Abhishekam to Lord Sri Srinivasa at Tirumala, Tirupathi

Mata Amritanandaymi (Amma) receives doctorate

Sri Ranga Nachiyar Lakshmi Temple

Sri Ramanujar

The great Sri Vaishnava Acharya Sri Ramanuja (1017-1137) played the most important part in resuscitating and reinvigorating Sri Vaishnavism and made the philosophy reach the masses. He reformed and streamlined the administration of the temple in so thorough a style that most of the conventions followed today originated from him. Even today we can have the darshan of this saint’s physical body in his temple just opposite to Sri Chakrathalwar temple near entrance of the temple. The figure is so natural and perfect that even the finger nails are life-like. Two times in a year the temple priest will mix pure camphor and saffron and apply this paste over his physical body.

The Life of Sri Ramanujacharya

"Sri Ramanuja Acarya appeared around 1017 A.D in a pious brahmana family. He became the formost Acarya in the Sri Sampradaya and was reputed to be the incarnation of Laksmana, the younger brother of Lord Ramacandra.


He was a boy of extraordinary intelligence and placed himself under the charge of Yadavacarya, a renown Sankarite scholar. His guru was struck with his marvelous intellect and became very uncomfortable on account of his firm faith in Bhakti.

One day while taking a massage, Yadavacarya was explaining to Ramanuja a sutra "tasya yatha kapyasam pundarikamevamaksini" (Chandogya 1.6.7), saying that according to Sankara, the two eyes of Pundariksa are like two lotuses which are red like the nates of a monkey. On hearing this interpretation with the unbecoming and low simile, Ramanuja's soft heart, tender by nature and softened by devotion, melted and as he was massaging, tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes like flames of fire and fell on the thigh of Yadava. Looking up at the touch of the hot tears, Yadava understood that something troubled his disciple. Ramanuja explained his dismay at hearing such an unbecoming explanation from his guru. He thought it sinful to compare with the posterior of a monkey the eyes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead - who is endowed with all gracious qualities and who is the repository of all the beauty of the universe. Yadava was angry at the boy's audacity and told him to explain the verse if he could. Ramanuja analysed the word kapyasam to mean `blossomed by the sun' and the verse to mean "The eyes of that Golden Purusa are as lovely as lotuses blossomed by the rays of the sun."

After a few more such incidents when Ramanuja corrected his guru, Yadavacarya thought him to be a threat to the Sankarite line and plotted to kill him. Later it came to pass that Yadavacarya was to become the disciple of Ramanuja.

Yamunacarya, the formost exponant of Vaisnava philosophy of the time, knowing of his extraordinary ability and purity, called for Ramanuja with the intent of placing him in charge of the mission after his disappearance. Ramanuja was on his way to see Yamunacarya when he received the news of Yamunacarya's departure from the world. Arriving at Srirangam, Ramanuja went to have his last darshana of that great soul. There he noticed three of Yamunacarya's fingers were clenched. Ramanuja then made three vows: he would make the people surrender to God and initiate them by the pancasamskara - he would write a commentary on the Vedanta sutra which was later called Sri Bhashya - he would also write what is like an encyclopedia on the Puranas and would name one greatly learned Vaisnava after Parasara Muni who wrote the gem among the Puranas, the Visnu Purana.

 Later Ramanuja took sannyasa and traveled throughout India vigorously defeating atheists and impersonalists by preaching the Vasistadvaita doctrine. He never failed to win over a rival in spiritual disputations.

His philosophy is visistadvaita. Brahman is Narayana -(cit-acit-isvara), Narayana with Laksmi - (transcendental form), Four Vyuha forms, Vaibhava forms. The qualities of Brahman are both nirguna and saguna. The soul is real, eternal, individual, not omnipresent, not independent of Isvara, but part. Isvara is the efficient cause of creation. It is from His will out of delight. The cause of bondage is beginningless karma. The process of release is Bhakti based on Pancaratra and Visnu purana followed by detached karma that brings jnana - Prapatti. The goal is to attain the same nature of Isvara and companionship with Him. He does not return and has no power of creation, etc.

Once while Ramanuja Acarya was staying in Jagannath Puri he offered prayers to Lord Jagannatha, who became very pleased. Lord Jagannatha appeared before Ramanuja and said, "Ramanuja, go and visit Sri Navadwipa, for very soon I shall appear there in the house of Jagannatha Misra. Sri Navadwipa is My most beloved abode and is a part of the spiritual sky manifest in this world. As my eternal servant and a leader amongst My devotees, you should go there. Let your students stay here, for they are absorbed in dasya rasa (servitorship in awe and reverence) and will not understand the advanced devotional mood, so travel there alone. Any living entity who does not go to see Sri Navadwipa has been born uselessly. Just one portion of Sri Navadwipa contains Ranga Ksetra, Venkatesvara and Yadava Acala. Therefore go to Sri Navadwipa and see My form of Gauranga. After gaining the Lord's blessing go to Kurma Sthana and rejoin your disciples."

Folding his hands, Ramanuja humbly requested Lord Jagannatha, "My dear Lord, You have mercifully told me something about Gauranga, but exactly who He is, I do not know?"

The Lord answered, "It is known to you that Lord Sri Krsna, the Lord of Goloka, is the Supreme Absolute Truth. That much is well known to My devotees. That same Supreme Personality of Godhead who resides in Sri Vrindavana is fully manifest as Gauranga, and His beloved abode, Sri Vrindavana, is manifest as the holy land of Sri Navadwipa. Navadwipa is the Supreme spiritual abode and it is transcendental to the influence of the material nature. In that divine land, Lord Gauranga eternally resides. By My mercy that holy abode has come to exist within the universe, but it remains completely unaffected by maya. This is the verdict of the scriptures. If anyone thinks that Sri Navadwipa is only a material location, then whatever devotion he has developed will wither and perish. By My will, My inconceivable energy preserves this transcendental abode within this material world. Simply by studying the scriptures, one will not be able to understand the Absolute Truth. Only by My mercy can My devotees understand."

Hearing these words of Lord Jagannatha, Ramanuja was filled with love. "My dear Lord," he said, "Your pastimes are truly astounding. The scriptures cannot fully describe Your opulences. Why is Gauranga-lila not described in the scriptures? Upon reflection, I find some hint of Gauranga tattva in the srutis and puranas. Now, however, all my doubts are gone and I am ready to execute Your will. If it is Your desire, I will go to Sri Navadwipa and from there, I will set out to preach about Lord Gauranga throughout the three worlds, giving evidences from the scriptures to all, converting them to the devotional service of Gauranga. Please instruct me. You have just to give me Your order."

Lord Jagannatha replied, "Ramanuja, do not broadcast in this way. Keep these secrets of Lord Gauranga's pastimes as they are for the present. Only after He has concluded His pastimes will the people in general come to understand them. Preach about me on the level of dasya rasa as you have always done, but within your heart, worship Lord Gauranga constantly."

Following Lord Jagannatha's order, Ramanuja secretly cultivated his attraction for Sri Navadwipa. Being very merciful, Lord Narayana led him to Vaikunthapura and showed him His transcendental form, worshipped by manifestations of His different energies. Ramanuja felt himself most fortunate to see this, but, as he watched, the Lord manifested His form as Gauranga, the son of Jagannatha Misra. Ramanuja's mind became stunned by the brilliance of His shining golden form. Lord Gauranga then placed His two lotus feet upon Ramanuja's head and Ramanuja, filled with inspiration, began to offer prayers.

Ramanuja said, "I must see Your pastimes when You appear here in Navadwipa My Lord. I shall never leave this place."

Lord Gauranga replied, "Your wish will be fulfilled, O son of Kesava. When My Navadwipa lila is revealed you will again take your birth here."

Lord Gauranga then disappeared. Greatly satisfied by the Lord's promise, Ramanuja returned to Kurma Sthana, where he joined his disciples. During his life he preached devotional service to the Lord in the mood of dasya rasa, or servitorship throughout the south of India, whilst internally he was absorbed in meditating on the pastimes of Lord Gauranga. By Lord Gauranga's mercy, he was born again in Sri Navadwipa as a devotee named Ananta to assist in the Lord's pastimes. When Lord Caitanya made His appearance in Sri Navadwipa, Ananta Vipra was already quite old, He lived in a cottage which was situated beneath a huge old banyan tree. There, within his humble abode, he would worship his Deities of Laxmi-Narayana. None could describe the pure way in which he worshipped Them.

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HisHoliness SriSriSri Tridandi SrimannarayanaRamanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji O:m Asmad Gurubhyo: Namaha

HisHoliness SriSriSri Tridandi SrimannarayanaRamanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji O:m Asmad Gurubhyo: Namaha


Sri
Sri Sri Tridandi Srimannarayana Ramanuja Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji was an Avathara Purusha (Incarnation of Bhagavad Ramanuja) born in 1909 A.D to spread the message of Vedic exhortations and to imbibe Ramanuja philosophy in the people for Viswamanava Soubhrathruthvam (Univeral Brotherhood) and Viswa Manava Kalya...nam (Universal Well being).  His Holiness Sri Swamiji was born to an orthodox and pious couple Srimathi Chudamba and Sriman Mangayacharya and was brought up by his foster parents Srimathi Lakshmi Narasamma and Sriman Krishnamacharya.

Till 1954, when Sri Swamiji took to Sanyasa Asrama (Total Renunciation) as Jeeyar at Vanamamalai in the presence of the presiding deity, He passed through different phases of life such as Brahmacharya (Bachelorhood), Grihastha (Household), Freedom fighter and in propagation of Visishtadvaitha (''Qualified Non-duality" or Tri-Uni Monoism). As a student He acquired scholarship in Telugu, Tamil, Sanskrit and English.

He studied Tharka, Mimamsa, Nyaya and the Sastras. He also learnt Dravida Vedantha from eminent scholars. As a youth, he responded to the clarion call of Mahathma Gandhi and joined the freedom movement of the country. All through His life, He wore Khadi (hand-woven cotton cloth), sacrificed His Jamindari properties and constructed model colonies for Harijans (downtrodden) in the villages of Arthamur and Dwarampudi of East Godavari District of Andhra. Motivated by the Great Scholar Sriman Gopalacharyulu.

He dedicated His life to the cause of Sanathana Dharma (Eternal Righteousness) and Visishtadvaitha. He used religion as the harbinger of peace and amity. In this Divine pursuit, He faced many ordeals. He performed Sri Rama Pattabhishekam for 27 days with 300 participating scholars at Madras in the days when there was a strong anti-Vedic culture and denigration of Lord Sri Rama movement.

The great religious rituals performed by His Holiness Jeeyar Swamiji include Koti Thulasi Archana at Rajahmundry, Gayathri Yajnam and 108 Sri Rama Krathus throughout India and construction of Sri Rama Sthupas at all these places including the one in the premisis of Banaras Hindu University and three in Central Jails at Rajahmundry, Berhampur and Madurai. H.H. performed 108 Swadhyaya Jnana Yagnas through out India and constructed Sthupas at all these places. He did penance by chanting Ashtakshari Manthram for 3 years in a cave at Badarinath for attaining Siddhi.

Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji established Ashtakshari Kshethram and Sathsanga Sadan at Badari in the Himalayas, bridging the gap between South and North India and also arranged for free food to all the pilgrims at that holy place. H.H. also established Veda Vidyacharya Peetam and Veda Vedanga Patasala at Nadigaddapalem.

The Vedic University which He envisaged was started by his successor Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji in 1983.
Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamiji, an erudite scholar, a devotee of Lord Sri Rama, a protector of Vedic culture, a sage with Sathya Sankalpa ( a person who could implement all His pious thoughts without fail) and a saint who dedicated His life to the cause of Universal Peace reached the Heavenly abode on 31st December, 1979, leaving the reins of the Mission to Sri Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.

(I received this article in facebook, so i thought of sharing it with all devotees, thanks to the original uploader)

Annamacharya keerthana on Sri Ramanuja

Kanchi Sri Varada Raja Perumal Thirumanjanam

In Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam, Kanchi assumes a special place not just because it is a Divya Desam sung by Azhwars, but also because it is from here Swami Ramanuja started the revival of Sanatana Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam. Sri Kanchi Varada Raja Perumal is known as the Most Merciful Lord, Hence the name Varada Raja. Situated Himself on Hastigiri, along with His consort Perundevi Thayar, Lord here teaches people that Saranagati to His Lotus feet is the ultimate Refuge.

Srinivasa Kalyanam in New Jersey

Sai Baba's Eleven Statements

Sai Baba's Eleven Statements

Sai Baba of Shirdi (1838 October 15, 1918), also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, was an Indian guru and yogi, regarded by his followers as an incarnation of God. Some of his Hindu devotees believe that he was an incarnation of Shiva or Dattatreya. Many devotees believe that he was a Sadguru. There are many stories and eyewitness accounts of miracles he performed. He is a well-known figure in many parts of the world especially in India where he is much revered.

Govindajaijai - China jeeyar swamiji

Pravachanam - Paramatma - God - Epi01