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S4 THE LlB'E OP UAMANUJA. Ctt. XV.
feet of Tiru-k-kofrtiyur Nambi ( = Goshtlu-Puina), who was
an intimate disciple of Yamuna.
E/Elindinuja took leave and proceeded to Tiru-k-kottiyur
(near Pndukdta); and, on arriving there asked the passers-by
where Gdshthi-Purna was living. " There, in that poor low
hut," said they, pointing. Kamanuja fell on his knees, and all
the way from where he stood up to the hut, he went prostrate.
Only those knew Nambi well, who knew how not to see defects
in their Masters, but only saw perfections, and these to exaggeration.'
R&md.naja approached Nambi and falling at his
feet prayed: " Teacli me, Holy Sire, all the recondite doctrines
of our Faith. I am the humble feef' of Maha-piirna." In order to
test the strength of Ramaunj'a professions, Goshthi-Purna said
in an ofE-hand manner: " What have I to tell, and to whom ?,"
and gave him no countenance. Ramanuja never spoke another
word, either of supplication or of reproach ; but simply prostrated
himself and returned to Koil (— Si-irangam).
G. Purna had to visit Srirangam for the season's festivities
connected with that Holy Fane. He came and paid homao-e
to the Lord Rauga, who was pleased to dower him with all
honors, and commanded, through the officiating priest, "Instruct
our Ramanuja in all the occult lore of the ITaith." "
:
But
O. Gloiious God ! ' said G. Purna, " It is Thou who hast
ruled :
Tell not those toho have not been apprenticed at least for a
year.* Reveal not high truths to the non-serious, non-dutiful,
icho love me not, 8fc. ' ? So that if I have to carry out the
strict letter
of Thy law, I must wait and try Thy Ramanuja."
'
See Hierarchic Tabic, No. 24 in our Lives of Azhvars.
' This attitude of mind towards a these things prepare the soul to
Teacher constitutes a real disciple ; recognise his Guru when he auand
only then is his successful pears. Many a ouc misses his
spiritual career assured. "The teacher by 'the mental habit of
glad and cordial recognition of ex- Hxing the attention on blemishes
cellence," says A. Besant, " wlier- rather than on beauties bv seeing
ever found, the checking of the only the sun-spots aAd not the
critical and carping spirit that Sun." [,\'ttlueofDevotimi. p 263 f
fixes on defects and ignores virtues, Theos : Review. Vol. XxVll
» This is the Indian idiom for a " true disciple." Let our readers o