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THE LIFE OF KAMAXUJA.
CH. XII.
the devotion of
Gayaka, and vouchsafed to Him all the honors
belonging to His Shrine. " Why do I want these P" said
Gd^yaka, '' my wish is not for these. Pray grant me a boon,
as Thou art,
God, famous as the " Boon-Giver.'" And so saj--
ing, he continued his song and dance with more fervour.
Pleased, Lord Varada spoke thus: "Ask, my beloved, anything,
except Me and My Consorts." " Him, pray gi-ant,"
readily replied Gayaka, pointing to Eamacuja, who was close
by. " Oh lost," exclaimed the Lord '• I wish I had the forethought
to include R&mElnuja on the side of exceptions. However,
son, except RamAnuja, ask for any other boon." " But,"
remonstrated Gayaka, " dost Thou retract also like mortals ?
Are not Thy own words these "
: Rftma hath no two tongues" ' ?
On hearing this. Lord Varada had no alternative but to reluctantly
say:— " Well, we grant you Ramanuja ; take him. And
we bestow on him the title, Yatiraja." No sooner was this said,
than almost convulsively Gayaka grasped Ra,m9,nuja by the
hand and said:— " Proceed, Sire ". R&manuja said not a word.
He fell prostrate before Lord Varada, and saying "
: Thy will
be done, " he, immediately started, not even caring to enter
his cloister. As he went, he merely ordered his pupils KureSa
and Dslsarathi to bring up his chapel image, Varada. Ramanuja
thus followed G&yaka to Srirangam KiireSa after
escorting R^mftnuja some way, i-eturned to Kanchi, but D^sarathi
accompanied. Dasarathi was Ramanuja's sister's son, but
he was the only relative whom he retained.
Looking steadily towards Srirangam, his future home—
home, the vestibule of the Eternal Home—with joy bounding
in his heart, went Ramsbnuja. In due time the north branch
(Kolladam=Coleroon) of the K^veri, encircling the Holy Island
of Srirangam, was reached. Ramanuja tarried here to take a
holy bath and deck his body with the twelve marks, consecrated
by the Holy ISTames of KeSava and so forth. In the meanwhile,
news had sped to Srirangam of the arrival of the Holy
Personage. Maha,purna and other disciples of Yamnn4chS,rya,