Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

make a flower garden and serve Lord Srinivasa there untilthe end of his life?"It was Anantacarya, a very quiet disciple, whoreplied, "0 master, if you will permit me, I shall go tothat sacred hill and there achieve the mercy of the Lord.""You are indeed blessed," said Yatiraja, "and by yourdevotion you have delivered fourteen generations of yourancestors. I consider myself most fortunate to have adisciple such as yourself." Then, after worshiping the feetof his guru, Anantacarya departed for Tirupati.CHAPTER FIVETRAVELLING AND PREACHINGThree times over Ramanuja studied the Sahasra-giti withhis disciples. At the conclusion of the third reading adesire arose within his heart to see for himself the holyshrine of Sri Saila. Thus a few days later he set off on thejourney from Sri Rangam accompanied by his disciples, allchanting the holy name of Lord Hari together.At the end of the first day of the journey, theystopped for the night in the town of Dehali. On the next daythey walked as far as the village of Astasa-hasra. Herethere lived two of Ramanuja's disciples, Yajnesa andVaradacarya. Intending to pass the night at the house ofYajnesa, who was a wealthy merchant, Yatiraja sent two ofhis followers ahead to convey the news of his imminentarrival.When he learned of this from them, Yajnesa wasdelighted and immediately began to see to all thearrangements necessary for receiving the party of pilgrims.However, so absorbed was he in all these activities thatYajnesa completely neglected to see to the comfort of thetwo tired messengers, who were left alone without beingoffered so much as a glass of water. Becoming unhappy atthis mistreatment, they returned to Ramanujacarya andreported to him everything that had taken place.Being most displeased to hear how his disciple hadfailed to show proper respect to Vaisnava guests, Yatirajadecided he would go instead to the house of Varadacarya.This second disciple was an extremely poor man but was notedfor his pure heart and great devotion to Lord Visnu. Everymorning he would set out to beg alms, returning at noon topresent whatever he had received as an offering to the Lord.Thus he passed his life in great contentment along withLaksmi, his chaste and extremely beautiful wife.68