Sri Varadhacharya & Srimathi Lakshmi

Sri Varadhacharya & Srimathi Lakshmi

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Near Sri Kanchipuram, there lived a highly pious couple called Sri Varadhacharya and Srimathi Lakshmi. They were sincere Shishyas of Swami Ramanujacharya.

The Couple lived in such dire poverty that Srimathi Lakshmi did not even have an upper garment to cover Her. However, She always meditated on the Dvaya Mahamanthra [as taught by Swami Ramanujacharya] with devotion.

The Couple offered whatever Sri Varadhacharya could earn [during His unchavritthi for the day] to the Deity in Their hut and ate the Prasadam.

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One day, Swami Ramanujacharya, who was on a Yathra to Sri Venkatachala Hills, stood at the doorstep of Their hut with His Shishyas! Sri Varadhacharya had gone out for unchavritthi. The place was silent but the doors of the hut were slightly open.

"Varadha, are you there, my child?" called out the Acharya.

Srimathi Lakshmi, who was inside, immediately identified the majestic voice and was aghast. She thought thus: "It is indeed an indescribable fortune that Swami Ramanujacharya has arrived at our doorstep!!! Alas, I do not have an upper garment! How can I go out and receive the great Acharya? If I remain silent, the great Acharya may think that no one is in the house and may leave!"

And then, She had an idea. She clapped Her hands loudly to indicate that She had heard the Acharya and that the hut is indeed occupied!

Swami Ramanujacharya frowned slightly for a moment. And then, He threw His saffron utthareeyam inside the hut!

Srimathi Lakshmi donned the utthareeyam as Acharya Prasadam, came out of the hut, prostrated in front of Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas. She welcomed Them inside the hut and offered due respects.

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Srimathi Lakshmi had a great desire to serve Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas with fresh, tasty food. However, not even a single grain was available in the house and the couple had no vessels to store anything either! How will the few grains, that Sri Varadacharya might bring after unchavritthi, ever suffice to sumptuously feed Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas?

While the Acharyas and His Shishyas were resting after a tiring journey, Srimathi Lakshmi made a decision:

"Swami Ramanujacharya is greater than even Sriman Narayana Himself for it is He who uplifts lowly beings like me from the ocean of samsara and grants Moksha. Can Swami Ramanujacharya's kindness ever be repaid? Is it not my Dharma, as a Shishya, to do my very best for the welfare of the Acharya and His Dasas?

Sri Thirumangai Azhwar had stolen wealth to offer food to Sriman Narayana Dasas. He was only blessed greatly by Sriman Narayana for that.

How can it be then wrong on my part to sell my body, which is after all filled with pus, blood, etc., for the sake of serving my Acharya and His Dasas?"

Srimathi Lakshmi then bowed down in front of Swami Ramanujacharya and said: "O Acharya, welome, along with Your fortunate Shishyas, to this humble abode! Pray kindly rest inside the place while I fetch groceries and vessels to cook a meal for Your Majesty and Shishyas. My husband will soon be back from His daily unchavritthi routine!"

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Srimathi Lakshmi then hurried to the house of a merchant who lived nearby. The merchant, with an evil intent, had been trying to obtain Srimathi Lakshmi's attention and had even attempted to woo Her by sending Her expensive gifts. Of course, it was all in vain.

Srimathi Lakshmi met the merchant, smiled at him and spoke in a pleasant tone: "Your wish shall be satisfied today. My Acharya and His Shishyas have graced our humble abode. Send me enough groceries and vessels so that I can cook & serve a sumptuous meal for my great Acharya and His Dasas!"

The merchant could not believe his ears. "She has never cared to spare even a glance of disdain for me or my gifts! If she has come in search of me and is talking thus then I can be sure that my senses will be gratified today," he thought in evil glee. So, he sent Srimathi Lakshmi all that She had asked for.

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When all groceries and vessels had arrived, Swami Ramanujacharya looked at Srimathi Lakshmi and said, "My child, perform your ablutions and cook a meal to offer to my Thiruvaradhana Deity Sri Varadharaja Perumal!" The Acharya also ordered a couple of His Shishyas to help Srimathi Lakshmi prepare a meal and left for His ablutions.

Srimathi Lakshmi, along with the other few Shishyas, prepared a fresh, tasty, sumptuous meal. Swami Ramanujacharya offered it to Sri Varadharaja Perumal and then everyone, including the Acharya, ate the Prasadam. Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas were completely satisfied with the excellent service of Srimathi Lakshmi.

After a short while, Sri Varadhacharya was back home. Overjoyed to behold the excellent sight that He was blessed with, Sri Varadhacharya paid obeisances to Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas.

And then, Srimathi Lakshmi found an opportune moment to have a private word with Sri Varadhacharya and quickly narrated all that had happened in Sri Varadhacharya's absence. An extremely pleased Sri Varadacharya said, "My dear good lady, am truly proud of your righteous deed! What a wonder you are, O beautiful lady! How fortunate I am to have been blessed with a peerless wife like you!"

And then, Sri Varadhacharya fell at the Holy Feet of Swami Ramanujacharya and sang the glories of the Acharya to the best of His abilities.

The pious Couple then took the Sripadha Theertham and Prasadam offered by Swami Ramanujacharya. Swami Ramanujacharya was highly impressed with the pure hearts and blemishless conduct of the Couple.

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The Couple then went to the merchant's house. A stoic Srimathi Lakshmi went inside the house while the noble Sri Varadacharya was waiting outside.

Srimathi Lakshmi had taken along with Her a small cup of Swami Ramanujacharya's Sripadha Theertham and Prasadam! She offered the same to the merchant.

No sooner than the merchant had taken the Sripadha Theertham and Prasadam, he underwent a Himalayan transformation. He fell at the feet of Srimathi Lakshmi, circumambulated Her with an anjali mudra, and cried thus: "O pious Mother, pray forgive this ignorant son of yours! Pray kindly shower on me Thy grace and recommend my pathetic case to Swami Ramanujacharya!"

An astonished Srimathi Lakshmi rushed outside and narrated the wonderful event to Her noble Husband! The Merchant fell at the feet of Sri Varadacharya and begged His pardon. Sri Varadacharya gently consoled the Merchant and took Him to Swami Ramanujacharya.

Swami Ramanujacharya granted Pancha Samskara to the Merchant and the Merchant became a pious Sri Ramanuja Dasa!

The Merchant offered great wealth at Swami Ramanujacharya's holy Feet and beseeched the Acharya to accept them all. Swami Ramanujacharya granted the Merchant's wish.

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Swami Ramanujacharya stayed at the phenomenal Couple's abode for a few days, heartily blessed Them and continued His Yathra.

Swami Ramanujacharya appointed Sri Varadhacharya as one of the 74 Simhasanadhipathis [i.e. the 74 Shishyas who can offer Pancha Samskara to anyone interested in obtaining Swami Ramanuja Sripadha Sambandham].

Sri Varadhacharya is more famously known as Sri Parutthi Kollai Ammaal. Srimathi Lakshmi is also addressed as Srimathi Parutthi Kollai Lakshmi

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