Ramanujacharya â Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

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considering him fallen, and that he was served now only byhis daughter, Attulai, who had come from her father-in-law'shouse.When Yatiraja inquired from him about his actions,Mahapurna replied, "Yes, it is true that my behavior wasimproper according to the Dharma Sastras. But what is realdharma? The Mahabharata states, mahajano yena gatah sapanthah - true dharma is to follow the example set for us bygreat personalities. Now consider the example of SriRamacandra, for he performed the funeral ceremony of Jatayu,who was just a bird. Then again we have King Yudhisthira,who worshipped Vidura, who was considered a sudra by birth.Why would they act in such a way? The answer is that adevotee of the Lord, being liberated while still in thisworld, is transcendental to all consideration of family orcaste. For Sri Rama or King Yudhisthira no irreligious actis possible. That devotee, whose body I cremated was a pureheartedservant of the Lord and I consider myself fortunateto have been able to render that service to him." Verypleased at Mahapurna's words, Yatiraja bowed down at hisfeet and begged forgiveness for his impudence in questioninghis gurus activities.MAHAPURNA AND RAMANUJAOnce Mahapurna came before Yatiraja and bowed at hisfeet. Seeing Ramanuja still sitting without embarrassment athis guru's behavior, some of the other devotees questionedhim in surprise, "Yatiraja, how could you allow your guru tobow down before you without making any protest?""My spiritual master acted in that way," repliedRamanuja, "to show how a true disciple should behave beforehis guru. If Mahapurna has a purpose to fulfill throughthese activities, it is not my position to interfere withhis <strong>desire</strong>s."Later the devotees inquired from Mahapurna about hisoffering obeisances to a disciple and he explained to them,"In Yatiraja I see constantly the embodiment of my own guru,Sri Yamunacarya, and therefore it is impossible for me notto bow down before him" On hearing this all of them realizedeven more profoundly the greatness of Ramanujacarya.GOSTHIPURNA'S INSTRUCTIONOn another occasion Ramanuja observed Sri Gosthipurnameditating for many hours in a room with closed doors. Atthe end of the day he inquired, "0 master, on which form ofthe Lord have you been fixing your mind and what is themantra by which you worship Him?""I worship only the lotus feet of Sri Yamunacarya, myguru-maharaja," replied Gosthipurna, "and his holy name is91
the only mantra I chant, for it brings relief from allsuffering" From this statement Ramanuja could understand theimportance of worshipping the devotees of the Lord.CHAPTER SEVENEXILE FROM SRI RANGAMAt that time Sri Rangam was a part of the dominionsof the Chola king, Koluttunga I, who had made his capital atKancipuram. Although the Cholas had become devoted to LordNarayana in the time of Yamunacarya, Koluttunga was a greatdevotee of Lord Siva and an avowed enemy of all Vaisnavas.It was his <strong>desire</strong> that all the devotees of the Lord give uptheir faith and surrender to Lord Siva alone. Lord Siva isthe most powerful of the demigods, but still he is not onthe level of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus allthe Vaisnavas refused to abandon their worship of LordVisnu, which satisfies the conclusion of all Vedicliterature.Koluttunga was well aware that Yatiraja was thegreatest Vaisnava acarya in India, and he reasoned that ifhe could induce him to worship Siva, then the other devoteeswould also abandon their faith. Even if Ramanuja would notagree to give up his worship of Lord Narayana, the king feltthat he would still be able to establish the supremacy ofthe worshippers of Lord Siva by putting him to death.Accordingly, he sent messengers to Sri Rangam to inviteRamanuja, along with his guru, Mahapurna, to come toKancipuram for an audience with the king. Little suspectingKoluttunga's evil intentions, Yatiraja agreed to go withthem, and entered the asrama to make his preparations forthe journey.Kuresa, however, was considering the matter deeply,and after a while he said to Ramanuja, "I feel certain theking wants you to come to Kancipuram simply to put an end toyour life. Please do not go there. While you are living andpreaching the true religion of devotion to the Lord, theentire earth is benefiting. For fallen souls like myself,who are scorched by the miseries of material existence, youare the only refuge. Let me go in your place. You take thesewhite clothes of the grhastha asrama, while I put on thedress of a sannyasi and go with the king's men. In this wayyou may still be able to escape from their clutches."Yatiraja considered Kuresa's words for a few momentsand then agreed to the proposal. Dressing himself in hisdisciple's clothes, he left the asrama unseen and made hisway quickly to the forest to the west of the city. Govinda92
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The Life ofRamanujacaryaTABLE OF CO
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egan to learn the wonderfully instr
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Ramanuja. Despite some minor philos
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For the devotees, Hi manifests His
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YAMUNACARYAIn the south of India ma
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furious rage to inform his teacher
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and faithful to her husband as was
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that there was little chance of his
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all the pleasures of my worldly lif
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with his wife to the temple of Sri
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THE FIRSTCONFRONTATIONOne day when
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"Sir, surely you could just forbid
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quickly dispelled all the misgiving
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shrine of the Saivites and dedicate
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was on everyone's lips. Yadavapraka
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Having given this advice to the you
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ahmanas were from Kancipuram, he im
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"My master wishes to see you, and i
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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 and 52: To this the priest replied, "You do
Page 53 and 54: to your words, so many people are n
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 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
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