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"
—
22 THE LIFE OP RAMAN CJA. CH. IV.
this unexpected revelation, and placed his men under instructions
to admit the worthy visitant freely witlioat caring for
ceremony.
Misra now began to teach Alavandar the BhagavadgilA,,
the essence of all the Upanishads. As Alavandar listened
attentively through the eighteen hooks of this Sublime Poem^
his spiritual sense was awakened, and a craving caused in his
heart to realize God, as is spoken therein. " How sliall I
realize Him ?" asked he of his Acliarya. " That is taught in
the Great Charama Slfika' ", promptly responded the teacher and
taught its significant mysteries. The more AlavandS,r meditated
on these, the more they entered deep into his heart. The saving
Grace tajjight therein made him more and more inclined to
surrender himself to God, and more and more cultivate the sense
of resignation t-o His will. His soul bent more and more to Him
with the nourishment the teachings gave, just
grain-stalks bend as they receive more milk.
as the ripening
As days passed,
his love for the Merciful grew warmer and warmer ; and as
this love increased, his attachment to other things became
weaker and weaker. The Teacher watched the spiritual progress
of his disciple, and thought the time was ripe for leading hiin
to where his promised patrimonial wealth lay hidden. Hp
led him therefore to the Holy Shrine of Srfrangam, where,
pointing to God reposing therein in the serene glory of His
presence, to all worshippers accessible, he said
—
:
H-«j^)HV-lti^%
T^^^'-^H'TNtH, aWlnf ^V^m ^\'m^i\^H\^'. * I I.e., " WJio will
not worship Rangam, the most Holy,— if he he wise ? for doth
not wisdoDi blossom here and keep Yama (death) out of sight ? "
This is your trove, your heritage,
discharge on this auspicious day."
and my trust, which I here
Alavanda,r, with the spiritual vision with which he was
by God's Grace endowed, saw in the Holy Image of Banga
>
_
The 66th verse Bk. XVIII, Bh : GI. Vide p. xxii, Introd : Z.ws of
Azhi-drf.
^ Srtranga-M&liatmya, I, 80.