Altruistic Anchorite
Verbosity and textual
knowledge of books on Vaishnavite Philosophy may give a mental satisfaction
but the object of such an acquisition will be a futile exercise if it is not
translated into practice.
Adi Sankara
gave to the world the Advaita philosophy which considered every creation of
God is an ?illusion? (Maya). He criticizes in his great work ?Baja Govindham?
that knowledge without practice is worthless. Sri Ramanuja who came later gave
correct interpretation of Vaishanavism which remained latent in the hymns of
Azhwars and brought about a philosophy called quantified monism
(Vishitadvaitha). He established with the conviction that in God?s creation
everything is real and purposeful and his concept was convincing and appealing
even to a layman. He laid greatest emphasis on compassion, humility and
universal brotherhood. His concept has no parameter to quantify Vaishnavism,
as its tenets transcended all limitations. Comparisons are odious and arguing
over things that are abstract will not serve any purpose and the primary
object of absolute Bhakthi or to be in tune with the ?Infinite? would be lost.
It is incumbent that every Vaishnavite should know what our philosophy teaches
as propounded by our Preceptor, the indisputable awareness that Sriman
Narayana is Supreme and to develop a strong conviction that the ?Praparthi? is
the easiest means to obtain God?s Grace for final beatitude. This is the
?Doctrine of surrender? which delineates the cardinal points as to where, when
and through whom a jeevatma should surrender in order to attain the
?Paramathma?.
Saint
Thyagaraja of Thiruvaiyar in one of his ?Kirtanas? appeals to Sri Rama thus ?I
do not know the nuances of Dwaitam or Advaitham, Oh Sri Rama!, I believe in
absolute Bhakthi your name ad-infinitum?
The
Vaishnavite world is very much indebted to Sri Ramanuja who preached the
parity of all without making invidious distinctions between class, caste or
creed. This does not however mean or convey that the great pontiff wanted to
dismantle the edifice of established customs and practices. One would be
living in fool?s paradise if he jumps to the conclusion that the Apostle
advocated inter-caste marriage. The crux of his philosophy was to eschew
jealousy and to love thy neighbors. Sri Ramanuja?s treatise, on Vishitadvaita
philosophy called ?Sri Bashyam? and ?Gadya Thrayam? bear the testimony to his
staunch belief on his preaching and also discloses his erudition and
scholarship.
There are several anecdotes connected with his life
to establish Sri Ramanuja as a celebrated preceptor and one of which was his
bringing round a wrestler by name ?Pillai Urangavilli Dasan? (as christened
later) hailing from Karambanur who admired the beauty of his wife prominently
depicted through her glowing eyes, by requesting him to have a look at the
bewitching eyes of another (Lord Ranganatha) which made him change the opinion
held by him about the ephemeral beauty of his wife. The wrestler and his
spouse became Sri Ramanuja?s ardent disciple engaged in the service to their
Acharya.
Sri Ramanuja?s stupendous and admirable task was
the regulation of rituals and the codification thereof in the daily routine at
Lord Ranganatha?s temple at Sri Rangam as obtaining in Srivaikunta are still
being followed meticulously.
His visit to Melkote (Thirunarayanpuram) where he
made the ?Panchamas? whom he respectfully and euphemistically christened as
?Thirukulathar? to participate in the festival which was denied to them before
due to socio religious taboos. Sri Ramanuja?s ?Achrarya Bhakthi? could be seen
by his being a disciple of great savants like Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, Peria
Nambi, Thirukachinambi. He had several disciples among whom ?Kurathazhwar? was
his trusted lieutenant, who assisted Sri Ramanuja in preparing Sri Bashyam
with his extra ordinary power of remembrance and retentivity.
Ramanuja carried the message of Vishistadvaita
philosophy to every nook and corner and traveled the length and breadth of our
country and surmounted many a vicissitudes that he was confronted with his by
his convincing exposition and the power of reasoning.
Sri Ramanuja imbibed the exemplary qualities of Sri
Rama precisely ?Humility?. While as Lakshmana he displayed anger and
indignation at every stage when he found an injustice had been perpetrated on
his virtuous brother. He was pacified convincingly by Sri Rama on such
occasions. This Lakshmana exhibited that he was none but incarnation of
Adisesha. Perhaps, Adisesha came to this earth again sans its natural
instinct, as an altruistic anchorite only to redeem himself from the general
accusation that he was quick tempered and petulant while he was the brother of
sagacious Sri Rama.
Sri Ramanuja was born at Sri Perambudur in the year
1017, married Thanjamambal in the year 1033 at Kancheepuram, took monastic
order in the year 1047 and left for his Heavenly abode on 22nd July
1138. Thus he lived for 121 years, a life fully paced with activities of
different hues. With his strict
austerity in all ramifications Sri Ramanuja lived longer than the specified
limits of mortals. He is an Acharya Par excellence.
This article was written by Late. L.P.Sampath
Iyengar.
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