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CH. XIV. GOVINDA'S CONVERSION. 83
CHAPTER XIV.
GOVINDA'S CONVERSION.
A Sri-vaishnava had been despatched, it will beremembci-r
ud, to Sri-saila-Purna (= Tirnmalai Namhi), to deliberate on
the mode of reclaiming Govinda, who had acciJentalhj become
a Saiva, and had been made the director of the Kalahasti-
Temple. The messengers returned with a joyful countenance
to Ramanuja. Before they broke the tidings, Ramanuja saw
by his face there was success, and bade him recount what
had taken place. He began thus :—" Holy Sire, with your
holy leave, I reached Tirnpati in due time, and making obeisance
to Purna, conveyed to him the intelligence you had
entrusted me with. Purna was rejoiced to find that what he
himself had contemplated doing with regai-d to Govinda, was
Ramfi,nuja's wish as well, and that his own intention was thereby
sweetened. So saying, he immediately started with a knot
of followers, including myself. We reached Kalahasti, and
Purna seated himself under a tree near the Temple-pond.
Ullangai-Konaranda-Nabyanar (= Govinda) came there with
"
vessels to the pond in order to carry water for the ablutionceremony
of Siva, all the time chanting songs of His praise.
Puma said: — " What fruit will you get, hy cold-bathing the Konraidecked
Thing ? ' Govinda heard this, looked up in Purna's face,
smiled and went his way. " This will do for once. Let God
work upon his heart," Purna exclaimed to himself, and returning
to Tirupati, attended to his usual studies and teachings.
Sri-saila-Purna now made another venture. He went to
the same tree and pond as before in Ka,laha.sti. N^yanar
( = Govinda) was coming as usual with vessels to fetch water.
Purna thought he would try a plan even like the plans of God,
who works without being seen, and is unknown by men as the
Planner. To the world, God seems as if sleeping, but He is all
wakeful. So reasoning within himself, Purna wrote his Guru
Yamuna's verse
1
This was the name he bore as a Saiva. It means :
" he who found
the livga in his palm."
See Chapter VI.
2
Meaning Siva who is fond of IwirHi-flowers.