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CH. Vlll. ALAVaNDAU'S LAST DAYS AND LAST WOEDS. 51
gathered togethei- all his disciples and temple-authorities
i-ouiul him. He fell pro&trate l)efore the assembly, and once
more craved their pardon for all his faults. In one voice they
cried:— " Holy Sire, wliy speakest thou of faults ? " He now
addressed them thus :— " I beseech ye all to take care of the
venerable Avaiyar. ye officers of Ranga's Shrine ! I pray
to j'ou to conduct all the several items of worship, such as
mantrapushpa ' to Lord Ranga, punctually ; and distribute holy
food to all your gurus and holy souls of the place, and to all
pilgrims coming from all quarters to visit the Shrine." " These
must be his Last words," thought all, soirowing much in their
:— hearts. Turning to Ysbmuna, they said "All shall be done
Sire, as yon wish." Sri Y&muna now assumed the padmasana^
posture, held his breath, and fixing all his mind and heart on
tlie Holy feet of his Achdrya ^ Manakkal-Nambi, commanded
the disciples to repeat loudly the BrahinavaUi,^ Bhriguvalli ^
Ptirusha-siikta,' Archirddi* Sitzh-viRumhu" &c. And as the
n\oment Abhijifc (midday), coupled with Sravana constellation
arrived On the sixth day of Vaiyasi, and as trumpets began
to blow, the Holy Sage was elevated to Nitya-vibhiiti (Eternal
Realms).
Hov; Alavanddr u-as interred.^
Tiruvaranga-p-perumal Avaiyar and others fell to the
ground senseless with grief at this bereavement which was so
hard to bear. But they had to perform all the services for the
departed ; and rallying therefore to the task, they bade the
^
See any work on Yoga.
' Spiritual preceptor and guide ; called also Guru.
5 See Taittiriya Upanisbafc.
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See Cliandogya Up. and one of the 18 Babasyas of Lokaoharya.
° Tiruvai-rnozhi, X, 9-1.
liad tliouglifc of omitting the Orienlal Scholars, we hare transdetails
of this last sacrament ad- laled the same as best as we can.
ministered on Sanyasins (monas- Also it is a study in Indian " Magtics).
But thinking that an ac- netics " which may be interesting
count maybe of much interest to to thaumatiivgists.