Ramanuja Jayanti 2023: Unknown Facts About Bhagawad Ramanuja

Add as a preferred source on Google

Centuries ago, in 10th century to be precise, at Sriperumbudur, Ramaujacharya, the most knowledgeable philosopher, reformer, and a doyen of Srivaishnava philosophy was born. He dedicated his life to removing ignorance from peoples minds, propound the theory of Universal compassion and equality, and help people live the true Vedic way.

There are legends and lores about him that have not faded into insignificance even today. You can go through some of the facts about Ramanujacharya which have remained hidden and unexplored so far. His Jayanti is going to be celebrated on 25 April 2023.

1. During Shankaras times people were equipped intellectually to understand or at least receive the advaita principle. As times passed, when the quality of thinking and philosophical leanings disintegrated in people, Ramanujacharya was born to help people walk back to the path of the divine so that they will not be inspired to give up god and belief in god just because they did not understand Advaita. Hence he proposed a theory which was easier for the people of those times to understand and adhere to, So this philosophy pulled many of them back into the spiritual path.
2. He not only reformed the common people, he reformed the brahmins as well. The untouchables were being mistreated by the upper sections of society. Hence Ramanujacharya tried to shine the torch of humanity into their fanatic souls and render justice to all.
3. He revealed the secrets of Vedic literature to everyone. His philosophy was Visistadvaitha, the qualified monism.
4. He was against the concept of illusion, which said that the world is nothing but illusion. This was actually propounded by Shankaracharya.
5. He was the most important exponent of Bhakthi movement.
6. Kabir, Meerabai, Annamacha rya, Bhaktha Ra:mdas, Thya:garaja drew their inspiration from him.
7. He preached that mother nature along with her resources is sacred.• He welcomed the untouchables to the temples and let them take darshan of the lord without discriminating. He also gave them administrative positions in the temples.
8. He reserved 50 percent tasks for the other communities including that of the untouchables.
9. He brought together Gods lesser children, and downtrodden souls, and the untouchables under the common banner of humanity and embraced them along with their weaknesses.
10. He led them towards knowledge and wisdom.
11. He gave them mantra initiation and the 5 samskaras that so far belonged to the Brahmin systems
12. He wrote 9 scriptures that were called Navaratnas..
13. He believed and propounded the theory that says "Universe is one family" and hence gave a message that world should be treated as you treat your family as world is your family. This when translated in Sanskrit means Vasudaiva kutumbakam
14. He always asked people to shed their ego and serve people as they would serve God. God exists in all human beings.
15. Society is a form of God and you have to serve it selflessly.
16. No body is without fault and no one is perfect.
17. He did not believe in humiliating others.
18. He believed in the purity of mind and deed above all else
19. Ramanujacharya's body is preserved today which is about 1000 years old. It has not disintegrated even now. It is preserved in the temple of Srirangam, as per the instructions of Ramanucharya which he delivered in his final moments.
20. He propagated universal fraternity, treated the untouchables as he would treat the elite.
21. His universal compassion impressed his guru who gave him the title of Emberumanar. Sri Ramanuja called the oppressed classes as "-Born Divine."
22. He was the first one who disputed Shankara's theories, and helped the common people to understand God in a different and easier light.