Sri Ramanuja, the Srivaishnava saint and social Reformer

Dear Sriniketan,
Advaita Philosophy is also based on maayaavaadh only. Yadava Prakasa and Yaghyesa Murthi both followed Adhvaida. I confirmed it from google search. Buddhism also propagates Maayaavaadh.
Love,
Pushpavalli

 

Ramanuja's Visit to Tirumalai​

Ramanuja was departing to his disciples all that he had learned from his gurus Periya Nambikal and Thirumalaiyandan.One day he was talking about Tirumalai that was compared to Buloka Vaikuntham in those days. Suddenly he asked his disciples if any one of them was willing to go to Tirumalai to do Pushpa Kaimkaryam to Lord Srinivasa. In those days Tirumalai was hard to reach and there was dense forest on the way. The climate was also not suitable as it was too cold on the hill. Hence the disciples were not willing to take over this horrendous task. But Ananthazwan told Ramanuja that he was willing to go to Tirumalai and do kaimkaryam to Lord Srinivasa wholeheartedly. Ramanuja was very much pleased to hear this and he told Ananthazwan that he was really blessed to have him as his disciple. As for his guru’s aghya (order) Ananthazvan went to Tirumalai and after having darshan of Lord Venkatachalapathi, with deep devotion he started his work. He was successful in laying a garden with all kinds of beautiful and pleasant smelling flowers which were offered to the Lord. He also built a lake which is called Ananthazvan lake. The garden is also in his name till today and Lord Venkatachalapathi visits the garden and stays there for some time on the birthday of Ananthazvan and also on Thiruvadipooram day.
Ramanuja was very glad to know that Ananthazvan had fulfilled his wish. He wanted to go and see Ananthazvan and also his kaimkaryam to Lord Venkatesa. He started his journey to Tirumalai with some of his disciples.The first day he stayed at a place called Idaikazi. The second day he was supposed to reach a place called Ashtasahasram. Two of his Vaishnava disciples were staying there. He sent word through two of his disciples to one Yaghyesar who was a rich man to make arrangements for his stay. Yaghyesar was thrilled to hear the news and started making elaborate arrangements, but failed to look after the disciples who gave him the message. When Ramanuja came to know this he felt sad and he decided to stay in the house of his other disciple Varadachari. He was a poor man and every day he used to go for biksha . His wife Lakshmi only was at home when Ramanuja went to his house. Lakshmi was very happy to see Emperumanar and his disciples and requested them to have food at her house, but told them to take rest at the nearby tank side until she finished cooking. There was nothing at home to cook and she was in a predicament. But suddenly an idea struck her. There was a vysya (merchant) who had shown interest in her and wanted to have relationship with her. All along Lakshmi being a chaste woman, never yielded to his advances. Now she thought that she could fulfill the merchant’s desire and get money to buy things for the renowned and honoured guest Ramanuja. She felt that her body would serve a useful purpose.
She went to the merchant’s house and told him that she had come to fulfill his wish, but before that she wanted to serve the honoured guest. The merchant, though surprised to hear this, sent her all that she wanted. Lakshmi went home and cooked food and after offering it to Lord, she served the guests. Varadachari came home and he was delighted to see Ramanuja and others. When he came to know that they had taken food at his house, his happiness knew no bounds. Yet he was bewildered how his wife had managed as there was nothing at home. He took her aside and asked her. She told him all that had happened. Varadachari did not get angry with his wife, but he praised her for her decision. He took her hand and went in front of Ramanuja and both prostrated at his feet. Varadachari had told Ramanuja all that had happened. Ramanuja was wonderstruck to hear this. He told them to have their food and take the remaining food to the merchant’s house. Varadachari and Lakshmi went to the merchant’s house together, but he did not enter the house. Lakshmi went inside and served food to the merchant. After eating the food the merchant there was a sea change in the merchant's behaviour. He looked at Lakshmi with great respect and told her that the food she served had changed him to a new man and that he was ashamed for his behaviour.
He told her that he wanted to see Ramanuja and become his disciple. They all went back to their house and Ramanuja’s grace made all three of them sacred. Ramanuja accepted the merchant as his disciple. The merchant had offered all his wealth to Ramanuja and Ramanuja offered it to Varadachari. But Varadachari refused to accept it saying that his guru kataksham was his most cherished wealth. Thus Ramanuja proved that guruvaruLwould create miracles!

Udaiyavar Thiruvadikale SaraNam!​

to be continued​

 

Dear Sriniketan,
Guruvarul illaiyel ThiruvaruL illai! I wonder if any one is blessed to have a guru like Sri Ramanuja in the present era and also sishyas like those who were in those days?
Love,
Pushpavalli

 

Dear Vanaja,
Glad to hear you enjoy 'Ethiraja Vaibhavam.' FBs like these energises me and motivates me.
Love,
Pushpavalli

 

Ramanuja's visit to Tirumalai (continued)​

Here Yaghyesa was waiting to welcome Ramanuja after making elaborate arrangements. Then he came to know that Ramanuja had gone to Varadachari’s house. He went there and told Ramanuja that he felt very sad for Ramanuja did not accept his hospitality. He further told that he might have committed some sin without knowing. Ramanuja told him that he neglected his disciples who were sent to his house to inform his arrival. Then Yaghyesa told him that he was overwhelmed with joy to hear that Ramauja was kind enough to be his guest and felt that he was very much blessed to have him as his guest. Hence he started to make elaborate arrangements and so forgotten to look after his disciples. He asked Ramanuja’s pardon and Ramanuja told him that he would be his guest while returning to Srirangam. Thus the matter was settled to everybody’s satisfaction.
The next morning Ramanuja left for Kanchipuram with his disciples and stayed there for three days. He had darshan of PeraruLaLa Perumal and also spent time with Thirukachi Nambikal for whom he had great respect. Then he left for Tirumalai. He had his bath at Kapila Thirtham before climbing the hill. He felt that he could not set his foot on Tirumalai as he felt it was Bhuloka Vaikuntham and was very sacred. He thought of climbing with bent knees. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1lace>Lot</st1lace> of saints and yogis had come to have darshan of Ramanuja. The king Vittala Devan also came to have darshan of Ramanuja. He had offered lot of land to Ramanuja. All the saints and yogis told Ramanuja that it was not possible for ordinary people to climb the hill with bent knees like Ramanuja. Hence people would be afraid to tread on the hill and so the kaimkaryam to the Lord would be affected. They requested Ramanuja to climb the hill on foot. Ramanuja heeded to their request and started climbing up. Ramanuja felt very tired due to the long walk and also was feeling hungry. By this time Ramanuja’s uncle Periya Thirumalai Nambi came to know about Ramanuja’s visit. Though he was old, he had great respect and love for Ramanuja. He came down half way with prasadam and Thirtham for Ramanuja. Though Ramanuja felt embarrassed for the pains his uncle had taken, he accepted it and then they all reached Tirumalai. There Ananthazwan was waiting for Ramanuja. And he had showed Ramanuja all the kaimkaryam that he was doing for the Lord. Ramanuja was very much pleased with what his disciple was doing. He stayed at Tirumalai for three days and had made improvement in the administration of the temple.
On the fourth day he came down to Tirupathi and stayed with his uncle Thirumalai Nambikal. Ramanuja’s cousin Govindan was staying with him since he left Kalahasthi. He became his disciple and was doing kaimkaryam to him while learning scriptures.

Ramanuja was very much interested to hear Ramayanam From Thirumalai Nambikal. Hence he remained at Tirupathi for a year and was hearing and learning beautiful explanation for Ramayan slokas. When he was at Tirupathi one day he noticed Govindan lying on the bed of his guru Thirumalai Nambikal. He casually brought it to the notice of Thirumalai Nambikal. Then Thirumalai Nambikal called him and told that he would be punished for his act by Lord as this subjected to disrespect of Acharya. Govindan replied that he would not mind it as he felt that he should test the softness of his acharya’s bed before he slept on it so that he would not feel uncomfortable. By hearing his reply both Thirumalai Nambikal and Ramanuja praised him for his guru bhakthi. Once they saw Govindan putting his hand in side a snake’s mouth and wondered whether he had become mad to venture into such an act. Govindan told that a thorn had got stuck into the snake’s tongue and it was wriggling with pain. Hence to remove the thorn he put his hand in side the snake’s mouth. This was an example of jeeva karunya quality of Govindan.

Ramanuja had decided to return to Srirngam and was taking leave from Thirumalai Nambikal. Thirumalai Nambikal told him that he wanted to give him any thing he wanted. Ramanuja told him that he wanted to take Govindan with him. Thirumalai Nambikal gladly accepted his request. So Ramanuja started back his journey. On his way he went to Gatikachalam and Thiruputkuzi and had darshan, Then he reached Kanchi and introduced his brother Govindan to Thirukachi Nambikal and described his guru bhakthi and jeeva karunyam. He stayed at Kanchi with Thirukachi Nambikal and had darshan of PeraruLaLa PerumaL. He noticed that Govindan was looking sickly and also unhappy. He came to know from him that he wanted to be with Thirumalai Nambikal and wanted to do kaimkaryam to him. So Ramanuja sent him back to Tirupathi, but Thirumalai Nambikal refused to allow him to stay with him. He sent him back to Ramanuja. Thirumalai Nambikal had behaved like this because he wanted to fulfill Ramanuja’s wish. Hence Govindan returned to Kanchi and fell at the feet of Ramanuja and requested him to accept him as his disciple instead of brother. Ramanuja felt happy that he returned to him. After a few days they all started return journey to Srirangam. Ramanuja kept up his promise to Yaghyesar and stayed with him for a day as his guest and then departed to Srirangam.

Udaiyavar Thiruvdikale SaraNam!


to be continued​

 

Dear Sriniketan,
Kulasekara Azwar wanted to be a stepping stone in Tirumalai temple so that he could always see the Lord's Pavaza vaay In his Mangala saasanam he says,

செடியாய வல்வினைகள் தீர்க்கும் திருமாலே
நெடியானே வேங்கடவா நின்கோயிலின் வாசல்
அடியாரும் வானவரும் அரம்பையரும் கிடந்தியங்கும்
படியாய்க் கிடந்து உன் பவளவாய் காண்பேனே!

Even in theis kaliyukam Thiruvenkatathan attracts people from far and wide. His Greatness will be everlasting, there is no doubt about it.
Love,
Pushpavalli