Ramanujacarya (7)

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April 7th, 2003, Monday (Pancami)

Appearance day of Sri Ramanujacarya

 

 

INITIATION FROM GOSTHIPURNA

 

After coming to Sri Rangam, Ramanuja was very pleased to resume his

role as the disciple of Mahapurna: through this relationship he felt relief

from the sadness that had afflicted him since the disappearance of

Yamunacarya. By his behavior toward Mahapurna, he set the example for all

disciples to follow in rendering service to their spiritual master. Under

the expert guidance of Mahapurna, he resumed his study of the revealed

scriptures. Mahapurna was so impressed by the incomparable genius and

Vaisnava qualities of his disciple that he gave his son, Pundarikaksa, to be

the disciple of Ramanuja.

 

One evening, when they had completed their studies for the day,

Mahapurna said to Ramanuja, "Not far from here is a prosperous town known as

Tirukkotiyur. Living there is a great scholar and devotee, Gosthipurna by

name, who was born in the Pandya country. It is no exaggeration to say that

there is no other Vaisnava like him in this part of the country. If you

desire to fully learn the meaning and significance of the Vedic mantras,

then there is none but he who is qualified to teach you. I advise you to go

to Tirukkotiyur without delay and receive the mantra from Gosthipurna."

 

Having received this instruction from his guru, Ramanuja went to

Tirukkotiyur a few days later to see Gosthipurna. In the presence of that

famous devotee, he offered his prostrated obeisances and begged for the

Vaisnava mantra to be bestowed upon him. Gosthipurna, however, was very

reluctant to impart the secret of the mantra and replied, "You may come here

some other day, and I will consider your request." Ramanuja felt very

dejected at this reply, and with a heavy heart he returned to Sri Rangam.

 

A few days later a big festival was held in honor of Lord

Ranganatha, and Gosthipurna came there to take part in the worship. At that

time one of the priests in the temple was inspired by Lord Ranganatha, and

he spoke as follows to Gosthipurna, "You should bestow the mantra on My

devotee, Ramanuja, who is most worthy to receive it."

 

Realizing that the Lord was speaking to him through His servant,

Gosthipurna replied, "But my Lord, is it not true that the mantra may only

be given to one who has completely purified his mind by long austerities?

How can the mantra, which is nondifferent from Yourself, reside in the mind

of one who is not pure?"

 

To this the priest replied, "You do not understand the purity of

this devotee. He is able to deliver all of humanity."

 

After this incident, Gosthipurna began to consider the matter

deeply, but still he was unwilling to give the mantra to any other person.

Time and again Ramanuja approached him, but repeatedly Gosthipurna refused

his request. When his appeals had been denied on eighteen separate

occasions, Ramanuja began to feel that there must be some great impurity in

his heart and that it was for this reason that Gosthipurna would not bestow

his mercy upon him. In this state of dejection, Ramanuja began to shed tears

of despair.

 

When some people informed Gosthipurna of Ramanuja's condition, he

was moved by pity for the young devotee. Therefore, when Ramanuja came

before him again, he spoke to him in a kind way. "Only Lord Visnu Himself is

aware of the glories of this mantra. Now I know that you are worthy to

receive it, for you are pure and firmly fixed in devotion to the lotus feet

of the Lord. At the present time I can find no one but yourself who is fit

to receive the mantra, for whoever chants it is certain to go to Vaikuntha

at the time of death. Because this mantra is so pure and sacred, it must

not be touched by the lips of anyone who has material desires. Therefore,

you must not disclose the mantra to any other person"

 

Having thus instructed Ramanuja, Gosthipurna initiated him into the

chanting of the mantra of eight syllables. Ramanuja was filled with ecstasy

to chant this wonderful vibration, and his face began to glow with spiritual

effulgence. He considered himself the most blessed of all beings and bowed

again and again at the feet of his guru.

 

 

REVEALING THE SECRET MANTRA

 

Having taken leave of Sri Gosthipurna, Ramanuja, in a joyful mood,

began to return to Sri Rangam. But as he was walking, he began to think

about the potency of the mantra that had been given to him. While thinking

in this way, he became filled with feelings of compassion for the sufferings

of all living beings in this material world. Then, as he was walking near

the walls of the Visnu temple in Tirukkotiyur, he began to call out to all

the people who were passing by, "Please, all of you, come near to Lord

Visnu's temple, and I will give you a priceless jewel!"

 

Attracted by his pure expression and unusual words, a large crowd of

men, women, and children began to follow him. A rumor began to spread all

over the town that a prophet had appeared who could fulfill all of one's

desires. Within a short time a huge crowd had assembled outside of the

temple. On seeing this mass of humanity, Yatiraja's heart swelled with joy.

He embraced the two disciples who had accompanied him, Dasarathi and Kuresa,

and then climbed up the tower of the temple.

 

In a loud voice he began to address the gathering: "All of you are

more dear to me than my own life. Therefore I have a strong desire to

deliver you from the torments and sufferings all of us must undergo in this

temporary world. Please recite this mantra which I have obtained for you. Do

this, and the Lord's mercy will be upon you."

 

When they heard Ramanuja's words, all the people in the crowd called

out, "Please tell us the mantra. Shower the Lord's blessings upon us!"

 

Then Yatiraja called out in a deep resounding voice the mantra he

had just received from Gosthipurna; om namo narayanaya. Immediately the

crowd responded, everyone calling out the sacred words together, producing a

sound like thunder. Twice more Ramanuja called out the mantra, and twice

more the thunderous response resounded from the crowd.

 

Every person became silent and looked at one another with feelings

of deep ecstasy in their hearts. At that time it seemed that the earth had

become Vaikuntha. The faces of the men, women and children were flushed with

joy and it seemed that all miseries were gone from the earth. Those who had

come running to the temple hoping to receive gold or jewels, immediately

forgot their worldly desires, feeling as if they had been given a diamond in

place of a piece of broken glass.

 

As the joyful crowd melted away, men and women came and prostrated

themselves before Yatiraja, considering themselves most blessed to have

received such a benediction from that great soul. Ramanuja then climbed down

from the tower and began walking towards Gosthipurna's residence to worship

the feet of his guru.

 

 

GOSTHIPURNA'S ANGER

 

By this time Gosthipurna had come to hear in detail of everything

that had taken place outside the temple and was extremely angry, feeling

Ramanuja had betrayed his trust. When Ramanuja approached him with his two

disciples, the aged acarya addressed him in a voice that trembled with rage.

'Get out of my sight, O lowest of men! I have committed a great sin by

entrusting the most precious gem to such an untrustworthily person as

yourself. Why have you come here again, forcing me to commit the sin of

looking at your face? Surely you are destined to live in hell for countless

lifetimes.''

 

Without any sign of remorse, Ramanuja replied to his guru in a most

humble manner, saying, ' It was only because I am prepared to suffer in hell

that I dared to go against your order. You told me that whoever chanted the

mantra of eight syllables was certain to be liberated. Thus, according to

your words, so many people are now destined to find shelter at Lord

Narayana's lotus feet. If an insignificant person like me has go to hell, it

is off no great importance if so many others thereby attain the mercy of

Lord Narayana.''

 

On hearing these words, which fully revealed the depth of the

devotee's compassion , Gosthipurna was completely stunned and filled with

great wonder. All his fierce anger disappeared in an instant, like the

passing of violent storm, and he embraced Ramanuja with profound affection.

Everyone who was able to witness this transformation was filled with joy and

astonishment.

 

Gosthipurna then addressed Ramanuja with folded palms, 'My child, I

have never known anyone so magnanimous as yourself. From this day you are my

guru, and I am your disciple. There is no doubt that you are a most intimate

associate of the Lord, whereas I am nothing but a common man. How can I

comperhend your greatness? Please forgive all of my offenses.''

 

Ramanuja fell to his knees and clasped the feet of his guru. With

his head bowed in humility, he said, 'You are my eternal guru. The perfect

mantra has become even more potent because it has emanated from your lips.

Thus today it has burnt to ashes the miseries of so many thousands of

people. Although I committed the offense of transgressing the order of my

guru, I have become eternally fortunate by receiving your embrace, which is

desired even by the gods. My prayer is that, regarding me as your son and

servant, you will eternally bestow your mercy upon me.''

 

Being highly pleased by Ramanuja's humility and gentle behaviour,

Gosthipurna asked him to accept his son, Saumya-narayana, as his disciple.

Then, with permission of his spiritual master, Ramanuja returned to Sri

Rangam. After this incident Yatiraja's fame expanded even further, and for

several weeks it seemed the local people could speak of nothing but this

great devotee who had come into their midst.