A TO Z INDIA ● MARCH 2022 ● PAGE 29
Social Reformer : SSiiggnniiffiiccaannccee ooff RRaammaannuujjaacchhaarryyaa
Chandra
He shared the Ashtakshari Mantra with everyone irrespective of caste . The only qualification he wanted was they ' re being devoted and eager to learn . He made sure that people from all castes had a role to play in the upkeep of temples , the sources of inspiration . Note that temples were the hub of knowledge , employment and culture , in those days … they were the universities , shopping centres , meeting points . Ramanujacharya showed his concern for women in those tough days and opened learning channels for women . This is 1000 + years ago …… I bet there was no social media to create a commotion … it was a single Acharya who sensed the need to educate all , so that everyone could experience knowledge … irrespective of their gender . He was the source for all other Bhakthi branches of thought . Having dived into the depths of Ramanujacharya ’ s ocean of Vaishnav devotion for Lord Vishnu , Kabir , Meerabai , Annamacharya , Ramdas , Thyagaraja and many others evolved as mystic poets . For the welfare and well-being of all , Ramanujacharya presented the essence of Vedas in the form of 9 scriptures . The purity of his own heart , enabled him to convince his mentors , rulers , bureaucrats , elite and common man to tread the path of Bhakthi , divine love .