THIRUKOLUR PEN PILLAI RAGASIYAM-72

“Uyiraya petreno umaiyai polae”

What does it mean by ‘Uyiraya peravathu’? For all of us, the most needed entity is life.

This story is about a ‘Umai andanan’ who lived in service to Ramanuja‘s feet, with deep bhakti towards him, and kept Ramanuja always in mind. Just because of Ramanuja’s sympathy, he was gifted Ramanuja himself as his life.

In Srirangam, Swami Ramanuja had many disciples under him in his mutt (Ashram),

Every day, they would listen to Ramanuja's lectures, sing devotional songs of Azhwars, which were pleasing to the ears. During this time, the Vaishnava sampradaya was at its peak. In the same mutt, there lived a deaf and dumb Vaishnava servant, who didn’t have any proper education and used to do all kinds of jobs in the mutt.

He was unable to listen to Ramanujam’s teachings or the disciples singing azhwar songs. He was not able to sing any recitals.

After finishing all his work, he will sit in the corner and enjoy watching Ramanuja giving his lectures. He would appreciate the intellectual lustre on Ramanuja's face, his shining and bright face wearing a Kaavi (light brown attire of a Sanyasi), his hands holding a Thirudandam (three sticks from different trees), the pure form of punal (Janeu/sacred thread) on his body, his Thiruman shining like the sun, and his soft Thirupadham (feet).

Adoring Swami Ramanuja became his favourite pastime. He would continue to contemplate his Acharya's Thiruvadi. The relationship between Acharyan and his disciple is a surprising beauty, a feeling that can only be experienced, not explained. We should all keep our Acharyan Thiruvadi in our thoughts at all times.

Ramanujam once asked Thirukoshtiyur Nambi, “To attain a good place in life, can u teach me something which I will always think about?”

Thirukoshtiyur Nambi said, “Reflect about your Acharya's form or any of his body part.'

Similarly, Ramanuja acquired a great deal of knowledge by continuing to reflect on Alavanthar. If you meditate upon Acharyan it will lead you to many good things.On seeing Umai Aandan’s sincerity, Ramanuja’s heart melted. He wanted to teach Mantra updesams to him, but wondered how he would listen being deaf, and thought he should help him. So he decided to reward ‘Thiruvadi Dheeksha' (His paduka) to him.

After the upadesam was done, only Umai Shishyan, Koorathazhvar, and Ramanuja were present in that room. Swami Ramanuja gestured for Umai Aandan to come near him. Umai Aandan was extremely happy when Ramanuja himself took him by the hand and led him to his room.

Experiencing Emperumanar’s touch brought him limitless happiness. After taking sishya to His room, he locked the door behind him. Seeing this, Koorathazhvan thought that Sishya was going to receive something special and wanted to know what was happening inside at all costs, so he went and stood near the door.

What will Acharya say to a deaf person? Koorathazhvan couldn’t hear anything, so he looked through the gap in the door and was struck with amazement. Ramanuja asked Umai Aandan to prostrate,, Ramanuja lifted his feet and kept them on Umai Shishyan’s head.

Umai Aandan held onto Ramanujam’s feet tightly and felt boundless blessing. Seeing this, Koorathazhvan thought, even after knowing Shashtra’s itihas (History) and Puranam (lineage), I am of no use. Can I have the Prasadam that Umai Aandan just received? How gifted is Aandan? This is all because of his unwavering bhakti towards Ramanujam. Koorathazhvan was very sad that he was not that lucky, and when Umai Aandan came out of the room, he explained in sign language to Koorathazhvan what had happened. Koorathazhvan hugged him with happiness and pure joy.

“Just like Umai Aandan I didn’t receive the gift of life from Ramanujam “says Thirukolur Pen.

Swami Ramanuja says,

"Acharyan is a person who acts as a bridge between Perumal and his bhakta’s .Preaching and teaching ignorant about spirituality and bhaktis , awakening maturity in them and make them understand and get the blessings of Perumal is Acharyan’s duty .If there is true bhakti, affection and belief Acharyan Himself will help attain ultimate fruit .Just like how Swami Ramanuja sympathized Umai Aandan and made him attain ultimate fruit by gifting him his paduka ,So which ever Vaishnava is true, sincere and affectionate will attain ultimate fruit."

Now, who are you going to talk about? Asks Ramanujacharya. 

“Udambai verutheno Thirunaraiyurarai polae” says Pen Pillai.

Lets know more in next blog.