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202 KAMANUJA LEAVING MELUK(JTE. CH. XXXI.
said:— 'O faithful sons, how far indeed have you travelled,
bearing bo many hardsliips dimply to carry me this joyful message
! How can I sufficiently reward you ? The best that I
can give you is the Holy Dvaya-mantra. Receive it So saying
he initiated them in the Holy Formula ; and looking round
to the group of followers who had surrounded liira, addressed
them thus:— "Omy faithful, our bitterest foe is gone. Our
faith has stood this most severe and crucial trial.
This holy pond
Kalyani is really kalydiit, au.spicious , and this Mfl,ruti-Aud3,n
is really mdruti, Hanuman.'" "Yea," all cried jubilantly.
In a body they all mounted the saci-ed Hill of Lord Nrisimha,
rising from the edge of the pond. Prostrating himself before
Nrisimha, Kamanuja praised
him thus :— " O Slayer of Hiranya,
of yore, even now hast thou slain Chola, the demon. Even
as thou savedst thy devotee Prahldda then, hast thou saved
KurSsa now." Tirlha and prasdda were duly bestowed on
Ild>manuja who thereon descended the hill, and entering the
adytum of Nar&jana, asked leave of Him to return to Srirangam,
now that his work was completed. NSrSiyana returned
no answer for a long time, when Rd,manuja urged his request
again "
: Almighty, Banga's command was that I should stay
for ever in Srirangam. Owing to une:cpected calamities, I was
forced to leave the place. Now that all has been accomplished
here, may I not return ?" Lord N5.rJLyana's voice now came ;
" Be it so, then."
RSimanuja had established in Melukote, fifty-two officers
{Aimbattiruvar) for the restored Fane of NflirAyana. These
magnates, hearing that Rd.mEi,nuja was about to leave them,
fell at his feet weeping, and said :
" Holy Sire, how can we live
\\rithout you ?" BSimSiUUJa :— raised them up lovingly and brushing
away their tears, said " Take heart, sons, I shall let an
image be cast after my own likeness, and leave it here, filled
with my power. It shall answer all your purposes. Further,
I lay it on you all to take care of our Sampat-kdmSira brought
from Delhi. He is like my son standing near the brink of a
well. Such is my love for Him. See to the proper discharge
I
The messenger who bronglit Bama the joyful tidings of Sit4.