The Last Words

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra

Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

The Last Words

_______________

 

The scene was one of great melancholy: some in

the vast congregation were weeping uncontrollably,

while others were fighting to control themselves, with

their faces betraying their inner turmoil. All eyes

were riveted on the supine, patrician figure of the

grand old man, with his whole being aglow with a halo,

lying with his head on the lap of one of his

disciples, while another acolyte pressed his feet

gently. The captivating eyes, famed for their merciful

and powerful outlook, were closed. All present were

looking down at the handsome master, anxiety writ

large on their faces, conversation with one another

made impossible by the pall of gloom that hung over

the hall.

 

Sri Ramanuja, who had spent 120 extremely productive

years on earth, saving innumerable souls, had decided

to shed his mortal coils, and his disciples had

gathered for a last glimpse of the venerated Acharya,

knowing not what they would do without his august

presence and guidance. Many of them were bent on

taking their own lives, unable to bear the impending

separation from their great leader. Somehow, they had

thought that Sri Bhashyakara would live on and on,

defying nature, and would be in their midst

perpetually: even if this were possible, the Acharya

had had enough of this mundane world and was looking

forward to his ascent to SriVaikuntam and reunion with

the Paramapadanatan. And, more importantly, the Lord

could bear Sri Ramanuja’s absence no longer, and had

decided to recall him to the heavens.

 

In contrast to this scene of gloom, there was a

diametrically different festive atmosphere at

Paramapadam, where Emperuman was impatiently awaiting

the arrival of His favourite messenger, whom He had

reluctantly sent to the earth for a mission, which He

himself could not accomplish. The Lord had tried His

best, through various avataras, to emancipate the

errant inhabitants of earth, but failed miserably.

However, the advent of Sri Ramanuja saw even die-hard

atheists become ardent devotees of the Lord.

(“MaNmisai yOnigaL tOrum pirandu- engaL MadhavanE

KaNNura nirkilum kANagilla ulagOrgaL ellAm

aNNal IrAmAnusan vandu tOndriya

appouzhudE

NaNNarum gnAnam talaikkondu nAraNarkku

AyinarE“).

 

Emperuman had personally orchestrated all arrangements

for the triumphant home-coming of Sri Ramanuja, with a

hundred of His chosen angels waiting at the doors of

Sri Vaikuntam with garlands, a hundred others with

glowing lamps, a hundred more with fragrant powders,

etc. (“satam mAlA hastA: satam choorNa

hastA:..etc”-Kausheetaki Upanishad-“nidhiyum nar

chuNNamum niraikuda viLakkamum madhi mukha

madanthaiyar Endinar vandE”-Sri Nammazhwar.).All the

houses at Paramapadam were tastefully decorated to

receive Sri Bhashyakara, whose deputation to earth for

a mere 120 years (for, the human year is but a day for

the nitya suris) had appeared to be an unending

separation. Everybody, including Emperuman, was

impatient- what was holding up Sri Ramanuja?

 

Down on earth, the Great Master’s eyes opened gently,

and took in the anxious faces around him. A fresh bout

of weeping overcame the assembled disciples, and many

of them declared their intention of taking their

lives, which they considered not worth living in a

world bereft of their beloved Master. At this, Sri

Ramanuja’s brows creased with sorrow and he declared,

“ I swear upon Sri Alavandar’s haloed name! Anybody

doing Atma tyAga upon my passing away has no

connection with me!”. Robbed of even this avenue of

solace, the disciples cried to him, ”Please bless us

with your good words, which will see us through this

life, which stretches ahead of us like a dark tunnel

without end!”

Sri Ramanuja’s lips parted and he started speaking in

a low but clear voice. “My dear children! You have

heard from me in detail, on numerous occasions, the

true purport of all that is worth knowing. I see

however that some of you are yet to overcome your

misgivings about this world and what it holds in store

for you. Please listen carefully, for you shall hear

from me no more after today”. And he began his last

sermon to the assembly, filled with the essence of all

philosophy, catering to the needs of the lettered and

unlettered- golden words that, till today, guide us

through the dense jungle of samsara filled with

dangerous predators like kAma. KrodhA, lObha, mOha,

mata and mAtsarya.

 

“nallAr paravum IrAmAnusan-tirunAmam namba

vallAr tiratthai maravAdavargaL evar- avarkkE

ellAvidatthilum endrum eppOdilum etthouzhumbum

sollAl manatthAl karumatthinAl seivan sOrvindriyE «

- To be continued-

-

Srimate Sri Lakshminrsimha divya paduka sevaka

SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya

Nama:

-dasan,sadagopan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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