 The work of Ramanuja on Lord Jagannath is now acceptable to all the caste of Hindu philosophy. His work on the unification of Gods is immense in the medieval era.
Journey to Purushattama Khestra by Ramanuja The great saint of India, Ramanuja visited Puri in the 12th century AD. While dealing with the conquest of Ramanuja, Swami Ramakrish- nananda informs that reaching Puri, which was known as Sri Purushattama Khestra. After a few days, he took rest for some time. He founded a monastery there and called it Embar Math after the name of Govinda, his own disciple. Out of fear of defeat the scholars of the place did not meet Ramanuja in any discussion, though the latter invited them. Ramanuja grew all the more eager to establish his doctrine there. He requested the priests of Lord Jagannatha to worship the deity that was installed by Lord Ramanuja, according to the Pancharatra Agama. When they refused to adopt any new doctrine, Ramanuja applied to the King of Odisha for arranging a discussion. Being frightened at this, the priests took refuge in Sri Purushottama Khestra. It is said that, on that night, Ramanuja while asleep, was thrown by Jagannatha to Kurma Kshetra, a hundred yojanas away from that place. When he woke up Ramanuja saw that he had come to a different place, where none of his numberless disciples was near him. On enquiry, Ramanuja came to know that he was in Kurma Kshetra. Knowing for certain that it was an artifice of God, after his morning duties, Ramanuja went to the temple of Sri Kurmadeva, and with deep devotion worshipped that image of the incarnation. Pleased with him, the Deity recommended him through His priest to wait there for some time for his disciples and Ramanuja complied. Reunited with his disciples after a few days, he went to Simhachala. From that time, the evolution began in Lord Jagannatha Temple of Puri on philosophical context. Translation by Ramanuja Ramanuja then translated Mannath into Tamil language as Emperu-Man-ar. Shortening it into Embar he gave the designation to Govinda, and named the second Math after him. Later on, he met with the king of Eastern Ganges Dynasty of Odisha who was impressed by his exposition of Vedanta. Ramanuja’s Treatise on Lord Jagannath Ramanujas work in the Jagannath Temple of Puri has been described by Anantacharya in Prapannamrita. Ramanuja offered smart divine offerings to the king of Odisha. But he encountered stiff opposition from the servitors of the temple of Lord Jaganntha. Ramanuja had the divine service to Lord Jagannatha performed by other Brahmins according to the Pancharatra rite, which was observed in the Sri-Rarigam temple. |
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