It is revealed when Acharyar’s gracious eyes falls on a person , his salvation is for sure even if he is deaf or dumb , fool or wise , old or young , man or woman . Swamy Ramanuja was showering his mercy on all the mortal beings at Srirangam few hundred years ago .
The Chola King during those days was against the Srivaishnava sampradaya and did not like the citizens worshipping Lord Narayana . He was bent upon destroying the Sri Vishnu temples and prosecuting the srivaishnavas . The King who lived in Gangaikonda cholapuram was so bigotted and adherent that he adopted coercive measures to bring all the citizens into the fold he followed .
He was called Krimikanta Chola ( the worm necked ) . He embarked on a crusade of sacrilegious iconoclasm . He tried his best to ravage them but could not succeed . His goal was to destroy Srirangam and the nearby temples . His advisors told him that Lord Ranganatha were of specifically mystically consecrated class and the thought of demolishment would be followed by his own death .
The King was pondering on any other method to adopt his nefarious plan . One general approached the King and reflected upon the device of appointing a competent sorcer who would make himself invisible by applying to his eyes a magical collyrium , thus unseen he would enter the temple sanctum sanatorium.
From here he would extract the spiritual power from the deity and then destroy them . The King was overjoyed . He commanded to assemble all the noted sorcers for the mamoth task and announced they would be rewarded in bounty .
The news reached Jagath Acharyar Swamy Ramanujar . Deeply upset with the Kings tyranny and grave concern for Lord Ranganathar , he quickly marched to the Ashram of his Acharyar Swamy Peria Nambigal.
With dejection he said …
Acharya !!
Am sad that the King who is supposed to protect the temple and citizens has turned out to destroy the legacy . Am afraid what is in store for our Lord …
Acharyar was listening to Ramanuja with attention ..
No … Never … such things will never happen …No harm will enter this divine place . My child !
Listen …With mercy of Peria Perumal , let me provide a cordon of protection …
Ramanuja he said …
. I need a disciple of your’s to come with me for this task
and………………………..
he should simply follow me with no questions .
He must be following me and obey my instructions . He must be submissive and well resigned as if he is my shadow without any iota of thought of self as having an independent will of his own ….
He must be a gem among the disciples .
Swamy Ramanuja was confused … Acharya !! he said ..
Peria Nambi remarked ..
You have Kooresa a soul to be sure …
Swamy Ramanuja was immensely pleased .
He advised Kooresa to meet Acharyar immediately .
Both the great revered Acharyas walked all around the boundaries of the holy town of Srirangam on a full moon day in the night , marking with some auspicious powder silently chanting sacred hymns praying Supreme Lord to protect ……
Swamy KoorathAzhwan further sacrificed his eyes when the cruel King punished him for not embracing the faith he followed .Read the divine pastime in the appended blog post
https://kazhiyurvaradanblog.in/2015/02/07/kooresa-the-disciple-who-gave-his-eyes-for-swamy-ramanuja/
.Thus both condoned the entire town of Srirangam which resulted in our srivaishnava sampradaya flourishing ..
Hari Om!
“Adiyargal vazha……Aranga Nagar Vazha…….Acharyars Vazha……Spiritual Potential of our Temples, Acharyars, Saints can only be realized – can’t be explained in words. This is the Reality. 1000years after, Ramanuja dances in every nook & corner…. Let us all sing “Bhaja Ethirajam Bhaja Ethirajam Bhaja Ethiraajam …..Bhava Beeroo….”
– Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan – Jai Sriman Narayana
Jai HO. ___0^_____
Swaminaha, Excellent post and truly great….May Lord Narayana shower His blessings on you.
thank you. but the story seems incomplete?