INTRODUCTION
Sri Villidasan also called as Dhanurdasa was an important disciple of Swamy Ramanuja. Actually he was a body builder and a strong man. His attitude was changed by Sri Ramanuja, and he has become a pious saint. Though he belonged to lower caste, he was liked by Sri Ramanuja for his sincere devotion and faith on him and with Lord Vishnu. Both he and his wife were very pious couples, and dedicated their entire attention on the guru and the god.
He was noticed by Sri Ramanuja when he was walking nearby the Srirangam Temple. Ramunuja found him sharing his love and affection with his wife Ponnachi in a different manner. He was holding an umbrella to protect her from the sun rays, and watching her face. His activity was disliked by lot of people who were passing that way.
Sri Ramanuja has called him, and took him along with him to the temple, and made him to see the face of Lord Ranganatha. Through the grace of the divine saint Sri Ramanuja, he has got enlightenment on seeing the divine form of Ranganatha, and immediately he and his wife became his ardent devotees, and stayed in the house provided by Sri Ramanuja, and served his guru in a well versed manner.
The other disciples, doesn’t like the affection shown by Sri Ramanuja to Sri Villidasan, since he belonged to a lower caste. Once they have asked about this to their guru also. Due to that Sri Ramanuja wants to prove his true bhakti on him and decided to test him.
He has asked his disciples to go to his house at the night and to remove the jewels of his wife, and to bring it to him. At that time, Villidasan was not there in his house. The disciples obeyed their master’s instructions, and went to his house, and slowly started removing the jewels from the body of Ponnachi. They removed half of the jewels from her body, and she realized their activity and wants them to take the remaining jewels also hence she slightly moved her body, in order to take the remaining jewels easily by them.
But the disciples thought that she has wake up from the sleep, and left that place with half of her belongings, and went to their guru’s place and narrated the entire incidents.
The next day Villidasan hurriedly reached his guru’s place and fell at his feet, and narrated the incident and asked his guru’s disciples to take the remaining part of the jewels of his wife. On hearing his words, the disciples were ashamed for their act, and realized his good behaviour and his true bhakti he has kept on his guru. Sri Ramanuja looked at his disciples with a meaningful smile. Afterwards, the disciples of Ramanuja started moving with him in a cordial manner.
Let us worship the great saint and be blessed.
“OM SRI DHANURDASARE NAMAHA”
“OM SRI RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA”
“OM NAMO NARAYANAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY R.HARISHANKAR
