Sri Ramanuja’s arrival in the 11th century CE heralded a new beginning and a new vision for a society lost among class, caste and gender divisions. In the course he had many followers, both men and women. And a few women figure prominently in his long journey as a spiritual leader.
First, his wife Thanjamambal, whom he married when he was 16. Now, the Sri Vaishnava school never believed in renunciation of life and taking to sanyas. Ramanuja was exceptional in this regard. He took to sanyasa till fate intervened when he was 38. years old.
Traditional accounts blame Thanjamambal for having been adamant and refusing or not following the commands of her husband. She came from a pious family sworn to orthodoxy. One traditional scholar in fact raised the question – “What prevented Ramanuja from inviting Thirukachi Nambigal on another day for lunch so that his aim could be fulfilled ?”
It has been suggested by scholars that Thanjamambal had forebodings of the great renunciation in store and felt obliged to make a sacrifice in public interest and to make a success of Ramanuja’s birth mission (Refer commentary by Narasimha Varadarajan)
Ramanuja had immense respect for women. He worshipped Andal, whom he considered equivalent to Mahalakshmi. His reverence towards women evident through many instances.
On one occasion, standing outside Periya Nambi’s house in Srirangam and watching his daughter Athuzhai opening the door to offer madhukaram, Ramanuja, lost in thought, prostrated before her, imagining her to be the reincarnation of Andal. Periya Nambi, who was watching all this came out and asked Ramanuja, “Undhu Mathagalithan Anusanthanamo?” ( Were you thinking of the 18th pasuram of Thiruppavai.)
A similar event happened at Thirukoshtiyur, where Ramanuja prostrated before Thirukoshtiyur Nambi’s daughter Devaki Piratti imagining that it signified purushakaram of Devaki herself for receiving the meaning of Charama Sloka from Thirukoshtiyur Nambi.
Thirunagari Pillai
In another incident, Ramanuja was on a pilgrimage to Thiruvali Thirunagari and the surrounding Divyadesams. On the way stood an apparently illiterate woman belonging to a lower order in society. In order to avoid her, Ramanuja commanded her to step aside till he crossed the way. The lady surprised him with the following questions: “Sir, to which side shall I move? Here before me stands Thy Holy Self, a Brahmin, whom I cannot approach lest I pollute thee by my nearness; Behind me, is the Holy shrine of Thirukannapuram; to my right are the Thirumanam Kollai where Saint Thirumanagai waylaid the Lord and Thiruvarasu (the Peepul Tree) used by the Saint as his watch tower and to my left is Thiruvali Manavalan. There is thus purity all around me here, which side then can my impurity turn?”
Ramanuja was struck by that and pleaded forgiveness. He administered to her the holy Vaishnava sacraments and allotted her a place in the shrine, where her image is seen and revered by all the pilgrims to this day. (Source: Alkondavilli Govindacharya)
Parithi Kolli Ammal
During his journey to Tirupati, Ramanuja and his 40 disciples came to a village, where they came across an impoverished Srivaishnava family. As the lady of the house, Parithi Kolli Ammal, was not in presentable clothes she could not come out to welcome the group. Ramanuja flung his uthareeyam (upper cloth) through a window. Moved by the gesture, the woman covering herself with the cloth prostrated and fervently requested that the Vaishnava troupe dine at their house. Ramanuja agreed. The woman felt immensely happy but there were no supplies at home to be cooked and served. So she planned to take the help of the local merchant, who had vice intentions on her. After feeding the preceptor and his disciples, the woman along with her husband Varadaraya went to thank the merchant, who was waiting with a wily intention. But with Ramanuja’s grace, the merchant got transformed into a person with fair thoughts.
Thirukkolur Ammal
The story of Tirukkolur Penpillai, whose enlightened status moved the seer, is well-known. The legend goes thus: After fulfilling Andal’s wish of offering Akkaravadisal at the Azhagar temple, Ramanuja proceeded towards Nammazhwar’s Nava Tirupati. While entering Tirukkolur, birthplace of Madurakavi Azhwar, Ramanuja saw a woman exiting the town and wondered why. Thirukkolur Ammal, as she came to be known, explained how she could never equal the bhakti of Akrura, Vidura, Anusuya, Draupadi, etc., and how she did not deserve to live in such a holy place as Thirukkolur. Ramanuja was deeply moved and ate the food prepared by her as a token of her spiritual enlightenment and attainment.
Kongu Piratti
She was another staunch devotee of Ramanuja. Kulothunga Chola was on a rampage. Ramanuja was forced to retreat to the west. At a village near the Nilgiris, the family of Kongu Piratti received him with full honours. During her visit to Srirangam years earlier, she had taken the images of the Padukas of Ramanuja with her. Finding Ramanuja in white, instead of saffron, she was a little confused. She took out the Padukas and found them matching Ramanuja’s holy feet. Her joy knew no bounds. Ramanuja and his entourage took part of the hospitality of Kongu Piratti and her husband.
Thulukka Nachiyaar
Ramanuja’s travails at Melkote lasted for 12 years. Finding that the utsava idol of the Lord was missing, he went on a mission to the North to find it. It was in the custody of a Muslim Chieftain appointed by Ghazini Mohammed. The chieftain’s young daughter had fallen in love with the beautiful idol and was worshipping it. She refused to part with the image. But at the call of Ramanuja, Chella Pillai jumped into his lap and the Nawab had to send the idol with Ramanuja. But the girl, who pined away, got a place next to the Lord. Hailed as Thulukka Nachiyar, she is enshrined in the temples of Melkote, Srirangam and Kanchipuram.
