Great people are one, and famous people are the other. While the famous are popular for their lifestyle, their lineage, their habits, great people are known for their belief in spreading their knowledge and life in the benefit of others. Sri Ramanujacharya, the creator of the doctrine of Vishishtadwaita philosophy aptly fits this notion when he shared a secret mantra to benefit the entire mankind with its power.
Ramanujacharya was born in Sriperambudur in Tamilnadu to Kesava Somayaji and Kantimathi in 1017 A.D. He was deeply influenced by the devotion of Bhagwan Vishnu propagated by the Alwars. Seeking higher knowledge in the same, he approached one of the revered Acharya Goshtipurna seeking initiations in the secret mantra of devotion of Bhagwan Vishnu
However, the Goshtipurna refused to initiate Ramanuja. Without losing hope, Ramanuja visited his guru eighteen times with an earnest to receive the initiation. After the eighteenth time, Ramanuja felt despair and he felt that he was unworthy of the initiation because of some impurity in his devotion. This thought gave him immense grief and he wailed at his failure.
Acharya Goshtipurna was moved with pity and kindly spoke to Ramanuja that it was time to Ramanuja to receive the secret initiation. Goshtipurna mentions that the mantra was the one which liberated the soul from all desires and make one reach the feet of Bhagwan Vishnu. As the mantra was pure and sacred, Goshtipurna expressed that it was never to be disclosed and shared to anybody. Ramanuja agreed to this, and received the mantra with great happiness. He bowed to the feet of his guru and started his journey back home.
On the way back home, a thought occurred to Ramanuja on the potency of the mantra. He wondered that when the mantra could liberate one of all pains, then such mantra should be shared by all to understand the greatness of Bhagwan Vishnu. Thinking such, he came to a decision and reached the temple of Tirukottuyur. He climbed up the tower of the temple and shouted to all the people to assemble there so that he could teach them a mantra which would relieve them form all pains and sufferings. Very quickly, a huge assembly gathered waiting what Ramanuja would reveal which would give them a lot of wealth and riches. After seeing the huge commotion of the crowd, Ramanuja uttered the eight syllable mantra Om Namo Narayana at the top of his voice.
The crowd listening to the sacred mantra, realised that their hearts were filled with great happiness and all shouted back the same with the devotion of Bhagwan Vishnu. They returned home back with the true realisation that it was Bhagwan Vishnu’s devotion which was the reliever of all sufferings, but not wealth.
However, Guru Goshtipurna was upset with his disciple. When Ramanuja approached him, the guru rebuked him to go to hell for betraying him. With humble folded hands, Ramanuja mentioned that when countless people uttering the name of Bhagwan Vishnu would be liberated, then it was insignificant if a single person like him went to hell. Listening to this, Guru Goshtipurna was stunned and realised how great Ramanuja was. Goshtipurna embraced Ramanuja and he himself became Ramanuja’s disciple.
It was only because of the greatness of Shri Ramanujacharya that all knew the sacred mantra which till date remains the most chanted mantra of Bhagwan Vishnu and indeed relieves all pains and sufferings.