SRI RAMANUJACHARYA

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SRI RAMANUJACHARYA'S LIFE HISTORY

(BY SRI UBHAYA VEDANTHA ANBIL RAMASWAMY)

 

!!SrImatE rAmAnujAya nama:!!

 

srirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam

srimad parAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam|

sri bhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja mitram

srivatsachihnna saranam yathirAjameedE||

 

I pay homage to Sri Ramanuja, the swan who has chosen the Lotus Feet

of Sri Ranganatha as his refuge;who is collecting the pollen and

nectar from the flower-like feet of Parankusa (NammAzhwAr); who

brightens like the sun the faces of Bhattanatha (PeriAzhwAr) and

Parakala (Thirumangai AzhwAr), and who is the refuge of Kuresa!

 

By the effect of kali, the people of this age are less intelligent,

weak forgetful, and are incapable of extracting the original meaning

of vedas. Out of causeless mercy Sri Badarayana has given us the the

ephoric rules Brahma Sutras, the substance of vedas. By the advent of

Budhism, Jainism, and Sri Shankara acharya's kevala advaitha

philosophy in the 8th century AD,... many people became athiestic.

They believed either complete non-existance of God or one-ness of God

and the living entity. They denied vedas or gave incomplete meanings

(kevala advaitha) of vedas.

 

The alwar saints are great devotees of the Lord, infact confidential

associates (hamsams) of Lord Himself. They composed many songs in

glorification of the Supreme Lord, Sriman Narayana, and His divine

incarnations. They propogated the true meaning of vedas in Tamil,

famously called Sri Divya Prabhandam. Then, many great acharyas like

Sri Nathamuni, his grandson Sri Yamuna Acharya and other great

vaishnavas established the truth of Supremacy of Sriman Narayana over

all living entities and devathas (demi gods). Although, the sampradaya

that is originated by Sriman Narayana Himself and guarded by Sri

Lakshmi thayar and is passing the true message of vedas in disciplic

succession in an unbroken way, Sri Ramanuja Acharya takes the credit

of bringing all vaishnavas under one umbrella and authoritatively

commented on all the important scriptures of vedic literature. He

personally visited the whole land of Bharata and propogated the

Visishta-advaitha doctrine (qualified non-duality), the complete

meaning of vedas.

 

Sri Ramanuja appeared in this material world to save the badda

jIvatmas (conditioned souls) in the year 1017 AD, and has given his

divine company for 120 years. This great acharya of Sri sampradaya has

establidhed the path of bhakti to be superior to any other path

scripturally. He defeated all the rival groups with his un-matched

tarka (logic), viveka (discrimination), scriptural comprehension and

devotion. He firmly established supremacy of Sriman Narayana with all

the scriptural evidences.

The avatAra of rAmAnuja is predicted in the scriptures even before he

appeared. Our sAmpradAya identifies rAmAnuja as an incarnation of the

AdisEsha himself. The following are the scriptural evidences for the

interpretation.

 

Is'vara-SamhitA 175-7

EkAntino mahAbhAgAh S'athakopa-purassarAh

KshonyAm kr*r-AvatArA ye lokojjIvana-hetunA

S'AndilyAdyAs' ca ye c-Anye PancarAtra-pravartakAh

PrahlAdas' c-aiva SugrIvo VAyusUnur VibhUshanah

Ye c-Anye SanakAdyAs' ca PancakAla-parAyanah

i.e " Sathakopa and others, great devout saints, became incarnate on

earth to save creature. Sanaka and others, Sandilya and others,

prahalAda, SugrIva, the Wind-Son (HanumAn), VibhIshana and others -

the strict observers of the Five Timed Injunctions (PancakAla)- these

are the Promulgators of the PancarAtra.

Next, after Sathakopa and others, comes RAmAnuja. For NArAyana tells

Bala-bharads (or Bala-rAma, the brother of Kr*shna) thus (Is'vara

SamhitA, xx, 278-80):

Asti te vimalA bhaktih Mayi YAdava-nandana |

Prathamam S'esha-rUpo Me kaimkaryam akarod bhavAn ||

Tatas tu Lakshmano bhUtvA MAm ArAdhitvAn iha |

IdAnIm api MAm yastum Balabhadra ! tvam arhasi ||

kalAv api yuge bhUyah kas'eid bhUtavA dvijottamah |

NAnA-vidhair bhoga-jAlair arcanam Me karishyasi ||

i.e. " O Son of Yadu-race (BalarAma) ! thou hast clean (or pure)

devotion (or love) for Me. Thou, first as S'esha didst the great

service for Me. Then next didst thou worship me as Lakshmana. Thou art

now serving me as Balabharada. Thou shalt again in Kali age be born as

a great BrAhmana (=RAmAnuja), and shalt worship me with many things of

joy " .

From the above it will be seen how the hierarchy (Guru-paramparA) if

the S'ri-Vaishnavas or Sri-Sampradhayam came to be constituted thus:

(1) NArAyana

(2) S'ri

(3) Vishvaksena = Senes'a = the Lord of the Hosts (the Eternals)

(4) S'athakopa or S'athagopa (the Mortal-Immortal)

(5) The others between (4) and (6)

(6) RAmAnuja

(7) Succession after (6), up to one's own Holy Preceptor.

 

Sri Ramanuja (1017 - 1137 CE), the most important philosopher-saint

of Sri Vaishnavam and one of the most dynamic characters of Hinduism.

He was a philosophical as well as a social reformer, displaying a

catholicity that was nearly unparalleled in Hindu religious history

before him. He revitalised Indian philosophy and popular religion so

much that nearly every aspect of Hinduism has been influenced by his

work. His life and works show a truly unique personality, combining

contemplativ e insight, logical acumen, catholicity, charismatic

energy, and selfless dedication to God.

The less known fact even among Srivaishnavas about this well known

Acharya by whose name Srivaishnava philosophy is called 'Ramanuja

Darsanam' and who is hailed as " Sri Vaishnava Siddhanta Nirdhaarana

Saarva bouma " is that he was a 'Vadama' by birth.(Authority : "

Periya Thrumudi Adaivu, Pazhanadai Vilakkam and Visishtaadvaita

Catechism " - quoted in GLE)

HIS AVATARA AND EARLY DAYS

Ilaya Perumal was born to Kesava Perumal Somayaji Dikhsitar and

Kanthimathi Ammal at Sriperumpudur. Just as Sage Vasishta on seeing

the brilliance in the face of the child named him as Lakshmana saying

" Lakshmano Lakshmi Sampannaha " , Periya Thiru malai Nambi struck by

the Tejas of the child, named him after Lakshmana as Ilaya Perumal.

(PPM) aka Ilayalwar.

There is a sloka in Yadhavaachala Mahatmyam which says:

Ananthah Prathamam Roopam Lakshmanascha Tathah Parah |

Balabadram Thritheeyasthu Kalou Kaschit Bhavishyathi ||

(meaning) It is the same who was Adhisesha first, Lakshmana after and

Balarama in the third who is born as Sri Ramanuja in the Kali yuga.

This Kaschit is taken by our Poorva Acharyas as referring to Ramanuja

(PPM)

HIS BIRTH: (CHITRAI- TIRUVADHIRAI)

His date of birth is placed differently by different authorities.As

per PPM, he was born in Kaliyuga year 4119 which corresponds to1017

AD. PPM fixes even the exact date as 13th April 1017 AD, interms of

English Calendar.

Vriddha Padma Purana presages his incarnation thus:-

" Long, long afterwards, the Lord himself will come down on earth as a

Tridanda Sannyasin, to restore the good law. At that time heretics

and men of perverted intellects will confuse the minds of the people.

Aasuric Saastraas, based upon fallacious arguments and various

schools of thought, very attractive and almost indistinguishable from

the Vedanta, will turn away mens' hearts from Vishnu and cause them

to forget His glory. That glorious incarnation will, through the

good fortune of the Lord's devotees, come down upon earth, to explain

and amplify the teachings of the great Sage Baadaraayana and the

divine singer of the Gita. The holy one would compose a Bhaashya on

the Vyaasa Sutras, to save men from the confusion and despair caused

by spurious doctrines and lead them to the True faith " ( Vide p.44 of

GLE)

While still a boy , he lost his father and was living with his mother

at Kanchipuram under the protection of one 'Tiruk kachi Nambi' This

Nambi was believed to converse and was on 'speaking terms' with Lord

Varadaraja in the Archa form.

EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF SRI RAMANUJA

(1) Within 16 years of age, he had mastered all the Vedas and Sastras.

At age 17, he married Rakshakaambaal ( Tanjammal, in Tamil) (PPM)

(2) Ilaya Perumal was placed under the Advaitic Sannyasi called YADAVA

PRAKASA at Tirupput kuzhi for training in Advaita Purva Paksha Sastra

of Vedanta. Once during this period, Alavandar who desired

nominating Ilaya Perumal to succeed himself visited Tirupput kuzhi,

met with him but had no opportunity to speak to him and had to return

to Srirangam.

Very many occasions arose when the Saivite Guru clashed with Ilaya

Perumal when the Guru misinterpreted Vedantic statements. Ilaya

Perumal fearlessly pointed out the errors in the Guru's

interpretations and corrected him. This enraged the Guru. Fearing

that one day, Ilaya Perumal would demolish Advaita philosophy, he

plotted to kill Ilaya Perumal by drowning him in Ganga while on a

pilgrimage tour of the country with his disciples.

Learning of the design through one Govinda, another disciple who was

also related to him, Ilaya Perumal slipped out into the forest at

dead of night. Miraculously, an aged hunter couple appeared and

guided him. As Ilaya Perumal who was in a trance, opened his eyes,

he found himself at the outskirts of Kanchipuram and the couple had

disappeared. He realized that it was Lord Varadaraja and Perundevi

Thayar who had come in the guise of the hunter couple. He stayed at

Kanchi for a while to assist Tiruk Kachi Nambi in his daily chores of

service to Lord Varadaraja.

(3) News came that Alavandar was very sick and he desired to meet with

Ilaya Perumal. Just as Tirukkachi Nambi and Alavandar arrived, they

saw the funeral procession of Alavandar. During the last rites, they

noticed that three fingers of Alavandar remained folded signifying

three of his last unfulfilled wishes. As Ilaya Perumal swore

( i ) that he would write a commentary on Veda Vyasa's Brahma Sutra (

ii ) that he would perpetuate the memory of Vyasa and Parasara and (

iii ) that he would strive to propagate Visishtadvaita on the lines of

the 4000 holy collects of Alwars, the fingers unfolded one by one

automatically and stretched out to normal position signifying that

these were his last wishes. Since he could not meet with Alavandar,

he returned to Kanchi without even going into the temple at Srirangam

(PPM)

(4) Tirukkachi Nambi obtained from Lord Varadaraja the famous ' Six

Words ' and passed them on to Ilayalwar. The six words provided the

guidelines for Ilayalwar to follow. They were:-

( i ) that Lord Narayana is the Paramatma. (ii ) that the individual

souls were different from Paramatma. (iii) that Prapatti is the means

to attain salvation. (iv) that the last remembrance of the Lord on

the part of the departing soul was not necessary. (v) that

Moksha can be obtained only on laying off the mortal coils

(Videha Mukti) & (vi) that Ilaya Perumal should take refuge at the

feet of Periya Nambi.

Accordingly, he met with Periya Nambi at Madurantakam , where under

the shade of Vakula tree Periya Nambi performed Pancha Samskara to

him. As he was initiated into the esoteric of Dvaya Mantra at

Madurantakam, the place came to be known as " Dvayam Vilaindha

Tiruppathi " (PPM) Both returned to Srirangam and did Kalakshepams on

Brahma Sutra etc. for sometime. It was at this time that Lord

Ranganatha called him " Nammudaiyavar " (He is ours).(PPM)

(5) Ilaya Perumals was not a happy married life. His wife never

understood either his greatness nor appreciated his catholicity and

always acted on her own wavelength and there was no compatibility as

between them. Several instances are cited wherein the lady ensconced

in her own in her own pet ideas of being holy or otherwise showed

scant respect to Bhagavatas and this greatly annoyed Ilayalwar. When

he was about 30 years of age, Ilayalwar took Sannyas with the name of

'Ramanuja Muni'. He was the king among Sannyasis. Hence, he is

called ' Yati Rajar'- a honorific invested by Lord Devaathi Rajan.

(6) The seat of Acharya at Srirangam was lying vacant without a

successor to take over. He was prevailed upon to assume charge.

But, before doing so, he wanted to equip himself with the secrets of

the three great Mantras. For this purpose, he approached one " Tiruk

Koshtiyur Nambi " who made him come several times before actually

instructing him. He cautioned Ramanuja that he should not give out

the secrets to all and sundry and if he did so, he would go to hell.

Immediately on receiving the instructions, Ramanuja climbed up to the

top of the steeple of the temple and proclaimed to the large

gathering of his disciples assembled there the purport of the

instruction.

The popular belief that he gave out the Mantras is not correct; What

he actually gave out was that he had found out the way to attain

Moksha through the three great Mantras and invited those who

sincerely wished to follow him and get initiated. Also, he did not

advise all and sundry as assumed by some. By the time of this

episode, he had already gathered a huge following of disciples who

congregated at the main entrance to the temple and he was thus

addressing his own disciples (as explained in a separate posting in

this series). This is another less known fact about the well known

Acharya Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi was so enraged and demanded an

explanation. Ramanuja replied that he did not give out the secrets

and even if he had transgressed the specific warning of the Guru,

only he himself would go to hell but the multitude of humanity that

listened to his clarion ' wake - up' call would be saved spiritually.

The Guru was overwhelmed by this reply . Embracing Ramanuja

appreciating his broad mindedness, he called him 'Emperumanar'- " O!

My lord " and declared that Srivaishnavism would thenceforward be

known as " Ramanuja Darsanam " - ' the light of Ramanuja'

(7) Yadava prakasa, his old Guru had by then returned to Kanchi,

became Ramanuja's disciple assuming the name of 'Govinda Yogi'

(8) Ramanuja used to go round the streets for his Biksha. An evil

minded fellow had mixed poison in the biksha. His wife while serving

the biksha fell at Ramanujas feet with tears in her eyes. Ramanuja

understood that there was something wrong. When the Sishyas sorted

out the biksha for cooking, they found out that poison was mixed with

it. Ramanuja went on a fast with a view to cleanse the mind of the

evil-doer. On hearing this, Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi rushed all the way

to Srirangam. When Ramanuja heard of the coming of his Guru, he

rushed to the banks of River Kaveri to receive him. It was the height

of summer. Ramanuja ran towards him in the hot Sun to receive him

and fell at his feet on the burning sands on the banks of river

Kaveri. Nambi did not ask him to get up. Such was his Acharya

Bhakti. At that time , Kidambi Aachaan, who was nearby told Nambi "

Your action (in not asking Ramanuja to get up) is worse than the

poison mixed in the bikshai " . Such was the Acharya bhakti of

Ramanujas Sishya !(Like master, like pupil !). Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi

exclaimed, " After all, now I can cast off my physical body since I

have found one who would take the greatest care of Ramanuja "

(9) Ramanuja traveled throughout the country spreading the message of

Visishtadvaita. Once a votary of the ' illusion theory' Yagna Murthi

by name confronted him for 16 days in endless arguments and counter

arguments. Finally, he accepted defeat and became a disciple of

Ramanuja assuming the name of 'Arulala Perumal Emperumanar' and wrote

'Gnana Saram and Prameya Saram'.

(10) One of the most important disciples who was totally devoted to

Ramanuja was Kuresan also known as ' Kurattalwan'. Once, Kuresan

participated in the shradda ceremony performed for his mother by the

famous Tiruvarangathu Amudanar. This Amudanar was in charge of the

Srirangam temple. When Amudanar inquired what Kuresan desired as

reward for his participation, Kuresan replied that the administration

of the temple should be handed over to Ramanuja. Amudanar, who had

already known the greatness of Ramanuja was only too glad to hand over

the key to Ramanuja. It is this Tiruvarangattu Amudanar who

subsequently wrote the Ramanuja Noorrantadhi of 108 verses which was

included in the holy collects to make up the total of 4,000.

(11) After Mastering the Bodhaayana Vritti of Sage Vyaasa, he wrote

several works like Vedanta Sangraham explaining the various

viewpoints of Sankara, Yadhava, Bhaskara and others, Vedanta Deepam,

Geetha Bashyam etc.

(12) During Panguni Uttram, he did Prapatti before the Divya Dhampathi

in Serthi and submitted his famous Gadhyatrayam (comprising

Saranagathi Gadhyam, Sriranga Gadhyam and Sri Vaikunta Gadhyam ),

(13) Later, he wrote a Grantha called Nityam detailing the

Tiruvaradhana Kramam

(14) While he was on his Sancharam, it is believed that the Lord

himself appeared before him at Tiruk Kurum Kudi as a Srivaishnava got

Samasrayanam from Udaiyavar (PPM)

(15) When he visited Saraswati Peetam, Goddess Saraswati was so

impressed with his commentary on Brahma Sutram that she named it " Sri

Bhashyam " and conferred on him the title of " Bhashyakaarar " . It must

be noted that while the other commentaries are known by the names of

their authors like 'Sankara Bashyam' written by Aadhi Sankara, the

commentary of Ramanuja is always referred to with the venerable

honorific 'Sri' denoting its unsurpassed quality and clarity and

known as ' Sri Bashyam' (PPM)

(16) When he visited Tirumala, a miracle happened. Some argued that

the Lord of Tirumalai was Saiva param. It is surprising that such a

claim should have arisen about the Lord who had been worshipped as

Lord Vishnu by all the Alwars and Acharyas besides Elango Adigal and

other Tamil Pulavars for several centuries. This was because the

Lord had earlier entrusted His insignia to a King called Tondamaan.

(SAA p.57-58). The Lord desired to take back from Tondamaan, these

insignia viz., Sankhu, Tiruvaazhi, Soolam, Damarukam etc. They were

placed in the Sannidhi the previous night. And, when the doors were

opened the next morning, the Lord gave Darshan adorning all his

insignia (PPM). Ramanuja was hailed as " Appanukku Sangaazhi Alittha

Perumaal " Poet Arunagiri himself sang clearing all doubts in this

regard saying " Ulageenra Pachai umaiyanan, Vada Venkadathil

Uraibhavan, Uyar Sanga Chakra kara Thalan "

(17) Ramanuja " was the greatest synoptic thinker which the world ever

produced to systematize Visishtadvaitic philosophy, faithfully

interpreting the ancient knowledge in tune with the letter and spirit

of the text in the light of revelation and experience tested by stern

logic " - [- Hon'ble Justice K.S.Krishnaswami Iyengar of the High Court

of Judicture, Madras in his foreword to Desika Prabahandam( P.31)

published by Lifco Associates, Madras- 3rd Edition, 1982. ]

(18) His magnum opus is his wonderful commentary on Vedavyasa's Brahma

Sutram and a simpler commentary thereon called Vedanta Saram.

Kuresan was very helpful in publishing his works. Thus, he fulfilled

his FIRST PROMISE to Alavandar. It is this Kuresan (aka) Sri

Vatsanka Misra who wrote the famous Pancha Sthava consisting of Athi

Maanusha Sthava, Sri Sthava, Varadaraja Sthava, Vaikunta Sthava and

Sundarabaahu Sthava.

(19) He asked Kuresan to name his two sons after Veda Vyasa and

Parasara and thus fulfilled his SECOND PROMISE to Alavandar. It was

this Parasara Bhattar who subsequently wrote the famous commentary on

Vishnu Sahasra Nama as ordained by Ramanuja.

(20) Another disciple of Ramanuja was Pillaan. Once, when Ramanuja

was alone mentally reciting a particular hymn of Tiruvoimozhi,

Pillaan entered his room and inquired if he was meditating on a

particular hymn. And, it was indeed the one Ramanuja was actually

meditating on!. Ramanuja decided that Pillaan was the person best

suited to write a commentary on Tiruvoimozhi. As ordered, he wrote

the famous 'AARAAYIRAPPADI' (the commentary known as the 6000 Padi

also known as Bhagavad Vishayam) and called Pillaan as 'Tirukkurugai

Piraan " after the name of Nammalwar. He was also known as Kurugesar

and Braathru Thozhappar. Thus, he fulfilled his THIRD PROMISE to

Alavandar. He was one of the Sri Bhashya ubhaya Simhasana

Adhipathis.(PPM)

(21) Kulothunga Chola was a staunch devotee of Siva. He commanded

Ramanuja to come to his court with a view to enlisting his support to

establish the superiority of Siva over all other deities. (including

Vishnu ). If the support was not forthcoming, the king was planning

to kill Ramanuja. Sensing the danger, Kuresa went to the court

disguised as Ramanuja along with another disciple called Periya

Nambi. The king ordered him to sign a document to the effect that

'Siva is the greatest'. Kuresa added that ' Sivam was no doubt great

but Dronam was greater than Sivam'- both expressions referring to

units of measurement. The enraged king ordered both of them to be

blinded when he came to know that he was Kuresa who was impersonating

Ramanuja. Periya Nambi was tortured to death while Kuresa survived.

Kuresa, though he himself was blinded, was happy that he had saved

Ramanuja. It is this Kulothunga who is reported to have thrown away

the idol of Govindaraja in the sea. Ramanuja recovered it and had it

installed at Tirupati.

(22) While on an itinerary, Ramanuja noticed an officer of state, by

name Danur daasa, a hunter by birth was over -concerned and over-

protective about the beauty of his wife who was walking along on the

hot sands on the banks of the river Kaveri. Ramanuja offered to show

him something more beautiful than his wife and took him to the

proximity of the image of Lord Ranganatha. Danur daasa was

enraptured by the charm of the Lord and became a disciple of Ramanuja

assuming the name of ' Uranga Villi Daasar'. Ramanuja never

entertained any caste distinctions and was conferring his

benedictions even on the lowliest of the lowly whom he called 'Tiruk

Kulattar'.

(23) Ramanuja went to Tiru narayana puram in search of white clay

paste used for applying caste marks by Vaishnavites. The idol of the

temple there had been taken away by the muslim invaders and was being

used at play as a doll by the muslim princess in Delhi. Ramanuja

went to Delhi and when he endearingly called ' Come on! My dear

child 'Selva Pillaiye Vaarum', the idol miraculously came onto his

lap. Ramanuja reinstalled it in the temple.

(24) Once some kids were playing on the road pretending to construct a

temple, installing an idol of the Lord, offering fruits and flowers

etc all the time using the dust on the road for the purpose. They

offered some mud as prasadam to Ramanuja who was passing along , he

received it with due respect. He remembered in this connection the

words of Poigai Alwar who said that the Lord took whatever name and

form his sincere devotees wished and in the instant case though the

kids were only playing, they sincerely believed in what they were

doing.

(25) Another disciple of Ramanuja was Vaduga Nambi who put the sandals

of his Guru along with those of the Lord. When questioned, he

replied that the Acharya's sandals were for him as holy as those of

the Lord. When Lord Ranganatha was coming on his rounds on the

streets of Srirangam, Vaduga Nambi remarked that the eyes that had

seen the charm in the eyes of Ramanuja would not be able to

appreciate the beauty of the eyes of even the Lord.-'En Amudinai

Kanda Kangal Marronrinai Kaanaave.' Such was his devotion to his

Acharya.

(26) Ramanuja arranged to make a lifelike idol of himself and

embracing it invested it with his powers and had it installed in

Tirumalai at Tirupati. The only temple consecrated in Tirumalai ,

other than that of Lord Venkateswara, is that of Ramanuja.(SAA p.58)

The Archa moorthi of Ramanuja known as " Thaan Ugantha Tirumeni " was

installed in Tirunarayanapuram.

(27) Once, when he visited Tondanoor in Hoysala State, he happened to

meet a Jain king called Devarayan. His daughter was possessed by a

demon and none could get rid of her predicament. When Ramanuja's

SriPaada Theertham ( water consecrated by association with his feet)

was sprinkled on her,she was cured of the devil. The King pleaded to

be accepted as Ramanujas Sishya. Ramanuja accepted and named him

" Vishnu Vardhana " .

(28) Ramanuja nominated 74 Acharyas to succeed him. It is he who

instituted the 13 day " iyal Goshti in Srirangam. (PPM)

 

HIS ASCENT TO PARAMAPADAM

With his head on the lap of Embar and his feet on the lap of Vaduga

Nambi, Ramanuja breathed his last in 1137 AD listening to the

recitation of the Divya Prabandam.

Born in PINGALA year, he left for his heavenly abode also in PINGALA

year that followed 120 years from the year of his Avatara. Thus, he

lived TWO full cycles of Tamil years after his birth

 

His physical body is preserved even today in a sitting posture in the

Sannidhi (Sanctum Sanctorum) dedicated to him on the southwest corner

on the fifth round within the Srirangam temple as ordered by Lord

Ranganatha himself.

Even some Srivaishnavas are not aware that here in Srirangam. their

holiest place hailed as ' Bhuloka Vaikuntam' ( Heaven on Earth) lies

preserved the body of Sri Ramanuja in all its pristine state

unostentatiously, without any fanfare or publicity and without using

any of the chemical preservatives employed by the Egyptian and Goan

models.

Swami Desika in Sloka 10 of his Yathiraja Saptadhi pays obeisance to

Bhagavad Ramanuja thus before proceeding with his eulogy.

Pranaamam Lakshmana Munih Prathi Grihnaathu Maamakam |

Prasaadhayathi yat Sookthih Svadheena Pathikaam Sruthim ||

(meaning) I beseech Sri Ramanuja whose Srisookthis claimed the acclaim

of the Lord and adorned the Upanishads to kindly accept my Pranams.

There is another famous Sloka which says :-

Thasmai Ramaanujaaryaaya Namah Parama Yoginae |

Yah Sruthi Smrithi Sutraanaam Antharjvaramaso Samathaa ||

(meaning) I bow to that Sri Ramanuja, the great Yogi who became the

very soul of Vedas, Upanishads and other Sutras.