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CH. XII. RAMANUJA'S RECEPTION. 77
the elders of the place, the monks aud a,colyte.s (chlngts) arid
others were rejoiced at this good furtune, and proceeding in a
body to the Temple, delivered the tidings to Lord Ran^a.
Thereupon His Comnaand issued thu-s "
: 0, my faithful, marcli
ye forth in full congregation, oflfice-bea,rerK and all men, laic
and cleric, with all the holy paraphernalin of my Temple and
every honor, to meet and receive my Bamanuja. " The populace
formed itself into a grand procession, which with music
discouring and flags flying, headed by Vishvak.sena ( = S6naimudali),'
streamed forth
towards KoUadam even as the celestials
and angels, headed by Cherubs and Seraphs' go forth
from the gates of Heaven to the shores of the Virajd ' river, to
meet and welcome the faithful, who have finished their pilgrimage
on earth, and are reaching the portals of the Refulgent
City of God. They met R4mfl,nuja ; and after mutual
exchanges of religious courtesies, the procession turned towards
Srirangam. Thus led, Ramainuja crossed the river, neared the
Tinkodi rampart, and the Dainodaran turret, where he laid
himself at full length on the ground ; then rising, he reverently
threaded the Tirumalai-tanda-Peruih