Vaduga Nambi, disciple of Ramanujacharya, praised the Acharya as ubhaya vibhuti nayaka. This is a name used for Lord Narayana because He is the Lord and master of leela vibhuti — this world, and also of Sri Vaikuntha. But how is the name justified in the case of Ramanuja? Lord Ranganatha left it to Ramanuja to decide who should enter Sri Vaikuntha, elaborated Aravindalochanan, in a discourse.
Until then it was the Lord Himself who had decided that. But now He gives Ramanuja that right of decision. Ramanuja, having been granted the Lord’s right, can be rightly addressed by a name that belongs to the Lord!
Ramanuja served his teacher Tirvaranga Perumal Araiyar, by serving him milk and also grinding sandal paste for him, and this earned for him the name of Vararangaanu kampi, from Vaduga Nambi. Vaduga Nambi also referred to Ramanuja as Dravidaamnaaya Saagara. Namamzhvar’s Tiruvaimozhi is referred to as Dravida Veda, and Tiruvaimozhi resides in Ramanuja, and hence this name. Another name Vaduga Nambi praises Ramanuja with, refers to his stint under Maalakaara, who taught him Tiruvaimozhi. Ramanuja gave meanings which did not agree with those given by his teacher. Unhappy with the contradictory explanations from his pupil, Maalakaara stopped classes. But Tirukkoshtiyur Nambi told Maalakaara that Ramanuja was already knowledgeable, and he took to studying under Maalakaara, only to set an example to others, showing them that they had to study under a qualified teacher.
Vaduga Nambi makes a reference to the 74 devout Sri Vaishnavas whom Ramanuja appointed to spread the Visishtadvaita philosophy. ‘Panchacharya padashraya,’ says Vaduga Nambi, indicating that Ramanuja had five Acharyas, each of whom taught him different subjects.
