Three Likes

Melkote, Sriperumbudur and Srirangam

Why we still read the Bard of Avon? It’s the 450th anniversary of his birth, but his popularity continued unabated. Yes, his acclaimed survival is justifies by many in many ways.

Wheareas Saint Sri Ramanuja’s 1000th birth anniversary is being celebrated without any astonishing questions? His works and his message to the humankind is vast and immeasurable. Saint Sri Ramanuja is worshipped everyday and the Visishtadvaita Guru is a benchmark for Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya.

Beauty is a thing of joy for ever, says John Keats. God and Goddess are the embodiment of beauty, the birthplace of beauty and they meade all things beautiful. Many Alwars sang hymns highlighting the beauty of the Lord at times in Nayika-bhava.

When there is beauty, like indefinetely follows, such is the case of Bhashyakara, Udaiyavar, Emperumanar as saint is fondly called. As Saint Thyagaraja sang “Kanakana Ruchira”, Saint Sri Ramanuja made Villi-dasa to experience the Thiruppanalvar’s –

“ Kondal vannanaik kovalanaai venne-

YundaVaayan, Ennullam kavarnthaanai

Andarkon Aniyarangan Ennamudhinaik,

Kanda kangal Mattrondrinaik Kaanaave.”

God is always a sign of beauty, if worshipped or enjoyed in a right sense.

Melkote is a hilly rural place where saints devotees admire Sri Ramanuja’s beauty and named their religious Guru as “Thamarugantha Thirumeni.”

Sriperumbudur a small town – is the birthplace of the saint and he himself likes his form and named it as “Thanugantha Thirumeni.”

Srirangam – a holy shrine that took upon itself the pride and beauty of holding Sri Ramanuja for ever. The place where the saint attained the lotus feet of the Lord and the form is named as “Thaanaaaana Thirumeni.”

Sri Ramanuja is having a sannidhi in almost all the Sri Vaishnavite temples – but the above “three likes” are prominent.

Beauty concealed in these “Moolavars” are inexplicable and they shower blessings to all devotees.