SRI RAMANUJA
As Yatiraja, the initiated name,
Ramanuja stayed for sometime
At his place Kanchipuram,
Before going to Srirangam.
Guru Yadava, who wanted
To kill Ramanuja, regretted
Later on for his sinister plot,
And fell at his disciple’s feet.
Guru Yadav took a new name,
Govinda Jeer and then became
Ramanuja’s Vishnava disciple,
As it was Lord Varadaraja’s will.
Guru Mahapurna once again came,
And took Ramanuja to Srirangam
Where he learnt many lessons
From the Vaishnava Scriptures.
Under advice from Mahapurna,
He went to Guru Gostipurna,
For his conversion to Vaishnavism
Continuously almost eighteen times.
Guru Gostipurna initiated Ramanuja,
In secret, with a powerful Mantra
That would take him to Heaven
If he didn’t reveal it to anyone.
If, by chance, he let it out,
He would go to Hell at last.
He was warned like that,
On the power of its secret.
From the roof-top of a temple,
He called the local people,
And told them all to chant
Thus breaking the secret out.
When his Guru heard the news
He denounced him for this
Breach of trust in his action
That showed his indiscipline.
But, in reply, he began to tell,
“I don’t mind going to Hell,
If other people go to Heaven,
By this mantra, the powerful one.”
His broad outlook Guru realized,
And as his disciple he surrendered.
Thus Gurus became his disciples
As he was so simple and humble.
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