The Hindu : Devotion to preceptor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Devotion to preceptor

CHENNAI SEPT.23 . The relationship between preceptor and disciple is sacred transcending all worldly associations and there are many examples to highlight its importance in spiritual life. Ramanuja is the central figure in the galaxy of Srivaishnava preceptors and Kurattazhvan (Srivatsankamisra, Kuresa) was his foremost disciple. Vedanta Desika in his hymn, the Yatiraja Saptati, compares the lineage of preceptors to a sparkling necklace adorned by Ramanuja as its pendant. The importance given to him is due to the crucial role he had in establishing this tradition on a firm footing. In the spiritual ministry bequeathed to Ramanuja by Alavandar, Kuresa had a very important part.

Though older than his preceptor, Kurattazhvan's devotion to him was exceptional. The Ramanuja Nutrandadi notes that without this sterling disciple it would not have been possible for others to receive Ramanuja's grace but this saint was indebted to his disciple for eliciting his preceptors' grace for emancipation. Hagiological tradition accords a singular status to Kuresa for two reasons. The first is his assistance in the writing of the Sri Bhashya, a commentary on the Brahmasutras from the standpoint of Visishtadvaita, for which Ramanuja had to peruse the Bodhayana Vrtti, which was available only in Kashmir. And, when he could refer to it, it was not possible for him to bring a copy of the manuscript. But Kuresa had because of his devotion to him memorised the entire work in the three days they had access to it. One can imagine Ramanuja's joy when Kuresa consoled him that he remembered every word of the text when he despaired how he was going to finish the task of writing the commentary entrusted to him by his preceptor. The other incident relates to Kuresa losing his eyesight for the sake of upholding this religious tradition.

In his discourse, Sri M.V. Ananthapadmanabachariar said that Kurattazhvan was a great poet could be seen from his hymns, the Panchastava. He hailed from Kuram, a village near Kanchipuram and lived in Srirangam with his preceptor but circumstances separated them and it was in Tirumaliruncholai that he composed the Sundarabahustava and the Atimanushastava. The Sristava in 11 verses is a eulogy of the Divine Mother and the Vaikunthastava describes the Lord in His transcendental abode. The fifth is the Varadarajastava on the Lord of Kanchipuram. Together they explain all the important concepts of Srivaishnava theology.

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Devotion to preceptor

dated September 23, 1953: Maintaining Standards in Government Service

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