Dear SrI Kripa Vasu:
Thanks very much for sharing SrIman (Late ) Sampath Iyengar
on AchArya RaamAnuja . I can not agree with you more.
Both Professor M.A.Alwar of Melkote and myself
have created a set of very informative CD ROMs
on AchArya RaamAnuja ( includes Bhagavath AarAdhanam and
Video clips on AchArya RaamAnuja , His nine SrI sookthis) and
Audio and Multimedia CD ROMs and Tapes on the 12 AzhwArs
and their dhivya Prabhandhams ( recitation by Melkote AdhyApAka
GhOshti) for help with the practical side of observing our SampradhAyam.
These hopefully should help the AasthikAs .
AchArya RaamAnuja and Swamy Desikan spent a lot of their
lives to instruct us on SrI VaishNava Doctrines and practises
and however esoteric they may sound , one has to get
even a rudimentary understanding of them .
That is the only reason to write about them inspite of
the fear of being misundestood for display of " Verbosity
and Textual Knowledge " .
NamO NaarAyaNAya ,
V.Sadagopan
----- Original Message -----
From: kripa vasu
To: oppiliappan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
malolan_net@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; azhagiyasingar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
srirangasri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 4:41 AM
Subject: [Oppiliappan] Altruistic Anchorite- Ramanuja
Altruistic Anchorite
Verbosity and textual knowledge of books on Vaishnavite Philosophy may give a
mental satisfaction but the object of such an acquisition will be a futile
exercise if it is not translated into practice.
Adi Sankara gave to the world the Advaita philosophy which considered every
creation of God is an "illusion" (Maya). He criticizes in his great work "Baja
Govindham" that knowledge without practice is worthless. Sri Ramanuja who came
later gave correct interpretation of Vaishanavism which remained latent in the
hymns of Azhwars and brought about a philosophy called quantified monism
(Vishitadvaitha). He established with the conviction that in God's creation
everything is real and purposeful and his concept was convincing and appealing
even to a layman. He laid greatest emphasis on compassion, humility and
universal brotherhood. His concept has no parameter to quantify Vaishnavism, as
its tenets transcended all limitations. Comparisons are odious and arguing over
things that are abstract will not serve any purpose and the primary object of
absolute Bhakthi or to be in tune with the "Infinite" would be lost. It is
incumbent that every Vaishnavite should know what our philosophy teaches as
propounded by our Preceptor, the indisputable awareness that Sriman Narayana is
Supreme and to develop a strong conviction that the "Praparthi" is the easiest
means to obtain God's Grace for final beatitude. This is the "Doctrine of
surrender" which delineates the cardinal points as to where, when and through
whom a jeevatma should surrender in order to attain the "Paramathma".
Saint Thyagaraja of Thiruvaiyar in one of his "Kirtanas" appeals to Sri Rama
thus "I do not know the nuances of Dwaitam or Advaitham, Oh Sri Rama!, I
believe in absolute Bhakthi your name ad-infinitum"
The Vaishnavite world is very much indebted to Sri Ramanuja who preached the
parity of all without making invidious distinctions between class, caste or
creed. This does not however mean or convey that the great pontiff wanted to
dismantle the edifice of established customs and practices. One would be living
in fool's paradise if he jumps to the conclusion that the Apostle advocated
inter-caste marriage. The crux of his philosophy was to eschew jealousy and to
love thy neighbors. Sri Ramanuja's treatise, on Vishitadvaita philosophy called
"Sri Bashyam" and "Gadya Thrayam" bear the testimony to his staunch belief on
his preaching and also discloses his erudition and scholarship.
There are several anecdotes connected with his life to establish Sri Ramanuja
as a celebrated preceptor and one of which was his bringing round a wrestler by
name "Pillai Urangavilli Dasan" (as christened later) hailing from Karambanur
who admired the beauty of his wife prominently depicted through her glowing
eyes, by requesting him to have a look at the bewitching eyes of another (Lord
Ranganatha) which made him change the opinion held by him about the ephemeral
beauty of his wife. The wrestler and his spouse became Sri Ramanuja's ardent
disciple engaged in the service to their Acharya.
Sri Ramanuja's stupendous and admirable task was the regulation of rituals
and the codification thereof in the daily routine at Lord Ranganatha's temple
at Sri Rangam as obtaining in Srivaikunta are still being followed meticulously.
His visit to Melkote (Thirunarayanpuram) where he made the "Panchamas" whom
he respectfully and euphemistically christened as "Thirukulathar" to
participate in the festival which was denied to them before due to socio
religious taboos. Sri Ramanuja's "Achrarya Bhakthi" could be seen by his being
a disciple of great savants like Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, Peria Nambi,
Thirukachinambi. He had several disciples among whom "Kurathazhwar" was his
trusted lieutenant, who assisted Sri Ramanuja in preparing Sri Bashyam with his
extra ordinary power of remembrance and retentivity.
Ramanuja carried the message of Vishistadvaita philosophy to every nook and
corner and traveled the length and breadth of our country and surmounted many a
vicissitudes that he was confronted with his by his convincing exposition and
the power of reasoning.
Sri Ramanuja imbibed the exemplary qualities of Sri Rama precisely
"Humility". While as Lakshmana he displayed anger and indignation at every
stage when he found an injustice had been perpetrated on his virtuous brother.
He was pacified convincingly by Sri Rama on such occasions. This Lakshmana
exhibited that he was none but incarnation of Adisesha. Perhaps, Adisesha came
to this earth again sans its natural instinct, as an altruistic anchorite only
to redeem himself from the general accusation that he was quick tempered and
petulant while he was the brother of sagacious Sri Rama.
Sri Ramanuja was born at Sri Perambudur in the year 1017, married
Thanjamambal in the year 1033 at Kancheepuram, took monastic order in the year
1047 and left for his Heavenly abode on 22nd July 1138. Thus he lived for 121
years, a life fully paced with activities of different hues. With his strict
austerity in all ramifications Sri Ramanuja lived longer than the specified
limits of mortals. He is an Acharya Par excellence.
This article was written by Late. L.P.Sampath Iyengar.
Feedback and comments can be sent to suprajaiyengar@xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
ADVERTISEMENT
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/VkWolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Srirangasri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxx
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |