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58 tkh: life of uamasuja. cu. x.
CHAPTER X.
RAMANUJA AND KANCHI-PtrRNA.
Rclmtoiija, jvitli a lieavy heai-t readied Kanclii, and
recounted the events lie liad first witnessed, to KiXnchl-purna.
Pfirna mourned much over the loss
of liis Ach'irya, aggravated
])y the tliouglit that all the projects they had formed in their
minds were thus frustrated ; but reviving, coniforted RaraS/-
:— nuja Ijy saying " Lord Varada is all-kno%ving and all-powerful.
Let us submit to His -will. He will make good our loss by
appointing you in his stead, for our Faith." So saying, lie
conducted Sri-chihna-paripnlana,^ and Tiru-v-adhyayana' for
his AcJidi-ya.
R&mtouja again employed himself as before in the Tintmaiyana'
service to I;crd Varada, and as friendship and respect
for K^nchTpurna deepened, he found much spiritual worth in
this .'jtannch devotee of Lord Varada. One day, Rama,nuja
earnestly begged of him to become the sponsor for his soul.
" Come, Holy Ramftnnja !
" .said Pui-na, " You desire this of me,
because ymt, think I am worthy of such position, but know
that I am an unworthy non-entity, whom Lord Varada has perhaps
chosen to think of as some body. And you are evidently
intent on acting on the principle :
'
Yogis (or spiritual men) are born among all castes ; and no
caste-odium shall hold in their cases, for they have seen their
souls' Lord.
This dictum holds good as regards our soul-relation, but
it cannot be applied as regards our external conditions of
birth and social polity as ordained by the Scriptures (Vedas).
face.
* The ceremony of tlie turmeric-powder {vide p. 53), applied to the
* The faneral ceremonies of the Srt-vaishnavas, when the Prabaudbas
are recited antiphocally, and a great feast is given.
" Carrying water-poi:s for ablntion-ceremony to the Deity.
* Bharadrhja-Samhila, T, 44.