Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

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In those days in India, great scholars used tochallenge one another to see who was the more learned inVedic scriptures and more skilled in the science of logic.While Yamunacarya was studying at the school of Bhasyacarya,there was a great scholar who lived at the court of thePandya king. His name was Kolahala, and he was a greatfavorite of the king because he could defeat any otherscholar in a debate. In fact, the king had passed a lawdecreeing that every scholar who had been defeated byKolahala must pay a tax to him every year - if anyonerefused he would be put to death.Now Yamunacarya's teacher, Bhasyacarya, had also beendefeated by Kolahala, and so he too was obliged to pay thistax. However, because he was a very poor man, he had notbeen able to pay for the past two years. One day, whenBhasyacarya was away on business and all the other studentshad gone home, Yamunacarya was left alone in the school. Atthat time one of Kolahala's disciples came there to collectthe overdue tax from Bhasyacarya."Where is your teacher?" he demanded in imperioustones when he saw that Yamunacarya was alone in the school."Might I know, sir, who has sent you here?" repliedYamunacarya in a very gentle voice, anxious not to give anyoffense."What!" exclaimed the disciple, "do you not know thatI am a disciple of the greatest and most erudite scholar inall of India? Kolahala is the terror of all other scholars,and even the great Pandya king is his obedient servant. Allthose scholars defeated by the great Kolahala must pay ayearly tax or else forfeit their lives. Has your teacherbecome insane that he dares to withhold payment for twoyears? Or is it that he intends to challenge my masteragain, just as a moth rushes into a blazing fire."Yamunacarya was by nature very kindhearted, and hehardly ever quarreled with his fellow students. However, healso had great love and respect for his teacher. Therefore,when he heard Bhasyacarya being spoken of in thatcontemptuous manner, he felt such pain at heart that hecould not restrain himself and replied very strongly toKolahala's messenger. "How foolish you are and how foolishyour teacher is as well, for who but the greatest fool wouldtrain his disciple to possess such monumental pride, insteadof removing such qualities from his heart. Why should mynoble teacher waste his time debating with such a man? Goand tell your master that the lowest disciple of the greatBhasyacarya challenges him to a debate. If he dares to faceme, let him send his reply at once."PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEBATEKolahala's disciple was so astonished and indignantthat he could not think of anything to say, but left in a11
furious rage to inform his teacher of this insult. WhenKolahala heard what had happened, he could not help butlaugh on hearing the age of his rival. The Pandya kingdecided to send another messenger to the boy to see whetherhe was insane, and, if he was serious about the debate, tobring him immediately. When the royal messenger came andtold Yamunacarya of the king's command, the boy replied, "Iwill certainly obey the command of his majesty the king; butif I am to be accepted as a proper opponent of the greatKolahala, then surely a conveyance should be sent to bringme to the palace"After discussing Yamunacarya's reply, the king andhis courtiers agreed that the boy's statement was fittingand sent a costly palanquin and one-hundred soldiers toconduct him to the palace. In the meantime news of theseevents had spread all over the city of Madurai, andBhasyacarya heard the whole story as he was returning home.He was very unhappy to learn of the danger his favoritestudent was facing, for though the king was generous bynature, it was well known that he dealt very severely withanyone who insulted the court pandita.Yamunacarya, however, was not in the least concerned."There is no reason, revered sir, for you to be alarmed," heconsoled his teacher when he returned to the school, "foryou can be certain that, by your grace, I will smash thepride of Kolahala."While they were thus talking, the king's men arrivedat the school with the palanquin. Yamunacarya worshipped thefeet of his guru and calmly climbed into the palanquin,preparing himself for the great debate that was about totake place. A large crowd of people had gathered along theway, for it was unheard of that a twelve-year-old boy shouldchallenge the court pandita and everyone wanted to catch aglimpse of the wonderful child. The brahmanas, many of whomhad already been defeated by Kolahala, offered himblessings, saying, "May you defeat this insolent pandita,just as Visnu in the form of a dwarf brahmana displaced BaliMaharaja, the king of the asuras."Meanwhile, in the royal court a difference of opinionarose between the king and queen about Yamunacarya. The kingsaid, "Just as a cat plays with a mouse, so will Kolahaladefeat and destroy the boy". But the queen was morethoughtful, realizing that Yamunacarya was no ordinarychild. "Just as a small spark," she said, "can turn amountain of cloth to ashes, so will this boy destroy themountain-like pride of Kolahala.""How can you really believe that this is possible?"exclaimed the king in amazement. "If you truly have faith inthe child, then you must make a wager to back your words"."Very well," replied the queen, "I will make a wager. If theboy does not defeat and humble the proud Kolahala, I willbecome the servant of your maidservant."12
Page 1 and 2: The Life ofRamanujacaryaTABLE OF CO
Page 3 and 4: egan to learn the wonderfully instr
Page 5 and 6: Ramanuja. Despite some minor philos
Page 7 and 8: For the devotees, Hi manifests His
Page 9: YAMUNACARYAIn the south of India ma
Page 13 and 14: and faithful to her husband as was
Page 15 and 16: that there was little chance of his
Page 17 and 18: all the pleasures of my worldly lif
Page 19 and 20: with his wife to the temple of Sri
Page 21 and 22: THE FIRSTCONFRONTATIONOne day when
Page 23 and 24: "Sir, surely you could just forbid
Page 25 and 26: quickly dispelled all the misgiving
Page 27 and 28: shrine of the Saivites and dedicate
Page 29 and 30: was on everyone's lips. Yadavapraka
Page 31 and 32: Having given this advice to the you
Page 33 and 34: ahmanas were from Kancipuram, he im
Page 35 and 36: "My master wishes to see you, and i
Page 37 and 38: long periods he would remain alone,
Page 39 and 40: KANCIPURNA'S VISIT TO TIRUPATIMeanw
Page 41 and 42: ‘All of you may recall how, just
Page 43 and 44: departed for Sri Rangam. While Maha
Page 45 and 46: RAMANUJA BEGINS HIS TEACHINGAll the
Page 47 and 48: Seeing the devotional sentiments in
Page 49 and 50: When the discourse was completed an
Page 51 and 52: To this the priest replied, "You do
Page 53 and 54: to your words, so many people are n
Page 55 and 56: DASARATHI'S HUMILITYDasarathi then
Page 57 and 58: great attention. When he heard Rama
Page 59 and 60: ADOPTING THE WAYS OF ROBBERSBeing a
Page 61 and 62:
of the huge boat as it moved slowly
Page 63 and 64:
THE PRIEST'S REPENTENCEHowever, in
Page 65 and 66:
he walked over to the monastery whe
Page 67 and 68:
make a flower garden and serve Lord
Page 69 and 70:
However, when he heard about the wo
Page 71 and 72:
offense, they all submitted a petit
Page 73 and 74:
RETURNING TO KANCIAfter thus passin
Page 75 and 76:
"That woman was singing the tales o
Page 77 and 78:
However, that night as he was lying
Page 79 and 80:
challenged by some of the local sch
Page 81 and 82:
the birthplace of Nathamuni, Yamuna
Page 83 and 84:
and so he and his wife were fasting
Page 85 and 86:
from His temple, the throng of peop
Page 87:
enclosed by walls on all sides, as
Page 90 and 91:
considering him fallen, and that he
Page 92 and 93:
and the other devotees also left th
Page 94 and 95:
However, the atrocities that Kulott
Page 96 and 97:
just by looking at the girl's face.
Page 98 and 99:
festival days. This form of the Lor
Page 100 and 101:
up her body. Being immersed in cont
Page 102 and 103:
heard Lord Varadaraja speak to him
Page 104 and 105:
take part in the festivities. Many
Page 106 and 107:
At about the same time the devotees
Page 108:
When Ramanuja had finished speaking
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