Yadava, Govinda, and Ramanuja

When Yadavaprakasa and his disciples realized that Ramanuja was no longer following them, they halted and waited for a while. Govinda caught up alone. "You have come — but where is Ramanuja?" Yadava asked. Govinda answered, "I did not stay with him. I walked my own way and do not know what has become of him." Yadava sent disciples to search, but they returned empty-handed. "What could have happened to the poor youth?" they all cried, pretending to grieve. Their plan thwarted, they continued their journey to Kashi in sullen silence.

They reached Kashi in the month of Magha. While bathing in the holy Ganga, a Sivalingam (a sacred stone emblem of Siva) floated into Govinda's hand. He showed it to Yadava, who exclaimed, "You are most fortunate. Gangadhara (Siva) himself has appeared to you. From this day you are dear and venerable to us. From now on your name shall be Ullangai-Konaranda-Nayanar — 'he who brought it in his palm.'"

They then began their journey home to Kanchipuram, visiting Jagannatha, Ahobilam, and other shrines along the way. Before reaching Kanchi, Nayanar took leave of Yadava to install the Sivalingam in a fitting place. He went to his birthplace, Madhuramangalam, and with the help of the learned men there installed the Sivalingam and devoted himself to its service.

Kalahasti is a place sacred to Siva. It is recorded that Siva appeared to Nayanar in a dream, commanding him to join the temple service at Kalahasti. The same dream came to the temple authorities there, instructing them to fetch Nayanar with honors. They did so, bringing him in festive procession, made him a dignitary of their temple, and invested him with the signet-ring and other insignia of that office.

When Yadavaprakasa arrived back at Kanchi, he was astonished to find Ramanuja there — whom he believed was lost in the jungles. He feigned joy at the reunion and said, "Our grief at losing you in the Vindhyan wilds was very great. Seeing you now, it has turned into boundless joy."

Ramanuja described how he had lost sight of them as they went ahead, how he lost his way, how — while wandering sick and weary through the forest — a Fowler suddenly appeared before him and guided his steps. To his wonder, he had covered a great distance while thinking he slept under a tree, waking to find himself in Kanchi.

Yadava stared at Ramanuja with both fear and wonder. He now saw him as no ordinary man, but as one deserving reverent regard. His heart filled with remorse for his evil intent. His hatred turned into affection, and he invited Ramanuja to grace his school once again and complete his studies, if he so wished.

Meanwhile, two Sri Vaishnavas from Kanchi traveled to Srirangam to pay their devotions to Sri Ranganatha. After their worship, they went to Alavandar (Yamunacharya), the great apostle of the faith, who was teaching at the time. After exchanging courtesies, Yamunacharya asked them for any interesting news from Kanchi.

They told him of a youth named Ramanuja, born at Bhutapuri (Sri Perumbudur), who had come to Kanchi to study Vedanta (the scriptural theology of the Upanishads) under a single-staffed Sanyasi (renunciate monk), Yadavaprakasa. They described how differences arose between teacher and student over the interpretation of Veda-texts — Yadava contending for a quality-less God, Ramanuja for a God full of all auspicious qualities.

They recounted how, on a certain day, a blasphemous interpretation by Yadava so pained Ramanuja that burning tears fell from his eyes onto Yadava's thigh, scorching him like fire. When challenged, Ramanuja offered his beautiful interpretation — that the passage meant God's eyes resembled the lotus opening under the sun's rays. They told of further disputes, Yadava's plot against Ramanuja's life, and the adventurous and miraculous events that followed.

Yamunacharya listened with rapt attention and exclaimed:

He felt a great longing to go and see Ramanuja at once. He prayed before Lord Ranganatha, took leave of Him, and set out from Srirangam with his followers. On the way, he paid honors to God Nayanar and the three First Azhvars (the earliest Tamil Vaishnava poet-saints) at Tirukkoilur, and in due time reached Kanchi.

Tirukkacchi Nambi, hearing that his Acharya (spiritual teacher) was coming, gathered the holy people of Kanchi. Bringing Sri Sathagopa (the crown emblem of the Lord) and tirtha and prasada (consecrated water and offerings) from the holy temple of Lord Varadaraja, he went forward to meet and welcome Yamunacharya.

Yamunacharya received the holy gifts of God. Seeing Tirukkacchi Nambi — his disciple — prostrate at his feet in joyful veneration, he lifted him up with affection and asked, "Gajendradasa, are you steady in your fanning service to Lord Varada?" "By your grace, Sir, the Lord is accepting my humble services," he replied. They then proceeded together to the temple, where Yamunacharya paid due honors to Lord Varada.

While Yamunacharya was worshipping, Yadavaprakasa came to the temple with his followers. Yamunacharya saw them and asked which among them was Ramanuja. They pointed him out. "That bright and glorious central figure," they said, "with shoulders broad and long like Rama himself — that is Ramanuja." Yamunacharya drank him in with his eyes and sent his prayers after him as the party moved away.

Yamunacharya then climbed to the central shrine of Lord Varada — called Hastigiri — and standing before the Deity, offered this prayer: "O Great Lord! Grant me one boon. You are Varada (the Boon-Granter). By Your favor the deaf hear, the lame run, the dumb speak, the blind see, and the barren bear children. Grant me then that this Ramanuja shall become the bearer of the torch of our faith."

An urgent call from Srirangam now obliged Yamunacharya to return immediately. He had no leisure to do anything more — not even time to tell Tirukkacchi Nambi of his wishes and plans for the future. And so he returned to Srirangam.

Jai Srimannarayana.