Saint Ramanuja’s visit to Kashmir

Saint  Ramanuja’s visit  to Kashmir

 

Compiled by

P.R.Ramachander

 

( We have now  “google search “ to locate  information   about anything  and everything but  1000    years  back  there was no method  to locate a book or info.But Saint Ramanuja  located  the only available  copy  of a book in india in Kashmir.This also  indicates  that Kashmir then was a repository  of many  books on Veda)

 

Vedas are classified into two parts - Karma Kanda and Brahma Kanda. Karma Kanda, due to its vastness needed a briefing. Jaimini wrote Suthras (aphorisms) for the same. It was called as Purva Mimamsa.

Similarly Brahma Kanda, due to its complexity, needed a briefing, as it might have resulted in misinterpretations. Veda Vyasa wrote aphorisms for the same. This is called as Brahma Sutra.

Both Purva Mimamsa and Brahma Sutra needed further explanations. Thus came the Vritti(explanation) from Bodhayana for the Brahma sutra

A Vritti is a short gloss explaining the aphorisms in a more, elaborate way, but not as extensively as a Bhashya. Bodhayana Vritti had the reputation of being the most authoritative explanation of the Brahma Suthras.

 Saint RAmanuja   wanted to write a Bhasyhyam   to  the Brahma Sutra of   Sage Vyasa and before that  he wanted to consult  Bodhayana Vrithi 

Even before 1000  years  only one  copy was available and that  was in Kashmir.Saint Ramanuja along with his  disciple and friend Kuresa  visited  Kashmir   to  get a copy  of the  Bodhayana Vritti. The pundits of Kashmir   allowed him to read   and not take  any notes. Kuresha who had photographic  memory   was able to repeat  the contents of the book .Using  it  Saint  Ramanuja   wrote  his  “sri Bhashyam”  based on it  .