Page 17 - Ramanuja and Equality Book.pmd

The great Yamunacharya provided this mantra to Maraneri
Nambi who was from a class of society that was not normally
given the secret mantras. Ramanuja followed in his footsteps and
expanded the availability of this secret to EVERYONE with a desire
to know. Such was the greatness of Ramanuja who was prepared
to go to hell if 1000s of people benefitted from the power of
mantra irrespective of their birth and social status. Indeed, he is
The Emperumanar for all of us!!

Equality to serve the Lord according to one’s

capacity and ability
During Ramanuja’s time, most of the temple services were
performed by a small set of people, and the larger society was not
given the opportunity to perform service and were not involved
deeply in temple services. Sri Rangam, the most prominent divine
temple of God was no exception. Ramanuja, with great difficulty,
reformed the administration of the temple, and involved every
section of the society in doing services in the temple. He created
twenty distinct departments of service (priestly worship, cooking
of prasadam, making of ornaments for the Lord, making of dresses
for the Lord, making and supplying vessels and other items used
for cooking, supply of groceries, grains, flowers etc.). He assigned
each department to a distinct set of people, with representation
from all sections of society. The potters were given the RIGHT to
supply pots to the temple, a set of farmers were provided the
RIGHT to supply groceries etc. 50% of the services were reserved
for people from under-represented sections of society. He made
sure the people who did the service were compensated in some
form, so that they need not worry about livelihood, and focus
on doing service to the temple and the Lord. For the first time,
all sections of society had the RIGHT to serve the Lord in various
capacities. We can see this system continuing even today.

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