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CH.viii. Alavandau'S last days akd last words. 45
CHAPTER Ylir.
ALAVANDAR'S LAST DAYS AMD LAST WORDS.
We shall foi* a moment turn to Srirangam. Tamnna was
aging now. He became ill. Tiruvaiangapperumal Avai^-ar^
approached him, followed by Yamuna's disciples Tirnkkottiyiir-Nambi^
and Periya-Jfanibi" . The latter pi-ayed to him to
give them the best salvatory advice. Ydmuna spoke thus :
" Good souls, look upon the shrine of Kangauatba as your very
life ; the Great God enthroned in that shrine as yonr Saviour ;
make Tirupp-anazhvar,— the Panchama Saint*— -who is the
beloved of this Great God, your ideal for loving contemplation.
This holy Saint is to God IJanga (of Srirangam) as Kurnmbarutta-Nambi'—
the potter—is to God VenkateSa (of the Tirupati
Hill) ; as Tirukkacchi-Nambi—the Vaisya"— is to God
Varada-Raja (of Kiinchipurain). This Saint, to yon, sire,"
addressing Avaiyar, " is your very soul." And continued :
What is dear to you. Holy Sire, is dear to me ; the means of
your salvation, are my means fi,s well. Avaiyar, prostrating
to Yamuna said :
" Sire, you now seem to lalk as if you are
envisaging tmths as exist in Nitya-vibhuti ('=: Eternal or
Unvarying Cosmos^Heaven). It makes me almost envious to
study you thus." " Sire ", Y&muna said, " how can you be
envious of me, if I go to Nitya-vibhuti before you do ? (Jan
great and good men like you be envious of others' foi-tune ?
So, if I leave 3'on all in advance, reconcile yonrselves thus."
Now to all his disciples, he administei-ed general instructions
thus:— " Hear me, sons ! A p-apanna is he who has absolutely
i-esigned himself to God. If after professing so, he should
still entertain doubts as to whether his soul is at all in the safe
• Vide No. 22 Hieraroliic Table, TAres of Azln'ara.
2 Vide No. 24. Ihid.
-'
ritU No. 23. Ihid.
* See Ilia Life and foot note to page 137 Iliid., and om- recent Lecture
on the Fancliainas.
^ See Yenkatachala M^batmya. He is called liliiiua, tbe potter
" The third lower caste from the Brahniana.