Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

THE HUMILITY OF DEVARAJA-MUNIA few days later, four intelligent, devoted young menapproached Ramanuja and begged for initiation from him. Whenhe had heard their request, Yatiraja considered the matterfor a little while and then told them, "Go to Devaraja-muniand become his disciples. He is not only a great pandita,but also a most advanced devotee of Lord Narayana."Accepting this order with great respect, the fouryoung men duly became disciples of Devaraja-muni. Thatpreviously arrogant scholar, however, was not at all pleasedto find himself in a position where he had to accept worshipand veneration from disciples. "What a disturbance this isto me," he thought, "I have been endeavoring with all mystrength to rid myself of vanity, but now I am forced tobecome a guru and listen to my praises being sung."In bewilderment he approached Ramanuja and humblysubmitted, "0 master, I am your surrendered servant. Why doyou behave so cruelly towards me? By your grace I haveendeavored to shake off the demon of false pride, so why doyou hurl me once more into the arms of vanity by ordering meto become a guru? I am not detached enough to accept such aposition, so please allow me to remain here as your menialservant. For me, to be in such a position would be thesupreme perfection."Highly pleased by his disciple's words, Yatirajaembraced Devaraja-muni and said warmly, "I did all thissimply to test whether you had truly overcome your pride.Now that you have passed the test, you should remain herewith me and Lord Devaraja." Devaraja-muni was very satisfiedto receive this order from his guru. He passed the remainingyears of his life absorbed in rendering service to the lotusfeet of his spiritual master and Lord Devaraja.INSTRUCTIONS TO DISCIPLESNow that Ramanujacarya had accepted a number ofdisciples, he began to give them formal instructions on theVaisnava scriptures. First he studied with them the Sahasragiti,the thousand hymns praising Lord Visnu which had beencomposed by Nammalvar, a famous devotee from south India.All the disciples were entranced to hear the wonderful waythat Yatiraja explained these verses, revealing to them theglories of Lord Visnu.One day they came to a verse which described the holydhama of Sri Saila, which is also known as Tirupati: "ThisSri Saila is like Vaikuntha on earth. One who spends hislife in that holy place does in truth live in Vaikuntha andat the end of his life will attain the lotus feet of LordNarayana."When they had read that verse, Ramanuja asked hisdisciples, "Who among you is willing to go to Sri Saila,67