Pillai Lokacharya (1264 – 1327 CE) was one of the Vaishnava preceptors of the Sri Ramanuja hierarch. He was the head priest after Nampillai. He was the eldest son of Vadakku Tiruvitippillai, who recorded the discourses as delivered by Nampillai on Tiruvaymoli. Sri Vedanta Desika, another Vaishnava preceptor, was his contemporary.
Pillai Lokacharyar was well-trained in both Tamil and Sanskrit and so has rendered his Ashtadasa rahasyam in an excellent manipravalam style. The texts present a synoptic view of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham and the Vedantas. Pillai Lokacharyar established the concepts of prabandhams alone were mirrored in the texts.
Ashtadasa rahasyam has 18 texts -
Tanip pravanam; Tani dvayam, Tani caramam, Yatrechikat-padi, parantapadi, Sriyahppatippadi, Mumukshupadi, Tattva Trayam, Arthapancakam, Tattva Sekharam, Prapannaparitranam, Navavidha sambandham, Navaratin-malai, Sarasangraham, Prameya sagaram, Samsara samrajyam, Arcirati gati and Srivacana bhushanam.
Pillai Lokacharya has rendered elaborate commentaries on rahasya texts, which could, in gradual evolution, make ordinary men become those who desire release, those who deserve release and those who attain release.
Srivacana Bhusanam is a compilation of the dialogues of Acariar’s predecessors. Manavala Mamunigal has written commentaries on Mumukshupadi, Tattva-trayam and Srivacana Bhushanam. In his Upadesha ratnamalai, he glorifies in seven songs the last text. Srivacana Bhsuhanam, though in manipravalam style, lures the reader. Similarly, the 116th sutra of Mumukshuppadi which defines the characteristics of a Vaishnava, attracts the reader with its diction.
Pillai Lokachariar believes that the attainment of release is not decided by birth. Faith in God alone brings release; and release becomes possible only through devotion to an acharya and dedication to devotees.