Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

thus drags the mind away from service to the Supreme Lord.Please do not order me to become a wealthy man."Ramanuja was satisfied by these words, and heembraced the pure-hearted devotee, saying, "Today I havebecome purified by the association of such a great mahatmaas yourself, devoid of all material desires."YAJNESA'SREPENTANCEAt that moment Yajnesa, Yatiraja's wealthy disciple,entered the house and fell down at the feet of his guru.Having waited expectantly for Ramanuja's arrival, he hadeventually learned that the party of pilgrims had goneinstead to the house of the poor brahmana,Varadacarya.Thinking that he must have committed some graveoffense and displeased his guru, he had gone there feelingdepressed at heart.Gently and with affection, Yatiraja raised Yajnesa tohis feet and said, "Is this unhappiness due to my not comingto your house? The reason for this was the offense that youmade to two exalted Vaisnavas by neglecting them. There isno higher dharma than rendering service to the Vaisnavas,and in this you have failed."Being humbled by this chastisement from his spiritualmaster, Yajnesa replied in a voice choked with tears, "Thisthoughtless behavior of mine was not due to the vanity ofwealth. Rather it was my exultation and eagerness to serveyou that made me so neglectful" .Ramanuja then consoled thisrepentant and simple-hearted devotee by promising to be hisguest when he returned from Sri Saila.ARRIVAL IN SRISAILAEarly the next morning Ramanujacarya and his partyleft Astasahasra and set off for the city of Kancipuram. Atnoon they arrived there and went immediately to pay theirobeisances to Lord Varadaraja. They met with the renownedVaisnava saint, Sri Kancipurna, and joyfully passed threedays in his association. They then travelled to the holyplace known as Kapila Tirtha and on the same day arrived atthe foot of the sacred hill known as Sri Saila.Yatiraja became filled with ecstasy there, thinking,"This is the holy place where Sri Hari Himself is residingalong with His consort Laksmi. It would be a great offensefor me to touch the Lord's holy abode with my feet,therefore I will remain here at the foot of the hill." Thushe remained with his followers at the foot of Sri Saila,offering constant prayers to Lord Narayana.In the meantime all the sadhus and devotees who livedat Sri Saila came to see Ramanuja. When they heard of hisresolution not to climb the hill for fear of committing an71