रामानुज: Raamanujaa Charya

रामस्य अनुजः = रामानुजः. Anuja is younger brother. Ramanuja is Rama’s younger brother. That is Sri Lakshmana. Ramanuja was named Ilai Azhwar. Just as Lakshmana stood with his elder brother Sri Rama, as his first assistant in carrying out his tasks of dushta shikshana and shishta rakshana, Ramanuja also carried out the same tasks being the foremost kinkara of Lord Ranganatha. Lakshmana appeared in Treta Yuga. Ramanuja appeared in Kaliyuga. Sri Rama’s avataram is vibhava form of Sriman Narayana. Sri Ranganatha is the Archa Avatara form of the same Lord Sriman Narayana. One is Mahavishnu and the other is Adishesha. Shesha and sheshi. Nara and Narayana, Rama and Lakshmana, Krishna and Balarama, Mahavishnu and Adishesha, We have already acquainted ourselves with the Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa and Antaryami forms of the Transcendent and Immanent forms of God along with the meaning and significance of the Lord’s descents vis a vis our destiny and deliverance. (Tenacity to keep in mind what we read and learn and apply the lessons learnt to realize their truth in our day to day dealings is what is the practice of religion. Philosophy is to learn and understand. Religion is to practice and implement. Religion and Philosophy go hand in hand in our Motherland unlike elsewhere where philosophizing is only a cerebral exercise while religion a dogma or a given code to follow. Kindly revisit our earlier postings and keep track of the technical terms to get more benefit out of our studies here. Let not the ideas get evaporated at the very moment of reading them. Let each posting equip us to understand the subsequent postings better.. ) Krishna and Arjuna, Ranganatha and Ramanuja, all such pairs demonstrate that Precept and Practice coexist and when these two meet fulfillment is assured. That is what the Bhagavadgita declares: यत्र योगेश्वरः क्रृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः । तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवानीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥ The significance of the term Ramanuja is immense and profound at once. Rama can mean Balarama and Ramanuja thus signifies Sri Krishna as well. Sri Ramanuja combines in himself both the Sesha and the Sheshi.