The Number 3 has great significance:
Similarly, in MuniTraya sampradayam, we find three munis blessing us with knowledge. Vishistadvaitam involves mastering of ubhava vedantam works in both Sanskrit and Tamil which involves veda, vedanta, puranas, itihasas, works of acharyas, divya prabhandam by alwars and so on.
Shruthi and Smruthi are very important in Visistadvaitam. Ramanujar started his Sri Bhasyam work also based on works of great munis mentioned below:
The entire tarkam of the Veda (with Vedantam) is explained in MeemaamsA Sastra. Sage Jaimini, Sage kASakrutsna, Saga Vyasa or Badarayana are considered to be three muni’s in MuniThraya (three munis) who gave us tarkams to these.
When it comes to Brahma Sutra, we are again blessed by three munis:
Munitraya sampradaya was further spread by three more munis:
Every Srivaishnava should undergo Samasrayanam which is same as "Pancha Samskaram", which is done from his Acharyan (guru).
Swayam Acharya sampradayam:
In olden days, all the Vaishvaites were very orthodox, performing daily Agni Hothram in their houses. Therefore the father of the family himself was the Acharyan for the members of that family. He was initiating the members into Sri Vaishnava sampradayam by Samasrayanam process.
Matams and Munitrayam sampradayam:
Now a days, most of the family heads do not perform agni hotrams and follow the sampradayam very strictly. So for the purpose of Samasrayanam, we approach Matams. The matadhipathi/Swami/Acharya initiates us into sampradayam.
There are many Acharya paramparas.
Which sampradayam to follow comes from which acharya we choose.
The details of munitraya sampradayam can be found in http://www.munitrayam.org/andavanashram/Sri%20Munitrayam-Sabdartham.htm
Some of the famous Sri Vaishnava Matams (monastries) are mentioned below:
There are a number Sri Vaishnava Matams not mentioned here, and in addition, the Sampradaya also boasts of a number of Swayam Acharyas in both the Vadakalai (Northern Art) and Tenkalai (Southern Art) Traditions
- The three Vedas: Rig, Yajus and Saama veda (principle ones) "trayo vedaa eta eva vaak rigvedo mano yajurveda: Praana: Saama veda;".
- The three lettered Secret: OM - which comprises of A, U and Ma kara.
- Rahasyatrayam: Ashtaksharam, Dvayam and the Charamaslokam.
- 3 words in Ashtakshara mantram: Om Namo Narayanaya.
- There are 3 parts in Gita.
- Three karma palam,
- trigunams (Satwik, rajasik, tamasic).
- Three doors to hell (kaamam, krodham, lobham).
- Three yagyas,
- three tapas (penance through body, oral, and mental),
- three types of karma (Yajanam, Adhyayanam, Daanam),
- three types of renunciation,
- three works or action (Karanam, Karma, Karta),
- three achetanas,
- three doers in Modes, intellects, happiness, debts are all of three types.
- Sriman Narayana takes three forms as trimurthi.
- As Trivikrama, lord covered entire lokams in three steps.
- There are three Tatvams (Chit, Achit and Isvara).
Similarly, in MuniTraya sampradayam, we find three munis blessing us with knowledge. Vishistadvaitam involves mastering of ubhava vedantam works in both Sanskrit and Tamil which involves veda, vedanta, puranas, itihasas, works of acharyas, divya prabhandam by alwars and so on.
Shruthi and Smruthi are very important in Visistadvaitam. Ramanujar started his Sri Bhasyam work also based on works of great munis mentioned below:
The entire tarkam of the Veda (with Vedantam) is explained in MeemaamsA Sastra. Sage Jaimini, Sage kASakrutsna, Saga Vyasa or Badarayana are considered to be three muni’s in MuniThraya (three munis) who gave us tarkams to these.
When it comes to Brahma Sutra, we are again blessed by three munis:
- Veda vyAsa bhagavAn who composed the brahma sUtras.
- BodhAyaNa rishi who composed the vrutti grantam.
- Brahmanandhi composed the vAkya-granta on the same.
- Sri Bhashyam
- Gita Bhashyam
- Bhagavath Vishyam
- Srimath Rahasya Thraya Saaram
Munitraya sampradaya was further spread by three more munis:
- Srimad Srinivasa Maha desikan,
- Srimath Sri Ranganatha Maha desikan and
- Srimath Vedanta Ramanuja maha desikan.
Every Srivaishnava should undergo Samasrayanam which is same as "Pancha Samskaram", which is done from his Acharyan (guru).
Swayam Acharya sampradayam:
In olden days, all the Vaishvaites were very orthodox, performing daily Agni Hothram in their houses. Therefore the father of the family himself was the Acharyan for the members of that family. He was initiating the members into Sri Vaishnava sampradayam by Samasrayanam process.
Matams and Munitrayam sampradayam:
Now a days, most of the family heads do not perform agni hotrams and follow the sampradayam very strictly. So for the purpose of Samasrayanam, we approach Matams. The matadhipathi/Swami/Acharya initiates us into sampradayam.
There are many Acharya paramparas.
- For ex: Srirangam Srimadh Andavan Ashramam has been nurturing and furthering Acharya Ramanuja's and Swami Vedanta Desika's doctrine of Vishishtadvaita. (Munitrayam is a sect among Vadagalai Iyengars and all but people that belong to Parakaala Matam and Srimadh Andavan Ashramam are part of this sect.).The main diety of worship is Lord Ranganatha Padukas. The primordial diety of this asramam is Lord Venugopala Swamy (Lord Krishna).
- In Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam main diety of worship is Lord Lakshmi Hayagreeva.
- In Parakala matam main diety of worship is Lord. Lakshimi Hayagreeva.
- In Ahobila mutt, main diety of worship is Lord. LakshmiNarasimha. The Ahobilam mutt follow Madam sampradayam.
Which sampradayam to follow comes from which acharya we choose.
The details of munitraya sampradayam can be found in http://www.munitrayam.org/andavanashram/Sri%20Munitrayam-Sabdartham.htm
Some of the famous Sri Vaishnava Matams (monastries) are mentioned below:
There are a number Sri Vaishnava Matams not mentioned here, and in addition, the Sampradaya also boasts of a number of Swayam Acharyas in both the Vadakalai (Northern Art) and Tenkalai (Southern Art) Traditions  Sri Ahobila Mutt http://www.ahobilamutt.org/ Srimate Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Parabrahmane Namaha Asmad Gurubhyo Namaha Asmad Parama Gurubhyo Namaha Asmad Sarva Gurubhyo Namaha Srimate AdiVann Shatakopa Yatheendra Maha Deshikaya Namaha Srimate Vedantha Gurave Namaha Srimate Ramanujaya Namaha Sri Paraangusha Daasaaya Namaha Srimad Yaamuna Munaye Namaha Sri Rama Mishraya Namaha Sri Pundarikaakshaya Namaha Sriman Naadamunaye Namaha Srimate Satakopaya Namaha Srimate Vishwaksenaya Namaha Shriyai Namaha Shridaraya Namaha  |  Shrimad Ranga Shatari Samyami Varaallabdha Aagamaantha Dhvayam [Learnt Ubhaya Vedhaantha (Aagamaantha Dhvayam) from Shrimad Ranga Shatari (42nd Azhagiya Singar)] Shrimad Veera Raghudhva Haadhya Shatajit Paadhaara Vindhaa Shrayam | [Took Refuge at the Lotus Feet of Shrimad Veera Raghudhva (43rd Azhagiya Singar)] Shrimad Vedha Vathamsa Deshikayathehe Kaarunya Viksha Spadham [Recipient of the Merciful Glances of Shrimad Vedha Vathaamsa Deshika (44th Azhagiya Singar)] Saevae Ranga Dhureena Shaasana Vasham Naarayanam Yoginam || [Who serves Ranga's commands, to Naaraayana Yogi, my Salutations] Shrimathe Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha Divya Paadhuka Sevaka Sri Vann Shatakopa Shri Naaraayana Yatheendhra Mahaa Deshikaaya Namaha || -- Thaniyan or The eulogistic devotional verse praising the glory of the 45th Pontiff of the order of the Ahobila Mutt Shri Naaraayana Yatheendhra Mahaa Deshika Jeer (Praakrutham Azhagiya Singar). |
  Srimad Aandavan Ashram (Periashramam) http://www.andavan.org/ http://www.ramanujamission.org/ Srimathe Sri Rangaramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Srinivasa Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha Srimathe Bhagavathe Bhashyakaraaya Mahadesikaya Namaha Sri Ranganatha Parabrahmane Namaha Sri Ranganatha Divyamani Padhukabhyam Namaha  |  Vedhaantha Lakshmana Muneendhra Krupaattha Bodham [Learnt Ubhaya Vedhantha from Vedhaantha Lakshmana Muneendra (9th Aandavan-Thirukkudanthai)] Thath Paadha Yugma Saraseeruha Brungha Raajam | [Whirring as a honey bee at His lotus feet] Thraiyyantha Yugma Kruthaboori Parisramam Tham [Having had his Bhara Samarpanam at his Holy Feet] SriRanga Lakshmana Munim Saranam Prabhadyae || [In that SriRanga Lakshmana Sage, we seek refuge] Srimate Ranga Raamaanuja Mahadeshikaya Namaha || -- Thaniyan or The eulogistic devotional verse praising the glory of the 11th Pontiff of the order of the Aandavan Aashram (Periashramam) SriRanga Ramanuja Mahaa Deshika Jeer (SriMushnam Aandavan). |
 Sri Parakala Mutt http://www.parakalamatham.org/ |  |
 Sri Poundarikapuram Aandavan Ashram http://www.munitrayam.org/andavanashram/ashram.html |  Srivaasa Ranga Parakaala Munitrayaapta Lakshmaatma Rakshana Yathitva Yugaagamaantham | Achaarya Bhakthi Pari pootham Anargha Seelam Gopaala Desika Munim Gurum Aasrayaamaha || [We seek refuge at the sacred feet of our revered AchAryan, Sri Gopala MahA Desikan, who received the sacred rites of samAsrayaNam, Bhara SamarpaNam from the great AchAryA, Sri Srinivasa MahA Desikan (Srimad Poundarikapuram Andavan); ThurIyAsramam from Sri Srinivasa MahA Desikan (Srimad VeNNaaRRankarai Andavan) and the wealth of Ubhaya VedAntham from Srimad Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swantantra Parakaala Yatindra Maha Deshikan. He shines with illustrious sadAchAram and is resplendent with his limitless AchArya Bhakthi] -- Thaniyan or The eulogistic devotional verse praising the glory of Paravakkottai Sri Gopala Desika Maha Desikan - the current Pontiff of the Poundarikapuram Aandavan Ashram. |
| Sri Tirumala Periya Jeer Mutt |  |
| Sri Vanamaamalai Mutt http://www.vanamamalai.com/  |  |