ABOUT
SHRI RAMANUJACHARYA |
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|| Shri Ramanujacharya || |
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(COURTESY : SHRI SUDARSHAN SANDESH – FEBRUARY,
2004)
The SAMPRADAAYA (COMMUNITY) which our
Guruji represents is knows as THE RAMANUJ SAMPRADAAYA,
named after Saint Ramanujacharya. This community though
is originally known as THE SRI SAMPRADAAYA.
To name a few great saints who have
spread the name of the Supreme Lord under different
communityheads or Sampradaayas are SHRI SHANKARACHARYA,
SHRI YAMUNACHARYA, SHRI VALLABHACHARYA, SHRI MAADHAVACHARYA,
SHRI NIMBARKACHARYA and SHRI CHAITANYA.
Shri Ramanujacharya was a great devotee
of the Supreme Lord Narayana, and a thorough propagandist
of the VISHISHT ADVAITA THEORY.
He was a virtuous, pious, patient and
a very learned saint.
The son of KESHAV BHATT, born in the
south, in TIRUKUDOOR, He lost His father at a tender
age. He then headed for Kanchi, and started the study
of the Vedas under the watchful eyes of GURU YAADAVPRAKASH.
Shri Ramanuj excelled in the study
of the Scriptures, character, and love for God. He even
learnt a lot of the Yogic Principles.
Shri Ramanuj was from the same community
(PARAMPARA) as Acharya Yaamunacharya (Allwander), and
when Acharya Yaamunacharya was about to leave this world
– He called for Shri Ramanuj, but by the time
Shri Ramanuj reached – the Acharya had left for
heavenly abode.
Shri Ramanuj reached in time to see
that three fingers of the dead body of the Acharya were
bent, He immediately understood the meaning and vowed
to the Supreme Lord that He would definitely write or
get written a commentary on the three main Holy Scriptures,
no sooner was the vow taken that the three fingers of
the Acharya straightened. Shri Ramanuj then accepted
Shri Pariyanaambi (an important disciple of Acharya
Yaamunacharya) as His teacher and followed Vaishnavism
and took to the path of Bhakti – or Love for God.
Shri Ramanuj was a family man –
but understood too soon that He would not be able to
achieve His goals staying as a household man, so He
left His household, went off to Srirangam and took Sanyas
under the eyes of Sanyasi Yatiraj
In compassion, Shri Ramanuj can be
compared to Lord Buddha, in love – to Jesus Christ,
and in the spread of the name of God – to Saint
John.
A noteworthy incident in the life of
Shri Ramanuj – He took Guru Mantra from Mahatma
Naambi, who instructed Him to keep the Guru Mantra as
a secret. But Shri Ramanuj had other ideas – He
went on top of a temple and started shouting the Guru
Mantra loudly so that everyone around could hear it.
Learning about this action, Mahatma
Naambi was very upset and told Shri Ramanuj that He
would have to suffer Hell for such an action, Shri Ramanuj
though very contently replied, that by announcing out
the Holy Name, if He could save hundreds of people from
going to Hell, and He has to suffer Hell in return –
He would be more than satisfied. This sort of incident
tells us how compassionate and full of love, Shri Ramanuj
was.
Shri Ramanuj wrote commentaries on
the Gita as well as the Brahmasutra, His work was called
– SHRI BHASHYA
He also was instrumental in the writing
of two famous works – VISHNU SAHASTRANAAM, and
DIVYA PRABANDHAM, thus completing His vow of getting
three important commentaries written.
He lived for 120 years, spreading the
name of the Supreme Lord through preachings, writings
and extensive traveling. He spread and explained the
concept of the Love of the Lord (Bhakti) to thousands
of people around the world.
PRINCIPLE TEACHINGS OF SHRI
RAMANUJACHARYA
Only God is COMPLETE, He resides in
every soul. He is the Sole Creator and Preserver of
this entire Universe.
The main aim of every human must be
to wipe out his ego and surrender totally to the Supreme
Lord.
Only Lord Narayan is ETERNAL TRUTH
and His power (Shakti) is MahaLakshmi. Shri Laxmi Narayan
are the parents of this entire universe and each soul
– are Their children.
Humans must chant the Holy Name of
Lord Narayan, and each of their action must be for the
Supreme Lord only.
The only way every action can be for
the Supreme Lord – is to surrender totally to
Him. This is the only way of true Peace.
JAI GURUDEV
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