the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy - ebooks - ISKCON ...

1J4 DKVAliAT INSTALLEU. CH. XV,^!.
ferred on liim all the sacraments of a Vaishnava,' ani tlie name
of Arulala-p-peramal Emberamanar, which was his own name
combined with that of the Lord Varada, by whose grace he was
enabled to acquire a golden convert to his Faith. The Saniskrit
of this is Devaraja-muni or Devarat. Ratnanuja led him to
Ranga's temj)lc, where he was made a recipient of all the
honors due to a member of the Faitli, and brought him back to
his monaster}-, where he was introduced to the worship of liis
Lord Varada, and conseci-ated food thereof given him. Tlie partaking
of food completed the initiation and the convert became
a part and parcel of the Vaisbnava community. A course of
studies relating to the Prabandhas and other esoteric teachings
was gone through ;
and the love-religion of the Vaishnavas was
thus spread before him, at which his heart melted and the
intellect bowed.
Ramanuja liad in Devarsit a great access of strength. His
addition made his flock brilliant. He joined the other two
jewels of Ramslnuja's band, DaSarathi and Kilr63a. Classes in
philosophy &c., were ably conducted with these members.
Ra,ma,nuja's fame went abroad.
Anand-Elzhvan or AnantasAri,*
Ecchan, Tondanur •'-Nambi and Marudiir-Nambi, hastened to
become his disciples. When they came, he directed these to
Devarat for initiation into the Faith. He obeyed but declared
that Ramanuja was thus trying to hang lieavy stones to the
neck of a poor sparrow !
" Beware ", he said to the new di.sciples,
" I am but his vassal, his tool. Ramanuja is your real Saviour.
Me, forget;
but him, i-emember."
= No. 28,5Hierarchic Table, [see our Lives of AzhvArs.] IIo was
born in KiranfjCir, near Srlrangapatna, Maisur.
« A holy place near Melkote where the big Motltaiav pearhUnk
IS situated. See infra when Ramanuja comes to this place.