[brraverishhh]

Hi sudhaama, that was marvellous for a person during those ages to do that. Please continue...

I think that is a wonderful observation, Mahadevan. For a person to be able to do all this in those ages, and still be accepted and revered speaks volumes of Ramanujacharya. We don't really need stories to prove his greatness!

One of his greatest revolutionary acts was the giving of the Ashtakshara Mantra to everyone. Maybe I am jumping the gun here, perhaps Sudhamaa has already planned to talk about this at the appropriate time, but because the topic veered to this, I thought I might put in a note about that episode here.

After great difficulty, Ramanuja obtained the Ashtakshari Mantra from a guru. The guru gave him the usual strict injunction, "This is the holiest of holy mantras. It is not to be uttered loud in the hearing of everyone. It is sacred and secret. Do not reveal it to anyone. By the mere chanting of this you will be liberated. But beware if you let this mantra out. You will surely go to Hell then."

Now, how sacred and how liberating the mantra itself is, is another question. But what Ramanuja did was noteworthy.

He went up to everyone in the village - people of all castes, age, men and women. He told them all to assemble at the Temple gopuram (tower) for he said he had a great treasure to share with them all. He climbed the tower and in loud, ringing tones, chanted the mantra loud to everyone, and exhorted them to chant it and be liberated.

When the guru came to know about this, he was wrath incarnate and berated Ramanuja for his deed, assuring him he would go to Hell. Note his answer, which made him the great emacipator!

He said, "If by my one person going to hell, all these people could be liberated, so be it. I have lived a worthy life."

I think the attitude of absolute selflessness and the way he wantede equality in everything is truly commendable.