Ramanuja's Great Pilgrimage Across Bharat

The devotees who had so long listened to Sri Ramanujacharya's teaching and had been blessed to read his great works, rose one day, bowed reverently, and said, "Holy Master, your system is now complete, and it must be made known to the world. The ways to God are many and confusing. Let the true way, which you have shown us, be made available to all. Pray undertake a ministry tour, which will also let you visit holy shrines." "So be it," said Sri Ramanujacharya.

He placed his intention before Sri Ranganatha, received his permission, and left Srirangam with his devotees. He visited Tirukkudandai (Kumbhakonam) and other places in the Chola mandalam, winning victories in theological debates. He then went to Tiruvali-Tirunagari, the birthplace of St. Parakala (Tirumangai-Azhvar).

There an interesting incident took place. As Sri Ramanujacharya was devoutly circumambulating the several shrines around the central shrine of Tirunagari, a Chandala woman came along the path. Because she was in his way, he asked her to step aside so that he could pass. She did not move. Instead, she addressed him:

"Sire, to which side shall I move? Here before me stands your holy self, a Brahmin whom I may not approach. Behind me is the holy shrine of Nil-nilamuttam (Tirukkannapuram). To my right are Tirumanan-kallai (where St. Tirumangai waylaid the Lord) and Tiruvarasu (the pipal tree he used as his watchtower). To my left is Lord Tiruvali-Manavalan. Purity surrounds me. To which side can my impurity turn?"

Sri Ramanujacharya was struck dumb by this unexpected reply from such an unexpected quarter. "Forgive me, madam," he said. "I did not expect such spirituality in one of low caste. But for all that, you are holier than I am." He then administered to her the holy Vaishnava sacraments, and gave her a place at the shrine, where her image is seen and revered by pilgrims to this day.

From there he turned south to Tirumalirunjolai (about ten miles north of Madura) and to other shrines in the Pandya mandala, arguing on philosophy with the learned and winning laurels. Then he travelled to Tiruppullani (Darbhasayanam near Ramnad) and to Setu (Rama's Bridge), and returned to Tirunagari, the birthplace of St. Nammazhvar, where he reverently recited the Kanninun Siruttambu of St. Madhura Kavigal. The saint was delighted and blessed him with tirtha, prasada, and other honors. After visiting the holy tamarind tree under which Nammazhvar is enshrined, and Lord Adinatha there, Sri Ramanujacharya took leave, visiting neighboring shrines and overcoming opponents in debate at each place.

He reached Tirukkurungudi (Kuranga-nagari, about twenty miles south of Tinnevelly) and worshipped Lord Nambi. A voice came from the Lord: "Ramanuja, we have often incarnated on earth, as Rama, Krishna, and others, to save mankind, but we have never been able to draw people to Our ways as you have done. How do you do it?"

"Almighty," said Sri Ramanujacharya, "if you will ask me as a pupil is required to ask his teacher, I will answer." Lord Nambi understood him. He commanded that a throne be brought and asked Sri Ramanujacharya to be seated on it and answer from there. Sri Ramanujacharya mentally placed his acharya Mahapurna on the throne and took his stand before it. Then he whispered into Lord Nambi's right ear:

"Of all the mantras, the Mantra-ratna and the Dvaya are the greatest. They carry one easily to the supreme state. They teach that the way of surrender, variously called nyasa, prapatti, and saranagati, is the most beneficial for man, and brings him every good." "Thus, Great God," Sri Ramanujacharya said, "I have won the hearts of men by Your own best instruments of salvation."

Lord Nambi was mightily pleased with this declaration and proclaimed that He was henceforth Ramanuja-udayan. Sri Ramanujacharya in turn gave Nambi the holy name Srivaishnava Nambi, and offering his apologies for what had taken place, left Kuranga-nagari.

From there he entered the Malayalam (Malabar) country, visiting the shrines of Tiruvanparisaram, Tiruvattar, and others. He paid homage to Lord Anantapadmanabha at Tiruvanantapuram (Trivandrum), approaching the sanctum through its three doors. He overcame opponents in debate, and with the help of the king of the country, who became his disciple, he founded a Ramanuja Math there.

He continued north along the western coast of the peninsula, visiting such holy shrines as Mathura (Muttra), Nandavraja, Govardhana, Brindavana, Salagrama, Muktinatha-kshetra, the Gandaki river, Vaikunttham, Dvaraka, Ayodhya, Badarikasrama, Naimisaranya, Pushkara, Bhatti-mandapa (probably Bhatti-mandala near Lahore), and at last Kashmir, the seat of Saraswati, Goddess of Learning.

There Saraswati praised his grand work, placed his Sri Bhashya on her head, drew him close to her bosom, gave him the title Bhashyakara (the Commentator), and handed him the image of Hayagriva for worship.

The pandits of the place, seeing these extraordinary favors from Saraswati, grew envious and challenged him to a disputation. The challenge was accepted, and in the end they were routed. The king of Kashmir had watched silently. Seeing the pandits discomfited, he looked on Sri Ramanujacharya as no ordinary mortal and allowed himself to be enrolled into his fold. The king asked Sri Ramanujacharya to explain the traditions on which he based his Visishtadvaita interpretation of the Brahma-Sutras. Sri Ramanujacharya replied that the old traditions were the Bodhayana-Vritti and the glosses of Tanka, Guhadeva, Kapardi, Bharuchi, and others. The king went with him and the pandits into his library and a search was made for these works.

They were found, and on examination it was clear that Sri Ramanujacharya's exposition was correct. He and Kuresa took this chance to study the Bodhayana-Vritti more closely, for the pandits would not let it be taken away. He longed to secure the book, but the obstacles were too great. He felt grieved, but Kuresa reassured him that he had memorized the cardinal passages and could reproduce them whenever needed. This eased Sri Ramanujacharya's anxiety, and though very reluctantly he allowed the Vritti to be returned to the library at the king's request. The king knew his pandits would otherwise make trouble, and would not hesitate even to kill Sri Ramanujacharya.

Even so, the pandits resented the whole affair because their prestige had been so damaged. Unable to strike openly with the king on Sri Ramanujacharya's side, they entered into a dark conspiracy to kill him by black magic. He learned of this, but, spiritual giant that he was, he remained undaunted and simply watched. When they resorted to their black arts, the plan had the opposite effect, and they were suddenly seized with madness. The king, pitying the poor wretches, fell at Sri Ramanujacharya's feet and begged him to relieve them, for he could not bear their suffering. By a simple act of will Sri Ramanujacharya cured them, and the king made them members of the faith. Then, escorting Sri Ramanujacharya and his company a few stages on the return journey, he took leave and returned to his capital.

Sri Ramanujacharya took the road to Varanasi (Benaras), which he reached in due time. He bathed in the holy Ganga and worshipped the Lord of Kandamennum Kadinagar, then proceeded south to Purushottama-kshetra (Jagannatha Puri, on the eastern coast). There too, disputations on philosophy and religion were held, and there too he came off victorious. A Ramanuja Math was established.

At Puri he tried to introduce the worship laid down in the Pancharatra in the temple, but the priests objected. He was still resolved to reform practices there that were not to his liking, but Lord Jagannatha appeared to him in a dream and persuaded him not to attempt the reforms, saying that His priests were very attached to Him in their old ways of worship, and that he should not disturb them.

When Sri Ramanujacharya awoke, he found to his surprise that he had been transported all the way to Sri-Kurma. Here he paid homage to the Lord in the Kurma form and journeyed on to Simhagiri (Ahobila) and other shrines, winning every debate along the way, until he finally arrived once more at Tirupati.

Here a curious Saiva-Vaishnava controversy had been raging. Sri Ramanujacharya proposed that both Saiva and Vaishnava emblems, the Trisula and Damaruka, and the Chakra and Sankha, be placed before the image of Lord Venkateswara in the sanctum sanctorum. The chamber was to be carefully examined so that no one could lie hidden inside, and the doors were then to be closed and securely locked. The next day the Deity's choice of emblems would settle His identity. All parties gladly agreed.

The emblems were prepared and set before the Lord. Next day both parties gathered with eager expectation of seeing their own view vindicated. When the doors were thrown open in full daylight, before the whole assembly, it was seen that the Lord had taken the Vaishnava emblems, while the Saiva emblems lay untouched on the floor. Sri Ramanujacharya's joy knew no bounds. He sang and danced, his eyes streaming with tears of delight at the miracle and the blessed vision before him. The Sivas were thus ousted.

Sri Ramanujacharya made the circuit of the shrine, descended the holy mount, and paid homage to the Azhvars enshrined at its base. He then travelled on to Kanchi and other shrines, including Sri-perumbudur (his birthplace), Tirvallikkeni (Triplicane), and Tirunirmalai. He crossed to Madhurantakam and the holy Vakula tree under which his Guru Mahapurna had first initiated him. Then he went to Tiruvayindrapuram (Tiruvendipuram near Cuddalore), saluting Lord Devanayaka there, and vanquishing debaters along the way. He visited Viranarayanapuram, the holy place of Sage Nathamuni (where he sat in yoga meditation) and Lord Mannanar, and then returned to his headquarters at Srirangam.

He went to the temple to see Sri Ranganatha, announced his arrival, and after the usual ceremonies, the Lord's voice asked, "Are you satisfied?" Sri Ramanujacharya answered, "Holy Lord, how can I be otherwise? The blessed vision is reflected in my mental mirror wherever I am. I have but fulfilled Your holy errand on earth." Sri Ranganatha commanded that tirtha and prasada be given to him, and he walked back to his monastery, his soul steeped in peace and bliss.