Bursting the fake claims !!

सीतानाथ समारम्भां रामानन्दार्य मध्यमाम्।
अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्तां वन्दे श्रीगुरू परम्पराम् ।।

Do Ramanandacharya & Ramanujacharya follow same tradition?

Shri Ramananda Sampradaya is entirely different from the Shri Ramanuja Sampradaya. It is completely futile and ignorant to say that Bhagavan Ramanandacharya comes in the guru parampara of Shri Ramanujacharya. Because the Ramanuja Sampradaya originated in the Kali Yuga, while the Shri Ramananda Sampradaya has been in existence since ancient times. It is an eternal Vedic tradition whose guru parampara has been established in all four yugas. However, some people have maliciously attempted to spread this misconception that Bhagavan Ramanandacharya comes in the guru parampara of Shri Ramanujacharya, but there is absolutely no truth to it. This is a completely baseless claim that has been refuted countless times.

One by One we will counter the misconceptions spread by some kids:

1• Sri Ramanandacharya got Sri Ram Mantra Diksha from Sri Ramanuja Sampraday

Refutation: A Big Big No! Sri Ramanuja Sampraday never gives Sri Ram mantra as a diksha mantra as their own Acharya’s have claimed this;

Shri Rangacharya of Ramanuja Sampraday has clearly stated in Durjanakaripanchanan

'नह्येते मन्त्रा अस्मत्कुलपरम्पराप्राप्तमन्त्रत्रयव्यतिरिक्ता लक्ष्मीनाथमारभ्यास्मादाचार्य पर्यन्तं केनचिदाचार्येण कस्य चिच्छिष्यस्योपदिष्टा’

Apart from our lineage's three sacred mantras, namely Shri Mannarayana Rahasya Trayam, no acharya, starting from Shri Lakshminath up to our current acharya, has taught any of their disciples these mantras (of Shri Rama, Krishna, and others).

And why Sri Ram & Sri Krishna mantras are not given, this has been cleared by him in response to 4th question of Purva Paksha in his same book Durjanakaripanchanan;

देवत्वादिना मनुष्यादधिकस्य पशुत्वादिना न्यूनस्य च देवपश्वोः प्राणित्वेन मनुष्य साम्यं एवं विशेषभावस्वरूपप्रतिपादकत्वेन रामकृष्णादिमन्त्राणां साम्यम् तत्तप्रायघटितमन्त्रात्मक वाक्यजन्यशब्दबोधेभ्यो विषयितया व्यावृत्तानां व्यापकता गुणविशेषादीनां प्रतिपादनेन न्यूनाधिकभावक्षेति ॥

"Just as the God surpass humans, and animals are inferior to humans, similarly, the Shri Narayana Mantra, Vishnu Mantra, and Vasudeva Mantra, and other mantras like Shri Ramakrishna Mantra, are all equally representative of the divine form and are equal in expressing the essence of the Supreme Being. However, since they lack the quality of universality and other attributes, they are considered inferior to the Narayana Mantra."

From this, it is clear that the Ramanuja Sampradaya has never had a tradition of initiating in Shri Ram Mantra. And when there is no tradition of initiation, there is no question of the sampradaya being unified. Few children might raise the questions now that in the Ramanuja Sampradaya, there was devotion to Lord Rama, as we have studied the oldest commentary on Valmiki Ramayana and all that. Please note that the discussion here is not about whether devotion to Lord Rama existed in a particular sampradaya or not. The discussion is specifically about the fact that the Ramanuja Sampradaya does not involve the initiation by Rama Mantra, as stated by their previous Acharyas.

These days, some people spread the misconception that Ramanandacharya comes in the guru parampara of Ramanujacharya. Such false beliefs were debunked during the Ujjain Kumbh Mela in 1921. When Ramanujis were badly defeated by Ramanandis in Shastrarth.

Following is the proof from "Peasants and Monks in British India"

The catalyst for the conflict was provided in 1918 by a visit to Ayodhya by the head of the Shri Vaishnava Totadri math in south India. Particularly galling to many Ramanandis was the fact that the Anantacharya (eternal leader) from the south refused to prostrate before Sita and Ramchandra images in two major Ramanandi temples, refused to accept prasad.

Pinch also mentions about the Kumbh in the next page and says that Ramanuj Sampraday was defeated in the debate. The Ayodhya debate, which occured in 1919 or 1920, did not in any way signal the end of the matter. Indeed, according to Ramanandis it only created the need for the more august "historical" debate at the 1921 Ujjain kumbh. The specific question to be addressed was whether the sacred books of the south Indian Shri Vaishnavas offended Ramchandra; implicit to the debate was whether Ramanuja was regarded by Ramanand as a monastic predecessor. The Ramanuji side was defended by Swami Ramprapann Ramanujadas of the Totadri math; Bhagavadacharya argued on behalf of the radical Ramanandi position. The jury took little time in deciding in favor of Bhagavadacharya and stating that hence forth the Ramanandi sampraday was to be independent of Ramanujacharya and south Indian Shri Vaishnavas. The guru parampara placed Ramanand twenty-second in descent from Ramchandra and included no mention whatsoever of Ramanuja, 70 Crucial to the Ujjain victory was the discovery of a fifteenth-century guru parampara that made no mention of Ramanuja; this parampara was said to have been authored by Agradevacharva, as grand-disciple of Ramanand, and was uncovered by the aforementioned research committee (Puratatvanusandhayini Samiti).

And infact in Indian sadhus is it mentioned:

“Ramanuj Sampraday was outcasted in the next kumbh and was not allowed to take part in Shahi Snana”

"Indian Sadhus" -G.S. Ghurye page 173

"The report of Kumbha Mela at Ujjain in 1932 does not list Ramanuji ascetics as having taken part in the procession."

Reinventing Ramanand: Caste and History in Gangetic India William R. Pinch Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 3 (Jul., 1996) Page 552

The debunking of this baseless misconception that the Ramananda Sampradaya falls under the Ramanuja Sampradaya was done by the Ramanandis themselves during the 1921 Kumbh Mela. However, some people have a tendency to repeatedly face defeat and still return with their defeated faces held high.

2• Bhaktamal gives description of Chatuh Sampraday in which Ramananda Sampraday is not mentioned and mentions that Sri Ramananda belongs to Sri Ramanuja.

Refutation: A complete fake! Sri Nabhadas Ji belongs to Sri Ramananda Sampraday whose Guru was Sri Agradevacharya. Who has said about the Guru parampara of Shri Ramanand samprday whose written manuscript which was given as a evidence in 1921 Ujjain Kumbh and that was accepted by Ramanuj Samprday as their defeat, clearly sates that;

No mention of Sri Ramanujacharya in the lineage of Sri Ramanandacharya clearly sates that both Acharyas belongs to two different lineage. And just use little brain 🧠, if Guru of Sri Nabhadas, Sri Agradev Swami (incarnation of Sri Shatrughan Ji) following the Guru parampara which mentions no name of Sri Ramanujacharya. Can you imagine His shishya will mention someone else in His lineage doing Guru-Droha, going against His Guru? Never! Even Gita Press Gorakhpur says with star mark that in manuscripts also says Ramananda is mentioned and at some place Ramanuj is present but Sri Nabhadas Ji would have written only about one Sampraday without start mark. And scriptural evidence and according to 1921 it has been established that Ramanuja Sampraday can't come their and Ramananda doesn't falls in Ramanuja Sampraday.

Originally the Chappy is;

रामानंद उदार सुधानिधि अवनि कल्पतरु।
विष्णुस्वामी बोहित्थ सिन्धु संसार पार करु॥
मध्वाचारज मेघ भक्ति सर ऊसर भरिया।
निम्बादित्य आदित्य कुहर अज्ञान जु हरिया॥
जनम करम भागवत धरम संप्रदाय थापी अघट।
चौबीस प्रथम हरि बपु धरे त्यों चतुर्व्यूह कलिजुग प्रगट॥

And second thing, now let us see the word “Udaar” in the first line;

Regarding sampradāya of Rāmānanda and Rāmanuja, Dr. S. Radhakrishnana has made a very subtle observation in his book, Indian Philosophy Vol II, which is as follows—

“Ramanuja preaches equality in worship and proclaims that bhakti transcends all caste distinctions. He admitted the pariahs to the temple at Melkote. But it is by no means clear that he was prepared for a wholesale defiance of the accepted order. Out of deference to tradition he concedes that freedom is open only to the three upper classes, and others will have to work their way up and wait for the next birth. We cannot, therefore, say that he was in full sympathy with the logical implications of his teaching. A later Vaisnava teacher, Ramananda (thirteenth century), protested against caste distinctions. “Let no man, he says, ask a man’s caste or sect. Whoever adores God is God’s own.” His apostolate of about twelve included a Brahmin, a barber, a leather-worker, a Rajput and a woman. Caitanya preached the religion of devotion and love to all men irrespective of caste or class. ....”

(IInd Edition Reprint 1948, P. 709)

And infact Vedantakarikavali by Shri Buchchivenkatacharya of Ramanuja Sampraday clearly states;

अपशूद्रनये भक्तौ शूद्रानधिकृतिः स्फुटा ॥ ८.१३॥

Therefore here the word “Udaar” can't be used for Ramanuja Sampraday alone Jagadguru Ramanandacharya is fit for that.

Jagadguru Śrīmad Rāmānandācharya ji adopted people of all castes, gender etc. he did not hesitate to adopt even Malechha, that is why the word “Udāar" (Generous) has been exclusively used for him. As Śrīmad Rāmanandacharya was HIMSELF Śrī Rām as said in scriptures,

“rāmānandaḥ svayaṃ rāmaḥ prādurbhūto mahītale"

Śrīmad Rāmānandacharya is Śrī Rāma himself who appeared on this earth in the form of a great Muni (sage) out of his causeless mercy and compassion on all Jivas.

(-Nārad Panchrātra Vaishvānar Samhitā)

Śrīmad Göswāmi Tulsidās Ji who Himself belongs to Sri Ramananda Sampraday has also used the word “Udāar" frequently with Śrī Rām in Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam:—

एहि महँ रघुपति नाम उदारा। अति पावन पुरान श्रुति सारा।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.10.1)

अवतार उदार अपार गुनं। महि भार बिभंजन ग्यानघनं।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.111.6)

परम चतुरता श्रवन सुनि बिहँसे रामु उदार।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.38)

सुनहु उदार सहज रघुनायक। सुंदर अगम सुगम बर दायक।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.42.1)

मन भावत बर मागउँ स्वामी। तुम्ह उदार उर अंतरजामी।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 7.84.8)

तब कि चलिहि अस गाल तुम्हारा। अस बिचारि भजु राम उदारा।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.27.7)

मैं बानर फल खात न बारा। आयसु दीन्ह न राम उदारा।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 6.34.4)

पुनि प्रभु कहहु राम अवतारा। बालचरित पुनि कहहु उदारा॥

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 1.110.5)

ताहि देइ गति राम उदारा। सबरी कें आश्रम पगु धारा।।

(Śrīmad Rāmāyaṇam 3.34.5)

Therefore scriptural, historical and logical evidence shows alone Srimad Jagadguru Ramanandacharya fit for the wors “Udaar” not Ramanujacharya.

And infact the other saints of that period also has mentioned about 4 Sampraday;

जानहु श्री सनकादि अरु ब्रह्मा रुद्र उदार ।
कह 'मलूक' वैदिक यही सम्प्रदाय हैं चार ॥95॥
रामानन्दाचार्यजी श्रीके शुभ आचार्य ।
कह 'मलूक' सनकादिके श्रीनिम्बार्काचार्य ॥96॥
कह 'मलूक' श्रीब्रह्मके हैं श्रीमध्वाचार्य ।
विष्णुस्वामि श्रीरुद्रके सम्प्रदाय आचार्य ॥97॥

(-Sri Malook Shatak 95-97)

Sri Swami Khoji ji Maharaj appeared in 1575 (Vikram Samvat) writes about lineage of Sri Ramananda Sampradaya in his Sri Samprday Kalpadrum;

प्रथम दया करि सीय, रामसों बीज बुलायो ।
पुनि हनुमन्त हि आपु, मन्त्र उपदेशि दृढायो ॥
ब्रह्मा तथा वशिष्ठ पराशर व्यास शुकादिक ।

रामानन्दाचार्य सींचि, विस्तारयौ चहुं दिक ॥
जय सन्ताप विनाशिनी छाया, सुख पावै सबै ।
सम्प्रदायश्री देवद्रुम, फूलै फलै सुपल्लवै ॥

And the Valmiki Samhita, was also presented as evidence during the 1921 Kumbh Mela, which was accepted by Ramanuja Ram Prapanna Das Swami of the Ramanuja Sampradaya, thereby declaring defeat of Ramanuja Sampraday’s false claim. In that evidence from the Valmiki Samhita, it is clearly written that the Shri Ramananda Sampradaya originates from Lord Shri Sita Ram. Following shlokas were given from Valmiki Samhita as a proof which are;

Rishis asked Maharishi Valmiki:

पूर्वं तु राममन्त्रोऽयमासीत् स्वग्र्येषु केवलम् ।
पृथिव्यां कथमायातस्तन्नो ब्रूहि दयानिधे ! ||३०||

Earlier, the Shadakshar Sri Ram mantra was limited to the celestial gods in heaven. How did it come to Earth? Oh compassionate one! Please enlighten us.

Maharishi Valmiki said:

इदं तु परमं तत्त्वं देवानामप्यगोचरम् ।
पृष्टं युष्माभिरनधं कथ्यते श्रृणुतर्षयः ! ||३१||

This supreme essence is even beyond the perception of the celestial gods. You have asked about this divine entity, free from sins, due to your affectionate inquiry. Therefore, I shall explain it to you.

भगवान् रामचन्द्रो वै परं ब्रह्म श्रुतिश्रुतः ।
दयालुः शरणं नित्यं दासानां दीनचेतसाम् ||३२||

Lord Sri Ram is indeed the supreme Brahman, as proclaimed by the Vedas. He is supremely merciful, always offering refuge, and remains ever attentive to His servants and the needy.

इमां सृष्टिं समुत्पाद्य जीवानां हितकाम्यया ।
आद्यां शक्तिं महादेवीं श्रीसीतां जनकात्मजाम् ॥ ३३॥

Lord Sri Ram, after creating this universe for the welfare and desires of people, imparted the supreme mantra called the Shadakshara Taraka Mantra to Mahadevi Goddess Sita, who is the primeval energy.

तारकं मन्त्रराजं तु श्रावयामास ईश्वरः ।
जानकी तु जगन्माता हनूमन्तं गुणगारकम् ॥३४॥

After hearing the Taraka Mantra from Lord Shri Ram, Mother Janaki, who is the mother of the universe, recited it to Hanumanji, who is an ocean of virtues.

श्रावयामास नूनं स ब्रह्माणं सुधियां वरम् ।
तस्माल्लेभे वसिष्ठर्षिः क्रमादस्मादवातरत ॥३५॥

By hearing the Taraka Mantra, Hanumanji, with his pure intellect, disseminated it to Sri Brahmā. Consequently, Sage Vasishta, through the course of events, received the mantra from Sri Brahmā.

भूमौ हि राममन्त्रोऽयं योगिनां सुखदः शिवः ।
एवं क्रमं समादाय मन्त्रराजपरम्परा ॥३६॥

Indeed, this sacred mantra of Lord Rama is a bestower of happiness to the yogis in this world. Thus, following this sequence, the lineage of the supreme mantra is established.

(-Valmiki Saṃhitā Chapter 2 Verse 30-36)

And in fact Valmiki Ramayan Shiromani tika which is one of the ancient commentary on Valmiki Ramayan which was written by Acharya Shiv Sahaya He has clearly mentioned his Guru parampara in that;

He has clearly mentioned that he belongs to a Lineage which starts from Lord Sri Sitaram in whose middle Aacharya Shukdevacharya (commentator of Shrimad bhagavatam is present who is infact 8th Aacharya of Sri Ramananda Samprday) is their and up to his own Aacharya He worships the whole Lineage.

And infact you can see the Historical fact of a Muslim Scholar who was contemporary of Srimad Jagadguru Ramanandacharya who wrote about Sri Ramanandacharya and His lineage in his work — Click Here

See more mentions of Sri Ramananda Sampraday from scriptures: Click Here

Ending up with bursting a claim that Ananda Bhashya was not mentioned by Ancient Ramanandis Acharyas;

—By Sri Anubhavanandacharya student of Sri Anantanandacharya.

—By Sri Anantanandacharya in Anant Sikshamrit

—By Sri Anantanandacharya in Sad Vidyarth Nirnay

—By Sri SurSuranandacharya in Sri Vaishnav Dincharya

—By Sri Bhavanandacharya in Bhavana Trayam

—By Sri Saketniwasacharya in Sri Ramananda Vedant Saar

—By Narharyanandacharya in Anant Tattvamrit

—By Yoganandacharya in Bhakti Traynirupanam

—By Kilhadevacharya in Sadhan Bhakti Darpanam

And infact above all mentions are excerpted from official book of Chatuh Sampraday:

https://www.amazon.in/Chatuh-Sampraday-Digdarshan-Harishankar-Vedanti/dp/9381954585

which includes official letters of all 4 Vaishnav Sampraday head.

So, Yes! Anand Bhashya was authored by Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Himself.

This has been an ongoing trend since ancient times, where the Ramanuja sect always criticizes the Ramananda sect, although it is a different matter that they have also faced defeats from time to time. Nowadays, the new followers of Ramanuja sect show more interest in the Ramananda sect than in their own sect. They continue to attack the tradition of the Ramananda sect, even though the tradition of the Ramananda sect is well-established in the scriptures. Criticizing a tradition that has its roots in the Vedas is like spitting in the air with one's mouth wide open, akin to spitting on the sun.

Thank You For Reading 🌸🌸

Please Chant SitaRam SitaRam SitaRam

All Glory To Srimad Goswami Tulsidas Ji

All Glory To Anand Bhashyakar Srimad Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Ji