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CH. XXVII. KOSGIL'S ACCOUNT. 175
inquired. " R§,ma,nuja," they replied. " Doubt not, sirs, I
also belong to liim," rejoined she. " Strange, pray give an
account how that came about," asked, the guests. ."Sirs,"
We
she began, " once rains failed, and famine was on the land.
therefore left our native land and went to Srirangam ; where
myself and my husband engaged a house, living on the second
floor thereof. I was daily watching Rstmanuja emerging into
the streets, after his morning's duties in the temple were fulfilled,
for the sake of entering seven houses to collect his daily
alms. As his holiness strolled in the streets like a very god on
earth, many people fell at his feet ; among the number I particularly
observed Akalankanatt-azhv4,n, the husband of Tripurabd6vi.
One day, Eam9,nuja entered my poor house. Observing
it, I ran down the stairs and stood behind a door, attentive.
" Good dame, " what is in thy mind," he asked me^ and I
humbly said:— "Holy Sire, thou comest a-begging to poor
peoples' houses, whilst I see kings fall at thy feet in the
streets. Please solve this mystery for me." He said " Dear
:
and they be-
daughter, I tell these men bits of news about God ;
come attached to my person. And it is my duty to go to poor
houses, and go anywhere where there may be people who wish
to hear good tidings of God." Then, Holy Father," said I.
" may I not be the recipient of a little of it ?" " Surely," said
he, " and he told me what was good for me and took his departure.
Now rains fell, and famine had left our land, and we
resolved to join our native country; but I had forgotten
the good advice given to me by Ramanuja. I was troubled
and did not know what to do. As I was pensive however,
RS,m§-nuja suddenly dropped into our poor house
again. I ran down the stairs to meet him and excusing
myself for my bad memory, begged of him to tell the
tidings of God once more to me, as I was about to leave Srirangam
for my native village . Looking upon me graciously,
he impressed upon me once more the Dvaya-mantra, along
with the Holy Names of all the Apostles of our faith, God
downwards and ending with himself. He was leaving me ;
but
I entreated him to
stay a while and bestow on me something
which I might carry in remembrance and which 1 might