Ramanujar a Social Reformer

Perumal & Pirati Thiruvadigale Saranam ||

Srimathe Ramnujaya Namha||

In continuation to my earlier post on Bagavad Ramanujar would like to high light few more facts on how he differed from other Acharyans based on his personal qualities and achievements.

After getting the Samasrayanam or Pancha Samaskaram from Periya Nambi, Periya Nambi asked him to learn the secrets of attaining moksham from another guru by name Thirukoshtiyur Nambi or Goshti Purnar. He is one of the sishyas of Alawandar (Yamunacharya) who taught him the inner meanings of Ashtaksharam,   Dwaya matram, Churma Slokam.  These three mantras are also called "Rahasya Threyam". 

A small note of Thirukoshtiyur Nambi:

* Thirukoshtiyur Nambi was born in Thirukoshtiyur in Tamil Nadu, in the year of 987,  a staunch Sri Vaishnava

* Thirukoshtiyur Nambi is one of the sishyas of Alawandar (Yamunacharya) who taught him the inner meanings of Ashtaksharam,   Dwaya matram, Churma Slokam.  These three mantras are called "Rahasya Thrayam". 

* Yamunacharya or Alawandar instructed Thirukoshityur Nambi to teach the Rahasya threyam to Ramanjuar when he apporaches him. Please recollect that Ramanujar couldn't meet Alawandar in person when he went to Srirangam as by then Yamunachariar left the world.  

*There is also a note that states that Alawandar handed over a Bhavisathayacharya (future Acharya) Vigraham which he was given to him by his Acharyan Manakal Nambi and that happens to be of Ramanujacharya's.  That means the earlier Purvacharyas had great foresight of who will the be future Acharyans who would take the Sri Vaishnava Sampradhyam.

Ramanuja as a Social Reformer :

Ramanuja took Alawandar as his manseega (internal) guru and fulfilled his wishes.  This is another reason for him to approach Thirukostiyur Nambi to learn about the secrets of attaining Moksha.

With these intentions of purvacharyars Ramanujar started learning the meanings from Acharyan Thirukoshtiyur Nambi. This Acharyan put a condition stating that Ramanujar should promise him that he won't reveal the secret of these mantras to anyone or otherwise his head would blown to pieces. But Ramanujar felt to benefit everyone he must reveal these secret mantras to all taking the risk of his head getting blown up.  As Ramanujar was more concerned and compassionate to the common people and thought such a powerful mantras should reach common people which would help them get our this worldly sufferings by their past & present karmas.  

He called all people irrespective of the varnashramam, ie the caste they were born to.  That's why even today in our Sri Vaishnava Community all Acharyans do the Pancha Samaskaram even to all people who approach them without restricting it only to any particular community. 

His Guru Thirukoshityur Nambi was intially upset that Ramanujar disobeyed him. However later looking at the compassion and magnanimity of Ramanujar he accepts Ramanujar's action whole heartedly. Then he titles Ramanujar as "Emperumanar".

Ramanujar's Perseverance & Determination 

In earlier days most of the mantras are to be  preached by a Guru to a student on one to one basis in such a manner no one else could listen them. These are called Upadesa mantras. For example Gayatri Mantra is is taught by whispering by the father to his son during Bhramopadesam in Upanayanam function. On the same line even the Rashya mantras for attaining moksham were to be taught in similar manner. 

Added before a upadesam is done by a guru, he will first test to determine the intellectual level and capability of the student. 

It was the same procedure followed by Thirukoshtiyur Nambi before teaching Ramanujar even though his Guru Yamunacharya already instructed him to teach Ramanujar. 

In fact Bagavad Ramanujar went 18 times from Srirangam to Thirukoshtiyur and only on the 18th time he got these upadesams from his Guru Thirukoshityur Nambi. This act of Ramanujar can tell about his persevarance & determination to learn. 

However Ramanujar broke the procedure slightly that once any person irrespective of the caste determine to accept to worship only Sriman Narayana as Supreme Power he becomes Sri Vaishnava and he should be taught with the Saranagathi Tatvams.

Conclusion 

The story narrated above can tell you the great qualities like compassion, magnanimity, perseverance,  determination etc., of Bagavad Ramanujar. He is only one who stood for "Status of Equality" of all in front of Emperuman or Lord Vishnu. There are many references and materials available about Bagavad Ramanujar and Adiyen encourage the readers to go through them and get to know more about Udayavar (Ramanujar).

Udayavar Thiruvadigale Saranam !

Adiyen Ranganathan Dasan

+91 9845532193

Please post your valuable comments with name in the "comments" box.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 20, 2023 at 7:25 PM

    Nicely written

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 28, 2023 at 4:09 AM

    Very nice swami to know about our poorva Acharya, dhanyosmi

    ReplyDelete

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