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

— a
CH. XXXVII. RA.MiNUJA'B G11EA.TJ?ESS. 241
mitted that if his disobedience did eutail on him hell, he had
the sitisfaction of thinking that thousands were saved—
great price to get in return —
; and that Purna, on hearing
this embraced Ramanuja exclaiming "
: What a large heart
thine for others ; my shallow heart did not warm like this !
Thou art no other than lie (Yiimuna) ." And he made his sou
Terk-alva,r, R4m9,nuja's disciple.
11. Tirumalai-Nambi or Srisaila-Purna—anothei- Guru
it has already been narrated, replied,—when qnestionei^. by
B&mauuja why an elderly person like himself came to meet
him on his way up the Holy Hill of Tirupati, when there were
many young persons, any one of whom he could have despatched,—that
with respect to RamS.nuja, he could find no
other person younger than himself. And further Purna made
a gift of Emb3,r to Ramanuja, and made his .son Ramanuja to
become his disciple.
12. Tirumaiai-Andan or Maladhara—another Guru—was
teaching Tiravaymohzi to Ramanuja. When the verse ' Ariyakkalattu
' [II. 3 3], was explained, Rtimaauja gave his own
interpretations. This gave offence, the Guru ceasing to teach.
Goshthi Purna, coming to hear of this speedily appeared on
the scene, and gave Maladhara to understand that RAmanuja's
interpretations were correct, as they were those of Yamunacharya
; and that he must look upon Ramanuja in the light of
such a disciple as Lord Krishna was to Sandipa. On another
occasion, when Ramanuja, gave out an explanation, which, he
said, was according to Y§.muna, " thou hast never spoken to
Yamuna, how dost thou know ? " cried Malfidliara. " Sire "
replied Ramanuja, " am I not Ekalavya to Y&muna ? " The
Guru anon fell on the ground, saying: "Indeed thou art an
avatara," and made his son Sundarabfiiiu, Ramannja's disciple.
13. Ramanuja did humble service to the venerable
Tiruvaranga-p-perum£bl-Araiyar, :— when the latter, one day,
said " The price of thy services, Rftmanuja, is my all", and
he taught him the secrets of the Fifth Way (Pancham-opaya),
and made his son Tirnvaymozhi Araiyar his disciple.
14. Andhra-Purna was a firm believer in this Fifth Way,
•which to him was the Holy Feet of Ramanuja.
31