Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

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"'Firstly, I am the Supreme Brahman, the cause ofmaterial nature, from which this universe has come intobeing. Second, the separate existence of the jiva souls andthe Supreme Lord is an eternal truth. Third, surrendering tothe lotus feet of the Supreme Lord is the only true path forthose who desire liberation. Fourth, devotees will certainlybe liberated even if by chance they fail to remember Me atthe time of death. Fifth, as soon as My devotees give uptheir present bodies, I bring them to My supreme abode.Sixth, you should immediately take shelter of MahatmaMahapurna, the reservoir of all good qualities. These are Myinstructions for Ramanuja."'When Ramanuja heard these words, he began to dance inecstasy. He had not revealed his six doubts even toKancipurna, but now the Lord had supplied the answers to allof them. Having offered obeisances to Sri Varadaraja and toKancipurna, he returned home and prepared to depart for SriRangam. There he hoped to find Mahapurna, one ofYamunacarya’s disciples, and take initiation from him.MAHAPURNA IS SENTTO KANCI AGAINAfter the disappearance of Sri Yamunacarya, none ofhis disciples was able to discourse on the scriptures in thesame wonderful way that he had done. Tiruvaranga was now incharge of the asrama, but he lacked the ability to expoundthe meaning of the scriptures as his master had done.Everyone admired his devotional qualities and noted the factthat he spent so much of his time worshipping the Lord, butstill the atmosphere in the asrama was not what it had beenbefore.At that time both the married and unmarried devoteesused to live together in the asrama, while the wives wouldlive in separate quarters outside in the city. Their timewas passed for the most part in worship of the Deity and thechanting of bhajans glorifying the Lord.In this way a year passed by uneventfully. On theanniversary of Alabandara’s disappearance all his disciplesgathered together, and Tiruvaranga addressed the assembly.‘It is now one year’, he began , ‘since our guru-maharaja ,Sri Yamunacarya, left us to return to the abode of LordNarayana. While he was with us it was our great fortune thatevery day we were able to hear his nectarean words. However,since his disappearance no one has been able to describe theglories of the Lord in such an exquisite manner or expoundall the subtle points of the scriptures as he was able todo. Although he instructed that I should take over hisposition at the asrama, I have to admit that I am incapableof properly executing this duty.41
‘All of you may recall how, just prior to hisdeparture, our master desired to see Sri Ramanuja ofKancipuram and sent Mahapurna there to fetch him. It is thatgreat soul alone, the intimate friend of Kancipurna, who,having been choosen by Sriman Alabandara himself, iscompetent to take on the responsibility as acarya for thisasrama. Therefore, let one of us go to Kancipuram and, afterinitiating him, bring him here ton Sri Rangam. He willspread the teachings of Yamunacarya all over the India, ashe promised to do whilst looking at the body of ourpreceptor.’’All the assembled devotees unanimously acceptedTiruvaranga’s proposal, and Mahapurna was chosen to go toKancipuram to initiate Ramanuja and bring him to Sri Rangam.He was told, ’’ If at present he is reluctant to abandon theassociation of Kancipurna, then do not press the matter. Youmay remain in Kanci for one year, instructing him in all thebhakti-sastras. He need not to be told that your purpose isto bring him to Sri Rangam.’’RAMANUJA’S INITIATIONBeing thus instructed, Mahapurna , along with hiswife, set off for Kancipuram. After four days they reachedthe town of Madurantakam, where there is a Visnu temple witha lake in front of it. While Mahapurna and his wife wereresting beside that lake, Ramanuja suddenly appeared thereoffering obeisances at his feet. Mahapurna was bothsurprised and delighted by this unexpected turn of events,and he immediately rose to embrace Ramanuja.‘This is certainly a surprise,’’ he said. ‘Anythingcan be accomplished by the grace of Lord Narayana. For whatreason have you come here?’’‘This must certainly be the plan of Lord Narayana,’’Ramanuja replied,’’ for it was only to find you that I leftKancipuram. Varadaraja Himself has instructed me to acceptyou as my guru. Please bestow your mercy upon me byinitiating me at once.’’Mahapurna agreed to this request, saying, ‘Let us goto Kancipuram so that the ceremony can be performed beforeLord Varadaraja.’’However , Ramanuja was insistent. ‘You know thatdeath makes no distinction between the timely and theuntimely," he said. "Do you not recall with what highexpectations I went with you to meet Sri Yamunacarya?Providence cheated me then, so why should I trust him now byallowing any delay? Please give me shelter at your lotusfeet right at this very moment"Mahapurna was pleased by Ramanuja's words, and thereon the banks of the lake in the shade of a flowering bakulatree he lit a sacrificial fire. In that fire he placed twometal discs, one bearing the sign of Lord Visnu’s cakra and42
Page 1 and 2: The Life ofRamanujacaryaTABLE OF CO
Page 3 and 4: egan to learn the wonderfully instr
Page 5 and 6: Ramanuja. Despite some minor philos
Page 7 and 8: For the devotees, Hi manifests His
Page 9 and 10: YAMUNACARYAIn the south of India ma
Page 11 and 12: furious rage to inform his teacher
Page 13 and 14: and faithful to her husband as was
Page 15 and 16: that there was little chance of his
Page 17 and 18: all the pleasures of my worldly lif
Page 19 and 20: with his wife to the temple of Sri
Page 21 and 22: THE FIRSTCONFRONTATIONOne day when
Page 23 and 24: "Sir, surely you could just forbid
Page 25 and 26: quickly dispelled all the misgiving
Page 27 and 28: shrine of the Saivites and dedicate
Page 29 and 30: was on everyone's lips. Yadavapraka
Page 31 and 32: Having given this advice to the you
Page 33 and 34: ahmanas were from Kancipuram, he im
Page 35 and 36: "My master wishes to see you, and i
Page 37 and 38: long periods he would remain alone,
Page 39: KANCIPURNA'S VISIT TO TIRUPATIMeanw
Page 43 and 44: departed for Sri Rangam. While Maha
Page 45 and 46: RAMANUJA BEGINS HIS TEACHINGAll the
Page 47 and 48: Seeing the devotional sentiments in
Page 49 and 50: When the discourse was completed an
Page 51 and 52: To this the priest replied, "You do
Page 53 and 54: to your words, so many people are n
Page 55 and 56: DASARATHI'S HUMILITYDasarathi then
Page 57 and 58: great attention. When he heard Rama
Page 59 and 60: ADOPTING THE WAYS OF ROBBERSBeing a
Page 61 and 62: of the huge boat as it moved slowly
Page 63 and 64: THE PRIEST'S REPENTENCEHowever, in
Page 65 and 66: he walked over to the monastery whe
Page 67 and 68: make a flower garden and serve Lord
Page 69 and 70: However, when he heard about the wo
Page 71 and 72: offense, they all submitted a petit
Page 73 and 74: RETURNING TO KANCIAfter thus passin
Page 75 and 76: "That woman was singing the tales o
Page 77 and 78: However, that night as he was lying
Page 79 and 80: challenged by some of the local sch
Page 81 and 82: the birthplace of Nathamuni, Yamuna
Page 83 and 84: and so he and his wife were fasting
Page 85 and 86: from His temple, the throng of peop
Page 87: enclosed by walls on all sides, as
Page 90 and 91:
considering him fallen, and that he
Page 92 and 93:
and the other devotees also left th
Page 94 and 95:
However, the atrocities that Kulott
Page 96 and 97:
just by looking at the girl's face.
Page 98 and 99:
festival days. This form of the Lor
Page 100 and 101:
up her body. Being immersed in cont
Page 102 and 103:
heard Lord Varadaraja speak to him
Page 104 and 105:
take part in the festivities. Many
Page 106 and 107:
At about the same time the devotees
Page 108:
When Ramanuja had finished speaking
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