Adisesha was sent to earth as Ramanuja to spread divinity, demystify God to the ordinary people and make them realise that they could also experience God. Azhwars were expected to do the above, but consumed by bhakti, they did not mix with the average devotee, nor did they give lectures and treatises. Instead, they went into an ecstasy of composing verses and experiencing the Lord through the same. Ramanuja, on the other hand, was more pragmatic in making people understand divinity. He also ensured that everyone understood that God was not the purview of a select few but belonged to all: rich and poor, the educated and the unlearned, the high born and the one on the other end of the spectrum, said Damal Ramakrishnan.
He endeared himself to not only his gurus and sishyas, but also to the archa murtis that three of them walked up to welcome him, at different kshetras. When an araiyar succeeded in bringing Ramanuja to Srirangam from Kancheepuram, a huge welcome party gathered there, including Viswaksena, sent there by Ranganatha. When Ramanuja prostrated on the sand, Periya Perumal (Moolavar) asked Namperumal, the utsava murti, to ‘walk up’ from the mandap and welcome Ramanuja, which was done. After asking him to set right the administrative issues, Ranganatha also empowered Ramanuja with a power of attorney, so to speak, for granting moksha to devotees.
The second deity to walk up to Ramanuja is Andal, who did so, upon hearing that the son of Sriperumbudur had paid her promised offering of 100 tada akkaravadisal and 100 tada of butter to Kallazhagar. She took 100 steps to welcome him when he came to Srivilliputtur temple.
The third incident took place in Delhi, where Ramanuja journeyed at 90 years of age in order to retrieve the idol from Melkote temple, held by the Sultan’s daughter. When Ramanuja said, “Chella Pillaiye, vaarum,” the idol is said to have walked towards the saint, much to the amazement of the Sultan, who permitted him to leave with the same.
Published – May 05, 2025 04:59 am IST