Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

hundred pots of sweet rice and the hundred pots of buttershe had promised Him. For this act Yatiraja became known asthe elder brother of Andal.From Vrsabhacala Ramanuja and his disciples went onto Sri Villiputur, the birthplace of Andal.There he saw the Deity of Sesasayi Narayana andoffered prayers to Andal in the temple dedicated to her.Continuing on their journey, the Vaisnavas passed throughAlvar Tirunagiri, Sri Vaikuntha, and other holy places,before finally arriving back at Sri Rangam. Immediately, allthe devotees ran to see Lord Ranganatha, their Lord andmaster. When the people of the town heard that Yatiraja andhis followers had returned, they felt as if they hadregained their lives. At that time Kuresa was also reunitedwith his spiritual master, falling at Yatiraja's feet withtears of ecstasy in his eyes.DISAPPEARANCE OF KURESAFor the next two years all the Vaisnavas passed theirdays in Sri Rangam just as they had done previously, singingbhajans in praise of Lord Hari and hearing Ramanuja'swonderful discourses on the revealed scriptures. By thistime Kuresa was a very old man and was unable to rise fromhis bed. Therefore Yatiraja and the other devotees wouldcome to him every day to chant the holy name and discuss thepastimes of the Lord. One day, while all the Vaisnavas wereholding joyful kirtana, Kuresa began to shed tears ofecstasy. Taking hold of his gurus lotus feet, he pressedthem to his heart. In this position he gave up his life.On witnessing the departure of this exalted Vaisnavafrom their midst, all the devotees were grief-stricken, andRamanuja himself was seen to shed tears. After a short whilethe acarya controlled his intense feelings of separation andspoke to the others, comforting them and reminding them thatKuresa was now undoubtedly in the direct association of theLord. Then he said, "Parasara, Kuresa's son, is just likethe son of Lord Ranganatha Himself. From today you shouldaccept him as your leader. His devotion is like that of hisfather, and his wisdom is incomparable. Therefore, he isfully qualified to take the position of acarya."Then he seated Parasara on the vyasasana and put aflower garland around his neck. He embraced the son ofKuresa and bestowed all his blessings on him, empowering himto spread the glories of the Supreme Lord.Kuresa's body was burned on the banks of the Kaveri,and the devotees passed the rest of the day performing thecongregational chanting of the holy names of Lord Hari. Inthis way all grief was removed from the hearts of thedevotees. Every day for the next month a great festival washeld in Sri Rangam to celebrate Kuresa's return to the abodeof the Lord, and Vaisnavas from all over south India came to104