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RÁMÁNAND is sometimes considered to have been the immediate disciple of RÁMÁNUJA, but this appears to be an error: a more particular account makes him the fifth in descent from that teacher, as follows-the pupil and successor of RÁMÁNUJA was DEVÁNAND; of DEVÁNAND, HARINAND; of HARINAND, RAGHAVÁNAND, and of this last, RÁMÁNAND, an enumeration which, if correct, would place RÁMÁNAND about the end of the 13th century1: there is great reason, however, to doubt his being entitled to so remote a date, and consequently to question the accuracy of his descent from RÁMÁNUJA: we shall have occacion to infer, hereafter, from the accounts given of the dates of other teachers, that RÁMÁNAND was not earlier than the end of the 14th, or beginning of the 15th century.
According to common tradition, the schism of RÁMÁNAND originated in resentment of an affront offered him by his fellow disciples, and sanctioned by his teacher. It is said, that he had spent some time in travelling through various parts of India, after which he returned to the Math, or residence of his superior: his brethren objected to him, that in the course of his peregrinations, it was impossible he could have observed that privacy in his meals, which is a vital observance of the Rámánuja sect, and as RAGHAVANAND admitted the validity of the objection, RÁMÁNAND was
OF THE HINDUS.
The enumeration in the Bhakta Málá is different: it there occurs 1. RÁMÁNUJA, 2. DEVÁCIÁRJ, 3. RAGHAVÁNAND, 4. RÁMÁNAND; making him the fourth.
