We are asked to be detached, but this does not mean we all have to immediately take to sanyas. It is possible to be part of a family, to do one’s duties, and yet not be over-attached to anything or anybody. A person who has the gnana to be detached will not be moved by the pulls of the world. His thoughts are focused on the Supreme One. Kooratazhvar was a disciple of Ramanujacharya and was himself a great Vaishnavite preceptor. Kooratazhvar was immersed in devotion to Lord Ranganatha, and more importantly in devotion to Ramanuja, said Kidambi Narayanan, in a discourse.
Kooratazhvar’s wife Andal was worried about their two sons. They had attained marriageable age, yet Kooratazhvar’s attention was given to worship of Lord Ranganatha, rather than to finding suitable brides for them. Kooratazhvar was responsive to his wife’s concerns. But he felt he could not put such requests before Lord Ranganatha. The Lord was the Universal father, and Kooratazhvar knew He would take care of his sons. If Kooratazhvar asked the Lord for something, it would be like a son asking his father for the latter’s property. Our parents give us so much already. How can we think of asking them for more? If we should not ask even our worldly parents for something, how can we ask the Divine One for something insignificant? So he reasoned.
Kooratazhvar had conquered thoughts of “me” and “mine.” So to him, the thought of asking the Lord for something for the two boys was not appealing at all. Anyway, he asked his sons to come to the temple. After his customary worship, Kooratazhvar stood before Lord Ranganatha, not knowing how to put before Him Andal’s request. Lord Ranganatha, sensing Kooratazhvar’s reluctance to ask Him for favours, wondered if Kooratazhvar had something to say to Him. Kooratazhvar replied that people were saying that his (Kooratazhvar’s) sons were not married. Kooratazhvar did not himself directly ask for a boon. The Lord said his sons would soon be married and that He Himself would personally see to this. He appeared in the dream of the parents of suitable girls and instructed them to give their daughters in marriage to the sons of Kooratazhvar.
