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 1st 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.
