As we all remember OM VishnuPad Shree YamunAcharya (Guru of Shree RamanujAcharya) was a genius Vaishnava child and pundita, but after winning the kingdom, power and money in one of the royal arguments he deviated from brahmanic Vishnu-Prapatti and turned into rajasika battle-and-blood thirsty kshatriya.
The following story tells how Shree YamunAcharya was awakened from rajasika vasanas by Rama Mishra and NathaMuni.
YAMUNACARYA AS A KING
When Yamunacarya became the ruler of half the kingdom of the Pandyas, some of the neighboring kings saw this as a fine opportunity to invade and plunder his lands. When he learned of this from his spies, the boy king marched against them with a strong army before
they were prepared and they were all forced to surrender to him.
In this way he enlarged his domain and began to rule the kingdom. Unfortunately although he was a shrewd and righteous monarch, he became distracted from his spiritual understanding by political dealings and the sense pleasures that go along with a high position.
He forgot that this life is but a temporary stage in our eternal existence and gradually gave up his acts of devotion to Lord Vishnu.
NATHAMUNI REQUEST AND RAMA MISRA'S SCHEME
Meanwhile, Nathamuni, Yamunacarya's grand-father, passed from this world to return to the lotus feet of the Lord. He had always loved Yamunacarya very dearly, and he was filled with sorrow to hear how his grandson had abandoned the path of devotion for the sake of enjoying sensual pleasures.
Therefore, when he was on his deathbed, he called for his chief disciple, Rama Misra, and made a last request of him: "My dear grandson, Yamunacarya, who is known as Alavandara, has forgotten the greatness and glory of Lord Vishnu, being attracted by the temporary pleasures of this material world. Now I am preparing to give up my life, and I can do nothing more to deliver him.
Therefore my last request to you is that you save my grandson from the darkness of nescience in which he is now sunk. I leave him to your care."
Rama Misra, being a dutiful disciple, never forgot this last instruction of his guru-maharaja. Therefore, several years later when Yamunacarya was 35 years old, he went to his palace seeking an interview.
However, when he arrived there, he saw that the gateway to the palace was crowded with the chariots and soldiers of different kings.
Even powerful noblemen had to wait for a long time before they were able to gain an audience with the mighty Alavandara. As a poor sannyasi beggar, Rama Misra realized that there was little chance of his ever getting to see Yamunacarya and that he would have to think of a plan by which to accomplish his mission.
AYURVEDA TRICK.
As well as being a great devotee and preacher, Rama Misra was also learned in the science of Ayurveda. There is a certain type of spinach, known as tuduvalai, which grows in South India.
This tuduvalai is famous for developing the qualities of goodness in a man, making his mind peaceful and serene. Rama Misra found some of these plants growing near the palace. Collecting the green leaves, he brought them to the chief cook in the royal kitchen.
When the cook came to see him, Rama Misra addressed him as follows: "May Lord Narayana bless you. I beg you to serve these tuduvalai leaves to the king every day, for it is well known that he is a pious man.
By eating this herb he will be able to develop his qualities of goodness and also increase the duration of his life. Every day I will bring some here to you".
As it happened the cook was a pious man who knew the value of the tuduvalai plant and he happily agreed to Rama Misra's proposal.
Thus, every day for two months Rama Misra brought the green leaves of the tuduvalai plant to the royal kitchen, and every day they were served to Yamunacarya, who very much appreciated them.
When Rama Misra heard this, he deliberately stayed away one day; when the king found that the tuduvalai preparation was absent from his plate, he called for the cook.
"Why did you not cook that spinach preparation for me today?" he asked. "Your majesty," the cook replied, "the sadhu who usually brings the spinach did not come today."
"Who is this sadhu and what price does he ask for his service?" asked Yamunacarya.
"My Lord," replied the cook, "I do not know the name or dwelling place of that sadhu. He will accept no payment at all for his service and renders it only out of love and regard for your majesty."
On hearing this Alavandara (Yamunacarya) told the cook, "If this man comes again, show him due respect and bring him to me."
THE MEETING OF RAMA MISHRA AND YAMUNACHARYA.
The next day Rama Misra again brought tuduvalai leaves to the kitchen door, and the cook at once brought him to Yamunacharya.
Seeing that pious Brahman before him, the king was delighted and said, "Holy sage, I am your servant. Please accept my obeisance's at your feet. I have heard that every day you gather and bring tuduvalai for me and will accept no payment for this service. Is there anything that I can do for you?"
Hearing that Rama Misra said, "I have something very important to tell you, but it must be in private".
When the cook had been dismissed, he went on.
TREASURE STORY.
"Some years back your grandfather, the renowned Nathamuni, left this world and returned to Shree Vaikuntha. Before he departed, however, he left in my care a great treasure to be given to you at the right time. Now I am asking you to accept this treasure".
Yamunacarya was very pleased to hear these words, for at that time he was preparing a campaign against a rebellious king and was in great need of money. Knowing what a wonderful person his grandfather had been, he readily believed the sadhu's words.
In great delight he said to Rama Misra, "Sir, you are certainly a most saintly person, being o renounced that you have not kept this treasure for yourself. Now please tell me where it is to be found."
Rama Misra answered, "If you follow me I will take you there. It is kept within 7 walls, between 2 rivers, guarded by a great serpent. Every 12 years a demon from the south goes to inspect the treasure, which is guarded by mantra. Through the power of mantra the treasure will be revealed to you."
In fact the treasure that Rama Misra was describing was the beauty of Lord Ranganatha, the Deity who resides within a seven-walled temple on an island in the Kaveri River.
The serpent is the bed of Ananta-Sesa, on whom the Lord is reclining. It is said that this Deity was first installed by Vibhisana, the brother of Ravana, and that every twelve years he goes to Rangaksetra to worship the Lord.
The powerful mantra is the Holy Name of the Lord (AshtaKshara Mantra of Bhagavan Shree Narayana), for by chanting the 8-Syllable Narayana Mantra one is able to gain the transcendental vision by which one can appreciate that the Deity is non-different from the Lord Himself.
CONTINUED IN THE 2ND PART - http://vishnudut1926.blogspot.com/2017/12/yamunacharya-part-002.html
Cited from
"Lexicography of Ramanujacharya"
by T. Rengarajan 2013 edition
OCR by Vishnudut1926, Moscow, December 2017
