Our relatives are a part of our lives only in this birth. There is nothing permanent about such connections. But there are some connections we must be proud of, as for example our association with acharyas. Kooratazhvar's love for his acharya, Ramanuja, was well known. Yet he wept because he was not a blood relative of Ramanuja, an advantage enjoyed by Mudaliandan, Ramanuja's nephew.
Immense love for Ramanuja was also demonstrated by Kidambi Achan, said Akkarakkani Srinidhi. There were attempts to poison Ramanuja and Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi was anxious that no harm should befall Ramanuja.
One hot summer day, he approached Ramanuja on the banks of Cauvery. When one meets an acharya, he should fall at the acharya's feet and get up only when he is asked to. So Ramanuja fell at Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi's feet.
In summer, the sands on the banks of the Cauvery will scorch one's skin. Yet Nambi observed silence. Ramanuja, as was the custom, did not get up, for he was not asked to rise by Nambi. Along with Ramanuja were his disciples. None was willing to risk Nambi's anger by requesting him to allow Ramanuja to get up. But Kidambi Achan could not bear to see Ramanuja's skin being scorched by the sands. So he said to Ramanuja, “Will anyone put a garland of fragrant flowers on the sand? “ Saying so, he tried to lift Ramanuja up. This was what Nambi was looking for in Ramanuja's disciples.
He who put Ramanuja's welfare above everything else would be the proper one to cook for Ramanuja. He would make sure that there was no danger to Ramanuja. So Nambi decided that Kidambi Achan, a great scholar, should be Ramanuja's cook. The teacher of Vedanta Desika came from Kidambi Achan's family.
Kidambi Achan did not bother whether his act and words would be seen as impertinence by Nambi. He had only one concern- Ramanuja's welfare. Such should be the concern of a devotee for his preceptor. For Kidambi Achan, the appointment as Ramanuja's cook was a great honour for him. A disciple will never see any help rendered to his preceptor as beneath his dignity.
Published - February 11, 2012 01:26 am IST
