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CH.VII. RAMA.NUJA—CONTROVERSIES AND MIRACLES. 41
CHAPTER VII.
KAMANUJA-CONTROVERSIES AND MIRACLES.
TSdava-prakaSa was conducting Lis Vedftnta classes as
usual. It fio happened that the princess of the then RAja' of
tlio dominion.'!, lo which KS,nchi had then belonged, became
obses.scd with an evil spirit {brahina-ralshas). The Raja was
endeavouring to find an able exorcist of demons. He was told
that Y&dava was well versed in such loi-e. The Rdja sent men
to invite him. They went and told him the state of affairs
with the princess and that he was wanted. Yftdava said to
" Go ye back and tell the spirit :
" Yiidava com •
the men —
:
mandeth thee to leave the princess." Tliey retui^ned and
delivered the message :
" Y&dava commandeth. Leave thou
the princes.'?," they demanded of the spirit. " Go back,"
bellowed the rakshas, " and tell YSidava from me, to depart from
this country." The Raja's men ran to Y&dava again and
delivered this message from the rakshas.
Yfidava now went himself
with a ti"oop of his disciples, and stationing himself before
the obsessed princess, began to mutter potent
magical incantations
and showing his fist, bid the devil depart. But the devil
(i.e., princess) stretched its legs and pointing :— them towards
YSdava said, in sovereign contempt of him " Thinkest thou
Y&dava ! that I do not know thy magic and magical formula; ?
Knowest thou not I am nbrahma-rakshas ? Neither thy mantra
Thou hast no
nor thy person can be efficacious as against me.
knowledge of me, nor hast knowledge of thyself. Get thee gone."
' '
But," put in Yadava, " hast thou knowledge of me, and of
thyself as thou boasteth ? "
the rakshas,
" Learn then from me," retorted
" thou wert a guana in thy past birth, living in
the holes of the bank of the Madhurfi,ntaka tank. A batch of
Sri-Vaishnavas were travelling to Tirumalai (Tirupati) on a
lioly pilgrimage. They stopped at the tank, cooked, ate and left
the place. They had left the leavings of their food, and had
spilt some water. Thou didst then scamper to the place and
» VlraWljendra nnd his successor time in possession of Conjeveram
rarakesari Varma; as also the [Suitt-'i Indian Inscription Vol. II.
Western Chalukyas were ahout this p. 1 17 ff .J
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