Swami Ramanujar's return to Sri Rangam and attaining Paramapadam

After Kulotunga Chola died in 1118, Swami Rāmānujar decided to return to Sri Rangam. The people of Yadugiri could not bear to part with Swami Rāmānujar. Thus, Swami Rāmānujar instilled his qualities into a panchaloham idol. Swami Rāmānujar and his disciples first made a stop at Tirumāliruñchōlai, where he fulfilled his vow to Sri Andal and presented the Lord with 100 gangalams of butter and sweet rice.

After fulfilling his promise, he visited Srivilliputur, where Sri Andal is said to have appeared before him and bestowed upon him the title of Godaagraja. Swami Rāmānujar then safely returned to Sri Rangam.

When Kūrattāzhvān received the news of Swami Rāmānujar's return, he rushed to see his Āchārya. When Swami Rāmānuja saw the plight of Kūrattāzhvān, he told Kūrattāzhvān to visit Varadaraja Perumāl to regain his lost eyes. Kūrattāzhvān followed Āchārya's instruction and restored his sight through the grace of Varadaraja Perumāl. Kūrattāzhvān then served Swami Rāmānujar for a period of two more years before attaining Paramapadam.

Seventeen years after Kūrattāzhvān's demise, a time came when Swami Rāmānujar sensed that his time on bhu-lokam was coming close to the end. It was at this time that Swami Rāmānujar appointed Kūrattāzhvān's son Parāshara Bhattar as the successor to propagate the Vishishṭādvaita Philosophy and made his final journey towards Paramapadam.

The gist of his last teachings is as follows:

Worship all holy men precisely as you would do in the case of your spiritual preceptor. Have sincere faith in the teachings of the previous acharyas and Āzhwārs. Never become enslaved by your senses. Be not satisfied with the acquisition of worldly knowledge; spend your time reading literature that deals with the greatness of God and the wonders of His creation. By the Guru's grace, the attraction of the senses will cease to torment you. Learn to maintain composure in feelings of joy and sorrow, charm, and aversion.

Enjoy the names and chanting of the glories of God's devotees with as much relish as the chanting of God's names and glories. Never forget that service to the devotees of God is more significant than service to God Himself. He who renders service to God's devotees speedily attains God Himself. Do not take to the life of a devotee as a means for acquiring any selfish advantage.

Three idols of Rāmānuja are especially associated with him. In the Tamil language, Tirumeni means 'idol' or 'figurine'. Ugandha means be worthy, be right, fit, rise to the occasion, and be suitable.

Sri Perumbudur, near Kanchipuram, got Thaan Ugandha Tirumeni – an idol that became sanctified on its own while Rāmānuja was in Shrīraṅgam.

Melkote, near Mysore, is home to Tamar Ugandha Tirumeni – an idol fashioned and sanctified by Him for His disciples.

Shrīraṅgam, near Trichy, got Thane Aana Tirumeni – an idol that is He, Himself.

He was a celebrated saint of His time who had codified the worship system itself.

After his passing, a life-size idol of his form has been kept in a sitting posture in a shrine within the Prakaram, a circumambulatory path of the Shrīraṅgam temple complex. Such an honour has not been bestowed on any other saint.

Thaan Ugandha Tirumeni

Tamar Ugandha Tirumeni

Thane Aana Tirumeni