Sri Rmanaujacharya 5.

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April 7th, 2003, Monday (Pancami)Appearance day of Sri

RamanujacaryaRAKSAKAMBAL'S FOLLY Later that day, Ramanuja went to persuade

Kancipurna to take lunchat his house the next day. Eventually Kancipurna agreed,

saying, "Tomorrow Ishall break free from the modes of nature by receiving food

at the house ofa pure devotee." The next morning, Ramanuja instructed his wife,

Raksakambal, thatshe should cook the very best preparations to honor their

exalted guest, SriKancipurna. At once she began to cook and before noon had

prepared manydifferent types of food. Seeing this Ramanuja was very pleased, and

he setout for Kancipurna's asrama to bring him to take prasadam. Kancipurna

could understand all Ramanuja's intentions, and so hecame by another way to his

friend's house. When he arrived, he said toRaksakambal, "Mother, today I have to

go to the temple very quickly. Pleaseserve me with whatever is immediately

available, for I cannot stay here formore than a few minutes.My husband has

gone to your house to bring you here," Raksakambalreplied. "If you wait for a

short time he will soon return.I am afraid I cannot wait here for a moment,"

said Kancipurna. "Howcan I neglect my service of Lord Varadaraja just for the

sake of mystomach?" So Raksakambal arranged a sitting place for Kancipurna and

then withgreat attention served him all the different preparations she had

cooked. Assoon as he had finished eating, Kancipurna stood up and cleaned the

placewhere he had been eating with water mixed with cow dung. He offered

hisobeisances to Raksakambal and then quickly left the house, taking his

leafplate with him to discard at a distant place. Raksakambal gave away all

theremaining prasadam to a sudra woman and then, after taking a bath, began

tocook again for her husband. In the meantime Ramanuja returned home and was

very surprised tofind his wife still cooking. "Did Kancipurna not come here?" he

asked. "Whyare you cooking again? Where is all the prasadam that you prepared

thismorning?Mahatma Kancipurna came here" replied Raksakambal, "but he

saidthat he could not wait for you, as he had service to perform in the

temple.Therefore, I served him his lunch and then gave whatever was left to a

sudrawoman. How could I serve you with the remnants of a sudras meal?" Ramanuja

was very disturbed to hear his wife speak in such a way."You foolish woman! " he

exclaimed. "How can you think of Kancipurna as nomore than a sudra. Because of

you I am now unable to take the prasada ofthat pure-hearted devotee, and this is

my great misfortune" Having saidthis, he sat down unhappily with his head in his

hands.MAHAPURNA IS SENT TO KANCI AGAIN After the disappearance of Sri

Yamunacarya, none of his discipleswas able to discourse on the scriptures in the

same wonderful way that hehad done. Tiruvaranga was now in charge of the asrama,

but he lacked theability to expound the meaning of the scriptures as his master

had done.Everyone admired his devotional qualities and noted the fact that he

spentso much of his time worshipping the Lord, but still the atmosphere in

theasrama was not what it had been before. At that time both the married and

unmarried devotees used to livetogether in the asrama, while the wives would

live in separate quartersoutside in the city. Their time was passed for the most

part in worship ofthe Deity and the chanting of bhajans glorifying the Lord. In

this way a year passed by uneventfully. On the anniversary ofAlabandara's

disappearance all his disciples gathered together, andTiruvaranga addressed the

assembly. 'It is now one year', he began , 'sinceour guru-maharaja , Sri

Yamunacarya, left us to return to the abode of LordNarayana. While he was with

us it was our great fortune that every day wewere able to hear his nectarean

words. However, since his disappearance noone has been able to describe the

glories of the Lord in such an exquisitemanner or expound all the subtle points

of the scriptures as he was able todo. Although he instructed that I should take

over his position at theasrama, I have to admit that I am incapable of properly

executing this duty. 'All of you may recall how, just prior to his departure,

our masterdesired to see Sri Ramanuja of Kancipuram and sent Mahapurna there to

fetchhim. It is that great soul alone, the intimate friend of Kancipurna,

who,having been choosen by Sriman Alabandara himself, is competent to take onthe

responsibility as acarya for this asrama. Therefore, let one of us go

toKancipuram and, after initiating him, bring him here ton Sri Rangam. He

willspread the teachings of Yamunacarya all over the India, as he promised to

dowhilst looking at the body of our preceptor.'' All the assembled devotees

unanimously accepted Tiruvaranga'sproposal, and Mahapurna was chosen to go to

Kancipuram to initiate Ramanujaand bring him to Sri Rangam. He was told, '' If

at present he is reluctantto abandon the association of Kancipurna, then do not

press the matter. Youmay remain in Kanci for one year, instructing him in all

the bhakti-sastras.He need not to be told that your purpose is to bring him to

Sri Rangam.''RAMANUJA'S INITIATION Being thus instructed, Mahapurna , along

with his wife, set off forKancipuram. After four days they reached the town of

Madurantakam, wherethere is a Visnu temple with a lake in front of it. While

Mahapurna and hiswife were resting beside that lake, Ramanuja suddenly appeared

thereoffering obeisances at his feet. Mahapurna was both surprised and

delightedby this unexpected turn of events, and he immediately rose to

embraceRamanuja. 'This is certainly a surprise,'' he said. 'Anything can

beaccomplished by the grace of Lord Narayana. For what reason have you

comehere?'' 'This must certainly be the plan of Lord Narayana,''

Ramanujareplied,'' for it was only to find you that I left Kancipuram.

VaradarajaHimself has instructed me to accept you as my guru. Please bestow your

mercyupon me by initiating me at once.'' Mahapurna agreed to this request,

saying, 'Let us go to Kancipuramso that the ceremony can be performed before

Lord Varadaraja.'' However , Ramanuja was insistent. 'You know that death makes

nodistinction between the timely and the untimely," he said. "Do you notrecall

with what high expectations I went with you to meet Sri Yamunacarya?Providence

cheated me then, so why should I trust him now by allowing anydelay? Please give

me shelter at your lotus feet right at this very moment" Mahapurna was pleased

by Ramanuja's words, and there on the banks ofthe lake in the shade of a

flowering bakula tree he lit a sacrificial fire.In that fire he placed two metal

discs, one bearing the sign of Lord Visnu'scakra and the other that of His

conch. When the two discs were hot,Mahapurna pressed them onto Ramanuja's right

and left arms, thus markingthem with the signs of Lord Visnu. Finally,

meditating on the lotus feet ofYamunacarya, Mahapurna whispered the Vaisnava

mantra into Ramanuja's ear.When the initiation was thus completed, Ramanuja

returned to Kancipuram,accompanied by his guru and his guru's wife. When they

arrived, they were welcomed by Kancipurna, who took greatpleasure in associating

with Mahapurna. At Ramanuja's request, Mahapurnathen also initiated Raksakambal.

Half the house was given over to Mahapurnaand his wife, and every day Ramanuja

would study the Vaisnava scriptures inhis association.RAKSAKAMBAL'S PRIDE Six

months passed by quickly, while Ramanuja felt great satisfactionin hearing all

the truths of Vaisnava philosophy from Mahapurna. One day,while both Ramanuja

and Mahapurna were away from home, Raksakambal went tothe well to get water. It

so happened that Mahapurna's wife was drawingwater at the same time, and while

so doing a few drops from her pitcher feltinto that of Raksakambal, who

immediately flew into a rage. "Are you blind?" she shouted. "Look what you have

done! By yourcarelessness a whole pitcher of water is wasted. Do you think that

you cansit on my shoulders just because you are the gurus wife? Just remember

thatmy father's family is of a superior lineage to yours, so how can I use

waterthat has been touched by you? But why should I blame you, for having

falleninto the hands of this husband of mine all my caste and position is lost."

When she heard these harsh words, Mahapurna's wife, who was bynature calm and

modest, begged forgiveness from Raksakambal. However, beingvery disturbed by the

woman's anger, she set down her pitcher and began toweep quietly. When Mahapurna

returned and found his wife in that distressedcondition, he asked her what was

the cause of her unhappiness. When helearned of everything that had taken place

at the well, Mahapurna becamethoughtful. Eventually he said, "It is no longer

the will of Lord Narayanathat we should remain here, and for this reason he has

caused you to hearthese unkind words from the mouth of Raksakambal. Do not be

sorry over thismatter, for whatever the Lord ordains is for our good. Because we

have notworshipped the lotus feet of Lord Ranganatha for a long time, He now

desiresthat we go back to Him."DEPARTURE OF MAHAPURNA Without waiting for

Ramanuja to return, Mahapurna and his wife thencollected together their few

possessions and departed for Sri Rangam. WhileMahapurna was staying with him in

Kancipuram, Ramanuja had been very happy,looking upon his guru as the

representative of Lord Narayana. During thosesix months they spent together,

Ramanuja had studied about four thousandverses composed by the great Vaisnavas

of south India. That morning he hadgone out to purchase fruit, flowers, and new

cloth with which to make anoffering to his guru, but, when he returned to his

house, he foundMahapurna's quarters deserted. After searching all over the

house, he inquired from a neighbor, whotold him that Mahapurna and his wife had

left Kanci to return to Sri Rangam.Anxious to discover what could have caused

his guru's abrupt departure,Ramanuja went to speak to Raksakambal. She told him,

"I had a quarrel withthe wife of your guru when we went to fetch water from the

well thismorning. I hardly spoke any harsh words to her at all, but the great

man wasso enraged that he left here almost immediately. I had heard that a sadhu

issupposed to have given up all feelings of anger, but it must be that he is

anew sort of sadhu. I offer millions of obeisances at the feet of yoursadhu."

Ramanuja could hardly believe his ears when he heard his wife speakin such a

contemptuous and sarcastic way about Mahapurna, and he could notrestrain his

feelings. "0 sinful woman," he cried out, "it is a great sineven to look at your

face" Having said this, he left the house and went tothe temple to offer the

fruits and flowers he had purchased to LordVaradaraja.RAMANUJA'S PLAN A short

time later, a lean and hungry brahmana came to Ramanuja'shouse to beg for

something to eat. Raksakambal was still shocked by herhusband's words, and, when

the brahmana disturbed her, she immediatelybecame angry and shouted at him in a

shrill voice, "Get out of here. Gosomewhere else. Who do you think will give you

rice here?" Hurt by these harsh words, the brahmana turned away and began towalk

slowly towards the temple of Lord Varadaraja. On the way he metRamanuja, who was

returning home, having made his offering to the Lord.Seeing the brahmanas

dejected features and undernourished body, Ramanujafelt compassion and said to

him, "0 brahmana, it seems that you have noteaten today.I went to your house

to ask for a little prasadam, but your wifebecame angry and turned me away,"

replied the brahmana. Ramanuja was shocked to hear that a guest had been so

badlymistreated at his house. He was thoughtful for a few moments, and then

hesaid, "Please go back to my house. I will give you a letter, and I wantyou

to tell my wife that you have been sent by her father to deliver it tome. When

she hears this, you can be certain she will feed you with greatattention."

Ramanuja then wrote out a letter as follows:- My Dear Son, My second daughter is

to be married soon. Therefore please sendRaksakambal to my house with this man.

If you have no pressing business atpresent, I would be very pleased if you could

come as well. However, it isvery important that Raksakambal comes here as soon

as possible, as it willbe very difficult for your mother-in-law to cater for all

the guests alone. Promising that he would be well rewarded for his services,

Ramanujasent the brahmana to his house with this letter. When he arrived there,

thebrahmana told Raksakambal, "Your father sent me here." She was delighted to

hear this and received the brahmana with greatcourtesy, feeding him and offering

him water for bathing. In the meantime,Ramanuja returned home. "My father has

sent this letter for you,"Raksakambal said modestly and gave it to him. Ramanuja

read the letter out loud and then said to her, "I have someurgent business to

attend to at present, so you must go alone. If I getfinished quickly, then I

will try to come later on. Please convey mygreetings to your father and mother."

Raksakambal accepted his words, and,after preparing herself for the journey, she

offered obeisances to herhusband and set out for her father's house, escorted by

the brahmana.TAKING SANNYASA When she had left, Ramanuja walked back to the

temple of LordVaradaraja, praying constantly to the Lord within his mind, "0

LordNarayana, please allow this servant of yours to take full shelter at

Yourlotus feet." When he reached the temple, he bowed down before the Deity

andprayed, "My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours in every way. Please

acceptme." Then he obtained saffron-colored cloth and a staff that had

beentouched by the lotus feet of Sri Varadaraja. He went outside the temple

and,after bathing, lit a sacrificial fire on the banks of the lake there. Atthat

time Kancipurna, being inspired by Lord Varadaraja, approached him andgave him

the name Yatiraja. Ramanuja then accepted the tridanda of Vaisnavasannyasa,

which symbolizes, the surrender of thoughts, words, and deeds tothe service of

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the ceremony wascompleted, Yatiraja, in

his saffron robes, appeared aseffulgent as the rising sun.