Sri Ramanuja

By: Divya Venkat

Life of Ramanuja

Incarnation of Adisesha (adi=first, sesha=servent).

Ramanuja was born as the only son for the divine couple, Smt Kantimati Devi and Sriman Asuri Kesava Somayaji at the village of Sriperumbudur, 40 kms from Chennai, Tamilnadu, in 1017 CE.

His uncle, Sriman Tirumalai Nambi, a great scholar and disciple of Sri Alavandar(Yamunachariya) named the child as Illaya Perumaal (Ramanuja) and foretold that the child would become a great Aacharya in future.

Srimad Bhagavatam also predicted the great Acharya's in kali yuga will born between Tamarabarni and Palar River.

Ramanuja's Acharya's

He had 5 5 great Acharya's.

Peria Nambigal - who performed his Samasrayana

Thirukkotiyur Nambigal- who revealed the meaning of Charanma Slokam to Swami on his 18th trip

Periya Thirumalai Nambigal - Ramamyana

Tirumalai Aandaan- Bhagavad Vishyam

Azhwar Thiruvaranga Perumal Arayar.

Sri Ramanuja's teaching

His philosophy is Visistadvaita.

Advaitha- preached by Sankaracharya, says that reality is only one, Vishnu and rest alll is illusionary. It is based on Abedha Srutis in Veda.(ex. Apple is only one)

Dwaitha-preached by Madhwacharya, talks about dualism like, God, souls and nature, they never become one and they are separate. It is based on Bheda Srutis.(ex. Skin of the apple and core of the apple never become one and they are separate entity.)

Visishtadwaitha-preached by Ramanujacharya, says the nature, souls and god are 3 realities, and they will be there forever like that. When souls releaved from karmic bondage, as a result of Saranagathi, they will reach Vaikunta and enjoy the divine service of lord. It is based on Gadaka Srutis. (ex. Though skin, core and taste etc,. are different and have put together become one. That one is a qualified one. That is visishtam =qualified)

Saranagathi concept is the essence of vedas.

Alavandar's death Ramanuja's Oaths

News came that Alavandar was very sick and he desired to meet with Ramanuja and sent for him. Just as Tirukkachi Nambi and Ramanujar, they saw the funeral procession of Alavandar. During the last rites,they noticed that three fingers of Alavandar remained folded signifying three of his last unfulfilled wishes.

As Ramanunja swore

(1) that he would write a commentary on Veda Vyasa's Brahma Sutra

(2) that he would perpetuate the memory of Vyasa and Parasara who penned Vishnu Puranam.

(3) that he would strive to propagate Visishtadvaita on the lines of the 4000 holy collects of alwars (Naaalayira Divya Prabandam.)

After he swore all these oaths the fingers unfolded one by one automatically, and later Ramanuja fulfilled all the wishes.

Ramanuja's douts and Lord Varadaraja's answers

Ramanuja wanted clarifications on six important things about vedantha, which never got clarified.

Lord Varadaraja himself gave answers to TirukkachiNami and told him to pass them to Ramanuja. These six words provided the guidelines for Ramanuja to establish Visishtadvaita sampradayam.

(1) That Lord Narayana is only the supreme lord (Paramatma)

(2) That the individual souls are different from Paramatma.

(3) That prapatti (self surrender) is the means to attain salvation.

(4) That the last remembrance (antyakaala smarama) of the Lord, for a surrendered soul was not necessary.

(5) That Moksha can be obtained only on laying off the mortal coils (Videha Mukti)

(6) That Ramanuja should take refuge at the feet of Periya Nambi, for Panchasamkaaram.

Ramanuja's Life.....

As ordered by Lord Varadaraja, Ramanuja met Periya Nambi at Madurantakam, where under the shade of Vakula tree Periya Nambi performed “Panchasamskaram” to him. As he was initiated into the esoteric of Dvaya Mantra at Madurantakam, the place name to be known as “Dvayam Vilaindha Tiruppathi”.

Ramanuja was not happy in married life. His wife,Rakshamba never understood either his greatness nor appreciated his catholicity and always acted on her own wavelength and there was no compatibility as between them. When he was about 30 years of age, he sent his wife to her father's house and took sannyasa with the name of “Ramanuja Muni” at the devine sannadi of Kanchi Varadaraja Perumal. Lord Varadaraja hailed him as “Yati Raja”- king among ascetics.

Ramanuja meets Tirugoshtiyor Nambi

Before He took Acharya seat at Srirangam he wanted to equip himself with the secrets of the three great Mantras. For this purpose, he approached one “Tirukkoshtiyur nambi” who made him come 17 times before actually instructing him. He cautioned Ramanuja that he should not give out the secrets to all and sundry and if he did so, he would go to hell.

Immediately on receiving the instructions, Ramanuja climbed up to the top of the steeple of the temple and called everybody and told them about the sure way way to get Mukti (rayasya trayam with its inner meanings) and requested everybody to come and take up sreevaishnavam and attain liberation.

This enraged his guru and demanded an explanation. Ramanuja replied that he is ready to go to hell for that sake of so many people who would be saved spiritually by knowing the rahasyatrayam. The Guru was overwhelmed by this reply, embracing Ramanuja and appreciating his broad mindedness, he called him “Emperumanar”-Oh! My lord and declared that srivaishnavism would hencefoth be known as “Ramanuja Darsanam”-the light of Ramanuja.

Ramanuja's other names

Bashyagara- He wrote Sri Bashya or Brahma Sutra Bashya.

Elayazvan- Incarnation of Lakshmana or Adi Sesha

Udaiyavar- Once Lord Ranganatha said he is related to him.

Emberumanar- Om namo narayana story.

Thiruppavai Jeeyar- he spreads Thiruppavai

Yathirajan- a saint, king of saints(sanyasi)

Ramanuja's Works

Vedanta Sangraha - a resume of vedanta

Sri Bashyam - commentary on Brahma Sutra

Gita Bashyam - his commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.

Vendanata Dipa - the light of Vedanta

Vedanta Sara - essence of Vedanta

Saranagathi Gadya - an imagined dialogue between Ramanjua and Sri Lakshmi and Narayana

Sriranga Gadya - a prayer of surrender to the feet of Ranganatha

Srivaikunta Gadya - describes the great detail of Vaikuntha

Nitya Granta - about the day to day activities to be performed by all Sri Vaishnavas.

Ramanuja's preserved body

His physical body is preserved even today in a sitting posture in the Sannidhi (sanctum sanctorum) dedicated to him on the southwest corner on the fifth round within the Srirangam temple as ordered by Lord Ranganatha Himself.

Video....

Annamacharya’sKirtanOnSri Ramanuja

Quiz Time

1. Where was Ramanuja Born?

2. What is Ramanuja's Philosophy called?

3. How many Acharyas did Ramanuja have?

4. Name 2 of those Acharyas.

5. Name 2 other names of Ramanuja?

6. Name 2 works by Ramanuja