Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

shrine of the Saivites and dedicate his life to the worshipof Lord Sankara.Diptimati was not an ordinary woman, and, rather thanfeeling distress at hearing this news, she became completelyjoyful, considering herself blessed to have such a saintlyson. Soon after this she went to Kalahasti to visit Govinda,and, on seeing how he was completely absorbed in worship ofLord Siva and freed from material hankering, her happinessincreased many times over.At first Yadavaprakasa was fearful when he saw thatRamanuja was still living, but he thought the young man mustbe unaware of the plot he had made to kill him. In thepresence of Kantimati he pretended to be overwhelmed withjoy at finding her son safe and sound. "You cannot imagine,"he told her, "the suffering and anguish all of us underwentwhen we were unable to find him in the forest."In actuality the teacher was feeling very ashamed ofhis wickedness now that he saw Ramanuja's humble behavior.Turning to the young man, he spoke affectionately, "Mychild, from this day you should come once more to study withme. May the Lord continue to shower His blessings upon you."From that day on Ramanuja resumed his studies withYadavaprakasa.YAMUNACARYA'S PRAYERS FOR RAMANUJAA few days later the venerable Alabandara,accompanied by many disciples, came to Kancipuram to seeLord Varadaraja. While he was returning from the temple,Yamunacarya saw Yadavaprakasa walking with his disciples,his hand resting on Ramanuja's shoulder. Seeing thishandsome, effulgent young man, the Vaisnava saint becamecurious and inquired from his followers as to his identity.When he learned this was the same Ramanuja who had writtenthe wonderful commentary on the Upanisadic mantra, satyamjnanam anantam brahma, he was very pleased. But at the sametime he was disturbed to see him under the guidance of suchan ardent mayavadi as Yadavaprakasa. He then prayed to LordVaradaraja for Ramanuja's deliverance from such unfortunateassociation:"I take shelter of the Supreme Personality ofGodhead, by whose mercy the deaf may hear, the lame mayarise and walk, the dumb may speak, the blind may see, andbarren women may bring forth children."0 lotus-eyed one, husband of Laksmi, please bestowyour full mercy upon Ramanuja, so that he will be able toworship you fully, without any hindrance."Yamunacarya longed to approach Ramanuja and conversewith him, but he was unwilling to associate with anondevotee like Yadavaprakasa. At this time Alabandara wasover one hundred years old and was the leading acarya amongall the Vaisnavas in south India. He realized that, if Krsna28