the plucking out his eye balls).
When Sri Ramanuja heard this, he sent for Kuresa and told him to go back to Kanchi and ask for his eyesight as a disciple’s body and mind belong to the master and not to him. Hearing this he went back to that temple and asked Lord Varadaraja to give back his eye sight. He regained his eye sight and began to dance with joy. News of this spread in all directions.
Kuresa lived a life following the dictates of what is stated in Bhagavad-Gita.
Alwar generally / literally means one who sinks or dwells deep. They sink deep into the countless auspicious attributes of God.
But here this disciple of Sri Ramanujacharya who sank deep into the devotion for his Guru. He came to be known as Kurathalwar, a true disciple indeed!