| Sri Nallaan Chakravarthy & His Hunter Shishyas |
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| Image Credit: http://yathirajapadhuka.blogspot.com/2013/05/significant-74.html |
Swami Ramanujacharya had a Shishya known as Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi [Some say His name is Sri Varadaraja and that 'Chakravarthi' is an honorific]. As a service to His Acharya Swami Ramanuja, He lived in Sri Kanchipuram and served Sri Varadaraja Perumal.
One day, as Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi was walking along the banks of River Vegavathi, He saw a corpse floating on the river and noticed that it was about to be washed ashore.
Slightly aghast, He waited on the banks and pulled the corpse out of the river. The body had no Yagnoyopaveetham [sacred thread] on it and was bedecked with the Shankha Chakra Mudras on the shoulders.
Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi thought thus: "Ah, anaatha pretha samskaaram is a service dear to Sriman Narayana. And, this pious man has undergone the Pancha Samskara ritual and has thus become a Shishya of Swami Ramanuja Darshanam. It is my duty to accord due honours to His great body, as He has left for Sri Vaikuntam by the grace of my beloved Acharya Swami Ramanuja!".
Without further ado, Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi cremated the body of the noble Sri Vaishnava with appropriate sacred rituals and due honours.
People in the neighbourhood were totally unhappy:
- "How dare he! The body had no Yagnyopaveetham!" said one of them.
- "How can a Brahmana do the anthima samskaram then, I ask you!" crowed another one.
- "I warned him and he arrograntly replied that a body of a Sri Ramanuja Dasa is more pious than that of a Brahmana and that it deserves the highest honour!" growled another.
- "What ignorance is this! He has clearly crossed the Varnashrama rules set by the Vedhas and he is not a Vaidhika Brahmana anymore!" said yet another.
The next day, when they all assembled in front of Sri Kanchipuram Varadaraja Perumal to conduct the usual sacred rituals, Sri Varadaraja Perumal spoke through the Archaka: "Where is Varadaraja Chakravarthi? I don't see Him today!"
Those who had assembled there were taken aback. However, they respectfully replied: "Swami, He is a pollaan [பொல்லான் i.e. heretic, in this context] and hence, we have ex-communicated him!"
Sri Varadaraja Perumal promptly declared in His characteristic majestic voice: "He may be a pollaan for you but He is nallaan [நல்லான் i.e. pure-hearted aasthika, in this context] for me!"
Those who had denounced Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi's act realized their mistake. They apologized to Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi and restored normalcy in His life. From then, Sri Varadaraja Chakravarthi came to be famously known as "Nallaan Chakravarthi" and was addressed thus even by Swami Ramanujacharya!
In the Kongu region of Thamizh Nadu, several tribes of hunters lived on the hills of the western ghats. One day, some of them were standing at the foot of the hills and they saw a Sri Vaishnava, wearing the Urdhva Pundram, walking nearby.
"Where do you come from, O sire?" they asked. The Sri Vaishnava replied that He is from Srirangam.
"Ah! Is Swami Ramanujacharya keeping good health and doing well? Is Sri Ranganatha Perumal safe and sound?" they enquired. They were in for a huge shock as the Sri Vaishnava said, "Alas, my good people! Swami Ramanujacharya, along with some of His Shishyas, has left Srirangam as His life is in great danger because of the fanatic ways of the present Chola king! There is no news of His whereabouts so far."
Hearing this, the entire tribe of hunters did not eat a single morsel of food for six days and were anxiously wondering about Swami Ramanujacharya's welfare.
On the sixth night, the hunters heard feeble voices, recognized that the dialect is that of Brahmanas. They rushed outside to find a group of Brahmanas, who were completely drenched in rain and shaking because of the cold. The hunters immediately took them to their place of residence, offered the Brahmanas dry garments to wear and dried those garments that were fully drenched.
The hunters asked, "Where do you all hail from?" One of the Brahmanas replied: "We are from Srirangam. We have been travelling for almost a week sans food. We lost our way, located your hut because of the fire you have lit inside and managed to reach this place!"
The hunters immediately asked, "Srirangam! Would you know if Swami Ramanujacharya is safe?"
The guests were astonizhed. "How do you know about Swami Ramanujacharya??" asked one of them.
The hunters replied: "Sri Nallaan Chakravarthi is our Acharya. He performed the Pancha Samskaaram for us and advised us to always meditate on the lotus feet of the great Swami Ramanujacharya."
The group of Brahmanas were overwhelmed. And then, one of the Brahmanas exclaimed, "Behold Swami Ramanujacharya, who is standing right here, in front of you, O pious people! He is dressed in white robes as Sri Kooratthazhwan had to wear Swami's saffron robes in the moment of grave danger!"
Hearing this, the hunter Shishyas immediately fell at the Acharya's divine feet and shed copious tears of grief. A completely moved Swami Ramanujacharya said, "Arise, my beloved children! My joy knows no bounds! The rain-bearing cloud named Nallaan Chakravarthi has showered the rain of compassion and, that too, in the middle of a forest like this!"
The hunter Shishyas offered millet flour and honey to Swami Ramanujacharya and those Shishyas who had travelled with Him. Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas had the meal and, at last, were able to find some sleep that night.
The next day, the hunter Shishyas safely escorted Swami Ramanujacharya [and His Shishyas who had travelled with Him] to the residence of the chief hunter of another tribe.
The chief refrained from eating the food he had hunted for the day, ordered his men to escort Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas to the residence of a Brahmana couple whom he knew and ensured that the couple were asked to immediately cook a sumptuous meal as Swami Ramanujacharya and His Shishyas had not eaten a proper, full meal for almost a week. And, that pious couple was none other than Sri Kongilachaan and Sri Kongil Piraatti.
Such was the calibre of Sri Nallaan Chakravarthi, who not only practised His Acharya's teachings but also preached them to one and all!
Indeed worthy of constant meditation are the nobility and sincerity of Sri Nallaan Chakravarthi's hunter Shishyas [affectionately addressed as "வேட முதலிகள்" (vEDa mudhaligaL) by Acharyas], who showered their great love and excellent care on Swami Ramanujacharya and His other Shishyas!
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