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142 KAMANUJA'S KKTUllX SOUTU. CU. XXU.
came to his knowledge ; but spiritual giant as lie was he remained
undaunted, and simply watched how events would
develop themselves. They resorted to bhick magic, but
instead of their plans succeeding, it liad a coutr:iry eltect; for
they wei-e all suddenly seized with madness, and began to rave
and play such antics, as to be ridiculed by all. The king saw
this, and pitying the poor wretches, approached Ramiinuja, and
falling at liis feet, implored him to relieve them, as he could
not look on their sufferings. Ramanuja, by a simple act of his
will, cured them; and the king made them members of the
Faith, and escorting Ilam4nnja with all his staff, a few stages
on his return journey, took leave and joined his capital.
RamEbnuja took the road towards Varanasi (Benares),
which he reached in due time, and bathing in the Holy Gangfl,
(Ganges), and visiting the Lord of Kandamennum Kadinagar ^
proceeded south to Purushottama-Kshfitra (Jagann3.tha or
PAri, on the east-coast of the Indian Peninsula) . Here also
were disputations held on philosophy and religion, Eam3,nuja
coming off victorious ;
and a R3,manuja-Math also was established.
Here, on his attempt to introduce the worship, as la.id
down in the Panchari,tra, into the Temple there, the priests
objected ; but as RJlmSinuja still resolved to reform the practices
prevalent there which were not cleanly and to his liking. Lord
Jagann3,tha is said to have appeared to him in his dream and
prevailed upon him not to attempt the reforms, as his priests
were much attached to Him with their old wiiys of worship,
which therefore he might not disturb. And when RAmanuja
awoke, he found to his surprize he had been ti-ansported all
the way to Srl-Kurma. Here he paid homage to the Lord in
the Kurma-form and journeyed on to Simhagiri (Ahobila),
and other shrines. Winning his way throughout by polemical
triumphs he finally arrived at Tirupati. Here a Saiva-Vaishnava
controversy of a curious character had been waging.
St. P6ya,zhv3ir, who lived centuries before R^.manuja, had
sung of the Lord of Tirupati, as wearing both the Saiva
emblems, such as matted locks and serpent girdle, and the
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Devrt-prayfl.K on llio way from llaridvar to Badariuath.