Manavala Mamuni Part 7

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Srimathe Ramanujaya namaha!

Jai Srimannarayana!

 

“Munim vande” – In His incarnation as Rama, Lord Ranganatha became

the disciple of Vishwamitra Muni and provided all required services as a

disciple. However, subsequent awareness as to Vishwamitra’s undesirable traits

such as Lust, anger, Ego made our Lord feel unhappy about His choice of this

Guru. After all, was not Sri Rama known as the perfect one (Shadgunya

paripurna)? The same plight befell Lord Krishna when He learnt the 64 arts under

the preceptor Sa:ndipani Muni, within 64 days. When offered 'Guru

Dakshina'(token of appreciation for Acharya) by the most magnificent Lord of the

Lords Sriman Narayana, sandipani, instead of asking for Moksha, the ultimate

reward, asked for a petty favor, viz the retrieval of his son who had drowned as

a child. The Lord became displeased at this. So, now Lord Ranganatha adopted

Swami Manavalamamuni (Ramyajamathru Muni) as His teacher. “Yathindra pravaNam

vande:” – Swami Manavalama:muni, in his previous incarnation as Ramanuja, had

been anointed as His Acharya by Lord Venkateswara. Even though no ill-will arose

between the teacher & the taught, Lord Ranganatha considered it appropriate to

be the disciple of Swami Manavalamamuni, who was highly devoted to Yatheendra

(Sri Ramanuja) and had earned the appellation Yatheendra Pravana.

 

The depth of meaning embedded in this slOka will enlighten even a

common man, and it is not difficult to perceive only the highest abode of

Divinity, the Lord Rangana:tha himself, could have composed such a slOka. Though

Swami Manavala Mamuni was elevated to this highest position of being the Acharya

to Lord Ranganatha, his was a life marked by humility and service to the spirit

of Azhvars and Acharyas. Swami Manavala Mamuni thought that it was up to the

Lord to determine the position given to Swami Manavala Mamuni. This is the true

nature (swaroopa) of the jeeva:tma, a state of dependence not unlike the

inanimate (Achitvat Parathantrya) and Swami Mamuni embodied this exalted spirit

of existence. The sacred oscimum (thuLasi) is not elated when placed by Lord on

His crown; nor does it become unhappy while put down over His feet. The sentient

soul should have the same disposition as that of the sacred thulasi, the

awareness that he/she is merely an object belonging to the Lord, to be utilized

per the Lord’s whims and fancies. Swami Manavala Mamuni demonstrated and lived

this exalted principle of 'ananya:rha seshatvam' (quality of complete

surrenderance to Lord, without an iota of blemish) and 'achitvat pa:ratantryam'

(a state of dependence not unlike the inanimate).

 

To be continued ….

 

Andal Tiruvadigale Saranam.

Madhava Ramanuja dasan.