Ramanujacharya and Yadavaprakasha

Ramanujacharya and Yadavaprakasha

Ramanuja’s early life

Ramanujacharya (1017-1137 AD) was born in a Tamil Brahmin family in the village of Sriperambudur, Tamil Nadu. His parents were Asuri Keshava and Kanthimathi. Ramanuja spent his early life in Sriperambudur. At the age of 16 he was married to Rakshakambal.

Four months after his wedding, Ramanuja’s father died of severe illness. Ramanuja became the head of the family, he decided to move to Kanchi, a holy city famous for its scholars and temples.

Ramanuja moved to Kanchi

In Kanchi lived a famous scholar named Yadava Prakasha. Ramanuja joined Yadava Prakasha gurukulam to learn Sanskrit and Vedic studies. Govinda Ramanuja’s cousin also joined Yadavaprakasha’s school. Ramanuja learned his lessons well and became Yadava’s favorite student.

One day after delivering the discourse Yadava Prakasha asked Ramanuja to massage his body with oil. When Ramanuja was massaging, another boy came to Yadava for clarification on the morning discourse. The boy was unable to understand the verse from 1^st chapter, which began with “tasya vatha kapvasam pundarikam evam akshini. Yadava interpreted the qualities of the god head in a manner which was objectionable. On hearing the words of his Acharya, Ramanuja was saddened and hot tears streamed down from his eyes and fell on the thigh of Yadava. Looking at the touch of the hot tears Yadava could understand that something is bothering Ramanuja. When he enquired about Ramanuja’s distress, Ramanuja replied that the interpretation given by him is wrong and  then he gave  his own explanation. Yadava was very angry by listening to Ramanuja’s explanation and told him that the explanation was as per the teachings of Shankaracharya, if he know better than him, he can study on his own. Ramanuja left the school with sorrow.

A few days later when Yadava was explaining a verse from Taitiriya Upanishad “Sathyam Gnanam Anantam Brahma” said that Brahman was intelligent, truth and infinite. Ramanuja added "Brahman is endowed with the qualities of intelligence, truth, and the infinite. This means that he is not covered by ignorance as are ordinary living entities, He is never untruthful, and His energies are unlimited, not limited. The Supreme Brahman is the reservoir of all good qualities, yet he is superior to those qualities, as the sun globe is superior to sunlight."

Yadava got very angry and he shouted “young fool” your conclusions do not agree with those of shankara or any previous masters. If you have your own explanation, why don’t you start your own school? Now get out of my school.

Ramanuja came back home and after some days he started his own school at his home. Within no time many people began to come to him to listen to his discourses.

Seeing the growing popularity of Ramanuja, Yadava along with his students decided to kill Ramanuja for the sake of philosophy. On the plea of visiting Ganga, Yadava’s students made arrangements to visit Varanasi. They asked Ramanuja to join them. Ramanuja accepted the invite and joined the pilgrimage along with his cousin Govinda.

Yadavaprakasha and his students were discussing the final plan to kill Ramanuja, by chance Govinda heard the plan. He took Ramanuja to a side and explained the plan of Yadava and asked him to flee to the forest. Govinda then returned to the team and said while they were looking at wild animals and one of the tiger dragged Ramanuja away. Outwardly Yadava and his students displayed sorrow and inwardly they were very happy.

Ramanuja started towards forest and wandering to find the way to his home. He walked in the forest for whole night and was not aware where he is going. By next day morning he was very tired and hungry. He slept under a tree. When he woke up it was noon and he saw hunter couple approaching him. Hunter’s wife asked Ramanuja “you look like a Brahmana, did you lost the way? Ramanuja replied “he is from a city called Kanchipuram. Hunter’s wife said they are going in the same direction and he can accompany them.

They travelled together, when it was night they slept under a tree. Before sleeping hunter’s wife said that she is feeling very thirsty and she needed water. Hunter told her it is night and not safe to go near the well at this time. Next day morning they started the journey again, they reached the well, the hunter was talking about in the night. Ramanuja went down and got water for hunter’s wife three times. Still she was thirsty, Ramanuja went down again. When he came up he couldn’t find them anywhere.

He started looking around, he was at the outskirts of Kanchi. He couldn’t not understand how he came to Kanchi, he realized it happened only because of the grace of the couple.

Ramanuja returned home and explained what happened in the forest to his mother, aunt (Govinda’s mother) and wife. And he instructed them not reveal this to anyone. Ramanuja resumed his studies at home. After several months Yadavaprakasha returned to Kanchi with his disciples, except Govinda. When Ramanuja’s aunt enquired about Govinda, Yadavaprakasha told “One day when they were taking bath in river Ganga, Govinda discovered a Siva Linga. Seeing this as the will of the god, Govinda began to worship lord Siva. After few days started the journey back, when they reached Kalahasti Govinda decided to stay there, and worship Siva. Govinda is in Kalahasti worshipping Lord Siva. On hearing this Diptimathi, Govinda’s mother felt very happy for Govinda.

When Yadavaprakasha saw Ramanuja he felt ashamed of his wickedness and he asked Ramanuja to resume studies in his school. Ramanuja agreed and resumed his studies with Yadavaprasasha.

One day Yadavaprakasha was explaining the meaning of “sarvam Kalvidam Brahma”, everything is Brahma. And “Neha nanansti kincana”, there is nothing else in this world nad “neha nanasti kincana”, there is nothing else in the world. At the end of the class Ramanuja said “The words Sarvam Khalvidam brahma” do not mean that the Supreme absolute Truth is nothing but the sum total of all creation. Rather, it is seen that the universe comes from the Supreme as his energy, is maintained by Him and, in the end it dissolves back into Him. He maintains His own separate identity, although everything is indeed a part of his expanded energy. The words neha nanasti kincana do not mean that there is no variety at all in this world. Rather, we should understand that all the varieties of creation are held as one, just as separate pearls are held on one thread, although they are still individual entities. Thus, we can see how everything is both one and separate at the same time."

On hearing his explanation Yadavaprakasha became very angry and said harshly. If you do not like my explanations of scriptures, do not come to me anymore. “As you wish sir” Ramanuja replied and worshipped the feet of his teacher and left the school, never to return again.

Yamunacharya

Yamunacharya, also popularly known as Alavandar, was the son of Isvara Bhatta and grandson of the great acharya Nathamuni. He was born in 916 A.D at Viranarayanapuram (Kattu Mannargudi) in Tamil Nadu. He mastered several branches of learning in a very short time, under the guidence of Maha Bhashya Bhatta. He defeated a conceited court poet by the name Akkialvan. In recognition of this victory, he was given the title Alavandar and was granted a gift of a territory by the king.

It was due to the tireless efforts of Sri Rama Mishra (also known as Manakkal nambi), the desciple of Pundarikaksha (also known as Uyyakkondar), that brought back Yamuna to the spiritual life. Sri Rama mishra initiated Yamuna into the ultimate truths and passed to him the spiritual treasures. After the initiation, Yamuna became the leader of Visistadvaita Vedantins and settled at the holy place of Srirangam.

Yamunacharya was getting old and he always use to think who will be the next Acharya who can lead vaishnavas. One day he came to Kanchi with his disciples to pay worship to Lord Varadaraja. One of his disciple Tirukaanchi Nambigal brought Ramanuja to his attention saying “he is the one who naturally understands that the Lord Narayana, who has the eyes that resembles lotus, is the true meaning of Vedanta”. Yamunacharya enquired about the identify of Ramanuja with his disciples. He came to know that he is the same Ramanuja who wrote commentary on the Upanishad Mantra “Sathyam Gnanam Anantam Brahma”. Yamunacharya was very much pleased by looking at Ramanuja. Since Ramanuja was studying under Yadavaprakash he didn’t approach him, instead he prayed Lord Varadaraja to bring Ramanauja to Vaishnava philosophy.

After returning to Srirangam, Yamunacharya was restless to meet Ramanujacharya. As his health started to fail, Alavandar requested Mahapoorna (periya Nambi) to bring Ramanuja to Srirangam. He reached Kanchi and extended Yamunacharya’s invitation to Ramanuja. However, before he could reach Srirangam, Alavandar reached the divine feet of Sri Ranganathar at Vaikundam.

Both of them went to see the body of Yamunacharya. Looking at Yamunacharya Ramanuja stood still. Ramanuja stood there transfixed as if in as if in a trance.  After a while Ramanuja said “I see that three fingers of Yamunacharya’s right hand are folded, were they like that during his lifetime?”  Every one said his fingers were normal when he was alive. Ramanuja then declared aloud “I shall free the people from illusion by spreading the glories of Lord Narayana”. I shall write Sri Bhashya commentary on vedeanta sutra. In order to show respect to sage Parasara, I shall name one learned vaishna after him. After he declared the three vows, fingers of Yamunachara became straight one after the other. Before the body was buried, Ramanuja left Srirangam and returned to Kanchipuram.

Initiated by Mahapoorna

Vararanga was the son of great Acharya Yamunacharya. After Yamunacharya passed away, Vararanga started taking care of the asrama. On the anniversary of Yamunacharya’s disappearance Tiruvaranga told all the Yamunacharya’s disciples “As instructed by Yamunacharya I am taking care of asrama after him, but I have to admit that I am incapable of properly executing his duties.” All of you may recall, prior to Yamunacharya’s departure he wanted to meet Ramanujacharya. Having been choose by him he is competent to take the responsibility of our Acharya. Let us go to Kanchipuram and initiate Ramanuja and bring him to Srirangam. He will spread the teaching of Yamunacharya, as he promised to do while looking at the body of Yamunacharya.

As per Vararanga’s instructions Mahapoorna came to Kanchi and initiated Ramanuja to Srivaishanavism. Mahapoorna stayed in Kanchi for 6 months and taught Ramanuja the principles of vaishnava philosophy. One day a difference occurred between Mahapoorna’s wife and Ramanuja’s wife. He told his wife, since we are not worshipping Lord Ranganatha form long time, he is asking us come back. So they left Kanchi immediately without waiting for Ramanuja.

Ramanuja came back home and he came to know what happended. Ramanuja was very angry with the way his wife behaved with them. He sent her to his father-in-law’s house. He came to Varadaraja temple and took his permission and became sanyasi. At that time inspired by Lord Varadaraja, Kanchipoorna approached him and gave him the name Yatiraja. Ramanuja strated preaching Vaisnavism. Dasarati was his first disciple and came Kuresa. Gradually one by one came to become his disciple.

Yadavaprakash became disciple of Ramanuja

One day mother of Yadavaprakasha came to temple. She noticed Ramanuja instructing his disciples outside the asrama. Ever since Yadavaprakasha mistreated Ramanuja, he was disturbed in his heart. Knowing this she thought Yadavaprakasha should take the shelter in the feet of Ramanuja. She went home and told her son to be disciple of Ramanuja. Yadavaprakasha would not hearing to surrendering to one who had previously been his student. One day he met Kanchipoorna and told him that he is troubled with his heart and had no peace. As you are well known that Lord Varadaraja give instruction through you, Please tell what should I do. Kanchipoorna asked him to meet him next day.  

Kanchipurna prayed to Lord varadaraja. When they met next day Kanchipurna began to describe the greatness of Ramanuja and benefits of becoming his disciple. Hearing this Yadavaprakasha decided to go to Ramanuja and discuss the scriptures with him. He went home and slept. In the dream he met an effluent person who was giving instructions to him to become disciple of Ramanuja. Afternoon he went to Ramanuja’s asrama. Ramanuja received him with courtesy and offered him elevated sitting place. Yadavaprakasha started querying about his doubts in bhakthi philosophy, Ramanuja told him kuresa his disciple is well versed in Vedic philosophy and he will clear his doubts. Kuresa cited numerous verses from scriptures which confirmed loving devotional service to god is the perfection of spiritual life.

After hearing evidences from scriptures Yadavaprakasha became the disciple of Ramanuja and took sanyasa from him. He was given a name as Govinda Dasa, from that day onwards he became a different person. Later in his life as instructed by Ramanuja he wrote a book called Yati Dharma Samuccaya. After completion of the book, he passed from this world.