Elucidating the scriptures

A book worth reading is one which, when read, brings auspiciousness to the reader. It  must be able to hold his attention and be capable of being expounded  to others. Those who  listen to it must also be drawn to its content. Acharya Ramanuja’s  works possess these qualities, and this is brought out by Vedanta  Desika in his Yatiraja Saptati, said Valayapet  Ramachariar.

A thirsty person is delighted  at the sight of water. Likewise, a  person who thirsts for proper understanding of religious texts  will delight in the works of Ramanuja. They throw light on those tenets, which otherwise remain difficult to comprehend. Those who have read the works of the Acharya or listen to them being explained would not want to read anything else. His works are a medicine for the ills  of samsara. Medicines are usually  consumed by us. But this medicine, the philosophy of Ramanuja, is one that enters  through our ears and offers us relief from the torments of worldly life.


Ramanuja’s works are like a  mirror that shows us the auspicious  qualities of the Divine  Couple. Those who have read  Ramanuja’s works are not interested  in acquiring wealth. It can  be lost easily. But the wealth that  is Ramanuja’s grace is never lost. His works are like the divine  Kalpaka tree. To contemplate the grace of  Ramanuja is itself an act of purification.
We will shun water that  is muddied, and will not use it  for drinking. But the same water  can be purified by a seed. Contemplation  of Ramanuja is like  the seed.


Our hearts are full of unnecessary  thoughts. Our words are not  always appropriate. We speak  words of envy. We use harsh  words. We resort to exaggeration  of what others have said. We  indulge in purposeless argumentation  and disputation. All  of these are sinful. But contemplation  of Ramanuja is like the  purifying seed, which cleanses  our hearts and makes us worthy  recipients of his grace. Ramanuja’s works are like an  ocean. We must dive into this  ocean to discover many truths. But his grace embraces all, even  those who are not capable of a  scholarly study of his works.

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