Page 14 - Ramanuja and Equality Book.pmd

Lord near a Tulasi plant. Surprisingly, on digging, they found a 6
feet deity of Thirunarayana Perumal, the presiding deity of an
ancient temple that had been destroyed many decades earlier.
A temple was built in Melkote and the deity was consecrated.
However, there was no utsava vigraha, the deity for processional
celebrations. Upon enquiries, it came to light that the Utsava
Vigraha changed hands because of a series of conquests and
was with the invaders who came from the North.

Many were hesitant to go to the place of the invaders. The
king offered to send his army with Ramanujacharya, but he
declined saying he was going on a peaceful mission. When
Ramanujacharya requested the chief of the invaders to return
the deity, he haughtily said, “We are very generous. Call your dear
Lord. If He is Supreme and really loves you, He’ll come to you.”
Ramanujacharya called, and miraculously, the Lord came.
Ramanujacharya set out for the return journey with his Lord.
The daughter of the chief was intensely attached to this deity,
who had been taken away by the invaders. When the deity
chose to return to Melkote with Ramanujacharya, she missed
Him so much that she had to travel to Melkote. On seeing the
deity, the thought of separation once again, led to her passing
away on the spot. Ramanujacharya drew an analogy with Goda
Devi, who united with Lord Ranganatha in a similar fashion.

The Lord coming to Ramanuja, in the chief’s palace
13