Significance of Sri Ramanuja's Visit to Tirumala

Sri Ramanuja popularly known as 'Udayavar' in Tamil and Sri Bhashyakarar in Sanskrit had learnt the verses of Thiruvaimozhi of Nammalwar through the good offices of Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi. It is this very same Thirukkoshtiyar nambi who had taught him the detailed meaning of Thiru Ashtakshara, the eight syllable Manthra at Thirukkoshtiyur. Sri Ramanuja had to go there 18 times for this purpose. But another important Mahamantra, the Charama sloka of Srimad Bhagavad Gita was voluntarily taught to Sri Ramanuja. This Mahamantra, taught to Arjuna by Lord Sri Krishna and enshrined in Bhagavad Gita, says. "Leaving every other method taught for salvation, you surrender to me and only to me. I will cleanse you from all sins and give you salvation'. This very same principle has been enshrined in Thiruvaimozhi by saint Nammalwar.

Hence Lord of the Seven Hills is Lord Krishna Himself standing in Thirumala to grant Moksha to those who run to him with the feeling of utter helplessness and who place him as the Paratattva and Goptha. The message of Charamasloka explained above is symbolically shown by Lord Venkateswara with his Dayahastha pointing at his holy feet to his devotees and inspiring them to surrender. Ramanuja has only too well appreciated this aspect and was contemplating in his mind ways and means to serve this Lord of Seven Hills.

One day in his prayer class he was explaining the Tamil Pasuram of Nammalwar 'Sindupoo Magi Thiruvenkadam' and it was the desire of Sri Ramanuja that a garden should be arranged in Thirumala and flowers must be grown and offered to Lord Venkateswara. One of his devotees Sri Ananthazhvan responded to his call and offered to go to Tirumala. Due to the continuous efforts Ananthazhwan an excellent Nandavanam was constructed and flowers were grown and it was named after 'Sri Ramanuja,' out of deference for his Guru. Shortly afterwards when Sri Ramanuja visited Tirumala, for the first time he was taken to this garden. Periathirumalai Nambi meets Sri Ramanuja and takes him to Lord Venkatesswara. Sri Ramanuja stays there for a long time and learns esoteric significance of Sri Ramayana in detail. There were varied versions about Lord Venkateswara having the Sudarsana and Panchajanya in his hands. It is also reported that people less fortunate and those not knowledgable entertained doubts whether the Lord of Seven Hills is the Padadivatha Sriman Narayana or any other deity in the Hindu Pantheon. Whatever method that was adopted by Sri Ramanuja, he had succeeded in convincing the doubting persons that Lord Venkateswara is Sriman Narayana alone. Otherswise he cannot give protection to those who come to him, for salvation from births and deaths, only Sriman Narayana can give 'Moksha' and Lord Venkateswara is Narayana Himself. This is simply borne out by various puranas and other texts and from the verses in the Nalayira Divya Prabandam'. Still due to efflux of time and forgetful nature of people and the propaganda made by some mischievous elements, some confusion was created in the minds of people and this was effectively dealt with by Sri Ramanuja. In the very first verse his Brahma Sutra Bhasya of (Sri Bashyam) Ramanuja extols the glory of Lord Venkateswara.

Ramanuja has pointed out that Lord Srinivasa has come down to Tirumala from Sri Vaikunta. He is the Jagathkarana and Paradevatha and he alone is capable of giving Moksha to Chetanas.

Just as Sri Bhasyam is a magnum opus, a significant contribution to vedantic literature, Sri Ramanuja's visit to Tirumala is equally significant because, it is he who had established that Srinivasa is the Paradevatha who has come down to the earth from Sri Vaikuntha.

I will be failing my duty if I donot mention about an extraordinary event that took place in the life of Sri Ramanujacharya who belongs to the Navakalpa Guruparampara . This Swamiji during his last visit to Tirumala wanted five minutes time in the sanctum sanctorum of Tirumala, which was granted by Sesha Bhattar, one of the priests. Dimmayacharya surrendered at the holy feet of Srinivasan and wanted Moksha on the seventh day. At the request of Sesha Bhattar he prayed for the Moksha of Sesha Bhattar also. Their calculation was that they would reach Kancheepuram on the 7th day, but they could reach only 'Kooram' the abode of Koorathalwar, the principal devotee of Sri Ramanuja. At this place they were granted Moksha based on their 'Aartha Prapatti'.

This event which is described, in a book called 'Shadamarshana gothra Prabavam proves Ramanuja's teaching that Lord Venkateswara is the Vaikunta Natha capable of granting Moksha.