SRI RAMANUJA
A devotee Kanchipurna by name,
All the way to Kanchipuram came,
From far away Village Poonamallee
To worship Deity Varadaraja at Kanchi.
On his way, he had to cross,
Every day, Ramanuja’s house,
Who keenly observed this scene
And was attracted by his devotion.
Ramanuja invited him once
To take food in his house,
But this stranger did hesitate,
As he was from a low caste.
But on Ramanaju’s persuasion
He finally accepted the invitation,
And had sumptuous food there
Shedding the fear he had earlier.
Thereafter he was taking rest.
Ramanuja to massage his feet
Caught his legs, but he refused
As a low born man, he avoided.
“By wearing the sacred thread,
One doesn’t become a Brahmin,
But one who’s devoted to God
He alone is fit to be a Brahmin.”
Like this Ramanuja told him,
And then humbly requested him
To show open his tired feet,
That needed every comfort.
Humanity is above any religion,
For one’s spiritual liberation,
And caste cannot be a barrier,
To reach God, the Creator.
Yes, Ramanuja became so famous,
In the minds of all his followers
For this kind of liberal principles,
A revolutionary change in the rules.
Though some orthodox devotees
May not agree with his findings,
He was accepted in the religious circles
As one who led the helpless masses.
Leave a Reply