My wife and I have performed Bhara Samarpanam. At that time, Srimad Azhagiya Singar advised us to recite the Acharyan Taniyan (invocatory verse of the spiritual teacher). Is it better to chant the Lord’s holy name and meditate on His divine form? Or is it better to recite the Acharya’s Taniyan and meditate on the Acharya’s divine form? Which of these will lead us to the path of Bhakti (devotion) more quickly? Furthermore, can we meditate on the Acharya’s form while performing Gayatri Japa during Sandhyavandanam? 

Chanting the holy name of the Acharya and meditating upon his divine form are extremely superior practices. According to the path shown by Madhurakavi Azhvar, it’s noble to keep thinking of the Acharya as the one who revealed the truth about our helpless state. But the scriptures also say we should meditate on Perumal and recite the Tirumantra. The Acharya instructs us to do that meditation. So, when we meditate on the Lord in the way the Acharya taught, it pleases him. Any meditation or contemplation that aligns with the Acharya’s intention is excellent. We should do it exactly as he showed us. The Acharya does not insist that we must meditate on him, but to chant the Lord’s names; if we chant the divine names with thought and gratitude, it brings joy to the Acharya.