Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

take part in the festivities. Many poor people and those whowere lame or blind also came there, and all of them were fedsumptuously with prasada from Lord Ranganatha.ANDHRAPURNA'S DEVOTION TO HIS GURURamanujacarya was now one hundred years old, and,though he lived for twenty years more, he never again leftSri Rangam. For the remainder of his life Andhrapurna wasengaged constantly in his personal service, supplyingeverything that his guru required.Once when Lord Ranganatha came out of the temple onprocession, all the devotees left the asrama to join in theworship. The Lord was gorgeously decorated with jewels andflower garlands as he rode through the streets on abeautiful palanquin. Ramanuja, thus beholding the glory ofLord Narayana, felt himself blessed with divine mercy.Only one of Yatiraja's disciples was absent from thisfestival - Andhrapurna, who had remained at the asramaboiling milk for his guru. When Ramanuja asked him why hehad neglected this opportunity to worship the Lord,Andhrapurna replied, "If I had gone outside the asrama toworship Lord Ranganatha, then my worship inside would havesuffered. How is it possible for me to neglect my devotionalduties?"ANANTACARYA IN SRI SAILAAnother of Yatiraja's disciples was Anantacarya. Hehad been sent by his guru to Sri Saila, Tirupati, where helived with his wife, constantly worshipping the Lord. Whileliving in Sri Saila, he saw that the local people underwentgreat hardships because of a scarcity of water in the area.Therefore he resolved to dig a lake and with only his wifeto help him, began the work immediately. By undertakinggreat labors every day, the couple completed the task, andthat lake, which bears the name Ananta-sarovara, is still tobe seen in the tirtha of Sri Saila. It is said that once,when Anantacarya's wife was pregnant and too weary to helpwith the work, the Lord Himself assumed her form to assistHis devotee's endeavor.THE PIOUS BRAHMANAOnce a brahmana came to Ramanuja and said, "I wish topurify myself by serving you, for you are the best ofdevotees. By such service I shall be freed from theinfluence of material nature"Yatiraja accepted the request, saying, "What you havesaid is correct, for one can be liberated only by service.105