Page:Life and Teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya.djvu/23

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GOLDEN LIVES OF THE EAST.

[PARTI. .

Lord Kurangesa. In the presence of the All-Father, the desire of their hearts came out unbidden, and they uttered a prayer—" O ! Thou Searcher of Hearts, may we be blessed with a “son ” — when, wonder of wonders ! the Mighty One deigned to express himself through the high priest and said — “ So be it. We ourselves would be born in your family. ” They were speechless with joy and amazement, and could scarcely believe their good fortune.

But all doubts were set at rest, when Natha NayikA was enceinte (in the way to become a mother), and they joyfully looked forward to the fulfilment of the will of the Lord.


The Birth of Srî Sathakôpa.

Meanwhile, in the Supreme Heaven, Vaikunjlta, the Great Father, saw that the time was come for Him to incarnate once more on the face of the Earth and restore the Good Law. He turned his eyes towards the Mighty Angels that always stand near His Throne, and directed Vishvaksena, * the leader of the Divine Hosts, to go down upon Earth and take his birth in the family of Kari. And


2 He is the aiii§a of Nlir^jana and [V. G .) ; of Kaasthn-

bha, the gem on the breast of N4r^yana, {Pal). One can be born of the amsas of many beings- Lakshinana and Balar&ma were born of the am^ of the Lord and S6slia ; Hannm&n was the ain^ of V^yn and Rndra, etc. (L.A.) ^

8 The following are the authorities that bear upon the birth of grl gathakbpa : —

(a) S^n^sa, the Lord of the Divine Hosts, would come down upon Earth about the beginning of Kali Yuga to restore the Good Law and lead men on the Path of Devotion to the Great Fathtr.—Bkavtshyal Purdna,

(d) The youth would remain silent, even as one dumb, till he be sixteen years of age. He would seat himself under the Holy Tamarind, lost in contemplation of the Divine Presence, and revelling in the delights thereof. — Bkdrgava Purdna.