Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

When she hears this, you can be certain she will feed youwith great attention."Ramanuja then wrote out a letter as follows:-My Dear Son,My second daughter is to be married soon. Thereforeplease send Raksakambal to my house with this man. If youhave no pressing business at present, I would be verypleased if you could come as well. However, it is veryimportant that Raksakambal comes here as soon as possible,as it will be very difficult for your mother-in-law to caterfor all the guests alone.Promising that he would be well rewarded for hisservices, Ramanuja sent the brahmana to his house with thisletter. When he arrived there, the brahmana toldRaksakambal, "Your father sent me here."She was delighted to hear this and received thebrahmana with great courtesy, feeding him and offering himwater for bathing. In the meantime, Ramanuja returned home."My father has sent this letter for you," Raksakambal saidmodestly and gave it to him.Ramanuja read the letter out loud and then said toher, "I have some urgent business to attend to at present,so you must go alone. If I get finished quickly, then I willtry to come later on. Please convey my greetings to yourfather and mother." Raksakambal accepted his words, and,after preparing herself for the journey, she offeredobeisances to her husband and set out for her father'shouse, escorted by the brahmana.TAKING SANNYASAWhen she had left, Ramanuja walked back to the templeof Lord Varadaraja, praying constantly to the Lord withinhis mind, "0 Lord Narayana, please allow this servant ofyours to take full shelter at Your lotus feet." When hereached the temple, he bowed down before the Deity andprayed, "My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours in everyway. Please accept me."Then he obtained saffron-colored cloth and a staffthat had been touched by the lotus feet of Sri Varadaraja.He went outside the temple and, after bathing, lit asacrificial fire on the banks of the lake there. At thattime Kancipurna, being inspired by Lord Varadaraja,approached him and gave him the name Yatiraja. Ramanuja thenaccepted the tridanda of Vaisnava sannyasa, whichsymbolizes, the surrender of thoughts, words, and deeds tothe service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When theceremony was completed, Yatiraja, in his saffron robes,appeared aseffulgent as the rising sun.45