Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

RAMANUJA'S RETURNFor over an hour Ramanuja remained at the well, raptin ecstasy, reciting Queen Kunti's prayers from the Srimad-Bhagavatam in glorification of the Supreme Personality ofGodhead. Eventually three women carrying water pitchersapproached the well, and, upon seeing them, Ramanujacontrolled his emotions and proceeded on towards Kancipuram.Ever since her son had set off on the pilgrimage tonorthern India, Ramanuja's mother, Kantimati, had been in astate of constant lamentation, shedding tears of separation.Thus, when he suddenly appeared at the doorway of the house,she could not at first believe it was actually him. Onlywhen he paid obeisances and spoke to her was she fullyconvinced. Then she was filled with happiness and began toinquire from him, "My dear child, how is it that you havereturned so soon? Where is Govinda? I thought that it wouldbe at least six months before you returned from yourpilgrimage to the holy Ganges"When the whole story had been related to her,Kantimati was horrified by the evil intentions ofYadavaprakasa, but also delighted to hear of the great mercythe Lord had shown her son. At that moment Ramanuja's aunt,Diptimati, the mother of Govinda, came to the house alongwith Ramanuja's young wife. They were also overjoyed to seehe had returned safely. They then began to cook offeringsfor Lord Narayana, and, just as they were serving prasadam,Kancipurna, who had heard of Ramanuja's arrival, came there.The two devotees warmly embraced one another, and Ramanujainvited Kancipurna to take prasadam as their honored guest.That night the feelings of joy in that small house werepractically unlimited.STUDIES RESUMEDRamanuja continued to study the scriptures at home,and he asked his mother and aunt to tell no one aboutYadavaprakasa’s treacherous dealings. Some months later theacarya returned to Kancipuram along with all his disciples,except for Govinda. When Diptimati asked Yadavaprakasa abouther son, he told her that after Ramanuja's disappearancethey had journeyed to Benares, where they took darsana ofLord Visvanatha and bathed in the Ganges. They had stayedthere for two weeks. One day whilst taking bath in theriver, Govinda had discovered a Siva linga in the water.Seeing this as the will of the Lord, Govinda had immediatelybegun to worship Lord Siva in this form.As he continued his worship, day by day his devotionto Lord Siva had become more and more fixed. Thus, when theyarrived at Kalahasti on the return journey, he told histeacher and the other students that he no longer wanted toreturn to Kancipuram. He had decided to stay in that holy27