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Sripada Ramanujacarya


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  RAMANUJA ACARYA
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	Sri Ramanuja Acarya appeared around 1017 A.D in a pious brahmana
family. He became the formost Acarya in the Sri Sampradaya and was reputed
to be the incarnation of Laksmana, the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra. 

	He was a boy of extraordinary intelligence and placed himself
under the charge of Yadavacarya, a renown Sankarite scholar. His guru was
struck with his marvellous intellect and became very uncomfortable on
account of his firm faith in Bhakti. One day while taking a massage,
Yadavacarya was explaining to ramanuja a sutra "tasya yatha kapyasam
pundarikamevamaksini" (Chandogya 1.6.7), saying that according to Sankara,
the two eyes of Pundariksa are like two lotuses which are red like the
nates of a monkey.  On hearing this interpretation with the unbecoming and
low simile, Ramanuja's soft heart, tender by nature and softened by
devotion, melted and as he was massaging, tears rolled down from the
corners of his eyes like flames of fire and fell on the thigh of Yadava.
Looking up at the touch of the hot tears, Yadava understood that something
troubled his disciple. Ramanuja explained his dismay at hearing such an
unbecoming explaination from his guru. He thought it sinful to compare
with the posterior of a monkey the eyes of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead - who is endowed with all gracious qualities and who is the
repository of all the beauty of the universe. Yadava was angry at the boys
audacity and told him to explain the verse if he could. Ramanuja ana lysed
the word kapyasam to mean `blossomed by the sun' and the verse to mean
"The eyes of that Golden Purusa are as lovely as lotuses blossomed by the
rays of the sun." 

	After a few more such incidents when Ramanuja corrected his guru,
Yadavacarya thought him to be a threat to the Sankarite line and plotted
to kill him. Later it came to pass that Yadavacarya was to become the
disciple of Ramanuja. 

	Yamunacarya the formost exponant of Vaisnava philosophy of the
time, knowing of his extraordinary ability and purity, called for Ramanuja
with the intent of placing him in charge of the mission after his
disappearance. Ramanuja was on his way to see Yamu nacarya when he
received the news of Yamunacaryas departure from the world. Arriving at
Srirangam, Ramanuja went to have his last darshana of that great soul.
There he noticed three of Yamunacaryas fingers were clenched. Ramanuja
then made three vows:- he would make the people surrender to God and
initiate them by the pancasamskara.- he would write a commentary on the
Vedantasutra which was later called Sri Bhashya.- He would also write what
is like an encyclopedia on the Puranas and would name one grea tly learned
Vaisnava after Parasara Muni who wrote the gem among the Puranas, the
Visnu Purana. 

	Later Ramanuja took sannyasa and travelled throughout India
vigorously defeating atheists and impersonalists by preaching the
Vasistadvaita doctrine. He never failed to win over a rival in spiritual
disputations. 

	His philosophy is visistadvaita. Brahman is Narayana -
(cit-acit-isvara), Narayana with Laksmi - (transcendental form), Four
Vyuha forms, Vaibhava forms. The qualities of Brahman are both nirguna and
saguna. The soul is real, eternal, individual, not omn ipresent, not
independent of Isvara but part. Isvara is the efficient cause of creation.
It is from His will out of delight. The cause of bondage is beginningless
karma. The process of release is Bhakti based on Pancaratra and Visnu
purana followed by det ached karma that brings jnana - Prapatti. The goal
is to attain the same nature of Isvara and companionship with Him. He does
not return and has no power of creation, etc. 

	Once while Ramanuja Acarya was staying in Jagannath Puri he
offered prayers to Lord Jagannatha, who became very pleased. 

	Lord Jagannatha appeared before Ramanuja and said, "Ramanuja, go
and visit Sri Navadwipa, for very soon I shall appear there in the house
of Jagannatha Misra. Sri Navadwipa is My most beloved abode and is a part
of the spiritual sky manifest in this worl d. As my eternal servant and a
leader amongst My devotees, you should go there. Let your students stay
here, for they are absorbed in dasya rasa (servitorship in awe and
reverence) and will not understand the advanced devotional mood, so travel
there alon e. Any living entity who does not go to see Sri Navadwipa has
been born uselessly. Just one portion of Sri Navadwipa contains Ranga
Ksetra, Venkatesvara and Yadava Acala. Therefore go to Sri Navadwipa and
see My form of Gauranga. After gaining the Lords blessing go to Kurma
Sthana and rejoin your disciples." 

	Folding his hands, Ramanuja humbly requested Lord Jagannatha, "My
dear Lord, You have mercifully told me something about Gauranga, but
exactly who He is, I do not know?" 

	The Lord answered, "It is known to you that Lord Sri Krsna, the
Lord of Goloka, is the Supreme Absolute Truth. That much is well known to
My devotees. That same Supreme Personality of Godhead who resides in Sri
Vrindavana is fully manifest as Gauranga, a nd His beloved abode, Sri
Vrindavana, is manifest as the holy land of Sri Navadwipa. Navadwipa is
the Supreme spiritual abode and it is transcendental to the influence of
the material nature. In that divine land, Lord Gauranga eternally resides.
By My mer cy that holy abode has come to exist within the universe, but it
remains completely unaffected by maya. This is the verdict of the
scriptures. If anyone thinks that Sri navadwipa is only a material
location, then whatever devotion he has developed will wi ther and perish.
By My will, My inconceivable energy preserves this transcendental abode
within this material world. Simply by studying the scriptures, one will
not be able to understand the Absolute Truth. Only by My mercy can My
devotees understand." 

	Hearing these words of Lord Jagannatha, Ramanuja was filled with
love. "My dear Lord," he said, "Your pastimes are truly astounding. The
scriptures cannot fully describe Your opulences. Why is Gauranga-lila not
described in the scriptures? Upon reflectio n, I find some hint of
Gauranga tattva in the srutis and puranas. Now, however, all my doubts are
gone and I am ready to execute Your will. If it is Your desire, I will go
to Sri Navadwipa and from there, I will set out to preach about Lord
Gauranga throu ghout the three worlds, giving evidences from the
scriptures to all, converting them to the devotional service of Gauranga.
Please instruct me. You have just to give me Your order." 

	Lord Jagannatha replied, "Ramanuja, do not broadcast in this way.
Keep these secrets of Lord Gaurangas pastimes as they are for the
present. Only after He has concluded His pastimes will the people in
general come to understand them. Preach about me on the level of dasya
rasa as you have always done, but within your heart, worship Lord Gauranga
constantly." 

	Following Lord Jagannathas order, Ramanuja secretly cultivated
his attraction for Sri Navadwipa. Being very merciful, Lord Narayana led
him to Vaikunthapura and showed him His transcendental form, worshipped by
manifestations of His different energies.  Ramanuja felt himself most
fortunate to see this, but, as he watched, the Lord manifested His form as
Gauranga, the son of Jagannatha Misra. Ramanujas mind became stunned by
the brilliance of His shining golden form. Lord Gauranga then placed His
two lot us feet upon Ramanujas head and Ramanuja, filled with
inspiration, began to offer prayers. 

	Ramanuja said, "I must see Your pastimes when You appear here in
Navadwipa My Lord. I shall never leave this place." 

	Lord Gauranga replied, "Your wish will be fulfilled, O son of
Kesava. When My Navadwipa lila is revealed you will again take your birth
here." 

	Lord Gauranga then disappeared. Greatly satisfied by the Lords
promise, Ramanuja returned to Kurma Sthana, where he joined his disciples.
During his life he preached devotional service to the Lord in the mood of
dasya rasa, or servitorship throughout th e south of India, whilst
internally he was absorbed in meditating on the pastimes of Lord Gauranga.
By Lord Gaurangas mercy, he was born again in Sri Navadwipa as a devotee
named Ananta to assist in the Lords pastimes. When Lord Caitanya made His
appear ance in Sri Navadwipa, Ananta Vipra was already quite old, He lived
in a cottage which was situated beneath a huge old banyan tree. There,
within his humble abode, he would worship his Deities of Laxmi-Narayana.
None could describe the pure way in which he worshipped Them.
					(Extract from Sri Navadwipa dham).




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