As today is the Thirunakshtram of Periya Nambi, a small thread about a defining act of Nambi’s life:

There was a śiṣya of Svāmī Ālavandār named Maraneri Nambi, who was extremely devoted to his ācārya to the end. When his life was nearing, Maraneri Nambi, who was . . .

born in a marginalized caste, requested Periya Nambi, who was born in a priestly family, to conduct his final rites as Maraneri’s family were not devout Śrī Vaiṣṇavas, and hence, Maraneri Nambi did not want them to conduct his funeral. Periya Nambi agreed. When Maraneri . . .

Nambi passed away, Periya Nambi not only conducted his dear friend Maraneri’s funeral rites but also did so with the Brahma-medham rite, which was reserved principally for Brāhmaṇa-s.

When news of this reached others, some took objection and went to Rāmānujācārya to take . . .

Periya Nambi to task. Rāmānujācārya, in order to show to the objectors the greatness of what Periya Nambi did, asked Periya Nambi to explain why he did what he did. Periya Nambi said, “Am
I superior to Rāma, the Hero of the Ikṣvāku race? Is Maraneri inferior to the Bird . . .

Jaṭāyuḥ , for whom Rāma performed the Brahmamedha? Am I greater than Dharma-putra? And is Maraneri lower than Vidura, to whom the same saṃskāram was administered ? And are the truths uttered by St. Nammāzhwār, in His Tiruvaymozhi: ‘Payilum’ [iii-7] and ‘Nodumal’ . . .

[viii-10], descanting on the greatness of godly men, irrespective of caste and color, mere senseless babble?”

This episode is lauded by Śrī Vaiṣṇava Pūrvācāryas, such as Svāmī Pillai Lokāchārya & Azhagiya Manavāla Perumal Nāyānār, such as in Sūtram 234 of Srivachana Bhushanam.

The first picture shows both Periya Nambi & Maraneri Nambi, side by side, with their ācārya Svāmī Ālavandār in the middle. In Rāmānujācārya’s Sannidhi at Śrīrangam. The above account of the event is mostly from Aḷkoṇḍavilli Govindāchārya, who was a descendant of Vaduga Nambi.