Yamunacharya is one of the greatest spiritual leaders who appeared in 10th century CE in India.
Lord sends his chosen representatives in this world whenever he finds that the pure devotional service unto Him is in danger. Mayavada (monist) philosophy is one such school of thought which puts one’s spiritual life in danger by teaching its practitioners that one ultimately becomes God by merging into the Supreme Brahman.
The philosophy was attracting thousands of people and appeared unconquerable. It was during this period Lord sent Yamunacharya who countered the monist concept effectively, he saved the spiritual life of thousands of people. He laid the foundation for Vishistadvaita philosophy which was later propagated by his disciple Ramanujacharya.
The Vishistadvaita philosophy very emphatically established that the Lord and the living entities are although qualitatively one but are quantitively different and we the living beings can never become God.
Yamuna – a child prodigy
Yamunacharya was born in Madurai in early 10th century CE to Isvaramuni. His father died when he was just a small child. Yamunacharya lived in poverty and grew up under the care of his mother and grandmother. His grandfather, Nathamuni, was a very learned scholar and a saintly person.
He had renounced the world and had taken sannyas. He was the first person to make available the writings of the alvaras. At the age of five, Yamuna was sent to the ashram of Bhasyacharya for studies, he soon became one of his favourite students.
During that period lived an erudite scholar named Kolahala. He would challenge others for debate and defeat them easily. The king of the Pandya dynasty appreciated his profound knowledge.
In fact Kolahal had got a law enacted by the king that those who gets defeated by him should pay him tax regularly. Bhasyacharya had also been bested by Kolahala. Once Kolahala’s pupils came to the ashram of Bhasyacharya to collect the tax.
Upon not finding him they inquired from Yamuna who was present in the ashram. Yamuna was then just 12 years old. With immense pride they said, “We are the disciples of Kolahala, the Great. Our guru has defeated your guru but has not paid tax. He should pay tax immediately else be ready for punishment.”
Yamuna challenges Kolahala for debate
Yamuna looked into their eyes and said, “You all are filled with pride and arrogance. I am the youngest student here and I challenge Kolahala for a debate.” Kolahala’s followers were shocked.
They immediately went to Kolahala and narrated everything. Hearing that a 12-year-old boy has challenged him Kolahala laughed, the king too laughed. But the king said to Kolahala that he will have to honour the challenge.
The king sent a letter to Yamuna inviting him for the debate. Yamuna wrote back asking the king to send a royal palanquin for him and also during the procession to the court he should be accompanied by military guards and brahmanas chanting mantras. The king agreed.
The Extraordinary debate
People of the entire kingdom were amazed when they heard about the debate. Majority thought that the little boy would be easily defeated. But in their hearts, many including those scholars who had been defeated by Kolahala prayed that Yamuna wins.
Yamuna arrived in court on a palanquin. Scores of people were present to witness this unique debate. Seeing a young boy the king turned to his queen and said, “Just like a cat devours a mouse, Kolahala is going to demolish this boy.” And the queen promptly replied, “Just as a small spark burns a large mountain of cloth to ashes, this little boy is going to demolish the pride of Kolahala”.
The queen further said, “If Kolahala defeats Yamuna then I will become servant of your maidservants.” And the king said, “If little Yamuna wins I will give half of my kingdom to him.”
When Kolahala heard this, he turned towards the queen and sarcastically said, “Alabandara.” The word meant: Is this the person who is going to conquer me? Queen looked back at him and said,”Alabandara.”
The debate begins
Kolahal started asking questions and Yamuna started replying. Kolahal increased the complexity of the questions but Yamuna answered easily with logic and reasoning. The debate went on. Kolahal was trying his best but Yamuna appeared unconquerable.
The assembled audience including the king and the queen could not believe what they were witnessing. After several rounds, Yamuna looked at Kolahal and said disparagingly, “Why are you asking easy questions? Do you think that I am a young boy so I am an inferior scholar than you?” Kolahal was dumbfounded. He said, “You ask the questions.”
Yamuna said, “I will make three propositions and I want you to refute these propositions”
Yamuna then presented following three propositions which Kolahal had to refute.
Three propositions of Yamuna
- Kolahal’s mother is not a barren woman.
- The king is a righteous man.
- The queen is chaste and faithful to her husband like Savitri.
Kolahala was shocked. He exploded with anger, “You should be killed for putting forth such nonsense and offensive statements.”
Yamuna calmly said, “I will defeat my propositions.”
Yamuna defeats his own propositions
And he said,
- According to scriptures, a woman who has only one child is considered a barren woman. Since Kolahala is the only son of his mother so according to scriptures his mother is barren.
- As per scriptures, a king accepts one sixth of pious and also one sixth of impious deeds of the citizens. In Kaliyuga, people are more sinful than pious. So, although the king is righteous but because he is also accepting the sins he is not righteous.
- According to the scriptures king represents following demigods: Agni, Vayu, Surya, Chandra, Yama, Kuvera, Varuna, and Indra. Although the queen serves her husband faithfully but while serving the king she also serves eight other men simultaneously.
As soon as the queen heard this, she leaped up from the throne and cried out, “Alabandara! You have conquered Kolahala”. Everyone was applauding. Kolahal’s pride was crushed. The king garlanded Yamuna and gave him half the kingdom.
Yamuna, the king, gets engrossed in worldly affairs
Although he was mere 12 years old but he was a quick learner. He started managing and administering the kingdom efficiently. He expertly organized his military to thwart any attack on the kingdom.
Years passed by and he was completely absorbed in managing the affairs of his kingdom and devising plans to expand his territory.
Meanwhile Nathamuni, his grandfather, had become too old. He was worried because his grandson had forgotten his religious duties and the teachings of the holy scriptures. He asked Ram Mishra, his intimate disciple, to bring Yamuna to the path of pure unalloyed devotional service.
Ram Mishra came to Madurai. He knew that being an unknown person he won’t get an audience with the king. So, he made a plan. He was an expert in Ayurveda, so he took a specific variety of spinach to the cook of the king’s kitchen and said, “I am a Brahmin and out of love for the beloved king I want to offer this nutritious food to him.”
This special spinach not just tasted good but it had the potency to bring out good qualities of a person. The king liked the preparation and Ram Mishra would supply it daily to the cook. Once Ram Mishra did not come, so the cook did not prepare that special dish. The king had fallen in love with that spinach.
When he did not find it in his meal he immediately inquired. The cook told the king about the brahaman who brings the special spinach out of love for the king and does not charge any money for it. King expressed his desire to meet the brahmana. So when next day Ram Mishra came, the cook took him to the king.
Yamuna’s love for the Supreme Lord reawakens
Ram Mishra revealed to the king that he was a disciple of his illustrious grandfather, Nathamuni, and have a special message for the king. King was happy to meet him and was curious to know the message.
Ram Mishra told the king that his grandfather has left a great treasure for him and he is here to handover the wealth to him. King desperately needed wealth as his army was in the midst of a battle. He wanted to know all the details about the treasure.
Ram Mishra said that the treasure is guarded by 7 gates, surrounded by 2 rivers and is being guarded by many hooded serpent. Every 12 years a Yaksha comes to inspect the treasure. To get the treasure the king had to come with him alone. The king agreed. He delegated his responsibilities to senior ministers and went with Ram Mishra.
Ram Mishra and the king would travel for several miles daily and wherever they stopped for rest, Ram Mishra would read Bhagavad Gita. Yamuna was hearing the beautiful verses of Bhagavad Gita after several years, he started remembering his old days, his heart was getting transformed.
And as soon as he heard the verse, “Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt” (Bhagavad Gita 12.8), he began to weep. Falling at the feet of Ram Mishra the king said “I will not go back to my kingdom. I have understood the goal of my life, I was simply wasting my time. I will live only to serve Krishna.”
Yamuna goes to Sri Rangam
Ram Mishra explained him about the real treasure which his grandfather wanted to gift him. He took him to Sri Rangam where merciful Lord resides as Sri Ranganath Swami.
One has to cross 7 gates to reach the temple city, the holy city is surrounded on two sides by Kaveri river, Anantsesa, the multi hooded serpent, guards the Lord, and Vibhishan, the yaksha, come once in every 12 years to worship the Lord.
When his love for the Supreme Lord re-awakened, he experienced deep joy and deep satisfaction. As a king, he had all the material opulence but he never felt the pleasure which he was experiencing now.
He handed over the reins of his kingdom to others and also made sure that some part of the kingdom’s wealth is used in the service of the Lord. He started living the life of a renunciate and propagated the Vaisnava philosophy.
Yamunacharya – an exemplary devotee, a philosopher, a prolific writer
As 12-year-old, he had conquered Kolahala and later through his teachings and writings he conquered the Mayavada philosophy through the Vishistadvaita philosophy.
The legacy of Yamunacharya was carried forward by Ramanujacharya who became one of the foremost leader of Sri Vaisnava sampradaya and played pivotal role in defeating the Mayavada philosophy.
Yamunacharya wrote several books, few of them are:
- Chathusloki – prayer in praise of Lakshmi
- Stotra-ratna – prayer in praise of Narayana
- Siddhitrayam – it establishes the Vishistadvaita school of thought by explaining the relationship between the Supreme Lord, the soul and the universe.
- Gitartha Sangraha – a commentary on the Bhagvada Gita
- Mayavada Khandanam
His life was exemplary, his love for the Lord was supreme. In Stotra – ratna (43), Yamunacharya expresses his heart’s longing to love and serve the Lord forever. “By serving You constantly, one is freed from all material desires and is completely pacified. When shall I engage as Your permanent eternal servant and always feel joyful to have such a fitting master?“
