Ramanuja Vaibhavam : 13 : Swami Ramanujar's Digvijaya Yatra

After returning from Tirupati, Swami Ramanujar announced a Digvijaya Yatra in which he would tour the entire country on foot, visiting multiple kshethrams. Accompanying Swami Ramanujar on the journey were a few disciples of which the most prominent was Kurathazhwan. Swami Ramanujar's first destination was Tirukkudandai. Here he first visited the Sarangapani Perumal Kovil. After visiting the temple, he had an intense philosophical debate with the Advaiti scholars at Kumbakonam and convinced them to become Sri Vaishnavas. The next destination in his yatra led him to Tirumaaliruncholai where he visited the Kallazhagar Perumal Kovil. The next destination in his yatra led him to Tirupullani where he visited the Kalyana Jagannatha Perumal Kovil and Darbhashayana Ramar Kovil and performed Setu Snanam. The next destination in his yatra led him to Azhwar Tirunagari. The next destination in his yatra led him to Tirukurungudi. Here Swami Ramanujar had a conversation with Tirukurungudi Nambi. The Lord tells Bhagawad Ramanujacharya that he has accomplished what He could not achieve in all His births. The Lord asks to be initiated into Sri Vaishnavism by Bhagawad Ramanujacharya. Bhagawad Ramanujacharya is said to have performed Pancha-Samskaaram for the Lord here giving Him the name of Sri Vaishnava Nambi. The next destination in his yatra led him to Tiruvanparisaram, Tiruvattaru, and then Tiruvananthapuram. Then traveling north, Swami Ramanujar reached Dwaraka where he went to see Lord Dwarikadeesh. Moving further north, Swami Ramanujar went to Gokulam, Mathura, Vrindavanam, and Govardhanam. Continuing north, Swami Ramanujar went to Muktinath, Badrinath, Joshi Mutt, Devaprayag, and then to Pushkaram. To finish his yatra, he went to Kashmir in search of the Saraswati Bhandaaram; a great library that held many great books of Sanathana Dharma. Swami Ramanujar along with Kurathazhwan went to the Saraswathi Bhandaaram which was holding the Vrithi Grantham written by Bodhayana. The Vrithi Grantham was a book that was a commentary to all the Brahmasutrams. Swami Ramanujar reached the Saraswathi Bhandaaram which was being guarded by two pandits. The two pandits asked Swami Ramanujar why he had come to the library. When Swami Ramanujar told them that he wanted to take the Vrithi Grantham the two pandits laughed and guided him and Kurathazhwan to an idol of Devi Saraswathi. The idol posed a riddle to Swami Ramanujar. The riddle was as follows ” tasya yatha kapyasam pundarikam evam akshini “. Swami Ramanujar immediately gave a detailed answer as this was the very same statement that he had first given a commentary for under Yadava Prakashar's education. The word kapyasam in Sanskrit grammar has many meanings. One can be interpreted as the posterior of a monkey. Another interpretation is that of the thin disk of light that envelopes the sun during sunrise. Another interpretation is something that is blown up and out of proportion. When Swami Ramanujar gives these three explanations, he says none of these explanations can be used to describe the eyes of the Lord. Swami Ramanujar describes that the word kapi: in Sanskrit refers to the sun. The word kapyasam refers to kapya: aayasam which can be described in the following scenario. Imagine a pond with still freshwater which has lotus flowers blooming in it. When the rays of the sun fall on the surface of the pond the water evaporates, causing the lotus to bloom with all its resplendence. Thus the eyes of the Lord can be described as that which is equivalent to that of the sun and possesses a gaze which is as soft as the petals of the lotus. Saraswathi Devi tells Swami Ramanujar that she was impressed by his answer and that She would grant him access to her library and allow him to take the Vrithi Grantham. Thus Swami Ramanujar took the Vrithi Grantham and started his journey back towards Sri Rangam. By the night, Swami Ramanujar and Kurathazhwan reached Kashi and decided to spend the night there. Swami Ramanujar fell asleep saying he was tired from the travel. Later in the morning when both Swami Ramanujar and Kurathazhwan awoke from their sleep they saw that the Vrithi Grantham was missing. Swami Ramanujar was heartbroken as he understood the pandits must have stolen the Grantham from them when they were sleeping. Kurathazhwan then tells his Acharya not to feel bad as he had read the entire Grantham in the night before falling asleep. He told his Acharya that his curiosity to know what was in the Grantham did not let him sleep, thus he read every last word in the Grantham before sleeping. Swami Ramanujar decides to test Kurathazhwan and asks him to tell him whatever he could remember from the Grantham. Kurathazhwan recited the entire Grantham before Swami Ramanujar and told him that he could remember anything he read in a single attempt. Swami Ramanujar and Kurathazhwan returned to Sri Rangam. After returning to Sri Rangam, Swami Ramanujar started writing another magnum opus which was a commentary to the Brahmasutrams written by Bhodhayana. Swami Ramanujar used the references of Azhwar Pashurams, Brahmasutra-Artham taught to him by Tirukacchi Nambi and the Vrithi Grantham through Kurathazhwan to write the great Sri Bhasyam.