Sri Ramanuja – Great Personality
Sri Ramanuja was born to Kesava Somayaji – Kanthimathi couple in the year 1017 A..D in Pingala Year, Chitra Month, Mesha Raasi, Thiruvadhira Nakshatra at Sriperumbudur near Kanchipuram.
Glow and Appearance
His maternal uncle Tirumala Nambi (Sri Saila Purna) came from Tirumala to Sri Perumbudur, looked at the child, and was astonished by his divine glow.
He named him “Ilaya Azhwar – Ramanuja – Lakshmana” due to his divine glow since it resembles the appearance as described in the sloka: “Lakshmano Lakshmi Sampanna”.
While he was learning Vedanta under Yadava Prakasha in Kanchipuram, Sri Yamunacharya heard about his wisdom and was impressed by it. He wanted to see Sri Ramanuja at the earliest.
Well-built Person
When Yadavaprakasa along with his disciples was circumambulating Sri Varadarajaswami Temple, Sri Yamunacharya asked his disciple Thirukkachi Nambi (Kanchi Purna) “Who is Sri Ramanuja among them?” Thirukacchi Nambi replied “Aayathascha Survruthascha Bahavaha,” meaning the well-built man at the centre.
Dhanurdas a disciple of Sri Ramanuja also described the beauty of Sri Ramanuja’s eyes. All these incidents indicate he is a WELL-BUILT person.
Extraordinary Talent
While learning Vedanta under Yadava Prakasa, he used to observe the meaning of certain Upanishad slokas.
At times, when Yadava Prakasa explanations are not apt, Sri Ramanuja used to give correct explanations whereas Yadava Prakasa used to disagree with Sri Ramanuja and get angry on him.
On a particular occasion, while describing “Paramatma” in Chandogya Upanishad the sloka “Ya Yeshontharaditye Hiranyaha Purushodrishyate Tasya Kapyasam Pundairkamevamakshini” was under discussion.
For the word Kapyasa, Yadava Prakasa explained it as follows “Paramatma has red lotus eyes which resemble the red butt of the monkey”.
Ramanuja refuted the meaning with tears flowing down his cheeks. He compared the eyes of Lord with a Red Lotus-born in a pond filled with water, having a strong stem and made to bloom by the rays of the sun.
Maladhara (Thirumalaiandan), is one of the five acharyas of Sri Ramanuja. He learnt Nammazhwar’s Thiruvaimozhi from Thirumalaiandan. At times, his explanations were more meaningful and apt compared to Thirumalaiandan’s explanations.
Such incidents reveal his EXTRAORDINARY TALENTS of him.
Sri Ramanuja Jayanti
Born in Sriperumbudur, Sri Ramanuja (1017-1137) was the nephew of a great Ramayana scholar, the venerable PeriaTirumalai Nambi. He studied under illustrious Acharyas and succeeded Sri Alavandar as the spiritual head of Srivaishnavas.
Ever since Nathamuni had codified the Tamil hymns of the Alwars into NalayiraDivyaPrabandham and given them a scriptural status by having them recited in the Srirangam temple, Srivaishnavism began to grow rapidly among the devout. According to this creed, also known as Ubhaya Vedanta, both Sanskrit (Vedas, Upanishads, Itihasas) and Tamil hymns become the twin approaches to the Supreme.
Tradition assures us that Sri Ramanuja established that the image of Sri Venkateswara in Tirumala is of Lord Narayana who holds the conch and the discus in his hands. As he did with the other temples like Srirangam and Melkote, Sri Ramanuja streamlined the rituals of the Sri Venkateswara temple.
He settled Ananthalwan in Tirumala to create a garden to grow flowers exclusively for the use of Lord Venkateswara. He also instituted the Tirupati Jeeyar Mutt that has been in charge of the proper conduct of rituals in the temple.
Apart from the DivyaDesas beginning with Srirangam, there are innumerable temples in town and village, city and the hills. It could be a tiny hamlet in Tirunelveli with an ancient temple or the grand Sri Ramanuja Mani Mandapam in Salem or the elegant Sri RamanujaKoot in Jodhpur; the celebrations mark our reaffirmation of Sri Ramanuja’s message: compassion for all living beings.
Also, we should remember the gift of Tiru-aradhana karma that he gave us in the important work, NithyaGrantha where the ritual worship of the Lord is given in detail. This was Sri Ramanuja’s way of inculcating discipline in our everyday life. It is heartening to note that the younger generation is turning to such ritual worship not only as an offering of bhakti but also as a matter of achieving discipline in one’s life every day.
