Ramanuja Vaibhavam : 7 : Gaining of Disciples

After taking up sanyasaashramam, Swami Ramanujar's fame and popularity further grew. Swami Ramanujar started to gain many followers and disciples. Among the first disciples were Swami Ramanujar's Purvaasharama first cousin Dasharathi and another young man named Kuresha ( Kurathalwan ). Kurathalwan came from a very wealthy household. Hundreds of people would throng to Kurathalwan's doorstep seeking alms, clothing, and vessels that Kurathalwan would give without any second thought. When Kurathalwan met Swami Ramanujar he decided to give up all his wealth and stay by the side of his acharyan to perform kainkaryam. Kurathalwan and his wife Andal-amma gave away all of their wealth and by sunset left their house for Sri Rangam to be by the side of Swami Ramanujar. As they were going through the forest, Andal-amma started to show signs of fear. Kurathalwan sensed that his wife was still holding on to some wealth and asked her what she had brought along with her. Andal-amma tells Kurathalwan that she had kept one golden cup in her possession just in case Kurathalwan wanted to drink water along the way. Kurathalwan immediately took the golden cup and flung it away telling her the only wealth they were to possess was the wealth of knowledge that Swami Ramanujar would preach to them. Thus Kurathalwan and his wife reached Sri Rangam to be under Swami Ramanujar. In the meanwhile, Yadava Prakashar's gurukulam had closed due to the lack of students. Yadava Prakashar spent his days in remorse and torment thinking of how he thought he was superior. It was then that Yadava Prakashar's mother tells him to go and seek refuge at the feet of Swami Ramanujar. Thus Yadava Prakashar leaves for Sri Rangam and falls at the feet of Swami Ramanujar and asks him for an opportunity to be a changed individual. Swami Ramanujar whole-heartedly obliges and performs panchasamskaaram to Yadava Prakashar thereby converting him into a Vaishnava, giving him the name of Govinda Yati.