நெஞ்சே தினம் நினைப்போம் இராமானுசன் நாமங்களே रामानुजस्य चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये (150 days to celebrate 1000th year of Bhagavat Ramanuja)

நெஞ்சே தினம் நினைப்போம்  

இராமானுசன் நாமங்களே

रामानुजस्य चरणौ शरणं प्रपद्ये 

(150 days to celebrate 1000th year of Bhagavat Ramanuja)

Let us begin our journey towards 1st May 2017, by recalling his life events, teachings, achievements, glory and his contribution to Srivaishavam and Visishtadwaitham

2nd Dec 2016

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When any one wants to know about a guru, he needs to be introduced by someone who had greater understanding about his work, teachings, glory etc. This time we learn about Bhagavath Ramanuja's long term attachments to four main Divya Desams in Tamil Nadu

Sriranga mangala nidhim karuna nivasam 

Sri Venkatadri shikaralaya kalamegam 

Sri Hasthisaila sikarojwala parijatham 

Srisannamami sirasa Yadhusaila deepam

At the end of Sandhya vandanam, the above sloka is chanted to remember and offer prayers to the deities of four Major Temples that Bhagavat Ramanuja was associated with, in many capacities. Each temple and Archavatara deity played a crucial role in the upbringing, shaping the role and life of Bhagavat Ramanuja. 

The four temples and deities are Lord Ranganatha of  Sriranagam, Lord Srinivasa of Thiruvengadam ( Thiruppathi), Lord Varadaraja of Kanchi and and Lord SelvaNarayanan of Thirunarayanapuram(Melkote). These Temples are also called by the names Bhoga Mandapam, Pushpa Mandapam, Thyaga Mandapam ang Gyana Mandapam.  

Thyaga Mandapam

Bhagavat Ramanuja was saved by Lord Varadaraja and was ordained to perform Theertha Kainkaryam. Lord Varadaraja also planted the seeds of Visistadwaitham in Bhagavat Ramanuja by clearing his doubts through his Guru Thiukachi Nambi.  Since Lord Vardaraja on request from Lord Ranganatha released Bhagavat Ramanuja for services at Thiruvarangam. This sacrifice of Lord Varadaraja earned the Kanchi temple the name Thyaga Mandapam.

Pushpa Mandapam

Later Bhagavat Ramanuja visited Thirumala Hills and organized the the daily routines and religious rites at the temple for Lord Srinivasa. He had also deputed his sisya Anandhazhwan to Thirumala to take care of Nandavanam and offer flower decorations to Lord Srinivasa on a daily basis. Hence Thiruvengam came to be known as Pushpa Mandapam.

Bhoga Mandapam

Just as Lord Sriman Narayana enjoys all facilities and luxury in Paramapadam, Lord Ranganatha also thrives in Bhoga at Thiruvarangam listening to Ekantha Veeenai in the early morning. Hence Srirangam temple is known by the name Bhoga Mandapam.

Gyana Mandapam

When Bhagavat Ramanuja had to escape from Chola Kingdom, he chose to settle down in Melkote, Mandya District in Mysore and spread Vaishnavism by inducting King Vishnu Vardan into Srivaishnavam and he took his help to build temples and Mutt.  Bhagavat Ramanuja made sure that Melkote has the pride of place in the Sri Vaishnava Sampradayam and got the name Gyana Mandapam. 

Here is  song on Bhagavat Ramanuja connecting the four Mandapam.