Sri Ramanuja Jayanti Sunday 6th May 2022 Sri Ramanujacharya Jayanthi Timings: 1004th Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya
1005th Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramanujacharya
Ramanuja Jayanti on Friday, May 6, 2022
Thiruvathirai Nakshathram Begins - 06:17 AMon May 05, 2022
Thiruvathirai Nakshathram Ends - 09:20 AMon May 06, 2022
Ramanujacharya
was a great saint. To be honest, he worked hard to make everybody,
right from the cobbler to the nobler to reach the lotus feet of
Narayana, by preaching what he alone was taught, the eight lettered
mantra "OM NAMO NARAYANA" to one and all. All his teachings are gems and
everyone should adorn them. Sri Ramanuja (1017 - 1137 A.D.), 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 revitalized 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 contemplative 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". 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. 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. Within 16 years of age, he had
mastered all the Vedas and Sastras. 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. 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" 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"- Ramanuja was the only one to whom Sri Ranganatha
submitted both his vibhUtis , nitya and leela and gave the authority of
granting moksha. Quote “Vishnu lOka maNi mandapa mArga dAyi” Kanchi
Devaraja has reinforced this authority by advising Tirukkachi nambigal
that moksham for nambigal is due to his connection with Ramanuja.
A
striking quality of Ramanuja was his intense humanism, compassion and
charity. To him God was the personification of kindness to both saint
and sinner. The true ornaments of a Srivaishnavite, according to
Ramanuja, are the qualities of mercy and kindness.
His theology
of a compassionate and merciful god is an outward manifestation of his
mind and heart imbued with spiritual values and boundless love for
humanity. He is thus called by his disciples as Yati-Raja (King of
saints), Emperumanar (our Lord).. In his philosophy, no-one is barred
from Divine grace and Moksha/Surrender. " I take refuge at the
feet of our guru Bhagavaan Ramanuja, that ocean of mercy who, infatuated
with the gold-like, lotus feet of the Lord, considered all else
(material pursuits) as mere blades of grass. " Ramanuja was the only
one whom Nammalwar acknowledged. He has given the divine statue of
Ramanuja to nAthamunigal. And this divine vigraham is the deity at
Ramanuja sannidhi at Alwartirunagari even today. Quote ”
bhavishyadAcharya varaswarUpam sandarsayamAsa – tam kAri sUnum Saranam
prapadye”. This vigraham was held by all our pUrva acharyas in their
tiruvaradhanam. tag.
Ramanuja was the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy or qualified
non-dualism. Ramanuja’s Brahman is Sa-visesha Brahman, i.e., Brahman
with attributes. According to Ramanuja’s teachings, Lord Narayana or
Bhagavan is the Supreme Being; the individual soul is Chit; matter is
Achit. Ramanuja regards the attributes as real and permanent, but
subject to the control of Brahman. The attributes are called Prakaras or
modes. Lord Narayana is the Ruler and Lord of the universe. The Jiva is
His servant and worshipper. The Jiva should completely surrender
himself to the Lord. The oneness of God is quite consistent with the
existence of attributes, as the attributes or Shaktis depend upon God
for their existence.
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