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CH. XXXI. INSTRUCTIONS AND PROOFS. 203
of all the sacred functions connected with NS.rS.yana's
Temple.
See that you do not cheat God of what is due to Him, or cheat
each other. Remain ever firmly friendly to one another, and
he not remiss in your loving services to God whom we have
installed in this country."
Leaving besides a detailed code of temple-procedure, he
left M6Iukote, after passionate grief had been displayed, by him
on the one hand at having to part from his beloved SampatkumS,ra
and his disciples, and on the other hand by his disciples
and all at having to part from their cherished master
and pontiif. Rftmanuja's progress thus from the Temple
"ivas very slow for some distance out of the town. He
looked back at every step, drinking in -with his eyes, the
sight of the temple, its tutxets, corridors, the streets, and
the homesteads which had risen all round, and with a heart
overflowing with kindness for all that he was going to leave
behind. Nor would the townsfolk allow him to depart quietly.
After he had gone some way forward, they waylaid him and
cried :— " Sire, how can we be sure you are in your Image ?
Give us evidences ; else you cannot leave us in bereavement."
" Beloved men," said he, " return, and standing before my
image, call me by my name." They ran back and did so.
" R£Lmfi,nuja, our Lord !", cried they. " Tes, T am here and for
ever,"' came the voice from the Image. They were satisfied, and
running back to RamjLnuja, fell before him and after a vehement
outburst of grief and of gratitude, and consolation by Raminuja,
he was allowed to bid adieu to them all.
In rapid marches,—^love for Sampat-kumara restraining
him, but prospect of seeing Lord Ranga urging him forward
he arrived at the banks of Kaveri at Srirangam. He stopped
there to bathe and decorate himself with the twelve holy
marks and make other preparations before planting his foot on
the sacred land. In the meanwhile, the magnates of Srirangam
were apprised of his arrival. Their joy was indescribable.
They all ran up to him in breathless excitement, and wel-
* Cp. " For where there are two gathered in my name, there am I
in the midst of them". [Mat: XVIII, 20].
"Behold lam with yon all
days, even to the consummation of the world "' [Mat. XX VIII. 20],