Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

the birthplace of Nathamuni, Yamunacarya's grandfather andreceptor. From there they went on to Sri Rangam and onceagain took shelter of Lord Ranganatha.CHAPTER SIXINSTRUCTIONS TO DISCIPLESKuresa was one of Ramanuja's most intimate disciples,always absorbed in thought of how he could assist his guruin his preaching work. He came from a wealthy brahmanafamily of Kuragrahara, a small village near Kancipuram. Ashe was in fact the landowner of the whole area around thevillage of Kura, he came to be known as Kuresa, the masterof Kura. He married a very qualified girl named Andal, andtogether they used the immense wealth he had inherited inacts of charity, providing for all the poor people in thearea.He had known Ramanuja since his boyhood and hadalways regarded him as a most elevated personality. WhenYatiraja adopted the sannyasa order of life, Kuresa andAndal were among the first to become his disciples. Kuresawas widely renowned as a great scholar, for whatever heheard, even once, he would remember for all time. It waswith his assistance, as we have heard previously, thatYadavaprakasa was defeated and made into a devotee.From early in the morning until midnight, the gatesof Kuresa's house would be open and any poor man who wentthere would receive gifts in charity. Once Laksmidevi, theconsort of Lord Varadaraja, on hearing the gates of Kuresa'shouse closing, inquired from her servant Kancipurna as towhere the sound was coming from. At that time Kancipurnaexplained to Mother Laksmi all about Kuresa's activities."From early in the morning until midnight, service isrendered to the poor, the lame and the blind," he told Her."Then the gates of the house are closed until the nextmorning so that Kuresa and his wife Andal may take a littlerest. It was the sound of the gates closing that you havejust heard." After hearing this description from Kancipurna,Laksmidevi became very anxious to see Kuresa and asked himto bring that devotee to her the next morning.When Kancipurna saw Kuresa early the next day, heinformed him of the Goddess of Fortune's wishes. At thisKuresa appeared astonished and replied, "Who am I? Nothingbut an ungrateful, evil-minded man, while Laksmidevi is themother of the universe, who is worshipped with greatreverence even by Brahma and Siva. It is said that a candalamay not enter the temple and I, having been polluted by my82