Sri Ramanujacharya Life History -7 : Last Part

Summary :



 The SAMPRADAAYA (COMMUNITY) which our Guruji represents is knows as THE RAMANUJ SAMPRADAAYA, named after Saint Ramanujacharya. This community though is originally known as THE SRI SAMPRADAAYA. 

 To name a few great saints who have spread the name of the Supreme Lord under different communityheads or Sampradaayas are SHRI SHANKARACHARYA, SHRI YAMUNACHARYA, SHRI VALLABHACHARYA, SHRI MAADHAVACHARYA, SHRI NIMBARKACHARYA and SHRI CHAITANYA. 

 Shri Ramanujacharya was a great devotee of the Supreme Lord Narayana, and a thorough propagandist of the VISHISHT ADVAITA THEORY. 

 He was a virtuous, pious, patient and a very learned saint. 

 The son of KESHAV BHATT, born in the south, in TIRUKUDOOR, He lost His father at a tender age. He then headed for Kanchi, and started the study of the Vedas under the watchful eyes of GURU YAADAVPRAKASH. 

 Shri Ramanuj excelled in the study of the Scriptures, character, and love for God. He even learnt a lot of the Yogic Principles. 

 Shri Ramanuj was from the same community (PARAMPARA) as Acharya Yaamunacharya (Allwander), and when Acharya Yaamunacharya was about to leave this world – He called for Shri Ramanuj, but by the time Shri Ramanuj reached – the Acharya had left for heavenly abode. 

 Shri Ramanuj reached in time to see that three fingers of the dead body of the Acharya were bent, He immediately understood the meaning and vowed to the Supreme Lord that He would definitely write or get written a commentary on the three main Holy Scriptures, no sooner was the vow taken that the three fingers of the Acharya straightened. Shri Ramanuj then accepted Shri Pariyanaambi (an important disciple of Acharya Yaamunacharya) as His teacher and followed Vaishnavism and took to the path of Bhakti – or Love for God. 

 Shri Ramanuj was a family man – but understood too soon that He would not be able to achieve His goals staying as a household man, so He left His household, went off to Srirangam and took Sanyas under the eyes of Sanyasi Yatiraj 

 In compassion, Shri Ramanuj can be compared to Lord Buddha, in love – to Jesus Christ, and in the spread of the name of God – to Saint John. 

 A noteworthy incident in the life of Shri Ramanuj – He took Guru Mantra from Mahatma Naambi, who instructed Him to keep the Guru Mantra as a secret. But Shri Ramanuj had other ideas – He went on top of a temple and started shouting the Guru Mantra loudly so that everyone around could hear it.

 Learning about this action, Mahatma Naambi was very upset and told Shri Ramanuj that He would have to suffer Hell for such an action, Shri Ramanuj though very contently replied, that by announcing out the Holy Name, if He could save hundreds of people from going to Hell, and He has to suffer Hell in return – He would be more than satisfied. This sort of incident tells us how compassionate and full of love, Shri Ramanuj was.

 Shri Ramanuj wrote commentaries on the Gita as well as the Brahmasutra, His work was called – SHRI BHASHYA 

 He also was instrumental in the writing of two famous works – VISHNU SAHASTRANAAM, and DIVYA PRABANDHAM, thus completing His vow of getting three important commentaries written. 

 He lived for 120 years, spreading the name of the Supreme Lord through preachings, writings and extensive traveling. He spread and explained the concept of the Love of the Lord (Bhakti) to thousands of people around the world. 


 The only way every action can be for the Supreme Lord – is to surrender totally to Him. This is the only way of true Peace. 


End