VOICE OF THE RISHIS-64

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PRIYA BHAGAVAT BANDUVULLARA!

VOICE OF THE RISHIS: 64

COURTESY: SHRI RAPARLA JANARADHANA RAO

" NITYAM KIMKARO BHAVAMI "

__SRIMAD RAMANUJACHARYULU

" Let me be your servant for ever " is the finest tenet of the one of

the greatest three Acharyas Srimad Ramanujacharyulu, (Tirmatha

Acharyas are Sankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa). This Acharya founded

the great school of thought, Bhakti (Devotion) and Seva (Service to

Lord) and this school of thought is known as Visishta Advaita

System. The followers are known as Vaishnavaits, as they worship,

Lord Vishnu.

Vaishnavism as propounded by Sri Ramanujacharya, centre round the

principle of total surrender to the Lord, known as " Prapathi " . All

the days are to be spent and all activities are to be centered round

His worship. The complete surrender to Him involves service to Him

at all times.Nityam (ever) Bhavami (make me or be it so) Kinkara

(Servant). " Let me ever be thy servant " signifies the greatest

thought of humility of the aspirant. This also means the total

abnegation of one's egoistic arrogance (Ahamkaara) in favor of the

Lord's service. Here it may be recalled that all great saints lived

in great humility, surrendering themselves to the Lord as His

servants. They even cared little for their rulers or kings and gave

the prime importance to the Lord. They proved themselves first the

servants (kimkara) of the Lord, before they accepted their temporal

of worldly kings. " Nitayam Kimkaro Bhavami " , " Make me your servant

for ever " is the magnificent prayer and surrender to the Lord. Here

it is pertinent to know some of the important events in the life of

Acharya Ramanuja. He is born in Tamilnadu's Sriperumbudur to

Kesavacharya and Kantimathi, in the year 1017 in Adi Seshu Aamsha.

(Chaitra Suddha Panchami Guruvasare, Aardhra Nakshtrayukta Karkata

Lagna). He is also called Lakshmanacharyulu, as Ramanuja is

Lakshmana. He is of Yajussakha, Haritasa Gothra, Apastambha Surta.

He is very attractive in his long ears and beautiful personality.

His first guru was advaiti Yadava Prakasa. Since Yadava Prakasa

could not give proper commentary on Chandyogapanishad's " Kapyanam

Pundarika Meva Makshini—actual sentence – he left Yadava Prakasa and

went to Kanchipurnulu alias Tirukutchinambi.

At his 16th year, he married Tamjamamba and he saved the daughter of

Chola King from evil forces. Yamunacharaya (Alavandaru), has sent

Mahapurna to fetch Ramanuja and ordained him to do Srumthi for Vyasa

and Parasara.Acharya Ramanuja authored commentary on Brahama Sutras

and authored Sri Bhashyam. He is the pioneer in getting Harijanas

Alaya Pravesa. From Goshtipurna he got Mantropadesa of " Om Namo

Narayanaya. He climbed the Gopura of a temple and declared the

Mantra to all openly, not caring for his Guru's words, for the sake

of and believing in Bahujana Hitaya, Bahujana Sukhaya. The guru

after learning Acharya Ramanuja's reply, addressed him as " Emberuma "

(Our Lord). Since that day, Ramanujacharya is also known

as " Emberumannar " . His " Tapam, Pundram, Namam, Yantram and Yagam

are the five Siddhantas which Vaishnvaits follow and propogate.Apart

from Sri Bhashyam, he also authored Geetabhashyam, Gadyatrayam,

Bhagavaradhana Kramam etc., The pooja to 12 Alwars and inculcating

Bhakti Marga to Harijanas are some important events in the life of

this great Acharya.