Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

enowned cousin, Ramanujacarya. However, Govinda's devotionto his guru was so great that he was unable to tolerate thefeelings of separation that he was undergoing. Therefore,he soon returned to the city of Sri Saila to render personalservice to his spiritual master.INITIATION FROM GOSTHIPURNAAfter coming to Sri Rangam, Ramanuja was very pleasedto resume his role as the disciple of Mahapurna: throughthis relationship he felt relief from the sadness that hadafflicted him since the disappearance of Yamunacarya. By hisbehavior toward Mahapurna, he set the example for alldisciples to follow in rendering service to their spiritualmaster. Under the expert guidance of Mahapurna, he resumedhis study of the revealed scriptures. Mahapurna was soimpressed by the incomparable genius and Vaisnava qualitiesof his disciple that he gave his son, Pundarikaksa, to bethe disciple of Ramanuja.One evening, when they had completed their studiesfor the day, Mahapurna said to Ramanuja, "Not far from hereis a prosperous town known as Tirukkotiyur. Living there isa great scholar and devotee, Gosthipurna by name, who wasborn in the Pandya country. It is no exaggeration to saythat there is no other Vaisnava like him in this part of thecountry. If you desire to fully learn the meaning andsignificance of the Vedic mantras, then there is none but hewho is qualified to teach you. I advise you to go toTirukkotiyur without delay and receive the mantra fromGosthipurna."Having received this instruction from his guru,Ramanuja went to Tirukkotiyur a few days later to seeGosthipurna. In the presence of that famous devotee, heoffered his prostrated obeisances and begged for theVaisnava mantra to be bestowed upon him. Gosthipurna,however, was very reluctant to impart the secret of themantra and replied, "You may come here some other day, and Iwill consider your request." Ramanuja felt very dejected atthis reply, and with a heavy heart he returned to SriRangam.A few days later a big festival was held in honor ofLord Ranganatha, and Gosthipurna came there to take part inthe worship. At that time one of the priests in the templewas inspired by Lord Ranganatha, and he spoke as follows toGosthipurna, "You should bestow the mantra on My devotee,Ramanuja, who is most worthy to receive it."Realizing that the Lord was speaking to him throughHis servant, Gosthipurna replied, "But my Lord, is it nottrue that the mantra may only be given to one who hascompletely purified his mind by long austerities? How canthe mantra, which is nondifferent from Yourself, reside inthe mind of one who is not pure?"51