Ramanuja's Return to Srirangam

M. M. Andan, whom Ramanuja had sent to Srirangam, arrived and paid his respects to Kuresa. The blind Kuresa fell into an ecstasy and, mistaking Andan for Ramanuja himself, asked after his master at once.

"He is well," said Andan, "but inconsolable over what has happened here, especially over the loss of your eyes. He sends his heartfelt sympathy."

"Good," said Kuresa. "Tell my master: so long as his life has been spared from the wicked Chola, the loss of my eyes is of no account. His life is the most precious — it sustains and strengthens the world."

Soon after this, news came that king Krimikantha-Chola had died of a carbuncle on his neck, which festered with worms. To verify the report, Andan traveled to Gangaikonda-Chozhapuram. Having confirmed the glad news, he hurried back toward Melukote, taking with him Ammangi-ammal whom he met on the way.

They reached Melukote to find Ramanuja bathing in the holy pond Kalyani. Andan fell before him, shedding tears of joy, and told him that the Chola was dead. Ramanuja — rejoicing that the sworn enemy of his faith was gone — raised up the two disciples and embraced them, weeping tears of joy.

"O faithful sons, how far you have traveled, bearing so many hardships, to bring me this joyful message! What reward can I give you? The best I have is the Holy Dvaya-mantra. Receive it." So saying, he initiated them into that holy mantra.

Turning to the gathered followers, he said, "O my faithful, our bitterest foe is gone. Our faith has stood the severest trial. This holy pond Kalyani is indeed kalyani — auspicious — and this Maruti-Andan is truly maruti, Hanuman himself."

"Yes!" they cried with one voice.

Together they climbed the sacred hill of Lord Nrusimha that rises from the edge of the pond. Prostrating before Nrusimha, Ramanuja praised Him: "O Slayer of Hiranya — even now You have ended the Chola, the demon. As once You saved Your devotee Prahlada, so now You have saved Kuresa."

Tirtha (holy water) and prasada (sanctified food) were given. Then the company descended the hill and entered the inner sanctum of Lord Narayana, to ask permission to return to Srirangam. Narayana gave no answer for a long while. Ramanuja pressed his request again: "Almighty! Sri Ranganatha's command was that I should stay forever in Srirangam. An unexpected calamity forced me to leave. Now that all has been accomplished here — may I not return?"

At last the voice of Lord Narayana came: "Be it so, then."

At Melukote Ramanuja had established fifty-two officers to serve Lord Narayana. When they heard he was about to leave them, they fell weeping at his feet. "Holy Sire, how can we live without you?"

He raised them lovingly and wiped their tears. "Take heart, my sons. I shall have an image cast in my own likeness, and leave it here, filled with my power. It will answer all your needs. And I charge you all to take care of our Sampatkumara, whom I brought from Delhi — He is like my own son standing near the brink of a well. See that the sacred services of Lord Narayana's temple are duly performed. Do not cheat God of what is due to Him; do not cheat one another. Remain friends. Never fall behind in the services to the God we have installed in this country."

He left behind a detailed code of temple procedure, then departed Melukote with a heavy heart — heavy for leaving his beloved Sampatkumara and his disciples. They in turn bid him a sorrowful farewell.

Even the townsfolk would not let him go quietly. After he had traveled some distance they overtook him and cried, "Sir — how can we be sure you are in your image? Give us proof; else we cannot let you go."

"Beloved men," he answered, "go back. Stand before my image and call me by name."

They ran back and did so. "Ramanuja, our Lord!" they cried.

"Yes — I am here, and here forever," came the voice from the image.

Satisfied, they ran back, fell at his feet, and after a final outburst of grief and gratitude — consoled by Ramanuja — let him go.

He traveled in rapid marches — love for Sampatkumara holding him back, while the prospect of seeing Lord Ranga urged him forward. At the banks of the Kaveri near Srirangam he paused to bathe, to apply the twelve holy marks, and to prepare himself before setting foot on the sacred ground.

Meanwhile word of his arrival reached the officers of Srirangam. Their joy was indescribable. They ran out, breathless, and welcomed him home.

After nearly twenty long years away, he was now making a triumphal entry through a bustling crowd — every eye and heart turned to him — after hardships and trials borne for the faith.

A ceremonial procession brought him into the inner sanctum of Lord Ranga, with prostrations at every step. "Son," said the Lord, opening His mouth to speak, "You have been away from Us too long. Surely you must be very tired."

"Merciful God," Ramanuja replied, "while You are here with the Divine Mother at Your side, there is no fatigue — for me or for all the universe put together."

Pleased, Ranga commanded that tirtha and prasada be given, and granted him leave to go to his mutt (monastery) and rest after his toils.

But as Ramanuja walked through the streets of Srirangam, gladly taking in the scene he had so long missed, his thoughts were on Kuresa. His first stop was Kuresa's dwelling. Blind Kuresa, who by now had returned from Tirumalirunjolai, was told his master was at the door. He heard Ramanuja's footsteps, rushed out, prostrated himself, and firmly clasped Ramanuja's feet — bathing them in tears and lying there speechless, as though bewitched.

Ramanuja was deeply moved. He gently lifted Kuresa, embraced him, and for a long moment could not speak — joy and grief shaking the very foundations of his soul. At last, with streaming eyes and a choked voice, he managed one phrase:

"Kuresa — you have given your eye, the eye of our faith, for the faith itself."

Kuresa, who had been speechless all this while, recovered his voice enough to say he must have committed some sin unknowingly to have caused such pain. Ramanuja reassured him that he was not one capable of any such thing. Then, lovingly taking him by the hand, he led him to the mutt.