Gaining of Disciples

After taking up sanyasaashramam, Swami Rāmānujar's fame and popularity further grew. Swami Rāmānujar started to gain many followers and disciples. Among the first disciples were Swami Rāmānujar's first cousin, Dasharathi, from Purvaasharama, and another young man named Kuresha (Kūrattāzhvān). Kūrattāzhvān came from a very wealthy household. Hundreds of people would throng to Kūrattāzhvān's doorstep seeking alms, clothing, and vessels that Kūrattāzhvān would give without any second thought.

When Kūrattāzhvān met Swami Rāmānujar, he decided to give up all his wealth and stay by the side of his acharyan to perform kainkaryam. Kūrattāzhvān and his wife, Andal-amma, gave away all their wealth and, by sunset, left their house for Sri Rangam to be by the side of Swami Rāmānujar. As they were going through the forest, Andal-amma started to show signs of fear. Kūrattāzhvān sensed that his wife was still holding on to some wealth and asked her what she had brought along with her.

Andal-amma tells Kūrattāzhvān that she had kept one golden cup in her possession just in case Kūrattāzhvān wanted to drink water along the way. Kūrattāzhvān immediately took the golden cup and flung it away, telling her the only wealth they were to possess was the wealth of knowledge that Swami Rāmānujar would preach to them. Thus, Kūrattāzhvān and his wife reached Sri Rangam to be under the guidance of Swami Rāmānujar. In the meantime, Yādava Prakashar's gurukulam had closed due to the lack of students.

Yādava Prakashar spent his days in remorse and torment, thinking of how he felt he was superior. It was then that Yādava Prakashar's mother told him to go and seek refuge at the feet of Swami Rāmānujar. Thus, Yādava Prakashar leaves for Sri Rangam and falls at the feet of Swami Rāmānujar, asking him for the opportunity to become a changed individual. Swami Rāmānujar wholeheartedly obliges and performs the panchasamskara ritual to Yādava Prakashar, thereby converting him into a Vaishṇava and giving him the name Govinda Yati.