Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

More documents

Recommendations

Info

with joy. He embraced the two disciples who had accompaniedhim, Dasarathi and Kuresa, and then climbed up the tower ofthe temple.In a loud voice he began to address the gathering:"All of you are more dear to me than my own life. ThereforeI have a strong desire to deliver you from the torments andsufferings all of us must undergo in this temporary world.Please recite this mantra which I have obtained for you. Dothis, and the Lord's mercy will be upon you."When they heard Ramanuja's words, all the people inthe crowd called out, "Please tell us the mantra. Shower theLord's blessings upon us!"Then Yatiraja called out in a deep resounding voicethe mantra he had just received from Gosthipurna; om namonarayanaya. Immediately the crowd responded, everyonecalling out the sacred words together, producing a soundlike thunder. Twice more Ramanuja called out the mantra, andtwice more the thunderous response resounded from the crowd.Every person became silent and looked at one anotherwith feelings of deep ecstasy in their hearts. At that timeit seemed that the earth had become Vaikuntha. The faces ofthe men, women and children were flushed with joy and itseemed that all miseries were gone from the earth. Those whohad come running to the temple hoping to receive gold orjewels, immediately forgot their worldly desires, feeling asif they had been given a diamond in place of a piece ofbroken glass.As the joyful crowd melted away, men and women cameand prostrated themselves before Yatiraja, consideringthemselves most blessed to have received such a benedictionfrom that great soul. Ramanuja then climbed down from thetower and began walking towards Gosthipurna's residence toworship the feet of his guru.GOSTHIPURNA'S ANGERBy this time Gosthipurna had come to hear in detailof everything that had taken place outside the temple andwas extremely angry, feeling Ramanuja had betrayed histrust. When Ramanuja approached him with his two disciples,the aged acarya addressed him in a voice that trembled withrage. ‘Get out of my sight, O lowest of men! I havecommitted a great sin by entrusting the most precious gem tosuch an untrustworthily person as yourself. Why have youcome here again, forcing me to commit the sin of looking atyour face? Surely you are destined to live in hell forcountless lifetimes.’’Without any sign of remorse, Ramanuja replied to hisguru in a most humble manner, saying, ‘ It was only becauseI am prepared to suffer in hell that I dared to go againstyour order. You told me that whoever chanted the mantra ofeight syllables was certain to be liberated. Thus, according53
to your words, so many people are now destined to findshelter at Lord Narayana’s lotus feet. If an insignificantperson like me has go to hell, it is off no great importanceif so many others thereby attain the mercy of LordNarayana.’’On hearing these words, which fully revealed thedepth of the devotee’s compassion , Gosthipurna wascompletely stunned and filled with great wonder. All hisfierce anger disappeared in an instant, like the passing ofviolent storm, and he embraced Ramanuja with profoundaffection. Everyone who was able to witness thistransformation was filled with joy and astonishment.Gosthipurna then addressed Ramanuja with foldedpalms, ‘My child, I have never known anyone so magnanimousas yourself. From this day you are my guru, and I am yourdisciple. There is no doubt that you are a most intimateassociate of the Lord, whereas I am nothing but a commonman. How can I comperhend your greatness? Please forgive allof my offenses.’’Ramanuja fell to his knees and clasped the feet ofhis guru. With his head bowed in humility, he said, ‘You aremy eternal guru. The perfect mantra has become even morepotent because it has emanated from your lips. Thus today ithas burnt to ashes the miseries of so many thousands ofpeople. Although I committed the offense of transgressingthe order of my guru, I have become eternally fortunate byreceiving your embrace, which is desired even by the gods.My prayer is that, regarding me as your son and servant, youwill eternally bestow your mercy upon me.’’Being highly pleased by Ramanuja’s humility andgentle behaviour, Gosthipurna asked him to accept his son,Saumya-narayana, as his disciple. Then, with permission ofhis spiritual master, Ramanuja returned to Sri Rangam. Afterthis incident Yatiraja’s fame expanded even further, and forseveral weeks it seemed the local people could speak ofnothing but this great devotee who had come into theirmidst.INSTRUCTIONS TO KURESAResiding once more in Sri Rangam, Yatiraja began toinstruct the growing number of disciples who had takenshelter of him. One day his disciple Kuresa approached himand asked him to reveal the full meaning of the supremeverse of Bhagavad-gita :-sarva-dharman parityajamam ekam saranam vrajaaham tvam sarva-papebhyomoksayisyami ma sucah54
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 and 10: YAMUNACARYAIn the south of India ma
Page 11 and 12: furious rage to inform his teacher
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: To this the priest replied, "You do
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
show all

Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?

Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree