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

—
232 BHATTARYA TO SUCCEED. CH. XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
BAMANUJA'S LAST DAYS.
ParaSava-BhaM.arya, or Bliatt^arja shortly, tlie son of KureSa,
iiad now come to the e.state of hLs father ;
apiritaal
e.state.
RftratXiiuja of course knew from the moment of llliattarya's
entry into this world, that ho was destined to be the apo.stle of
the Visisht&dvaita Dispensation—having been presented to the
world by Lord Ranganatha Himself as His own (God)son.
Providence designed that KuiSsa should make his exit from the
episcopal stage—for he was too saintly and retired from the
world to be an active worker, the requisite for a propiigandist.
Bhattarya was of this type. So Rilmanuja led the budding
young man one morning to tjie Holy Temple, to present him
formally to the Lord, so as to make him the anointed, to
aiithoritatively transmit to posterity the great Me.ssage he had
brought from Heaven. Ramanuja led then this juvenile
apostle-delegate to the Lord, and presented him. " We again
repeat and confirm our God-fathershiji to thee, son. We
consecrate it by giving thee this turmuric-water to drink.
Grieve not for the loss of our Kilrfisa, thy Father, for we
.stand to you in that position, more so even." So spoke
the Lord. Rftmanuja interrupted ;— " Majestic Lord ! Bless
this scion with long life ; and I will give him all education."'
Lord Ranga did not deign to reply, but simply gsive them
leave with his blessings, symbolized by the serving of ti.rtha
and prasdda. Ramftnuja returned to his S3e and calling limbar
(Govlnda-Jiyar), assigned tj him the sacred task of preparing
Bhattarya thoroughly for the position ho was to occupy, by a
complete course of studies, in doctrine as well as discipline.
After thus discharging tiie sacred trust which had been vested
in him, Ra,m3,unja settled down once more quietly, to spend his
time usefully in imparting instruction to his large congregation
in Bhtehya and Bhagavad-vishaya.
Kandadai-Andl,n, the son of DaSaiathi, one day approached
Rsbmanuja reverently and said :— " Holy Sire, thou art to us in
this Kali- Age, God Himself incarnate,
come on this earth to
establish Dharma, like Lord Kri.shna in DvS,para-Age. If