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50 THE LIFE OF EAMANUJA. CH. VIII
i-eturned to Alavandav's monastery. Here, after seeing evei-y
one partake of hoi}- food, AlavandAr prostrated before tliem all
and asked forgiveness of them all for any wrongs. " How can
you do wrong. Sire, and what is there for us to foi'give ? " So
saying, T. Ai'aiyar raised him up in reverence. The master
now took his food, and went on saying many precious things,
knowing that his end was fast appi-caching.
Something more was yet in store, bef'n-e God was pleased
to take to himself this Pioneer of the Visishtadvaila Faith.
XewE reached Kanchi of the critical state of yamunilcharya's
health. Two Sri Yaishnavas hastened to Srirangam to vi.sit
the sage, pei-haps for the last time. Yamuna received the
visitors with great earnestness and asked them to tell him how
things were going with Ramftnuja. They infoi-med him
that owing to an altercation between YAdava and Ramanuja, the
latter had sevei'ed his connection with him and was emphjyed
solely in the services of Lord Varadaraja. " God has granted
my fervent prayers then, and be He praised", cried Yamuna,
elated with joy. He called Periyanambi (=:Mahflipurna) to
his presence and said :— " Here ai-e glad tidings for ns. R&md,-
nuja is happily disconnected from Yadava. Go forth at once to
Kanchi and bring him to me." Mahapiirna immediately left.
But Y&muna in the meanwhile got worse, despite his
will to live till R3,ma.nuja's arrival. And all the disciples were
made uneasy, and hoped against hope that the Master might
live. It was the month Vaijasi, and the usual temple-jubilations
of the season were proceeding. The avdbhrita ' (closing)
day came ;
and YtimuncT, went to the Temple, and paid
liis last worship and homage to Kanganatha, whom, as well
as Saint Tiruppanazhvar, stationed at His feet, he devoured
with his eyes fi-om toe to top, and top to toe. Receiving
tirtha ' and prasdda, " he returned to his monastery ; and
^
Ablution after a sacrificial ceremony.
= Walrer consecrivted to the Hiety during tlie worship and distributed
to the devotees.
» Flowers, food &c., offered to God and distributed to the Faithful.