THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-71

“Shuluravu kondeno Thirukoshtiyurare polae”

"Did I develop a very strict relation with Ramanuja like Thirukoshti Nambi , who made Ramanuja take a vow that he would not teach what he learnt to others?"

We are going to learn about Ramanujam’s truth,perseverance,eagerness,kindness

,generosity and how he attained the name “Emperumanar”

Among the 5 Teachers for assigned for Ramanujam, one was Thirukoshtiyur Nambi .He belonged to Thirukoshtiyur 150 km away from Srirangam and was name Thirukurigaipiran. 

He was born on  Rohini star in month of Vaigasi (Mid April to mid May )

Ramanujam was going to learn ‘Thirumanthram and Charama slokam ‘ from thirukoshtiyur nambi  in Thirukoshtiyur. He enquired about His residing place and went there doing Sashtanga ( all 8 bodyparts) Namaskaram continuously till he reached his residence.

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi was very particular about all our Acharyan Samradhayams.He always tested his students to find out whether they are worthy of it .Ramanujam went not once or twice but 18 times by walk from Srirangam to Thirukoshtiyur just because he was not given ‘Manthram Upadesam' yet but for few Upadesams 

One day Thirukoshtiyur Nambi went to Srirangam to  pray Arangan .On seeing the delay in Mantra upadesam for Ramanujam ,Arangan through Archagar (Pandit or Battacharya)  told Thirukoshtiyur Nambi to do ‘Manthram Upadesam’ for Ramanujam as he is right fit for it. He is ‘Sarva Guna Sampann- filled with all right virtues' but Thirukoshtiyur replied “Only the worthy will receive ‘Manthram Upadesam’ “and left.

Each time Ramanuja received few Upadesams, let’s see few of them 

The one who wants Moksha should start life with open mind  ,once you have interesti n open mind ,there will not be place for Ego,physical beauty which in turn leads to ‘Atmagyan ‘ .

Once you attain Atmagyan you will evolve from hunger of wealth .Once this happens your bhakti towards Perumal will increase and other interests will automatically reduce and once this happens you attain perumal.

Reaching perumal removes all other like Artha,kama,raaga,vesha.

Once these are gone you will be Sri Vaishnava and will have like minded company .Like minded people take you to Bhaagavatham Sambantham (Acharyan introduction ) and get introduced to Bhagavat sambantham and this will make you become perumal’s servant for life  and that person is eligible for ‘Thirumanthiram Upadesam’

On 17th trip Thirukoshtiyur Nambi softened a bit on seeing Ramanujam’s sincerity and told him to come with ‘Dhandam and Pavithram’ next time so that he can give ‘Mantharam Upadesam’ to him. On his 18th trip Ramanujam comes along with Muthaliandan and koorathazhvar .

Perplexed ,Thirukoshtiyur Nambi asks why he brought them instead of ‘Dhandam and Pavithram’ Ramanujam replied “ Muthaliandan and Koorathazhvar are my ‘Dhandam and pavithram’ as they are always with me .

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi says “This mantharam has a deep meaning and very pure .It should not be taught to some one who is not worthy  for it .Just like how I tested you "You must do the same" ,Ordered(Shula) Thirukoshtiyur nambi .

Ramanujam  got ‘Manthara Upadesam ‘ and agreed for the order to be followed but Ramanujam’s kind nature made him tell everyone from top of the temple that he is going to share the knowledge he just attained . He first shared the meaning of the ‘Manthra’ . I am not my body,head,hands ,body ,feet is not me nor the fecilities which comes along ,all belongs to paramatma .This is what represented as ‘Namaha-nothing belongs to us ’. ‘Naraha’ depicts life ,’Naarahaa’ depicts life as a whole ,’Ayana’ meaning proof of life  ,So Narayana is supreme gain and this is the essence of ‘Manthram’ So to know this lets all say “Ohm Namo Narayanaya ”

Lot of crowd gathered and all who gathered gained. On hearing this Thirukoshtiyur Nambi got upset and came to temple all by himself  and questioned Ramanuja about the consequences of telling the ‘Mantharam ‘ and asked why he did that ?

Ramanujam answered “Its okay If I go alone to Naraka but all Vaishnavas who heard this will attain his feet and gain good life “ On seeing Ramanujam’s kind heart Thirukoshtiyur Nambi was surprised and appreciated him and called him “Emperumanar”.

“I possess neither Thirukoshtiyur Nambi’s self-confidence nor the  Kindness of Ramanujam who thought All should attain gain “says Thirukolur pen “Why should I stay here?” Ramanujam says.

“Ramanujam also saw the worth and told the manthram its just that he increased the qualification scope, i.e Not only people who struggled but also for people who have profound love and belief on Perumal can attain the ‘Manthram Upadesam’ ,Now who are you going to talk about?”

“Uyiraya petreno umaiye polae”