The treasure of jnanis

Acharyas did not impart knowledge to a student randomly. A new sishya could not hope to be taught higher philosophy right at the outset. Several years would be spent by a sishya under the tutelage of an Acharya, before he would be taught esoteric philosophy. This was the usual practice — disciples being taught after they had served their Acharya sincerely for a long time. Even if a sishya had served an Acharya for many years, he would be taught, only if he had an eagerness to learn. But things changed with Ramanujacharya, said Elayavilli Sriram in a discourse. Whoever wanted to learn was taught by him, without keeping students waiting. So, he brought in a new system of teaching, benefiting students who had a desire to study. Thus, Ramanuja expanded the reach of the explanations for religious literature given by scholars.

Prativadhi Bhayankaram Annan wrote a suprabhatham for Ramanuja, where he uses the word amalaswantha to describe Ramanuja’s purity. Like earlier Acharyas, Ramanuja too was aware of the greatness of sacred texts. But he saw the sorry state of grihasthas. He took pity on them and wanted to help them get liberated. He knew that if too many rules were laid down, people would be put off by all the rigidity. So, he relaxed some rules, to ensure that the scriptures reached everyone. Ramanuja can help us cross the ocean of samsara. On Panguni Uthiram, Ramanuja performed Saranagati in Srirangam. The Lord assured him that anyone associated with him would also attain liberation. Thus, a Ramanuja connection will save us. Prativadhi Bhayankaram Annan’s Suprabhatham hails Ramanuja as the treasure of jnanis. Ramanuja acquired such auspiciousness because of his association with Acharyas like Peria Nambi. He attained jnana fully because he was close to such Acharyas.