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Importance to devotion

CHENNAI : It is not just a matter of coincidence that two great preceptors (Acharyas) of the Vedic tradition, Sankara and Ramanuja, were born on the same day (month and star according to Hindu calendar) though nearly two centuries apart. Both had a specific mission in re-establishing its philosophical tenets and religious practices according to the time in which they lived. Though there have been many men of learning all are not considered Acharyas because an Acharya is not only one who teaches the purport of the scriptures but also an exemplar of his teachings.

In his discourse, Swami Atmashraddhananda said Ramanuja was hailed as the Acharya who established the Bhakti (devotion) tradition within the fold of Vedanta. It is not as if there were no preceptors before him who advocated Bhakti but it was Ramanuja, according to Swami Vivekananda, "who opened the gates of Vedic religion to the masses" through the path of devotion to abolish social discrimination.

Born nearly 1000 years ago in Sriperumbudur (near Chennai) to pious parents, Ramanuja's birth was prophesied. His father's untimely death made him study under Yadavaprakasa. He was a model student but had original thinking and so had differences with his teacher. Soon he had to part ways with him after providentially escaping a threat to his life.

In Srirangam, Yamunacharya, who had heard about Ramanuja and chosen him for the mission of establishing Visishtadvaita, sent for him, and before Ramanuja could reach his side he passed away. Intrigued to find three of his fingers closed Ramanuja questioned his disciples whether he had unfulfilled wishes. When Ramanuja promised to fulfil them — a commentary on the Brahmasutra according to Visishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), honouring the memory of Vyasa and Parasara, and a commentary on Nammazhwar's Tiruvaymozhi— Yamuna's fingers opened miraculously. This became his life's mission and during his long ministry (he lived for 120 years) Ramanuja laid a firm foundation for Bhakti philosophically as well as in religion by precept and practice.

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