Sri Embaar

Sri Govinda bhatta, the birth name for Sri Embaar, was the maternal cousin of Sri Ramanuja. He was born in 1021 A.D. at a village called Madura Mangalam. His parents were Sridevi and Kamala nayana bhatta. Govinda and Ramanuja were disciples of Yadava Prakasha. During the course of their learning, Ramanuja and Yadava Prakasha had many differences of opinion. Due to these differences, Yadava and some his other students conspired to kill him.

On this pretext, Yadava, arranged for a pilgrimage to kaasi and invited both Ramanuja and Govinda, along with other students. Govinda, sensing the impending conspiracy, warned Ramanuja, who in turn disappeared from the rest of the group. It was Govinda's timely warning that saved Ramanuja and the Sri Vaishnava Samprathayam. Ramanuja wandered around the forest and reached Deva PerumaL temple in Kanchi.

Govinda continued his journey to the Ganges with Yadava and the rest of the students. While bathing at the river, a Lingam floated into the hands of Govinda. When he pointed this to Yadava, he praised Govinda and gave him the title ULLangkai koNarntha Nayanaar. Subsequently, after their return from the Ganges, Govinda proceeded to perform the daily duties at Kaalahasti Sivan temple (one the way from Madras to Tirupati).

Ramanuja and Govinda went their own ways. However, Ramanuja was very much interested in bringing Govinda back to his fold. So, he requested Tirumalai Nambi (Sri Saila Poorna) to try and reclaim Govinda. T. Nambi followed the request and visited Kaalahasti three times. On his third encounter with Govinda, T. Nambi was instructing his students on the second 100 paasuram of Tiruvaymozhi. Govinda was listening to this and at the end of the fourth paasuram, T. Nambi explained Except the One God (Krishna) which other deserves flower of worship?. On hearing this, Govinda fell to T. Nambi's feet, renouncing his Saiva bhakti. T. Nambi, with the permission of the residents of Kaalahasti, took Govinda into his fold and went back to Tirupati. There, T. Nambi performed the five fold Sacraments, initiating Govinda, and started his instruction on the Divya Prabhandham.

Govinda then moved to Srirangam and stayed with Ramanuja and became a loyal friend and student. His knowledge in Sastraas was very much appreciated by all around him. He was a householder for a short period and latter expressed his desire to take on the path of a Sannyaasin. Ramanuja granted his wishes and conferred upon him the name Embaar (the shadow of Emberumaanaar).