Basic Tenets of Srivaishnavism - Ramanuja sambhandam leads to Moksham - Part 4

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This is the concluding part of this upanyasam.

 

Ramanuja Sambhandat MokshalAbah PART – 4

 

In a nutshell, Vedas proclaim that it is Gnana (and Bhakti, which is ripened

form of Gnana) of Brahman and therefore Brahman (Sriman Narayana) that

fetches moksham. This gnana and bhakti is taught to us by our

poorvAcharyas. Thus it is the parampAra (chain) of illustrious preceptors,

starting with Sriman Narayana Himself, then pirAtti (Sri) followed by

Nammazhvar, Nathamuni, YamunachArya, Swami Ramanuja, eventually our current

preceptor that leads us to Moksham. It is our association to this chain

that pleases Sriman Narayana and makes Him grant us moksham. It is

important to note that the preceptors act as “all important” links in the

chain and it is the sole prerogative of Sriman Narayana to grant mOksham.

Thus during samAshraynam, when we surrender unto the lotus feet of our

Acharya, we are granted moksam because the Acharya immediately associates us

to the illustrious chain. Among all the preceptors, Sriman Narayana chose

Ramanuja, to be the “crown jewel” of the parampAra by giving him the command

of both the Nitya and lila vibhuti. Hence we say Ramanuja sambhandAt

mOkshalAbah.

The following are some of the numerous instances where our poorvAcharyas has

reaffirmed the aforementioned association.

 

Koorathazhvan explicitly brings out this association to Ramanuja in his work

‘Panchastavam’ (RamanujOngri sharanOsmi kulappradEpah…).

 

ThiruvarangatAmudanAr exemplifies this association in his work ‘Ramanuja

NootrandAdhi’.

 

In Yatiraja saptati, swami Vendanta Desikan says – Between Sriman Narayana’s

lotus feet and swami Ramanuja’s lotus feet, he prostrates at the lotus feet

of Swami Ramanuja because that is what fetches moksham.

 

In Yatiraja Vimsati verse 18 (KAlathrayEpi…), swami Manavala Mamunigal says

that it is swami Ramanuja’s prayers at the lotus feet of Lord Ranganatha

that redeems all, from the gruesome sins committed by word or deed, in the

past, present and future.

 

Swami Manavala Mamunigal reiterates the same message in Upadesa Rattina

Malai verse60 and 61. He says, “when you surrender to an Archarya,

paramApadam is just within your reach”.

 

KoorathAzhwan says, for people who are unqualified ( to do Gnana and Bhakti

yoga) like me, full of Kama, Kroda and Moha, alas!, the only 4-letter word

that comes to the rescue is RA MA NU JA (Nachet RamAnujEt desha chaturAt

chaturAkshari kamavastan prapadyantE jantavo hantamadrushA). Swami Ramanuja

is the one who is adept at showing the way to paramapAdam (Vishnuloka mani

mandapa margha dayI).

During one of the discussions that ensued between Kurathazwan and others, at

the banks of cauvery river, one of them questioned – Is RamAnuja the

Acharya? KurathAzhwan was so furious and rendered speechless that he stood

neck deep in Cauvery river and proclaimed loudly –“Sathyam sathyam ----

Yatirajo Jagadguru:”

 

Namperumal(Lord Ranganatha) only said it but Thiru VenkatamudAyAn put it

into practice. There was a old lady who used to supply milk and curd to

Ramanuja Matham. When it came time to pay the lady for the supplies,

MudaliAndAn started paying her. The old lady refused to take money and said

she needed something else in return for her supplies. MudaliAndAn asked her

what does want instead ? She said, if swami Ramanuja gave her a chit and if

she produces it before ThiruVenkataMudayan then He will give her moksham.

Swami Ramanuja, at once gave her the chit, which she took and prostrated

before ThiruVenkataMudayan. Moksham was granted.

 

Upaya upeya bhavena thatvata: sarvadesikaihiI sunischita angripadmaya

Yatirajaya mangalam - Mangalam to Yatiraja. (It has been proved beyond

doubt that it is the lotus feet of Yatiraja that is the upaya(moksha hethu)

and upeya (perform saranagathi). )

 

Swami Manavala Mamunigal states that just as it is the mother that is

administered medication to cure her infant of the disease ( Infants cannot

be administered medicine; instead it gets the medicine through mother’s

milk), oh Ramanuja! you took the medicine from Lord Ranganatha to reach

Moksham and it is through your divine grace, I get rid of my sins (Annai

mudivir arindi mulaiyUn kulaviarindhi thAnudayaNoyE thaviralo, yennai

yetiraja yennakai neesheydal, unakku adhu thAlvovarai).

 

"NatthAdai thonmudalvar thandadaNNO thAyamuraidhan" – Oh Ramanuja! you went

and prostrated before Lord Ranganatha and performed sharanagati on my

behalf.

 

“PunyAmbhoja vikAsaya ApathbhAndashayAya cha Sriman avirabhoot bhoomau

rAmAnuja divAkara:”

 

** AdiyEn is solely responsible for any errors or omissions . **

 

azhwAr emberumAnAr JeeyAr thiruvadigalE saranam

adiyEn rAmanuja dAsan - Kesavan Srinivasan

 

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Basic Tenets of SriVaishnavism

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