Ramanujacarya (5)

[Guest guest]

April 7th, 2003, Monday (Pancami)

Appearance day of Sri Ramanujacarya

 

 

RAKSAKAMBAL'S FOLLY

 

Later that day, Ramanuja went to persuade Kancipurna to take lunch

at his house the next day. Eventually Kancipurna agreed, saying, "Tomorrow I

shall break free from the modes of nature by receiving food at the house of

a pure devotee."

 

The next morning, Ramanuja instructed his wife, Raksakambal, that

she should cook the very best preparations to honor their exalted guest, Sri

Kancipurna. At once she began to cook and before noon had prepared many

different types of food. Seeing this Ramanuja was very pleased, and he set

out for Kancipurna's asrama to bring him to take prasadam.

 

Kancipurna could understand all Ramanuja's intentions, and so he

came by another way to his friend's house. When he arrived, he said to

Raksakambal, "Mother, today I have to go to the temple very quickly. Please

serve me with whatever is immediately available, for I cannot stay here for

more than a few minutes."

 

"My husband has gone to your house to bring you here," Raksakambal

replied. "If you wait for a short time he will soon return."

 

"I am afraid I cannot wait here for a moment," said Kancipurna. "How

can I neglect my service of Lord Varadaraja just for the sake of my

stomach?"

 

So Raksakambal arranged a sitting place for Kancipurna and then with

great attention served him all the different preparations she had cooked. As

soon as he had finished eating, Kancipurna stood up and cleaned the place

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

obeisances to Raksakambal and then quickly left the house, taking his leaf

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

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

cook again for her husband.

 

In the meantime Ramanuja returned home and was very surprised to

find his wife still cooking. "Did Kancipurna not come here?" he asked. "Why

are you cooking again? Where is all the prasadam that you prepared this

morning?"

 

"Mahatma Kancipurna came here" replied Raksakambal, "but he said

that 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 sudra

woman. 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 no

more than a sudra. Because of you I am now unable to take the prasada of

that pure-hearted devotee, and this is my great misfortune" Having said

this, 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 disciples

was able to discourse on the scriptures in the same wonderful way that he

had done. Tiruvaranga was now in charge of the asrama, but he lacked the

ability to expound the meaning of the scriptures as his master had done.

Everyone admired his devotional qualities and noted the fact that he spent

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

asrama was not what it had been before.

 

At that time both the married and unmarried devotees used to live

together in the asrama, while the wives would live in separate quarters

outside in the city. Their time was passed for the most part in worship of

the Deity and the chanting of bhajans glorifying the Lord.

 

In this way a year passed by uneventfully. On the anniversary of

Alabandara's disappearance all his disciples gathered together, and

Tiruvaranga addressed the assembly. 'It is now one year', he began , 'since

our guru-maharaja , Sri Yamunacarya, left us to return to the abode of Lord

Narayana. While he was with us it was our great fortune that every day we

were able to hear his nectarean words. However, since his disappearance no

one has been able to describe the glories of the Lord in such an exquisite

manner or expound all the subtle points of the scriptures as he was able to

do. Although he instructed that I should take over his position at the

asrama, 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 master

desired to see Sri Ramanuja of Kancipuram and sent Mahapurna there to fetch

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

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

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

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

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

whilst looking at the body of our preceptor.''

 

All the assembled devotees unanimously accepted Tiruvaranga's

proposal, and Mahapurna was chosen to go to Kancipuram to initiate Ramanuja

and bring him to Sri Rangam. He was told, '' If at present he is reluctant

to abandon the association of Kancipurna, then do not press the matter. You

may 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 for

Kancipuram. After four days they reached the town of Madurantakam, where

there is a Visnu temple with a lake in front of it. While Mahapurna and his

wife were resting beside that lake, Ramanuja suddenly appeared there

offering obeisances at his feet. Mahapurna was both surprised and delighted

by this unexpected turn of events, and he immediately rose to embrace

Ramanuja.

 

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

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

here?''

 

'This must certainly be the plan of Lord Narayana,'' Ramanuja

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

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

upon me by initiating me at once.''

 

Mahapurna agreed to this request, saying, 'Let us go to Kancipuram

so that the ceremony can be performed before Lord Varadaraja.''

 

However , Ramanuja was insistent. 'You know that death makes no

distinction between the timely and the untimely," he said. "Do you not

recall 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 any

delay? 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 of

the 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's

cakra and the other that of His conch. When the two discs were hot,

Mahapurna pressed them onto Ramanuja's right and left arms, thus marking

them with the signs of Lord Visnu. Finally, meditating on the lotus feet of

Yamunacarya, 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 great

pleasure in associating with Mahapurna. At Ramanuja's request, Mahapurna

then also initiated Raksakambal. Half the house was given over to Mahapurna

and his wife, and every day Ramanuja would study the Vaisnava scriptures in

his association.

 

 

RAKSAKAMBAL'S PRIDE

 

Six months passed by quickly, while Ramanuja felt great satisfaction

in hearing all the truths of Vaisnava philosophy from Mahapurna. One day,

while both Ramanuja and Mahapurna were away from home, Raksakambal went to

the well to get water. It so happened that Mahapurna's wife was drawing

water at the same time, and while so doing a few drops from her pitcher felt

into that of Raksakambal, who immediately flew into a rage.

 

"Are you blind?" she shouted. "Look what you have done! By your

carelessness a whole pitcher of water is wasted. Do you think that you can

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

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

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

into 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 by

nature calm and modest, begged forgiveness from Raksakambal. However, being

very disturbed by the woman's anger, she set down her pitcher and began to

weep quietly.

 

When Mahapurna returned and found his wife in that distressed

condition, he asked her what was the cause of her unhappiness. When he

learned of everything that had taken place at the well, Mahapurna became

thoughtful. Eventually he said, "It is no longer the will of Lord Narayana

that we should remain here, and for this reason he has caused you to hear

these unkind words from the mouth of Raksakambal. Do not be sorry over this

matter, for whatever the Lord ordains is for our good. Because we have not

worshipped the lotus feet of Lord Ranganatha for a long time, He now desires

that we go back to Him."

 

 

DEPARTURE OF MAHAPURNA

 

Without waiting for Ramanuja to return, Mahapurna and his wife then

collected together their few possessions and departed for Sri Rangam. While

Mahapurna was staying with him in Kancipuram, Ramanuja had been very happy,

looking upon his guru as the representative of Lord Narayana. During those

six months they spent together, Ramanuja had studied about four thousand

verses composed by the great Vaisnavas of south India. That morning he had

gone out to purchase fruit, flowers, and new cloth with which to make an

offering to his guru, but, when he returned to his house, he found

Mahapurna's quarters deserted.

 

After searching all over the house, he inquired from a neighbor, who

told 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 with

the wife of your guru when we went to fetch water from the well this

morning. I hardly spoke any harsh words to her at all, but the great man was

so enraged that he left here almost immediately. I had heard that a sadhu is

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

new sort of sadhu. I offer millions of obeisances at the feet of your

sadhu."

 

Ramanuja could hardly believe his ears when he heard his wife speak

in such a contemptuous and sarcastic way about Mahapurna, and he could not

restrain his feelings. "0 sinful woman," he cried out, "it is a great sin

even to look at your face" Having said this, he left the house and went to

the temple to offer the fruits and flowers he had purchased to Lord

Varadaraja.

 

 

RAMANUJA'S PLAN

 

A short time later, a lean and hungry brahmana came to Ramanuja's

house to beg for something to eat. Raksakambal was still shocked by her

husband's words, and, when the brahmana disturbed her, she immediately

became angry and shouted at him in a shrill voice, "Get out of here. Go

somewhere else. Who do you think will give you rice here?"

 

Hurt by these harsh words, the brahmana turned away and began to

walk slowly towards the temple of Lord Varadaraja. On the way he met

Ramanuja, who was returning home, having made his offering to the Lord.

Seeing the brahmanas dejected features and undernourished body, Ramanuja

felt compassion and said to him, "0 brahmana, it seems that you have not

eaten today."

 

"I went to your house to ask for a little prasadam, but your wife

became angry and turned me away," replied the brahmana.

 

Ramanuja was shocked to hear that a guest had been so badly

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

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

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

me. When she hears this, you can be certain she will feed you with great

attention."

 

Ramanuja then wrote out a letter as follows:-

 

My Dear Son,

 

My second daughter is to be married soon. Therefore please send

Raksakambal to my house with this man. If you have no pressing business at

present, I would be very pleased if you could come as well. However, it is

very important that Raksakambal comes here as soon as possible, as it will

be very difficult for your mother-in-law to cater for all the guests alone.

 

Promising that he would be well rewarded for his services, Ramanuja

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

brahmana told Raksakambal, "Your father sent me here."

 

She was delighted to hear this and received the brahmana with great

courtesy, 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 some

urgent business to attend to at present, so you must go alone. If I get

finished quickly, then I will try to come later on. Please convey my

greetings to your father and mother." Raksakambal accepted his words, and,

after preparing herself for the journey, she offered obeisances to her

husband 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 Lord

Varadaraja, praying constantly to the Lord within his mind, "0 Lord

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

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

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

me."

 

Then he obtained saffron-colored cloth and a staff that had been

touched 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. At

that time Kancipurna, being inspired by Lord Varadaraja, approached him and

gave him the name Yatiraja. Ramanuja then accepted the tridanda of Vaisnava

sannyasa, which symbolizes, the surrender of thoughts, words, and deeds to

the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When the ceremony was

completed, Yatiraja, in his saffron robes, appeared as

effulgent as the rising sun.