the exponent of the Visishtadvaita philosophy - ebooks - ISKCON ...

——
CH. I.
NATHAMUKI.
(8) Sokattur-Azhvan. They were disciples of the description
given in Jaya-Samhita (of Paiicharatra) :
" He indeed is a true disciple
Who owns, sole for the Guru's sake,
All riches—all wisdom
All works—his body itself !"
Such deserving disciples then, Nathamuni(ga]) initiated
into all the Holy Mysteries of Religion, taught them theDivya-
Prabandhas, and left a legacy of works, like the Pnrushanirnaya,
and Nyaya-tatva treating of Sublime Truths of Religion,
beginning with Grod, the Lord of the Kosmos ; and also a
work on Ydga (or the art of communian with God), called the
Ydga-rahasya. He himself retired from active habits of life and
became immersed in the contemplation of the Blessed Deity
fixing His resplendent Form ever before his mental gaze.
This samddhi stsite of the Sage came to be known to the
outside world and finally reached the ears of king Ohftla. To
see the wonderful Sage and pay homage to Lord Mannanar as
well, he left his capital and, accompanied by his consorts,
reached Vira-Narayana-puram. There he saw Nathamuni(ga])
absorbed in Y6ga (meditation) and, lost in respect and wonder
at this unusual sight, was quietly retracing his steps. Bui the
sage took them for Loi-d Krishna and His Holy Consorts ;
that they had been pleased to visit him. Thus fancying in his
delirium of Y6ga, he ran after them. Uyyakkondar and others,
his disciples, observing this divine hallucination, pursued the
Sage and meeting him at Gangai-konda-Chozhapuram besought
an explanation from him as to the apparently insane
nature of
his conduct. He told them that in his eyes, they appeared as
Lord Krishna and His Consorts and this vision threw him intb
a frenzy of love. The disciples reminded him that sei-vice to
God and the Godly were the highest aim, and that when this
demanded waking life on his part, he was not to allow himself
to be ecstasized in this manner to the prejudice of such service.
He came to himself and returned to his -Divine Service at Lord
Manhanar's.
2