Vageesh Express
September
2007 Edition
Vedic Wisdom
Vishistadvaita-IV
Vedanta is a principal branch of Hindu
philosophy. The word Vedanta is a tatpurusha compound of veda "knowledge" and anta "end,
conclusion", translating to "the culmination of the Vedas".
In this article we shall continue to look at the Vishistadvaita
Sri Ramanujacharya - His Life and Teachings-Continued
Name : Illay Alwar, Lakshmana Muni, Yathiraja,
Emberumanar
Birth Place: Sri Perumbudur
Birth Month: Chittirai (Chaitra)
Birth Star: Thiruvadharai
Amsham: Aadhisesha
Works: Sri Bhashyam, Geetha Bhashyam
Vedartha Sangraham, Vedanta Deepam, Vedanta Saram, Gadya Trayam, Nithyagrantham
Bhagvan Ramanuja was one of the greatest saints and philosophers of our country. He was the chief expositor of the schools of Visistadvaitha. He worked out a devoted interpretation of the message of the Upanishads, Brahmasutras and the Gita, giving primary importance to all scriptural statements and establishing harmony amongst the several authorities of Vedanta. Ramanuja represents a wholenessof vision which is characteristic of this school of thought.
At the age of sixteen Ramanuja(Lakshmana) was married to Tanjam Ammal, a sweet and gentle girl. Not very long after this marriage, Ramanuja’ father passed away. Shocked by grief, Ramanujan did not lose control, remained undaunted, and was eager to learn Vedas and Brahmasutras. For this purpose, he went in search of a master. He found Yadavaprakasa, a Advaithin at Tirupukkuli near Kanchi and reported to this academy with his cousin Govinda. He excelled others in his school by his intelligence, sharp wit and arguments. Very soon Ramanuja’s view points on some texts clashed with that of his master and he had to explain to his Acharya about a small viewpoint in the Upanishads. This lead to jealousy and Ramanuja finally had to part with this master. He left for Kanchi where he attached himself to Kanchipurna, a non-brahmin disciple of Yamunacharya, who was then the head of the peeta for the spread of Visistadvaitha. Yamunacharya noting the brilliance of Ramanuja, one day sent his disciple Mahapurna to get Ramanuja to visit Srirangam and accept Visitadvaitha(1042 A.D.). Ramanuja left to Srirangam to see Yamunacharya and reached the northern banks of river Cauvery, but found a group of Vaishnavas mourning; to his surprise Yamunacharya was dead. He reached his master and found the his three fingers in his right hand were firmly closed. When he inquired the people around, it was told that the Acharya had three wishes which he had expressed before his death; Visistadvaitha Bhasya to be composed on Vyasa’s Brahmasutras, commentaries on Parasara’s Visnupurana and Nammalwar’s Tiruvoymozi. Deeply touched , Ramanuja assured the gathering there that he would complete the three tasks and to his announcement saw the three fingers of Yamunacharya’s body released. The gathering seeing this proclaimed and announced that the Saviour had come, and the philosophy not lost.
Ramanuja returned to Srirangam and requested his Vaishya friend Kanchipurna to initiate him to this school and become his master. But Kanchipurna refusing to go against Sastras directed him to Mahapurna at Srirangam. So Ramanuja came to Srirangam and met Mahapurna at Madurantakam and got initiated by this Acharya at the temple at Madurantakam. Later Ramanuja came to Kanchi, where his personal life was disturbed with his wife not respecting Bhagavatas, perplexed and vexed decided to abandon the Grihasta dharma and took up Sanyasa at Kanchi temple. He also came to be called Yathiraja by the grace of Lord Varda at Kanchi.
We will continue to look at Sri Ramanuja’s life and
teachings in subsequent articles.
Reference:
Wikipedia.com, srivaishnavan.com
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