Re: question

From the Bhakti List Archives

• July 30, 1999


Dear Ganesh,

No, Ramanuja the bhAshyakAra did not write a commentary on Srimad Ramayana.
The person to whom you refer must be a later scholar.  The commentary which 
is supposed to contain the traditional understanding of Valmiki's epic is 
the 'GovindarAjIya' by Govindaraja.  This dates from the 14th or 15th century 
(someone correct me) and is said to contain the 'tattvArtha-s' that Ramanujacharya 
learnt at the feet of his uncle Sri Saila Purna (Periya Tirumalai Nambi),
one of the main disciples of Yamuna (Alavandar). The GovindarAjIya is 
recognized by all Sanskrit scholars as a masterful and exhaustive commentary
and is often included in printed editions of the epic.

There is also a maNipravALa commentary on selected key slokas of Srimad
Ramayana by Periyavaaccaan Pillai. This commentary is known as 'Sri Ramayana
tani sloki'.

Mani