Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

stood still, looking at the great Vaisnava. Although thelife air had passed from the body, Alabandara's face wasstill serene and untouched by the shadow of death. Ramanujastood there transfixed, just gazing, as if in a trance, atthe face of that great devotee. Suddenly the crowds fellsilent and turned to look at Ramanuja, for it seemed thatsomehow he was able to transcend the barrier of death and befully in the presence of Sri Yamunacarya.After a while Ramanuja said, "I see that threefingers of Alabandara's right hand are folded and clenchedtight. Were they like that during his lifetime?"The disciples who were close by replied, "No, hisfingers used to remain straight. We cannot guess why theyare like this now."Ramanuja then declared aloud, "Remaining fixed indevotion to Lord Visnu, I shall free the people fromillusion by spreading the glories of the Lord throughout theland" As these words were spoken, one of the fingers relaxedand became straight.Ramanuja spoke again, saying, "To establish thatthere is no truth beyond Lord Visnu, I shall write the Sribhasyacommentary on the Vedanta-sutra." At this the secondof Yamunacarya's fingers became straight.Ramanuja declared again, "In order to show respect tothe sage Parasara, who has so wonderfully described theglories of the Lord in the Visnu Purana, I shall name onelearned Vaisnava after him." With this final statement, thelast of Alabandara's fingers relaxed and became straight.When they saw this wonderful occurrence, everyonethere was filled with amazement. They could now understandthat Yamunacarya's three tightly held fingers representedhis three unfulfilled desires, namely, to preach the gloriesof the Lord all over India, to compile a complete Vaisnavacommentary on the Vedanta-sutra, which would nullify theatheistic doctrines of the impersonalists, and to honor thesage Parasara by naming a disciple after him. Now,Ramanuja's statements confirmed that he would complete thework Alabandara had begun.RETURN TO KANCIBefore the body was buried in the samadhi tomb on thebanks of the Kaveri, Ramanuja had left Sri Rangam to returnto Kancipuram. Yamunacarya’s disciples had asked him to takedarsan of Lord Ranganatha, but he had refused, saying, "I donot wish to see this cruel form of the Lord, who would notgrant my most cherished desire and who has taken away thelord of my heart." Then, he had departed without speakinganother word to anyone.From that day on Ramanuja's personality changed andhe became much more grave and serious. He was now even morereluctant to spend time in the company of nondevotees. For37