Whichever devotee desires to faithfully worship a particular form, I fortify his faith in exactly that (form).

A divine pastime happened few hundreds year ago   near the banks of Cauvery river. One sunny day few srivaishnava boys were playing on the banks of Cauvery  river .

As they inherited their  parents daily rituals , the boys smartly erected a  small temple and installed an idol out of the Cauvery mud from the banks of the river . Each of them had some little contribution in bringing mud , pebbles , leaves , flowers etc .

As a part of the religious code  as observed at their homes , they adorned themselves with the Urdhvapundra ( Tilak ) and were completely dissolved in devotion assuming it to be the real Periya Perumal Temple .

Few began chanting  (glorification verses)  Thirupallandu pasuram verses innocently but it was divine feeling  for the crowd .

They offered Theertha prasada readily available from the banks of the river.

JagathAcharyar Swamy Ramanuja happened to pass by the banks of the river .

One curious boy noticed the  smiling swamin from a long distance .

He informed the other kids  and all wished to have Acharyas appreciation .  

They rushed towards Acharyar and invited him to their temple . 

Swamy ,

Please come to our  temple, all the boys pleaded in one voice … .

 

Swamy Ramanuja was overjoyed with the boys dedication. He accompanied  the little boys and proceeded towards their temple  constructed just now  on the banks of the river .

He offered obeisances to the temple and the deities inside and humbly accepted the theertha prasada given by the boys with all reverence .

A  disciple who was watching  his Acharyar ,  humbly begged to know what was the reason for Swamy Ramanuja to offer obeisance’s and accept the  theertha prasada  in an inappropriate place and that too  from small kids ?

Swamy Ramanuja   smiled and said , My Child !! .. You must recollect the sloka in  Srimad Bhagavad Gita  where Lord Krishna says

yo yo yaam yaam tanum bhaktaha shraddhayaarchitumicchati |
tasya tasyaachalaam shraddhaam taameva vidadhaamyaham ||

Whichever devotee desires to faithfully worship a particular form,                                                      I  fortify his faith in exactly that (form).  

and as per poigai Azhwar  a verse from the Mudhal Thiruvandhaadee  says

thamar ugandhadhu evvuruvam avvuruvam thane thamar ugandhadhu eppEr maRRappEr – thamar ugandhu evvaNNam sindhiththu imaiyAdhu irupparE avvaNNam AzhiyAnAm

 which means ……

If the devotees wish to   perform service in any form ,  He  joyfully  accepts  that in this world (through archa form) by accepting   whatever form and name that they wish for Him….

Lord accepts whatsoever form the devotees create and offer worship .

He lovingly  accepts   the  name the devotees lovingly call him and  whatever manner in which they offer worship to him .

Swamy Ramanuja had unwavering respect for the Lordships which was intended as a play toy and respect to the children .

Any deity which is created out of sheer devotion is entitled for worship . It is big offence to look down upon them.

The disciple was enlightened with the lesson ..

Adiyen Ramanuja dasan

Pics credits  : Google images