Ramanujacharya was a great preacher of personalist philosophy. Many people came to him and accepted his teaching which were stark opposition to the teachings of Sankaracarya that predominated at the time. One day as Ramanuja sat in the solitude of his study, a mendicant named Yamunacharya came to his door for alms.
Showing exemplary hospitality, Sri Ramanuja welcomed him whole heartedly. Ramanuja was informed that Yamuna was from the famous Sri Rangam Temple. As the two spoke, Ramanuja could understand that Yamunacharya was a qualified spiritual master in the science of devotion. With much jubilation, Ramanuja prostrated himself before him and asked to be accepted as his disciple.
Yamunacarya immediately picked him up and embraced him saying, “My dear child, today I am blessed by seeing your dedicated devotion to God. May you live a long and fruitful life being always absorbed in the service of the Personality of Godhead Lord Narayana.” Ramanuja then circumambulated his guru to invoke auspiciousness, and escorted him out as he left for Sri Rangam.
Following his initiation, Ramanuja preached the doctrine of devotion with even more vigour and conviction. He was so convincing in his presentation that even his former teacher, the Sankarite Yadava Prakash alongwith his disciples surrendered to him and became his follower.
Then one day, a messenger came from Sri Rangam informing Ramunja that his guru Sri Yamunaacarya was soon to leave his body. Ramanuja immediately departed, but was not able to reach there in time. Shortly before Ramanuja arrived, Yamunacarya left his body and ascended to the blissful realm of Vaikuntha.
Crossing the river Kaveri, Ramanuja reached the island of Sri Rangam, and went directly to the place where his guru’s body was lying. Surrounded by a group of his disciples, Yamunacarya lay on a bed with his eyes closed, his arms outstretched at his sides, and his face shining as if immersed in thoughts of infinite beauty. All watched with rapt
attention as Ramanujacarya entered the room and came to sit by the side of his guru. Tears of love filled his eyes and he wept piteously, feeling great separation from his spiritual master.
The was something mysterious about the hands of Yamunacarya. As he lay, he held his left hand in the yoga mudra, with three fingers extended and the thumb and forefinger joined. His right hand, however, was clenched into a fist. All the disciples and onlookers were puzzled by this. After a few moments, Ramanuja broke the silence declaring, “Our gurudeva, the revered Yamunacharya, has three desires to be fulfilled. For his satisfaction, I will protect the people in general by bestowing upon them the nectar of surrender at the lotus feet of Narayana. Thus they will be saved from the calamity of impersonalism.”
As Ramanuja spoke, one of the fingers on Yamunacharya’s fist extended. Then Ramanuja said, “For the well-being of the people of the world, I will write a commentary on the Vedanta-sutra which will establish the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Narayana as the ultimate reality.” At this, a second finger extended. Ramanuja continued speaking. “And in order to honor Parasara Muni, who in ancient times established the relation between jivas, living entities, and the Supreme Person, Iswara, I shall name one of my greatly learned and devoted disciples after him.” After Ramanuja spoke this, a third finger extended. Everyone present was astounded to have witnessed this.
From that day, everyone accepted Ramanuja as their leader. He moved to Sri Rangam and spent the next century there, dedicating his life to fulfilling the three desires of his guru.
Adapted and compiled from various sources