One of Lord Narayana’s names is Hari. It means He who
removes sin. Those who seek His feet as their refuge are guaranteed the benefit of His protection.The dark hued Lord has lotus-like feet. It is to the Lord’s feet that Ramanuja’s Sribhashyam will guide us. In other words, Sribhashyam guarantees us the Lord’s protection, Valayapet Ramachariar explained in a discourse.
We are enveloped by the darkness of ignorance. Ramanuja is the lamp that dispels this darkness. The Lord’s leelas are evident in all yugas, and in the Kali yuga, He presents before us conflicting paths and confuses us.Vedanta Desika says Viswaksena, worried about this, incarnated as Ramanuja to show us the right path. Viswaksena always
has a staff in his hand and when he incarnated as Ramanuja, it became the Tridanda.
Ramanuja’s disciples and devotees consider proximity to his
feet their greatest asset. After studying Ramanuja’s works,
they lose themselves in his divine works and no longer desire anything else. All the wealth of the world becomes insignificant to them. Refuge at Ramanuja’s feet is the only wealth his devotees value. This wealth can never
be stolen or lost.
Studying Ramanuja’s works brings great joy and bliss. They
are like rain-bearing clouds which, bringing rain to scorched
land, provide relief to plants, animals and human beings.
Ramanuja’s works are likened to the stick that a person, who keeps a watch over crops, holds in his hand. When the grains are ready for harvest, birds come to feed on them and he is usually stationed near the field to chase
them away. In the same way, Ramanuja uses his divine works to drive away the confusing streams of thought that emerge time and again to challenge his devotees. So logical are Ramanuja’s arguments and so rooted are they in the Vedas that they cannot be refuted.Vedanta Desika
says Sribhashyam enshrines in itself all the Vedas and scriptures.
It is the embodiment of all knowledge. Ramanuja travelled
to many parts of the country and his footprints were left in many places. Because of this, says Vedanta Desika, the Earth became purified and whatever the blemishes
on it were removed.
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