Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya is the foremost ācārya of the Śrīvaiṣṇava tradition. He was born in 1017 CE in the holy village of Śrīperumbūdūr, midway between Chennai and Kañcīpuram, India. This timeless ācārya is the greatest exponent of Viśiṣtādvaita Vedānta, the ever-relevant Vedic world-view that appeals to both the heart and the mind. The year 2017 is a significant one in the passage of time as it marks the 1000th anniversary of this greatest preceptor, philosopher, saint and social reformer ever to have appeared in this world. Devotees of Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya feel most fortunate to be living at this time and for being able to take part in the grand celebrations happening all over the world. Presented below is a humble attempt to share our wonderment felt while beholding this most magnificent preceptor.
At the command of his ācārya, he followed the divine experiences of the great Āļvār saints and he authored the grand Śrībhāṣya, the famous commentary to Veda Vyāsa's Brahmasūtras, where he established that:
⦁ the Vedas and Upaniṣats are the only undeniable and supreme source of knowledge of things beyond our senses
⦁ the supreme principle, parabrahma, exists and is the only cause of creation, sustenance and destruction of the universe
⦁ the parabrahma is Śrīman Nārāyaṇa
⦁ He is the ultimate soul (paramātman), with matter, qualities and souls like us (jīvātmans) being eternally real and forming His body
⦁ liberation (mokṣa) from the cycle of births is attained through bhakthi in Him or, better yet, by surrendering to Him
Through his long life, Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya traveled all over India and -
⦁ propagated the Śrīvaiṣṇava saṁpradāya (tradition) with unprecedented momentum
⦁ preached that the deepest meaning and purpose of Vedānta is in the 4000 Divya-prabandhams revealed by the Āļvārs
⦁ expounded that doing unhindered, loving service to Śrīman Nārāyaṇa is the highest form of mokṣa
⦁ prescribed Śaraṇāgati (ie. total surrender to Śrīman Nārāyaṇa through an ācārya) as the easiest and the most appropriate action on our part, after which, Śrīman Nārāyaṇa Himself becomes the means to our mokṣa
⦁ taught that every single soul is entitled to mokṣa and will eventually attain it
⦁ exhorted that a Bhāgavata (a devotee of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa) should be held at the highest possible esteem, dropping all other considerations.
Besides his teachings, he did monumental services to Śrīman Nārāyaṇa, His devotees and His temples, especially at the most sacred Śrīraṅgam, where he spent most of his time on earth. He reinstated faith in the world that the deity worshipped in the temple at Tirumala, praised in the Ṛg Veda and glorified by Āļvārs, is indeed Bhagavān Śrī Veṅkaṭeśvara. He delineated modes of worship as entailed in the Śāstras, which are still followed in the 108 Divyadeśas and other holy temples. He, being an avatāra of Śrīman Nārāyaṇa's serpent-bed, Ādiśeṣa, went back to his original form in 1137 CE. To this day, several lineages of great ācāryas appointed by Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya continue to grant numerous devotees the greatest of gifts – A Connection with Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya.
Bhagavad Rāmānujācārya blessed his followers with six important directives to guide their living -
⦁ Learn and assimilate the Śrī Bhāṣya, live by its teachings, and preach it
⦁ Learn the hymns of the Āļvārs and teach them
⦁ Offer food, flowers, sandal paste to the deities in Divyadeśams (sacred temples)
⦁ Build a cottage in Tirunārāyaṇapuram, and live and serve there
⦁ Learn the secret mantras – Tirumantram, Dvayam and Carama ślokam – and follow them
⦁ Reach out to bhāgavatas (devotees) and serve them life-long in all possible ways
