Continued Chapter 6 – The Story of Narasāvadhāni
Lord Datta’s Grand Opulence
“Sumatī Maharani told this to Raja Sarma. Raja Sarma said that he would ask Kālāgni Shamana Datta himself during the time of worship. It was a rule that during the worship of Kālāgni Shamana no other person should see. At the end of the worship, Datta would come in human form, sit in front of Raja Sarma and talk to him. Datta would later merge into the idol. This used to happen daily. Raja Sarma did not submit petty matters or selfish problems to Datta. That day during the time of worship, Datta appeared very pleased. After the worship, Datta sat before Raja Sarma. He called, ‘Come Srīdhara!’ and a form emerged from Datta and sat immersed in meditation in front of him. Datta again made a sign with his finger and called, ‘Come Srīdhara!’ Immediately that form merged in Datta. Raja Sarma was wondering at this. Lord Datta told Raja Sarma, ‘The form you have just seen is one of My partial manifestations that will come in the ensuing years. Whenever I call, even the liberated souls who merged in Me have to come out immediately. When I order to depart, they should disappear at once. My sportive excellence is not just limited to the earth. All the globes in the universe are play-balls in My hands. If I kick once with My leg, one is thrown away billions of miles! I am beyond birth and death.’
“Saying so, He touched the centre in between the eyebrows of Raja Sarma. Immediately it dawned upon Raja Sarma that he was born as Vishnu Datta in one of the yugas and his wife was born as Somidevamma also called Susīla. He remembered all the past. Srī Datta said, ‘When I appeared before you in that yuga, I told you to ask for any boon. You could not ask a proper boon. You invited me to your house for partaking meals on the day of the ceremony of your ancestors. I took meals along with the Sun and Fire gods and thereby gave permanent residence status in Brahma Loka[1] to your forefathers. I want to incarnate as Srīpāda Srīvallabha. For the last hundred years I have been giving My dārshan as Srīpāda Srīvallabha to yogis and great people on this earth. In Treta Yuga[2], Sage Bharadwaja conducted Sāvitra Kāthaka Chayanam[3] sacrifice in Pīthikapuram. The holy ashes of that sacrificial fire formed into huge mountains. Hanuman carried those ashes to heaven, earth and Patala[4] worlds. In Martya Loka[5], those ashes were thrown in Dronagiri of the Himalayan region and in some other regions. While Hanuman was carrying those ashes, one small piece fell in Gandharvanagar[6]. Gandharvanagar is the holy confluence of Bhima and Amaraja rivers. After retracing My incarnation as Srīpāda Srīvallabha, I will be born as Srī Narasimha Saraswati in Mīna[7] lagna[8]. I will display many miracles in Gandharvanagar and will remain for 300 years in tapo samādhi[9] in the Kadali Vana of SrīShaila. After that, I will live in Prajnapura[10] with the name of Swamī Samartha and will leave My mortal body when Saturn enters Mīna rāsi[11].’
“Raja Sarma explained to his wife the announcements of Lord Datta. Bāpanāryulu, the Satya Rishīswar[12] said, ‘My dear Raja Sarmā, you are a meritorius person who offered meals during the annual ceremony of your ancestors to Lord Datta, the Sun God and Fire God in the ancient times. Datta in any form may ask for meals during this birth. Even if that happens to be a day of ceremony in memory of the manes and even if the revered guests have not taken meals, offer meals to Datta when He asks without any hesitation. My dear Sumatī, please keep a note of these things carefully.’
“Shankar Bhatt, the līlas of Lord Datta are unprecedented, unthinkable and unheard of so far.
The birth of Srīpāda Srīvallabha
“On a Mahālaya Amāvāsya[13] day, Raja Sarma was making arrangements for the ceremony of his ancestors. Then a cry of supplication, ‘Bhavati! Bhikshām Dehi!’[14] was heard at the entrance of the house in the street. Sumatī Maharani gave alms to the avadhūta[15]. He told her to request for any boon. Sumatī said to the avadhūta, ‘Sir! You are an avadhūta. Your words are self-fulfilling ones. Elders are saying that the incarnation of Srīpāda Srīvallabha will be attracted towards the earth very shortly. In what form is Lord Datta moving now? It is heard that Lord Datta is moving on this earth from the last one hundred years. You told me to ask for any wish. I have a desire to see the form of Srīpāda Srīvallabha.’
“On hearing those words, the avadhūta broke into a roaring laughter that shook the worlds. Sumatī Maharani felt that the whole universe in her vicinity disappeared in a trice. A sixteen-year-old good-looking boy in the attire of a sage appeared before her and said, ‘Mother, I am Srīpāda Srīvallabha. I am Datta. You wanted Me to show you Srīvallabha in the avadhūta form. To satisfy your desire, I am giving you the vision of Srīvallabha. You can ask Me for anything in this Srīvallabha form of Mine. You gave Me food. In return, I want to grant some boon. People of this world who do sinful acts intentionally will derive bad results. If good deeds are done intentionally, good results will be achieved. Performing good deeds without any desire is called akarma. For akarma, one should be given another result without taking into account the
merit or sin. That is under the control of God. Srī Krishna told Arjuna to kill the Kauravas because he did akarma. Arjuna did not get sin for such killings. The killing of the Kauravas was a divine decision. You and your husband did lot of akarma. Therefore, something has to be given to you for the welfare of the world. Express your wish without any hesitation. I will definitely grant it.’
The desire of Sumatī Maharani after the vision of Lord Datta
“Sumatī Maharani saw the supernal auspicious figure of Srīpāda Srīvallabha and fell on His Feet and paid obeisance. Srīpāda Srīvallabha lifted Sumatī Maharani from the ground and said, ‘Mother, it is a ludicrous matter that a mother should fall on the feet of her child. It diminishes the life span of the child also.” Then Sumatī submitted, ‘Lord Srīpāda Srīvallabhā, You called me mother! So, you agree that I am the mother and you are my child. Your words come true, so make that word true. You should take birth
as our son.’ Then Srī Charana spoke thus, ‘May it be so.[16] I will be born in the same form of Srīpāda Srīvallabha which you witnessed now. A mother falling on the feet of the child results in the diminution of the life span of the child. I will not violate the principles of righteous conduct and destiny.
Therefore, I will live for only sixteen years as your child.’ For that Sumatī began to lament, ‘Oh, what an offence has happened. Is the life only for sixteen years?’ Then Srīpāda said, ‘Mother, I will follow whatever you say for sixteen years as your son. After sixteen years, a boy has to be regarded as a friend and no restrictions should be imposed. You should not compel Me to marry. You must give permission to Me to become an ascetic and wander freely. If you coerce Me against My intent, I will not remain in your house.’ After saying that Srīpāda quickly left the place.
“Sumatī Maharani was dumb-founded for some time. She explained to her husband all that transpired. Appalaraja Sarma said, ‘Sumatī, don’t grieve. Your father has already hinted that Srī Datta would visit our house seeking alms in this fashion. Srī Datta is an ocean of mercy. Let the birth of Srīpāda Srīvallabha take place. Afterwards we may think about other things.’
“The news that an avadhūta visited the house of Appalaraja Sarma spread in the town. It was discussed that alms[] was offered to an avadhūta even before the Brahmins took their meals on the day of Mahālaya Amāvāsya, which was of utmost importance to the manes. Srī Bapannāvadhanulu said, ‘The birth of Srīpāda Srīvallabha is known to all. To prostrate before an avadhūta is also proper. So, there is no lapse on the part of Sumatī. To prostrate before a child may shrink the life span, but to prostrate before an avadhūta is not wrong.’
“The Brahmins of Pīthikapuram were very jealous about this matter. One scholar among them known as Narasāvadhānulu was highly envious. On amāvāsya day, all people would be busy in performing commemorative ceremonies to their forefathers. It became a difficult problem to procure Brahmin guests for the ritualistic feasts. However, Bāpanāryulu said that no difficulty would arise in the house of Appalaraja Sarma. Srī Raja Sarma was in meditation of Kālāgni Shamana[18]. In the meanwhile, three guests arrived. The commemorative function of the forefathers was conducted without any obstacle.
“My dear Shankar Bhatt, on that particular day it became an important debatable point whether Vaishyas have the authority for a Vedic sacred thread ceremony. The council of Brahmins was assembled. A scholar named Āsutosh of Navadwīp from Bengal came to Pādagaya kshetra[19]. He had old nādi books with him. He was also invited to the council of pandits. Srī Bāpanāryulu said that in spiritual discipline, ‘Brahmins, Vaishyas, and Kshatriyas stand on an equal footing. Therefore, according to ancient dharma, Vedic upanayanam was admissible to those castes. For others, upanayanam in the Puranic tradition could be performed, if they so desire. Caste, gender and age are no impediments for attaining wisdom. There were Vaishya sages in siddhas and a Vaishya sage named Lābhāda became a siddha by the grace of Lord Datta. A man would derive benefits in all endeavours if the grace of Lābhāda Maharshi[20] is available.’
“Srī Bāpanārya’s decision was acclaimed by all. However, this decision became painful to a pandit known as Narasāvadhani. He was an adept in dogmatic argument. He was a devotee of Goddess Bagalāmukhi[21]. He worshipped that goddess every day. He would wash his face before a commencement of arguments; he would chant the incantation of Bagalāmukhi. Then he would proceed to argue. It was difficult to defeat him at that time. Srī Bāpanāryulu was a pious one who recited Gayatri mantra many crores[22] of times. Both of them never indulged in a confrontation during arguments. Narasāvadhani washed his face and meditated upon the mantra. Srīpāda Srīvallabha had a very close relation with His maternal grandfather from a very young age. So, He was accompanying His grandfather to the assembly of Brahmins[23]. No one was obstructing that charming young boy. That day Narasāvadhani felt uneasy with the presence of Srīvallabha in the meeting. Narasāvadhani thought it was wrong for a young lad to attend a conference of great scholars. Before commencing arguments, after reciting Bagalāmukhi mantra, he questioned Srīpāda as to why He came there. For that Srīpāda replied, ‘Grandad, it is not proper to attend uninvited. Since you called Me in the prescribed systematic manner, I came. I will go if you ask Me to go. What is it for Me? I do not care. I am a small boy and a free person.’ Narasāvadhani thundered that Srīpāda should leave. Srī Raja Sarma took his son away. Narasāvadhani, who wanted to start arguments, could not speak. In spite of a great effort, no word came out of his mouth. Āsutosh, who was watching all this, laughed hilariously. The decision of Bāpanāryulu was carried out in the meeting. Vedic upanayanam was prescribed for Vaishyas.
“There was a discussion about the nādi books available with Āsutosh. It was suggested in the nādi books that the birth time of Srīpāda Srīvallabha should be calculated according to the mathematical formulae given in the Sāndra Sindhu Veda[24]. It was determined that Srīpāda was born in the early hours of Ganesh Chaturdhi[25] in Chitra star, in Simha[26] lagna[27] and Tula[28] rāsi[29]. It was mentioned that Srīpāda was an incarnation of Srī Datta, and as His Feet were marked with all auspicious features, He bears a worthy name as Srīpāda Srīvallabha. It was further noted that His horoscope should not be given to anyone and that it will reach in course of time through Akshya Kumar of Tripura belonging to the Jain religion. All that would happen according to the divine plan and it would reach Pithapuram as a part of divine play.
“Āsutosh went to the house of Srīpāda Srīvallabha to see Him. Srīvallabha said, ‘Today’s star is Chitra. I am very much pleased if anyone worships Me on the day of My birth star. You came with pure devotion. So, I am blessing you. Ask for anything you desire.’ Then Āsutosh said, ‘Lord, I learnt that Narasāvadhāni is a devotee of Bagalāmukhi. I thought of having a vision of Ambika through his assistance. My desire became a hope in vain. I understood that Ambika was furious with him.’ Srīpāda immediately said,
‘I am verily that Ambika whom he is worshipping! Ambika, who was with the subtle body of Narasāvadhani until then, merged in Me the moment he asked Me to leave. I am the personification of all gods and goddesses. Have the fortune of Ambika dārshan.’ Saying so, He appeared as Bagalāmukhi before Āsutosh. Fully satisfied, Āsutosh left for Penusila Kona[30]. He reached the land of penance of Kanva Maharshi in the forest of Penchala Kona as per the instructions of Srīpāda. Srīpāda told him that He would be born in Maharashtra in the Vajasaneyi branch of Sage Kanva. He added that He will bless him when He incarnates again and that he will be one among His chief disciples who will witness all the extraordinary miracles as a treat for his eyes. Srīpāda asked him to travel immediately.”
Word References
[1] Stay in the world of Brahma
[2] The second of the four yugas
[3] A ritual to the Sun
[4] The netherworld
[5] Region in which the human beings live with materialized human bodies
[6] Ganagapura; village in the Kalaburagi district of Karnataka, where Srī Narasimha Saraswati lived the last twenty years of His life
[7] The zodiac constellation Pisces
[12] Rishi of Truth, the upholder of Truth
[13] The last day of the fortnight of descending moon phases in the month of Aswayuja (September-October) is celebrated as the day of ancestor worship
[14] Literally: “Whichever honourable person is present, please give alms.” The celibate spiritual student is expected to go out of the ashram and beg householder families for alms for himself and his guru, to inculcate a sense of humility
[15] Someone who is freed from all worldly bonds
[16] Here: Thadhāsthu
[17] Here: Bhiksha
[18] One of the sixteen Avatars of Lord Dattatreya, as the fire of time
[19] Pithapuram, as the place where the feet of the asura (demon) Gaya fell
[20] A muni (monk) from the Vaishya community of an earlier yuga, now born as Srī Bāpanāryulu, the father of Sumatī Maharani and the grandfather of Srīpāda Srīvallabha
[21] One of ten wisdom goddesses in Hinduism; she smashes the devotee’s misconceptions and delusion
[22] Indian number; a crore corresponds to ten millions
[23] Here: Brahmin parishad
[24] A mystical Sanskrit work written on palm leaves dealing with time and the incidents of the future
[25] A festival in honour of Lord Ganesha, celebrated the 4th ascending moon phase in Virgo
[26] The zodiac sign of Leo
[27] Ascendant, the zodiac sign that is rising at the time of birth
[28] The zodiac sign of Libra
[29] The zodiac sign where the moon is present on the date of birth.
[30] Penchala Kona, Nellore District
Part 2 Chapter 6 of The Story of Narasāvadhāni – Sripada Srivallabha Charitramrutam (English)
Video of Part 2 Chapter 6 of The Story of Narasāvadhāni – Sripada Srivallabha Charitramrutam (Kannada) – Coming soon
Video of Part 2 Chapter 6 of The Story of Narasāvadhāni – Sripada Srivallabha Charitramrutam (Telugu) – Coming soon
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