SRI BHAGAVAD RAMANUJA

English Rendering
Dr. Prema Nandakumar

Telugu Original
Dr. Samudrala Lakshmanaiah

Published by
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati.
2016
SRI BHAGAVAD RAMANUJA

English Rendering Foreword

Dr. Prema Nandakumar
Sri Ramanuja who became famous for propagating
Visishtadvaita, belongs to the top position of our
Telugu Original
Dr. Samudrala Lakshmanaiah Acharya parampara. The path of devotion without
discrimination that he promulgated one thousand years
ago continues to flourish till date, saving people from
T.T.D. Religious Publications Series No. 1210 all walks of life in the society.
All Rights Reserved The Vaishnava Sampradaya tells us that the
teachers who spread devotion to God are as important
First Edition - 2016 as the Lord. That is why Sri Ramanuja is worshipped
as the very image of the Lord. The Acharya lived for a
span of one hundred and twenty years. He faced
Copies : 2000 innumerable difficulties in his life. However, as he was
totally involved in God-consciousness, he was able to
overcome them all with ease. All Indians who follow
Published by
Vaishnava Sampradaya meditate upon this Teacher
Dr. D. Sambasiva Rao, I.A.S.,
Executive Officer, along with the Lord.
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Who is the deity of Tirumala? Is it Vishnu or Shiva?
Tirupati. Such a doubt infected the mind of the devotees. The
credit for proving the deity to be Keshava goes entirely
D.T.P: to Sri Ramanuja. The rituals for worship established
Chief Editors Office at that time are being followed even today. This itself
T.T.D, Tirupati. proves what a great visionary was our Acharya.

Printed at :
On this auspicious occasion when we enter the
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Press, thousandth year of Sri Ramanujas manifestation, the
Tirupati. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam has laid out a year-
 iv
long celebration of festivals in his name. These
celebrations include pilgrimages to Divya Desas (holy
temples which have been celebrated by the Alwars),
lectures on sacred topics, book publications and the
like. The many-faceted brilliance of Sri Ramanuja will
be projected in these festivities.
In all these plans, the most important is the
publication of books which reveal the greatness of Sri
Ramanuja. On this occasion, we are publishing the well-
known scholar, Mahamahopadhyaya Dr.Samudrala
Lakshmanaiahs brief book, Sri Bhagavad Ramanujulu.
In a very simple style, the book narrates the important
events in the Acharyas life. Hoping that the book will
gain wide popularity, I offer my heartfelt thanks to the
author.
In the Service of Lord Venkateswara
Executive Officer,
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams,
Tirupati.
Preface
Tyagarajaswami has written a song, Nagumomu
kanaleni naa jaali telisi (knowing my frustration at
not seeing your smiling face). This is a superb song.
In it we have a beautiful visualized scene:
My Lord! Why are you not granting me your
grace? Did Garuda refuse to follow your order? Or,
did he say the distance between the sky and the earth
is impossibly long?
Such was his devotion-laden imagination at work.
Sri Ramanuja spent every moment, every bit of his
life, on this quest. He proved on countless occasions
in his life as also in his writings, of the distance that
lies between the Lord and His devotee. The Lord is
ever close to the devotee, a friend, a dear relation,
mother, father, God, and all these put together. Such
is his gift to the world.
The Lord is always compassion incarnate. The
golden treasury for His worshipper, the Lord is the
priceless pearl for those who salute Him. If we open
the doors of our heart, chase out bad thoughts and
surrender at His Feet, it becomes the Lords duty to
save you. The Acharya called this Saranagati.
 vi vii

The Acharyas magnum opus is Sri Bhashya. The those who surrender to him, removes their difficulties,
Book contains his commentary on the Brahma Sutras. and guides them to the last. Praying for His grace ..
The auspicious sloka that opens the work says: Always in the service of Srinivasa..
Vinatavividhabhutavratarakshaikadheekshe
Oh! Srinivasa who has taken the vow to guard all
living beings who hold their palms together in salutation Nandhivelugu Mukteswar Rao, I.A.S.(Retd.)
and perform surrender at Your Feet - This is the Special Officer (Projects)
meaning of the verse. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
Tirupati.
Throughout his life, Sri Ramanuja sought to remove
the difficulties that cropped up between the Lord and
his devotees and made the Lord a close friend of the
devotee. He successfully created many institutions for
the good of the world and the benefit of humanity and
put them into effective force. On Sri Ranganathas
command, he reached Paramapada.
The great scholar Sriman Samudrala Lakshmanaiah
has written this superb life of Sri Ramanuja in beautiful
and simple language so that one can read the entire
book at one go. There are no obscurities or difficult
words in the narration. In a very simple manner, he
shows the life of Sri Ramanuja to the common man
like showing a great mountain in a mirror. Lord
Srinivasa, the very image of Brahman, never rejects
 AN OFFERING

H e i n car n at ed i n M esh a-A r d r a,

I n sp i r ed t o sp r ead V ai sh n av i sm ,
T h e i m age of A d i sesh a i n T u n d i r a l an d ;
H ai l R am an u j a!

The Lord has promised that he will incarnate to

guard Dharma. There are two types of this incarnation.
The Lord may come as Rama or Krishna. Or He may
send one of his servitors to safeguard Dharma.
Innumerable servitors have incarnated thus on earth
as the representatives of the Lord and performed their
duty. Among such guardians of dharma, Sri Ramanuja
has a very important place.
Even if the ways are destroyed, in Kaliyuga
The Guru-Lord is one who shows us the Way.
Thus Annamayya has praised the race of Acharyas.
Sri Ramanuja has widely popularized the path of bhakti
so that people can be saved. The path shown by him
has become famous as Visishtadvaita and Ramanuja
Darsana. From this one can gauge his greatness.
Sri Ramanuja is at the head of religious teachers
because he considered all living beings as equal. He
took up the words of Gitacharya, samoham
sarvabhuteshu in its true spirit and lived accordingly
and proved its truth.
 x

Without dividing humanity as these and those, CONTENTS

he gifted the Tirumantra to all. Giving importance
to ones character and not ones birth-status and 1. Incarnation
making the way of surrender easily accessible to all 2. Kantimati, Kesavayaji
were some of his achievements which prove him to be 3. YadavaPrakasa
an unequalled Acharya for all time.
4. Pilgrimage to Kasi
He was famous as the Speaking God. In his works 5. Sri Kanchipurna
like Sri Bhashya, he has clarified the nature of the soul.
He proved the holy spot of Tirumala as the residence 6. Sri Yamunacharya
of Vishnu. He studied the Ramayana here. Because of 7. Rakshakambas mistake
all this, there is an unbreakable bond between Tirumala 8. Gaining the Guru
and Sri Ramanuja. Today he is being worshipped as 9. Giving up his Wife
the King of Ascetics.
10. Renunciation
I wrote this work in 2005 at the invitation of the 11. The Guru becomes a disciple
Dharma Prachara Parishat. However, for reasons
12. Gaining the Supreme Mantra
unknown, this could not be published. Now it is being
published as part of the celebrations for the 1000th 13. Bhagavad vishayam (Tamil Prabandhas)
year of Sri Ramanujas birth, on the recommendation 14. Giving poison
of Sri. N. Mukteswara Rao, Special Officer, Projects 15. Defeat of Yajnamurti
(retired I.A.S. Officer). I am happy. 16. Anantarya
My greatful thanks to the Executive Officer for 17. Karpasaramalakshmi
his permission, the officers of Dharma Prachara 18. Pilgrimage to Tirupati
Parishat for their help and the T.T.D. Press for printing
the book. 19. Kashmir Visit
20. Writing Sri Bhashya
Dr. Samudrala Lakshmanaiah 21. Pilgrimages in South India
22. Tirumala is Vishnu kshetra
 xii

23. Parasara and Vyasa Bhattars SRI RAMANUJA

24. Dhanurdasa-Hemamba
25. Maraner Nambi May my mind be filled with devotion towards
26. Krimikanta the highest Brahman,
27. Chelanchalamba the abode of Lakshmi who is luminously revealed
28. Yatiraja Sampath kumara in the Upanishads;
who in sport produces, sustains, and reabsorbs
29. Kuresa and Mahapurna were made blind
the entire Universe;
30. Installation of Govindaraja in Tirupati whose only aim is to foster the manifold classes
31. Kuresa receives vision of beings that humbly worship him.
32. Writings
(opening verse of Sri Bhashya: Tr. George Thibaut)
33. End of the Incarnation
He spent daily meditating upon the lotus-like feet
of Achyuta
* * * And considered the rest as mere chaff;
He is my guru, the ocean of compassion;
I surrender at the feet of Sri Ramanuja.
INCARNATION
The Lords will is the main cause of this creation.
As it is said, tenavinaatrunamapinachalati,
without His will even a blade of grass does not move.
If the created world should prosper, Dharma should
be maintained. When Dharma is harmed, the world
gets victimized by evil.
The Bhagavad Gita has proclaimed that when
Dharma is being destroyed, the Lord incarnates. The
2 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Puranas tell us that the incarnations appear when
Dharma is in danger.
The Lord noticed that Dharma was in serious
danger in the course of Kaliyuga. He wondered about
the ways of safeguarding Dharma. Adisesha who is
always serving the Lord then spoke out: My Lord! I
am your servitor. Do not worry about anything. I shall
work hard for guarding Dharma. The Lord agreed.
Adisesha had been born as Lakshmana, the brother
of Rama, in Tretayuga. Now he took the permission
of the Lord and was born as Ramanuja and became
the saviour of Dharma.
KANTIMATI, KESAVAYAJVA
The village Sri perumbudur is near Chennai in Tamil
Nadu. Brahmins who were well-versed in Vedas lived
there. There are many temples to Vishnu in that place.
Among the Brahmin families living there, the Asuri
family was quite famous. Kesavasuri was a great person
who was born in that family. He followed the traditions
closely. Highly learned, he was also a very good person.
As he was an expert in conducting various yagnas, he
was known as Kesavayajva. The noble lady Kantimati
was his wife and equally noble.
The family had all that is desired upon earth but
they were worried at the absence of progeny. They
prayed to Srinivasa to bless them with a child.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 3
On the occasion of a lunar eclipse, the couple
bathed in the sea. Then they worshipped Lord
Parthasarathi and performed the Putrakameshtiyaga.
Pleased with their devotion, the Lord gave them a boon:
I shall be born as your son. They became very happy.
In 1017 A.D., in the month of Chaitra on panchami,
on a Thursday, in Karkatalagna under the asterisk of
Ardra, Kantimati gave birth to a male child. The parents
and relations literally were overwhelmed by an ocean
of happiness. They pleased the Brahmins with plenty
of offerings.
Kantimatis brother Sri Sailapurna learnt that his
sister had become a mother. He came to Sri
perumbudur. The boy was given the imprints of the
Conch and the Discus and was named Ramanuja.
Elders felt that this was truly Sesha himself.
This boy in the course of time became famous as
the King of Ascetics Udayavar, Emberumaanaar,
and Bhashyakara, worshipped throughout the world.
All the traditional rituals were performed for the
boy. Aksharabhyasa in his fifth year and Upanayanam
were performed. He was a genius. In very few years,
he mastered Vedic studies.
When he was 16 years old, Ramanuja was married.
His wifes name was Rakshakamba. Who knows the
ways of the Supreme? Within a short time after the
4 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
performance of the marriage, Kesavasuri reached the
abode of Vishnu. Since he was an incarnation Sri
Ramanuja accepted the sorrow of his fathers demise
with fortitude.
YADAVAPRAKASA
In those days, a great scholar named Yadavaprakasa
lived in Kanchipuram. Ramanuja went to the scholar
for advanced studies. Ramanuja was a disciple who
was adorned with fine qualities but his guru
Yadavaprakasa was lacking in the qualities of the soul.
Hence there was no rapport between the guru and the
disciple. Besides, Yadavaprakasa would speak ill of
Hari.
One day the guru, while explaining the Vedic saying,
Kapyasampundarikamevaakshni, said that the
Lord has red eyes like the lotus petals which are like
the hind parts of a monkey. The disciple was unhappy
listening to this. Asked why he was sad, he said it was
due the gurus wrong interpretation. Immediately the
teacher shouted. Can you give another explanation?
The disciple explained The Lords eyes are like lotus
petals that have blossomed by the rays of the sun.
The guru had no answer. But that hater of Hari, now
hated the disciple also. In the end, he became so
passionate that he wanted to end the disciples
scholarship at the very beginning. A poisonous seed
now entered his heart.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 5
Meanwhile, the spirit of a Brahmarakshas haunted
the princess of Kanchipuram. Yadavaprakasa who was
a known expert in curing such persons, tried to chase
away the rakshasa, failed to do so and was shamed.
But Ramanuja was able to do it easily. The Kings
happiness knew no bounds. He showered the guru
and the disciple with gifts. The disciple gave away the
gifts he had received to the guru. This made the guru
angrier. The poisonous seed now germinated and grew.
At the same time, Ramanujas fame spread over the
four corners.
PILGRIMAGE TO KASHI
Yadavaprakasa now plotted with his close disciples
to murder Ramanuja. In the guise of a pilgrimage to
Kashi, he started with Ramanuja and the plotter-
disciples. However, Ramanujas well-wisher Govinda,
learnt of the plot and warned him. Our hero now acted
as though he was unable to walk like them and trailed
behind. The guru searched for him but could not find
him. He thought that the disciple would have been eaten
by a tiger and continued on his journey. Though he
expressed his sorrow for not being able to find
Ramanuja, he was happy within.
Alone in the forest, Ramanuja meditated upon
Lord Varadaraja. The Lord came as a hunter, guided
him to Kanchipuram and disappeared. This is an
6 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
instance of Lords greatness and his loving grace to
Ramanuja.
KANCHIPURNA
As advised by his mother Kantimati, Ramanuja
went to Kanchipurna who lived in Kanchipuram and
narrated what had happened. Having listened
Kanchipurna said My son, you have been blessed by
Sri Varadaraja. Serve that Karivarada daily. Ramanuja
followed his advice. Kanchipurna was not a Brahmin
but a very noble person. It seems Lord Varadaraja
used to converse with this great devotee! The Lord is
always affectionate towards his devotees, and hence
is called Bhaktavatsala.
YAMUNACHARYA
At that time there was a great Vaishnava renunciate
known as Yamunacharya in Srirangam. He was a
propagator of Visishtadvaita Siddhanta. Before
becoming a sanyasin, he had ruled the Pandyan
kingdom. His Siddhitraya and other works are
scriptures for Vaishnavas.
One day when Yamunacharya was teaching
Tiruvaimoli to his disciples, he felt that the phrase,
polika, polika in one of the verses indicated the birth
of a Mahapurusha on earth. When he searched for
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 7
this Mahapurusha, he came to know of Ramanuja. It
is all the Lords prank!
Immediately Yamunacharya, accompanied by his
disciple Mahapurna went to Kanchipuram to meet
Ramanuja. He was overwhelmed with joy on seeing
him. He felt assured that this young man would lay
firm the Visishtadvaita Siddhanta in the future. With
full faith that Ramanuja would also become a
commentator on Brahma Sutras and the Gita, he
returned to Srirangam.
Govinda, who was in the group of disciples with
Yadavaprakasa, was bathing in the Ganges in Kasi when
he found a Shiva linga. Yadavaprakasa noticed this
and told him to worship the linga with devotion.
Engaged in this worship, Govinda became a stranger
to Vaishnava ways. On his return from the pilgrimage
to his village, Srimangalam, he sanctified the Linga there
and became famous for his worship of Shiva.
Yamunacharya sent his work, Stotra Ratna to
Ramanuja through Mahapurna. Mahapurna went to
Kanchipuram and was reciting the stotra in the sanctum
of Lord Varadaraja, when Ramanuja heard him. The
eleventh verse enchanted by him:
O Narayana, who among the learned adherents
of the Vedas, does not permit Thy intrinsic God-hood
endowed with unsurpassable excellences? For
8 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Brahmam, Sivam, Indra and the supreme, muktas are
but drops in the ocean of Thy glory.
(Tr. By Swami Adidevananda)
Delighted by the sloka which affirms the
supremeacy of SriNarayana, he asked: Who is the
author? When he learnt it was Yamunacharya, he
wanted very much to meet him.
Immediately Mahapurna got ready to take
Ramanuja to Srirangam. By the time they reached
Srirangam, Yamunacharya had left his body and
reached Paramapada. Both Mahapurna and Ramanuja
were overwhelmed by anguish at this turn of events.
Now a miracle happened. While the rest of
Yamaunacharyas body appeared normal, three fingers
in his right hand remained closed. Nobody knew the
reason. All those assembled had their own views on
this.
Ramanuja divined Sri Yamunacharyas desires. He
announced I shall work for the spread of
Visishtadvaita. I shall reach the PanchaSamskaras to
people, and make them gain faith in the Dravida Veda
and prapatti (surrender). One of the fingers came back
to normal position.
Then he said: I shall write Sri Bhashya for the
Brahma Sutras and propagate Visishtadvaita. The
second finger returned to normal position.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 9
And when he said, I shall give the name of
Parasara Maharishi, the author of Sri Vishnu Purana
to a Vaishnava who is a treasure of noble qualities,
the third finger also returned to normal position.
People who had assembled there were full of
wonderment at the happening. All the Vaishnavas now
had devotion to Ramanuja and even surrendered to
him. His greatness was recognized.
But his heart did not allow him to enter Srirangam
bereft of Yamunacharya. He returned to Kanchipuram
and became engaged in serving Lord Varadaraja. His
mother Kantimati now attained Paramapada. Ramanuja
continued to live in Kanchipuram.
RAKSHAKAMBAS MISTAKE
Ramanuja considered Kanchipurna to be his guru.
Once he invited his guru to come and have food in his
house. He asked his wife Rakshakamba to prepare
food appropriately to serve the teacher. He then went
to bring Kanchipurna.
Kanchipurna reached Ramanujas house by another
road. He told Rakshakamba: Mother! Your husband
invited me for lunch. Kindly serve me immediately.
Let him come, said Rakshakamba. I have to go
immediately. Serve me, said Kanchipurna who was
in a hurry.
10 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Rakshakamba served him in the backyard. He ate
quickly, removed the leaf himself, cleaned the place
and went away immediately.
Ramanuja returned. He heard of what had
happened and became sad. He asked his wife who
was cooking again why she was doing so. How can I
serve the leftovers after a shudra has eaten? I am
cooking for you, was her reply. Ramanuja scolded
her saying I had hoped to partake of the leftovers of
that Realised Soul.You have dashed my desire and I
am very much disappointed.
After that, Ramanuja requested Kanchipurna to
give him initiation into Narayana Ashtakshara Mantra.
But Kanchipurna would not, as it was against
Varnashrama Dharma. Then Ramanuja requested
Kanchipurna to ask Lord Varadaraja what he should
know.
That night Kanchipurna asked Lord Varadaraja
about this matter. The Lords reply:
1. I am the Brahman who is the cause of creation.
2. There is difference between the body and the
dweller in the body.
3. For those desiring Moksha, prapatti is the way.
4. My devotees need not worry about antimasmrithi
(remembering the Lord at in ones last moments)
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 11
5. I give them Mukti when they leave the body.
6. Approach the noble Mahapurna to be your guru.
Kanchipurna conveyed this message to Ramanuja.
Ramanuja was delighted that the Lords words were
in tune with his own inner feelings. He left for Srirangam
to approach Mahapurna.
GAINING THE GURU
After Yamunacharyas passing, the disciples were
inconsolable. Now they decided to make Ramanuja
the Acharya for their Sampradaya. When they
conveyed this to Mahapurna, he endorsed it.
Immediately they all left for Kanchipuram. On the way,
both the parties met at Madurantakam.
Ramanuja prostrated before Mahapurna and
requested him for initiation. I shall give initiation at
Kanchipuram. Let us go said Mahapurna. Ramanuja
replied Swami, the body perishes in a moment. Good
acts should not be postponed. Here now kindly invest
me with the insignia of the discus and the conch and
give upadesa of Ashtakshara Mantra. Mahapurna
accepted his prayer.
Mahapurna gave initiation to Ramanuja as per
sampradaya. Additionally he gave an image of Lord
Varadaraja for Ramanujas daily worship. In this
manner, Ramanuja was made the leader of the
12 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Vaishnava community. The guru blessed the student
My son, may the Vaishnava sampradaya blossom
forth richly through you. May this sampradaya be
known as Ramanujadarsana.
All of them reached Kanchipuram. Kanchipurna
heard what had happened and felt very happy. For six
months, Mahapurna stayed there and taught Ramanuja
the Ramayana and the DivyaPrabandha verses.
Yamunacharyas desire thus attained fruition. All the
Vaishnavas were very happy.
GIVING UP HIS WIFE
One day Ramanuja was being given oil massage
by a Brahmin boy. He asked his wife to feed the boy.
She immediately replied that no food was available.
Ramanuja went inside the kitchen and found cooked
rice. He called his wife and scolded her.
Another day she went to bring water from the well.
Mahapurnas wife also came to the well. As both were
drawing water, drops of water from the pot of
Mahapurnas wife fell on the pot of Rakshakamba.
She got angry, threw away the water, had a bath and
scolded Mahapurnas wife. She also replied angrily.
Our family is not low. Our mistake is to share your
house. Such pride is not good for you. Mahapurnas
wife narrated to her husband what had happened.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 13
Mahapurna felt that if Ramanuja came to know of
this incident, he would be angry with his wife.
Immediately he left Kanchipuram for Srirangam. Later
on when Ramanuja came to know of this, he was very
angry with Rakshakamba.
Now he began to wonder: She has wronged me
thrice. She is not compatible with me. Somehow I
must give her up, was his conclusion.
After sometime, when Ramanuja was in the temple
of Sri Varadaraja, a Brahmin came to him saying he is
hungry and prayed for food. Ramanuja sent him home
and asked him to tell Rakshakamba that he had sent a
guest to be fed. But the Brahmin was refused. He
explained to Ramanuja what had happened. Ramanuja
now decided that he should send his wife somehow
to her natal home. He gave some things to the Brahmin
and asked him to tell Rakshakamba, Mother, your
parents have decided the auspicious date for your
brothers wedding. They have asked me to bring you.
Here are the things sent which include turmeric,
kumkuma, sari and the rest.
He did as told. When Rakshakamba heard him,
she was very happy. She immediately prepared a rich
repast and fed him. She packed her things and got
ready for the travel.
Ramanuja returned home. She told him of the
happenings and asked him to accompany her. You
14 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
go. I will come later after finishing my work, Ramanuja
said, and bid her good-bye. The bond of married life
ended. Now onwards Lord Varadaraja became
everything for him.
RENUNCIATION
At an auspicious time, Ramanuja gathered the
flagstaff of renunciates and kamandala (pot) and other
needed things, meditated upon Yamunacharya and wore
ochre garments. There was a shower of flowers from
the skies. With his twelve urdvapundras (naamam) and
ochre robe he glowed brilliantly.
Through Kanchipurna, Lord Varadaraja arranged
for Ramanuja to be brought to his sanctum with due
honours. The Lord also awarded the title Yatiraja to
Ramanuja through the voice of the priests. It was
arranged to use a building within the precincts of the
temple as the Matha. Now Ramanuja had become a
Jagadguru.
Kesavayajva had married off his daughter to
AnantaDikshita. AnanthaDikshitas son was Dasarathi.
He was a treasure-house of good qualities and also a
great scholar. Learning that his uncle had become a
widely praised personality, he became his student.
There was another Brahmin, Kuresa, who also
became a disciple of Ramanuja. Both Dasarathi and
Kuresa remained close to their master and served him
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 15
in every way. Ramanuja taught them philosophy and
thus were their lives consecrated and became worthy
of the Lords grace.
One day Ramanuja was lecturing on the philosophy
of bhakti in his Matha. Yadavaprakasas mother who
came to the temple saw him. She heard his lecture.
She remembered the unholy manner in which her son
had behaved towards this brilliant renunciate. That
made her think and she went home and gave good
advice to her son. She asked him to approach
Ramanuja and be freed from evil.
Lord Devaraja also had appeared in
Yadavaprakasas dream and had advised him to follow
the path his mother had suggested. When Kanchipurna
was told of this, he too gained Lord Varadarajas
concurrence and advised that Yadavaprakasas duty
was to go to Ramanuja and seek his refuge.
Thereafter Yadavaprakasa went to Ramanuja and
requested that he may be forgiven. He also became a
disciple. Does it not go beyond our imagination to
watch a teacher become a disciple of his own student?
Afterwards, he received the panchasamskarams,
the name Govindadasa and became a famous
Vaishnava.
Srirangam is the source of Vaishnavism. After
Yamunacharyas passing, this religion was somewhat
16 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
under eclipse. Hence the Vaishnavas of that place
decided to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam from
Kanchipuram. They entrusted this job to Vararanga,
the son of Yamunacharya, who was also an expert in
Dravida Vedanta. Vararanga pleased Lord Varadaraja
with his expertise in music, received permission and
escorted Ramanuja to Srirangam. Kuresa and Dasarati
also accompanied their guru.
The residents of Srirangam were delighted with
the coming of Ramanuja. They gave a grand welcome
with appropriate honours. Ramanuja had darshan of
Lord Ranganatha and was thrilled. He prostrated before
Mahapurna who said: The term polika described in
Sri Satakopas pasuram (verse) is yourself. Raise these
people and fulfil the aim of your incarnation. Ramanuja
replied that he would do his utmost to work for the
path of devotion. He remained in Srirangam and taught
Visishtadvaita to his disciples.
We noted earlier that Govinda had become a Shiva-
bhakta. Through Sailapurna in Tirupati, Ramanuja
managed to get Govinda back to the Vaishnava fold.
GAINING THE SUPREME MANTRA
One day Ramanuja went to Mahapurna and
requested him for initiation in Dvaya Mantra.
According to his wish, Mahapurna taught the Dvaya
Mantra. Ramanuja also learnt from him Yamunacharyas
works like SiddhiTraya and GeetarthaSangraha.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 17
One day Mahapurna told Ramanuja that he had
much to learn from Goshtipurna of Goshtipuram about
the inlaid significances of initiating mantras. But
Goshtipurna rebuffed Ramanuja saying that there was
none worthy of learning these secret teachings.
Ramanuja returned to Srirangam with his desire
unfulfilled.
But he did not give up his aspiration. He went
again to Goshtipurna but could not succeed.
Ramanuja was worried. After the passage of a good
deal of time, Goshtipurna realised that Ramanujas
desire to learn was genuine. By now Ramanuja had
traversed to Goshtipuram and back eighteen times.
Finally Goshtipurna sent word to Ramanuja to come
accompanied only by his danda (flagstaff) and
yajnopaveeta (sacred thread).
A happy Ramanuja went to Goshtipurna
accompanied by Kuresa and Dasarati and requested
for initiation. Goshtipurna: But I had asked you to
come alone. Why have you brought these two?
Ramanuja explained: Swami! You had asked me to
come with my danda and yajnopaveeta. These are equal
to danda and yajnopaveeta for me. Kuresa is my sacred
thread, Dasarati is my flagstaff. Then you must not
teach my upadesa to anyone except these two, said
Goshtipurna, to which Ramanuja agreed.
Goshtipurna now taught Ramanuja the
significances of Narayana Ashtakshara Mantra.
18 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Thrilled to the roots, Ramanuja circumambulated his
guru, gave offerings, took his permission and returned
to Srirangam.
Now Ramanuja remembered the saying, having
saved himself, one saves the others. Having gained
the way to salvation, he wished to show the way to
others as well. Having set aside the promise given to
his guru not to publicize the Mantra, he went up the
spire of the Narasimhaswami Temple and recited in a
loud voice the NarayanaAshtakshara Mantra to all the
assembled Vaishnavas.
Goshtipurna came to know of it. He hastened to
Ramanuja.
Go: What sir! You have done guru-droha (played
false to your teacher).
Ra: Yes, I am a guru-drohi.
Go: Why? Dont you know a guru-drohi goes to
Hell?
Ra: I know.
Go: Then why did you do it?
Ra: My Lord! For committing guru-droha only I will
go to Hell. But many will gain salvation
by this Mantra.
Goshtipurna could not contain his joy on hearing
this. He embraced his disciple: My dear one! I have
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 19
lacked your large-heartedness. You are indeed
emberumanar (my Lord). From then onwards
Ramanuja came to be known as Emberumanar.
Goshtipurna announced that from now on Vaishnavism
would become famous as RamanujaDarsana.
Brimming with kindness towards his disciple,
Goshtipurna now taught him all about CharamaSloka
(T he G i ta, XVIII, 66). Dasarati came forward now for
initiation and Ramanuja sent him to Goshtipurna.
Goshtipurna told him that once he overcame the pride
of wealth, scholarship and birth, Ramanuja himself
would do the needful.
When Dasarati came back, Ramanuja sent him to
be a servant in the house of his gurus daughter.
Dasarati worked in the house of the daughters in-
laws, and proved that he was indeed free of the pride
of scholarship, wealth and caste. Now Ramanuja taught
him the significance of the CharamaSloka.
BHAGAVADVISHAYAM
(TAMIL PRABANDHAS)
Once Goshtipurna asked Ramanuja to get lessons
in Bhagavadvishayam (traditional commentaries on Sri
Satakopas Tiruvaimoli) from Maladhara. Ramanuja
found that the teacher was not giving the correct
explanation for one of the verses. He objected and
20 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
gave another explanation. Maladhara became angry and
stopped the lessons.
Sri Goshtipurna came to know of this. On his
asking for the reason, Maladhara said that Ramanuja
objected to his explanation and so the lessons were
stopped. Goshtipurna assured him: Ramanuja is not
an ordinary person. He is an incarnation of Adisesha.
His explanation is correct. Maladhara accepted the
advice and resumed his lectures on Bhagavadvishayam.
On the advice of Maladhara, Ramanuja went to
Vararanga, the son of Sri Yamunacharya and served
him personally for six months. Then Vararanga taught
him the inner significances of devotion to ones
Acharya.
In this manner Ramanuja learnt the secrets of
spirituality from Sri Sailapurna, Sri Goshtipurna, Sri
Maladhara and Sri Vararanga.
GIVING POISON
The Temple of Sri Ranganatha came under the
control of Ramanuja. The priests of the Temple were
used to steal offerings made to the Deity. They could
not do so under the Acharyas management. So they
planned to do away with Ramanuja. A Brahmin who
came under their control asked his wife to give cooked
rice mixed with poison when the Acharya Bhiksha.
She did so, but prostrated before the Acharya, her
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 21
eyes streaming with tears. Ramanuja noticed this and
threw away this rice mixed with poison and assuaged
his hunger with the waters of the river Cauvery.
Coming to know of this, Sri Goshtipurna visited
Ramanuja. It was a hot day and Ramanuja prostrated
before his guru on the burning sand. Sri Gostipurna
organized that henceforth only the disciples would cook
for Ramanuja.
Another time, the priest gave the Acharya
poisoned water. Knowingly Acharya took it and by
the grace of God, no harm came to him. Though there
were many such plots, Ramanuja escaped them all
safely. Was he not one being guarded by the Divine?
The Acharya had compassion even for his enemies
and allowed them to go free.
DEFEAT OF YAGNAMURTHY
There was a scholarly Advaita Sanyasi known as
Yagnamurthy. He had heard of Ramanujas fame.
Desiring to defeat him in Scholarly dispute, he came
carrying many works of Sastra. Ramanuja got ready
for the dispute. Yagnamurthy said If I lose, I shall
accept your religion and place my head at your feet.
Ramanuja replied If I lose I will throw away all my
books. Having decided upon their respective vows,
they began their arguments. Yagnamurthy was an
immense scholar. It appeared as though Ramanuja
22 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
would lose dispute. Immediately he surrendered to
Lord Varadaraja and conveyed his problem. The Lord
appeared in Ramanujas dream, assured him of his
protection, and mentioned that the great scholar would
lose and become his disciple and would be a great
help in propagating Visishtadvaita. With that Ramanuja
got back his self-confidence.
The next day Ramanuja asked Yagnamurthy:
GnanarupamParam Brahma
Thannivartyammrushatmakam
Agnanamseththiraskuryath
Kahaprabhusthannivarthakaha
Meaning -- if Brahman who is very image of
knowledge comes under the control of Maya, who is
there to remove it?
Yagnamurthy was unable to answer this question,
saluted Ramanuja for his arguments, accepted
Visishtadvaita, and received the PanchaSamskara. He
was named Devarajamuni. He is also known as
ArulalaperumalEmberumanar. With great devotion and
sincerity, he propagated Vaishnavisam and gained fame
by writing books like Prameyasaram and Gnanasaram.
ANANTARYA
One of the verses in Tiruvaimoli says that one
should spend ones life serving Srinivasa. Ramanuja
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 23
explained how this should be done. He once asked
his disciples, Who is ready to go to Tirumala,
establish a garden to serve the Lord with Tulasi and
other flowers?A noble Vaishnava called Anantarya
came forward to do so. With Ramanujas permission
he went to Tirumala, and performed the service with
great sincerity.
KARPASARAMALAKSHMI
When Ramanuja was on a pilgrimage, he reached
a village called Ashtasahasram. He sent word to a local
Vaishnava, the rich Yagyesa, that he was coming. But
the Vaishnava did not come to honour him. Without
informing a poor devotee called Varadarya,
Ramanuja went to his house. The Brahmins wife
Karpasaramalakshmi was ashamed to come out, as
she was having a very torn garment. Ramanuja realized
this, removed his upper garment and threw it into the
house. She covered herself with it, came out of the
house and worshipped him with devotion. There was
no food in the house for the visitors. The husband
had not yet returned home. She thought that even if
she had to commit a sin, she should do so to honour
the Acharya. She went to the shop keepers house
who had been interested in her and told him that she
would come at night to him. Receiving the needed
items, she came home, and fed the visitors. By now
24 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
Varadarya returned. She related to him all that had
happened. He was happy and praised her. That night
he took his wife to the shop keepers home. When he
saw them together, the shop keeper was transformed.
He fell at their feet and prayed for forgiveness. Then
he went to the Acharya and became his disciple.
Afterwards,he gave good advice to Yagyesa who had
not been a good host.
PILGRIMAGE TO TIRUPATI
Later, accompanied by Sri Kanchipurna, followed
by his Vaishnava entourage, the Acharya reached
Venkatachala. He bathed in Kapilatirta, also known as
DivyasuriTirta. Coming to know of the Acharyas visit
to Tirupati, a king named VittaladevaBhupati came to
him and saluted him with offerings including one
Agrahara. Then, Anantarya and others from Tirumala
came and invited the Acharya to Tirumala. As the Hill
was considered to be the form of Adhisesha, the
Acharya did not wish to put his feet on the hill.
Ultimately he gave in to the forceful arguments of the
devotees and agreed to climb up.
Sailapurna brought the Lords Tirtha and Prasada.
Why did you bring them yourself, could you not send
a junior person asked the Acharya. The answer came:
I am the smallest of all. The Acharya was delighted
with the reply.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 25
Reaching Tirumala, theYatiraja circumambulated
the holy streets. He went and saw Anantaryas garden.
He worshipped VarahaSwamy. On Suklapaksha
Dwadesi in DhanurMasa, he saluted the Swami
Pushkarini and entered the Temple. He had darshan of
Lord Venkateswara and received Tirtha and Satakopa.
He spent 3 days in Tirumala and came down. He was
happy to meet Govinda in the house of Sailapurna.
For six months, Sailapurna taught special
significances of the Ramayana to Ramanuja.
Afterwards, Ramanuja took Govinda with him and
reached Kanchipuram after visiting Gatikachalam.
Sometime later he returned to Srirangam. Govinda
served the Acharya with great sincerity and devotion.
Finally he also gave up family life and became a
Sanyasin.
KASHMIR VISIT
When Yamunacharya withdrew from this world,
Ramanuja had given his word that he would write a
commentary on the Brahma Sutras. To write it, he had
to study Maharshi BodhayanasVritti. So the Acharya
went to Kashmir along with Kuresa. The scholars in
Kashmir refused to handover BodhayanasVritti.
Ramanuja became worried. Watching this, Kuresa said:
Swami! Do not worry. Having come here I have
studied the BodhayanaVritti completely. I can repeat
what is in there. The Acharya was delighted.
26 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
WRITING SRI BHASHYA
When he returned to Srirangam, he understood
the information contained in Bodhayanas Vritti from
Kuresa. Criticizing the arguments of the Advaitins, he
wrote the commentary on the Brahma Sutras. This
has become famous as Sri Bhashya. He also wrote
VedantaDipa, Vedanta Sara, VedartaSangraha, Gita
Bhasya and other works. As Acharya dictated, Kuresa
wrote down.
PILGRIMAGES IN SOUTH INDIA
Now the Acharya undertook pilgrimages in South
India to widen the perspectives of the disciples. They
worshipped in holy Temples. They saw Kurukapuri
and other holy places. While travelling, Ramanuja
established many Mathas and 74 Grihasta Mathas. He
went to Kerala and worshipped Lord Padmanabha.
He established a Ramanuja Matha there. Later on, he
went to places like Dwaraka, Mathura, Brindavanam,
Salagrama, Ayodhya, Naimisaranya and Pushkara. Later
he reached Sri Sarada Peetha in Kashmir.
Goddess Sarada praised the Acharyas
commentary on Brahma Sutras. There the Pandits and
Kings honoured him.
Now, while returning via Kashi, he reached
Jagannatha Kshetra in Puri. He wanted to change the
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 27
rituals of worship according to the Pancharatra Agama.
But Lord Jagannatha did not agree.
Now the Acharya went to Srikurmam and then
reached Simhachalam. There he putdown the pride of
the poet known as Krishnamarya and blessed him.
From Simhachalam, he reached Ahobilam, where he
worshipped Lord Narasimham. From there he went to
Tirumala. At that time, there was widespread
controversy as to whether the Deity here was Vishnu
or Siva.
The main reason for this controversy regarding
the Deity was that the image did not have the Discus
or the Conch nor the Trident or Damuraka.
TIRUMALA IS VISHNUKSHETRA
The Acharya who reached Tirumala observed this.
He called both the sides and said: We will place the
Trident and the Damuraka and the Conch and the
Discus in front of the Deity and withdraw from the
place. Whichever the Lord puts on, we will consider
the Lord as that Deity and worship Him. Both the
sides agreed. They did as the Acharya had suggested
and went away, locking the doors. The next morning,
at dawn, all of them went into the Temple. They saw
that the Lord had accepted the Conch and the Discus.
The Saivaites felt disappointed and went away.
28 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
The Acharya was very happy. He praised the Lord.
He made an offering of a Golden Lakshmi to be placed
on the chest of the Lord. From that day, Ramanuja
has been considered as the father-in-Law and guru of
Lord Srinivasa.
Now the Acharya went to Kanchipuram and
Madurantakam and presently reached Srirangam.
Kuresa was very close to the Acharya. He was the
chief of the village Kuram, near Kanchipuram. He used
to do annadana daily. He was rich and a great scholar.
One day, the noise of the doors of the Athithisala
(Dining hall of the pilgrims) was heard by Goddess
Sri Ranganayaki in Srirangam. She had heard of
Kuresas sacrifices and wanted to see him. She invited
him to Srirangam through Kanchipurna. Kuresa gave
up everything and went to Srirangam with his wife.
The Acharya was delighted that Kuresa had come to
Srirangam.
Kuresa lived in Srirangam, on bhiksha. One day
due to intense stomach pain, he was not able to leave
the house. He lay down without food.
One could hear the sounds of food offerings to
Sri Ranganatha in the Temple. Kuresaswife
AndalAmmal heard it and called out: When your
devotee is going without food, how could you partake
offerings with six rasas? Immediately the Lord
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 29
appeared in the dream of a Temple servitor, and
ordered him to take Prasada to Kuresa. Kuresa was
delighted on receiving the Prasada but when he learnt
of his wifes complaint, he scolded her:Can we speak
like that to the Lord of the World? He then had his
food and also gave his wife.
PARASARA AND VYASA BHATTARAKA
Andal Ammal who had taken the prasada became
enceinte and gave birth to two sons. The Acharya was
happy when he received the news. He named the
children as Parasara Bhattaraka and Vyasa Bhattaraka.
Thus did he fulfil his promise given to Yamunacharya
earlier.
Parasara Bhatta was endowed with tremendous
genius. He was an eka santa grahi (one who can
understand by hearing just once) and mastered the
Vedas, the Vedangas and other scriptures. Even as a
child he had shown a handful of sand to the scholar
Sarvajna Bhatta and asked: You are sarvajna (one
who knows everything) right? What is the amount of
sand here? The Pandit remained silent, unable to
answer. Why, cant you say this is a handful of sand?
the boy laughed. Sarvajna was highly impressed.
When he grew up, Parasara married with his gurus
permission and remained in Srirangam.
30 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
DHANURDASA-HEMAMBA
As the days went by, Ramanujas fame spread all
over the four directions. There was a soldier called
Dhanurdasa in Nichulapuri. He was married to
Hemamba. She was very beautiful. The soldier looked
after her with great love.
Once it was Spring Festival for Sri Ranganatha.
The soldier came with Hemamba to watch the festival
in Srirangam. Worried that she may be hurt by the sun
above, he walked with her carrying an umbrella above
her head.
The Acharya who was coming from the Kaveri
after his bath watched the sight. Who is that carrying
an umbrella? He asked. Those who knew told him of
the couple.
Alas, he is behaving thus so openly, thought the
Acharya and decided to turn the soldiers immense
love towards Sri Ranganatha. He sent word for
Dhanurdasa. When he came the Acharya made
enquiries. The soldier spoke about himself and his wife.
Acharya: Is it right to be carrying an umbrella for
your wife in the open road?
Dhanu: My wife is extremely delicate. Her eyes
are like lotus petals. Her face will get burnt in the hot
sun. Hence I am covering her with the umbrella. She is
everything to me.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 31
Acharya: What you say is right. But I will show
you eyes that are more beautiful than your wifes. Will
you come with me?
Dhanu: Acharya! I shall come definitely. What
else do I need? I am a worshipper of beauty.
The Acharya took him immediately to Sri
Ranganatha. This deity has eyes like lotus petals.
Watching the all-auspicious form of the Lord,
Dhanurdasa felt overwhelmed with happiness. The
Lords eyes had charmed him no end.
The Acharya said: Young man! Did you see the
beauty of this Lords eyes? How do they appear to
you? Pat came the reply. Swami!Your words are
true. The figure of this Lord enchants the world. These
eyes are of unequalled beauty. I will leave this God no
more. Kindly give me the gift of remaining here
worshipping this Lord. I am ashamed about my love
for perishable beauty. Please save me. Dhanurdasa
fell at the feet of the Acharya.
The Acharya blessed him and gave him permission
to live in Srirangam and worship the Lord. Thus did
Dhanurdasa turn to be a great devotee. He holds a
premier position among the disciples of Ramanuja.
The Acharya gave him the Pancha Samskaras and
initiated him with Mantra.
The change that came over Dhanurdasa turned out
to be a difficulty for Hemamba. Somehow she
32 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
controlled her grief and one day came to the Acharya
and fell at his feet. Feeling kindly towards her, he
welcomed her as a disciple and gave her the Pancha
Samskaras. Now both Hemamba and Dhanurdasa
became shining examples among the disciples and dear
to the Acharya.
One day after his bath in the Kaveri, the Acharya
was returning to his Matha, holding on to Dhanurdasas
hand. Was it right to be touched by a Shudra? asked
the disciples. The Acharyas reply:
Vidyamadho dhanamadha smritiyor bhijano
madha:
E te madhaavaliptaanaam eta ev a sataam
dhamaa:
Pride of scholarship, pride of wealth, pride of
birth - these belong to proud persons. In people who
are good-natured, these get changed into dhama (self-
control). Dhanurdasa was free of pride and hence
was a pure person. Such was the Acharyas message.
But the Vaishnavas were not satisfied. So they began
reviling Dhanurdasa for no reason. They decided to
shame him in some way. The Acharya came to know
of their evil intentions.
One day the Acharya asked a close disciple to cut
a piece of cloth of the size needed for a kaupina from
the garments put out to dry by the Vaishnavas who
had criticized Dhanurdasa. The student did so.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 33
When the torn clothes were discovered on the
following morning, the disciples became very angry.
They began fighting among themselves and the Acharya
pacified them.
After sometime, on a night when he was with
Dhanurdasa, he called two sanyasins and secretly asked
them to go to Dhanurdasas house and steal the
ornaments of Hemamba. The Vaishnavas went
immediately and stole the ornaments on one side of
Hemambas body as she was sleeping. She opened
her eyes, noticed the persons from the Acharyas
Matha taking the jewels, and to help them turned to
the other side so that the thieves could take all the
jewels. The intruders thought she had woken up and
ran away.
Dhanurdasa now came home. The Acharya sent
his disciples to Dhanurdasas house to watch the
happenings there. They did so. When Dhanurdasa
asked about the missing jewels, she related what had
happened. Dhanurdasa scolded her: Why did you
turn when they were taking the jewels? Alas! Looks
like they ran away thinking you had woken up. You
have wronged the good devotees.
The disciples reported the conversation of the
couple to the Acharya. He called the disciples and
admonished them. Look at the devotion for
bhagavatas exuded by the Dhanurdasa couple! Where
34 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
are you fellows who fought among yourselves for the
loss of a piece of ochre garment! Where are those
two who allowed the bhagavatas to take away the
ornaments? At least from now on behave with
propriety.
In the morning he called Dhanurdasa, spoke to
him of the sequence of events and returned his jewels.
Unable to demur, Dhanurdasa accepted them and went
home.
MARANERNAMBI
Another incident in this great life. The realised soul,
Maranernambi, reached Paramapada. Mahapurna
performed the final rituals according to tradition. The
Vaishnavas of the place objected saying a Brahmin
should not perform the rites for a shudra, and criticized
Mahapurna. His daughter gave up going to the temple
because of such criticism.
The Acharya went to Mahapurnas house and
requested him to explain his action. Do you not know
of Sri Rama performing the final rites to Jatayu in the
days of yore? When a visesha dharma is followed, it
is not against the Shastras.
The Acharya agreed.
Once the Acharya took a dumb Shudra into his
room and assured him with signs: These feet of mine
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 35
shall be your guardian. Watching it Kuresa felt sad:
I never gained such guardian glance from the Acharya!
What is the use of my having been born in the Brahmin
caste?
KRIMIKANTA
In those days the Chola king, Krimikanta, was the
ruler. He hated Vaishnavas and was a Shiva bhakta.
The Vaishnavas could not live in peace in his land.
That king used to force his subjects to become
adherents of Shiva. His message was: Sivaat
parataram naasti. He used to trouble his subjects to
write this and give it to him. Those who did so but
acted otherwise had their eyes gouged out or hands
and feet cut off.
He had an equally evil minister who said that if
only the king could succeed in getting Ramanuja
endorse the statement, the kings fame would spread
far and wide. Immediately the king sent his soldiers to
bring Ramanuja.
The soldiers entered the Matha when the Acharya
was away having his bath in the Kaveri. Kuresa realised
what was happening, put on the ochre robes of
Ramanuja, announced himself as the Acharya and went
away with the soldiers.
On his return after bath, Ramanuja realised what
had happened and was worried about Kuresa. As it
36 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
was dangerous to remain there, he put on the white
garments of Kuresa, left the Matha and went away
westwards.
With a few disciples the Acharya walked for five
days. On the sixth night they entered a forest. Some
hunters there recognised the Acharya and welcomed
him with fruits and milk.
CHELANCHALAMBA
The next day they learnt that there was a Brahmins
house in a village and went there. The lady of the house,
Chelanchalamba, was a great devotee. Earlier she had
gone to Ramanuja and had received initiation. She
welcomed them and looked after the guests very well.
She even made her husband receive Pancha
Samskaras.
From here, the Acharya and his entourage went to
the area of Mithilanagaram and reached a village. The
Brahmins there were advaitins. They did not welcome
the Acharya. However, on a sign from the Acharya,
Dasarati placed his feet into the tank from where the
village people draw water. Suddenly the minds of the
people changed. They happily played host to the
Acharya and his disciples. The Acharya renamed the
village as Salagrama. Then an abhichara homa was
performed for the destruction of Krimikanta.
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 37
A Brahmarakshas had taken hold of the princess
of the place that was being ruled by Vittala Deva. The
Acharya was able to chase away the evil spirit which
was troubling the princess. The king became his
disciple. This turned out to be auspicious for the
Vaishnava religion. Hosts of new entrants received
Pancha Samskaras there.
Vittala Devas earlier gurus who were Buddhists
became very angry at his becoming a Vaishnava.
Thousands of them turned up to oppose the Acharya.
There was disputation. The Acharya had a screen tied
and asked the Buddhists to stay on the other side.
Ramanuja himself took on his original form of
Adisesha, took part in the debate and defeated all his
opponents. From then onwards he stayed there and
was looked after by the king.
YATIRAJA SAMPATH KUMARA
The tirumani (white clay) brought from Srirangam
was now finished. The Acharya wondered how to get
it replenished. Lord Narayana of Yadugiri appeared in
his dream and assured him that there was plenty of
tirumani available in the Yadava hill. He could get it by
going over to the place. The Lord also commanded
that he was lying neglected without any worship and it
was time for Ramanuja to build a temple for him.
The Acharya informed Vittalaraya of the dream,
and with his help proceeded to Yadugiri. When he dug
38 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
the earth with his flagstaff, he found plenty of white
clay. He also discovered the image of Tirunarayana
and built a temple, and consecrated the Lord.
Again the Lord appeared in the Acharyas dream
and said that his utsava murti was in the palace of the
emperor of Delhi. With the kings help, the Acharya
proceeded to Delhi with his disciples and a contingent
of soldiers.The emperor welcomed him with honours.
Our utsava murti is with you. Kindly return it to
us said the Acharya to the emperor. It was one of the
images brought after the emperors victorious
campaigns. But the image could not be identified. The
Lord came to the Acharya again in a dream and assured
him that the image was in the zenana. The image was
in the care of the princess. Having informed the emperor
of this, the Acharya stood in front of the zenana and
called out: O Ramapriya! Come here! Immediately
the image came out walking like a little boy and
ascended the lap of the Acharya. That is why the image
is known as Yatiraja Sampath kumara. The emperor
praised the Acharya.
But the princess was unable to bear the separation
from her favourite image. She felt inconsolable. As
there was no other way, they sent her along with the
image. On return from Delhi, the Acharya consecrated
the image in the Yadugiri temple. As the princess had
merged in the image during their journey, the Acharya
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 39
had her image also consecrated in that place. She is
known as Bibi Nachiyar. Some people think this image
is in Tirupati. That is not correct.
A Ramanuja Matha was built in Yadugiri and the
Acharya lived there for several years. He worked hard
for propagating Vaishnavism. But in Srirangam his
absence was felt deeply.
KURESA AND MAHAPURNA WERE MADE
BLIND
We have already seen how Kuresa went to the
Chola king in the place of Ramanuja. Mahapurna also
accompanied him. Learning about the deception the
king asked them to write that there is none superior to
Shiva, Shivaat parataram naasti. He would not listen
to reason and harassed Kuresa. So Kuresa wrote,
Dronamasti tatparam. Shiva and Drona are also the
names of measuring cups of different sizes. In size,
Drona is bigger than Shiva. The king was enraged by
this satirical statement, had the eyes of Kuresa and
Mahapurna gouged out and sent them away.
Both of them, now totally blind, proceeded
towards Srirangam with the help of strangers. On the
way Mahapurna attained Paramapada. He was 106
years old. Kuresa who returned to Srirangam felt
unhappy that he had not gained salvation like
Mahapurna.
40 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja
The Acharya came to know of this sad happening.
He was greatly distressed. He had dadhi-aaradhana
(feeding Brahmins in memory of the departed soul)
performed in a big way.
The Chola king sent out of Srirangam many of
Ramanujas followers. Kuresa left Srirangam for
Vanamamalai and stayed there worshipping Lord
Sundarabahu. He composed four stotras there: Sri
Stava, Sundarabahu Stava, Atimanushastava and
Srivaikunta Stava. They are part of his Pancha Stava.
Ramanuja sent his disciples to bring Kuresa to
him. When they went and informed Kuresa, he was
very happy.
Meanwhile Krimikantas throat was affected by
cancerous growth and he died. This brought cheer to
the Acharya as he could now get ready to go to
Srirangam. It was already twelve years since he left
Srirangam.
The people of Yadugiri were unable to reconcile
themselves to parting from their Acharya. To comfort
them, the Acharya had an image made in his likeness
and consecrated it there,took their permission and
reached Srirangam. People of Srirangam became
deliriously happy. Learning that the Acharya was
coming to Srirangam, Kuresa also came there from
Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 41
Vanamamalai. Looking at him in that state, the Acharya
grew very sad.
INSTALLATION OF GOVINDARAJA IN
TIRUPATI
One day some Vaishnavas came to the Acharya
and said: Swami! We are coming from Chitrakuta
(Chidambaram). Among Krimikantas evil activities was
the destruction of the images of Vishnu there and
replacing them with images of Shiva. The image of Sri
Govindaraja was thrown into the sea. However, a
devotee named Tilla saved the vigraha. She has safely
conveyed the image to Tirupati. Kindly consecrate the
image in Tirupati, was their prayer.
Immediately, Ramanuja left for Tirupati and blessed
Tilla and arranged for the consecration of Govindaraja.
He then went up to Tirumala and had darshan of
Srinivasa. Afterwards, he proceeded to Kanchipuram
and worshipped Lord Varadaraja and returned to
Srirangam. He continued to serve the cause of
Vaishnavism.
KURESA RECEIVES VISION
As desired by the Acharya, Kuresa wrote
Varadaraja Stava. Both of them went to Kanchipuram.
42 Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja Sri Bhagavad Ramanuja 43

When Kuresa recited the prayer in the presence of the his 120th year, in 1137 A.D., on Magha Suddha Navami,
Lord, he got back his vision. he brought to an end his incarnation.
As vowed by Goda Devi a long time back, the Tasmaadayam Lakshmana Desikendrena
Acharya offered to Lord Sundarabahu in Vaanaadri, Sakshaat darir loka gururmahatma
one hundred pots of butter and one hundred pots of Tasyaiva sambandha balena tena
Moksho hi siddhonikhilatmakanam
jaggery-rice. For having fulfilled her vow, he now came
to be known as Godaagraja (the elder brother of Goda
Devi). * * *
Once the Acharya went to Kurukapuri, worshipped
Nammalvar and adopted as his son the Brahmin boy,
Buri Srisailapurna, who belonged to the parampara of
Nammalvar. He named him Kurukesa. He then returned
to Srirangam.
WRITINGS
Of the Acharyas writings, Sri Bhashya, Vedanta
Sara, Vedanta Deepa, Nithya-Bhagavad-Aradhana,
Vedartha Sangraha and Bhagavad Gita Bhashya are
very famous. In the same manner, his Saranagati Gadya,
Sri Ranga Gadya and Sri Vaikunta Gadya are also
famous.
END OF THE INCARNATION
Towards the end, the Acharya nominated Sri
Parasara Bhatta as the Leader of the Vaishnavas. In