| SAPTHAGIRI - April 2003 | ||
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Nearly two centuries after the demise of Adi Sankara, Ramanajua (Yatiraja) appeared on the scene. His approach was quite different. He gave little importance to birth right. He said caste has nothing to do with devotion. Devotion to God is a common property of all mankind. Any one without any caste barrier, can be a devoted bhakta of Lord Narayana. No one has any right to exclude one of a particular caste or community from being devoted to God and if one does so, it is a great sin. Yet another point in favour of Ramanuja was the popular local language, Tamil, which was profusely used and encouraged by Ramanuja. The use of the popular tongue by Ramanuja was perhaps responsible for the popularity of Ramanuja's religion, that is Vaishnavism.
Next point is the propagation of Prapatti or unconditional surrender unto the lotus feet of God, which puts no bar on caste, creed or sex. This was also equally responsible for the popularity of Vaishnavism.
Ramanuja's popularity was responsible for the appearance of several Vaishnava temples in South India.
Another favourable and important factor for Ramanuja's success was his thorough knowledge of the Vedas, Vedangas, Smrithis, Ithihasas, Puranas as well as proficiency in Sanskrit and Tamil. Besides his maanaseeka Guru Yamunacharya (Aalavandar), Ramanuja studied under five great scholars, who were trusted disciples of Aalavandar. Yamanuacharya with great vision made each one of them an expert in a particular subject. He, before his death, had instructed each one of them to disseminate everthing they knew to Ramanuja.
They did so. These five lieutenants were
It is no wonder that with such a background, erudition, efficiency, sincerity of purpose, perseverance and wholehearted devotion to Aalavandar, his maanasika Guru, Ramanuja had almost finished his mission on earth. The purpose of his incarnation had been satisfactorily finished.
It is but natural that at this stage he was drawn near to the feet of Lord Narayana.
He lived on this earth for twice sixty years.
He lived for the good of many.
He made the world an abode of joy.
He trained his chosen sishyas to the level of his own.
He set the administration of the temples in order.
He set the standard of the daily routine of every temple in order.
He left a detailed code for temple procedure.
He unified the scattered Vaishnavites.
He made Vaishnavism a movement with a mass base and mass appeal.
He admitted people of different castes as his disciples.
He always maintained that the strength of any theory depended upon its utility in application.
(This is the argument he put forth when he was taken to task by Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi for divulging the estoric essence of the Ashtakshara)
Then again, he fulfilled the three pledges he had taken at the time of the death of Aalavandar, 1. Writing the Sri Bashya 2. Perpetuating the name of Parasara (by naming Koorthalwar's son as Parasara) and announcing that he was his successor and (3) Propagating Nammalwar's Tamil Prabandam, thus perpetuating Nammalwar's name. He also directed Tirukkuruhaipiranpillan, the son of Sri Sailapurna to write a commentary on Tiruvaimozhi which contained the quintessence of the BRahma Sutras.
Ramanuja was acclaimed as the father of Sampath Kumar. It was he who was responsible for proving that Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala is a Vaishnava God, that is, Lord Narayana Himself by investing the two inseparable insignias of Maha Vishnu, the absence of which was made much of by the Saivite devotees.
It is but fair that we accept Ramanuja as agreat teacher, as a great reformer, as a great debater, as a great administrator and what not ?
Because of such dynamic qualities Ramanuja is remembered even after thousand years by the Vaishnavas of our land.
To prove the above statements, we should mention that wherever he went, Ramanuja took it as his first and foremost duty to be the guiding force behind all religious activities. The tremendous organisational effort put in by Ramanuja during his life time, for the spread of Vaishnava faith and protection of Sampradaya is still in force, serving as a beacon light for us. He was very particular of the infrastructure required for temple administration and maintenance of the temple. He saw that the basic amenities required for the temple servants were provided for, to their entire satisfaction.
In the history of Hindu Religion we find few preceptors, who can be compared to Ramanuja in such organisational efficiency and the impact created by it on the society.
Ramanuja appointed 74 Simhasanathipathis, 700 Jeers, 1200 Ekanthis and a number of persons for performing Pancha-samskara and various other religious services in Vaishnava temples, including general administration.
This broad-minded incarnation of Ananatha understood his end was almost nearing. So he called all his followers, disciples, Archakas and all connected with the affairs of the temple and the Mandapam Mutt to assemble in the Mandapam and gave them the following advice
"My beloved sons, hear me with some attention, for, these may probably be my last words".
Men are of three types :
1. The Godward 2. the anti-God 3. those indifferent to God.
If ever you chance to meet the man coming under no. 1, you must feel happy as you would, when you meet your very dear and near.
If you come across persons coming under the second category, you must get away from them as you would, on seeing a venomous cobra.
When you see the men of the third type you can treat them as a log of wood.
Worship Sri Vaishnavas as you would, the Lord himself.
Never be slaves to your senses.
Immerse yourself in the teachings of your Acharyas. A true bhakta should learn to relish the utterance of the names and glories of God's devotees.
Serve Bhagavathas and attain God quickly.
Seek the company of those who have surrendered to God.
Avoid those who are after sense enjoyment.
Your present life is determined by your past Karma. It is unalterable. So don't grieve over the happenings in the present life.
Do your duty in the spirit of serving God.
Get rid of your ego.
Go on contemplating on the Dvaya Mantra.
Treat those who have no faith in God as your bitter enemies.
Purity of thought leads to purity of action.
Do not find fault with others. No one is perfect and so no one is competent to mention about the faults of others or their drawbacks and weaknesses.
As if exhausted, Ramanuja closed his eyes and was silent for sometime. A few minutes later he opened his eyes and continued.
"Here and now, my dear children, I recommend Parasara, son of Kuresa (Koorathalwar) as my successor". The announcement was received well by the assembly.
As Ramanuja announced his successor, all those assembled there observed that slowly and steadily, Ramanuja was entering into the influence of a trance or samadhi. Everyone thought that Ramanuja was discarding his mortal coil and leaving them all, once for all to enter into that evergreen, ever beautiful, ever bright Sri Vaikunta, to be always in the glorious and illuminating proximity of Sriman Narayana.
They began to weep and wail. This disturhance was enough for the great Acharya to be disturbed and his meditation got broken. He slowly opened his eyes. Every one was overjoyed. All in one voice said, "Acharyadeva, don't leave us in the lurch. We would become orphans". There was a pause.
Then Ramanuja addressed them in a low, but ringing voice thus : "My beloved children, you lose nothing by losing me. Man is never alone, for, God is ever within him. Those who forsake God, forsake themselves. You see (pointing to Sri Ranganatha) your Lord there, ever present, ever vigilant, ever thinking of his sincere servants and devotees. Be sure He never leaves you. You, on your part, should never be sparing in serving Him. Be a sincere and devoted devotee".
Due to exhaustion Ramanuja became silent, closing his eyes.
As he opened his eyes after a couple of minutes, one in the assembly said with tears in his eyes, "Swamin, give us always the pleasure of looking at your body in the form of an image, so that we could feel blessed."
On Ramanuja's suggestion, a stone image was got ready in three days. It was placed on a pedestal, bathed in the holy waters of the Cauvery, and consecrated according to vedic sanctions. Then Ramanuja transmitted his own power to that stone image by embracing it. In short, Ramanuja's powers were absorbed into that consecrated stone image.
Ramanuja said, "My dear children, this is my second self. There is no difference between myself and this".
Entering Eternity
Not a single moment was lost.
Ramanuja now blessed the entire assembly by raising his hand. He placed his head on the lap of Emabar (Govinda), his feet resting on the lap of Andhrapurna. He looked, with great affection and reverence, at the Padukas (wooden sandals) of his guru, which were placed in front of him. Then he directed his eyes towards the Sanctum Sanctorum of Azhagia Manavalan (Ranganatha) and drank deep the beauty, effulgence and the enrapturing smile of the Lord.
Even so, he breathed his last in 1137 AD.
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