The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
109. Life Granted to the Nawab's Son
When Sri Rayaru revived Venkata Girideshaiah’s son from untimely death, the news spread everywhere and Sri Rayaru’s fame reached all corners. To the sorrowful, Rayaru was hailed as the physician of worldly diseases. He became like Sanjeevini (a divine life-giving herb). Wherever Rayaru went, he was seen as the one who relieved physical and mental ailments and removed the miseries of the people. All this was considered by Rayaru as the will and desire of Sri Hari, and accordingly he continued performing such acts of world welfare and miracles.
From Kiritagiri, Rayaru proceeded to Hubballi with compassion. There, he received a grand welcome. Each day, groups of people from all beliefs would come to have darshan and receive his teachings, and they considered their lives fulfilled because of this.
One day, as Swamiji was returning from the home of a devotee in a village near Hubballi after being served respectfully, the bearers who were carrying the palanquin (mena) became weary from the sun’s heat and stopped under the shade of some trees near a newly constructed platform to rest. Just then, a cowherd boy grazing cattle nearby came running and exclaimed, “This spot where the palanquin is placed is actually the grave of the son of Nawab of Savanur, who had died from a snakebite just the other day! If the soldiers see this, it could cause trouble. Please move the palanquin immediately!”
At the same moment, four horsemen arrived and, seeing the palanquin on the grave, became enraged and scolded the bearers.
Sri Rayaru calmly called the soldiers and said, “Your Nawab’s son is not dead! You’ve made a grave while he’s still alive. If the prince’s body is taken out before sunset, by the grace of God, he can be brought back to life. After sunset, it will not be possible to revive him. Please convey this message to the Nawab and bring him here.”
The soldiers, initially angry, were influenced by the aura and tone of Sri Rayaru’s words. Realizing the possibility that the Nawab’s son might still be alive, they were overjoyed. One soldier immediately set off on horseback to inform the Nawab and bring him along.
The bearers shifted the palanquin to another spot and stood there.
Within an hour, the Nawab arrived on horseback accompanied by several officers. Upon seeing Sri Rayaru, an inexplicable sense of reverence and devotion rose in his heart. He dismounted and, according to his custom, bowed three times before Rayaru.
Sri Gururaj looked at him and said, “Nawab sir, may you be blessed! Your son’s soul has not yet departed. Please have his body exhumed from the grave. By the grace of God, we will attempt to revive the prince. It must be done before sunset.”
The words of Sri Rayaru felt like the nectar of immortality to the Nawab. Though a Muslim ruler, the Nawab had deep faith and respect for Hindu saints and believed that, like their own Muslim fakirs, Hindu saints too were messengers of Allah (God), and nothing was impossible for them. Accordingly, he accepted Rayaru’s words and immediately ordered his attendants to break open the grave and bring out the prince’s body.
Soon the attendants brought out the body of the Nawab’s son and laid it on a clean white cloth. Though the body of the eight-year-old boy had turned bluish in color, the boy still looked noble and full of auspicious signs. Seeing the child, Sri Swamiji was filled with compassion and firmly resolved to bring him back to life.
Sri Rayaru washed his hands and feet, sat on a krishnajina (deer skin mat) near the boy’s body, performed āchamana (ritual sipping of water), and said:
“Nawab Sir, I will now enter deep meditation. Until I open my eyes and return to the outer world, no matter what happens here, everyone must stand still and not move. If you do so, then by God's grace, your son will be revived and blessed.”
Saying this, he went into deep meditation.
Rayaru silently began chanting the Akarṣaṇa - ಆಕರ್ಷಣ mantra, Garuda mantra, and Sri Krishna mantra in his mind.
Within one ghaḷige (roughly 24 minutes), suddenly from somewhere, a venomous snake slithered up with speed and placed its hood on a part of the Nawab’s son's foot! This strange sight astonished and terrified all present—Nawab, commanders, soldiers, palanquin bearers—leaving them frozen like statues in awe and fear.
The serpent sucked out the venom, shook its hood as if in pain, and moved away.
Then—another wonder! From somewhere, a Garuda bird swooped down and grabbed the serpent in its beak and flew off!
While all stood stunned watching this miracle unfold, Sri Rayaru opened his eyes, gently smiled, took water from his kamandalu (sacred pot), chanted mantras over it, and sprinkled the sanctified water over the prince’s body.
A wondrous event occurred. The Nawab’s son’s body, which had turned bluish, regained its original complexion! Breath returned to his body!
Immediately, the prince sat up!
All the people present, filled with amazement, exclaimed:
“A great soul! A saint! A miracle!”
Seeing his son awake and sitting, the prince looked at his nearby father and exclaimed:
“Abbajaan!” and embraced his father.
The Nawab’s eyes flooded with tears of joy.
“Beta! Mera beta!” he cried and held his son tightly.
Seeing this joyful scene, Sri Rayaru too was pleased.
The Nawab, along with his revived son, bowed to Sri Rayaru and said,
“Sādhu Mahārāj! You are a great saint. You brought my son back from the gates of death and gave him back to me. You are the god of my destiny! I will never forget this grace of yours. Gurujī, please come to our town and bless us by accepting the service of this humble servant.”
Pleased by the Nawab’s sincere devotion, Sri Rayaru smiled and replied:
“Nawab Sir, it is God who revived your son—not me. I am but an instrument. I will gladly accept your offering of service.”
Saying this, he blessed the Nawab and the prince with phala-mantrākṣate (sacred fruit and blessed rice), seated himself in the palanquin, and continued his journey toward Hubballi.
As promised to the Nawab of Savanur, Sri Rayaru graciously arrived with a small entourage. The Nawab received the Guru with musical grandeur and respectfully hosted him in a magnificent mansion. He made special arrangements for the Guru’s worship and had a learned Brahmin perform the pāda-pūjā (ritual foot worship) to Sri Rayaru.
After the pūjā-ārādhane (ritual worship), the Nawab expressed his wish to donate a village and several landed properties to the Guru who had revived his deceased son and preserved his lineage. When Rayaru said, “Nawab-ji, what is all this for?” the Nawab replied:
“Gurumaharaj, last night I had a dream. In it, I had a vision of a divine being. The radiant figure appeared about seven or eight years old—so resplendent I could hardly bear to look at him! Adorned with all ornaments, he stood holding a golden flute in his hand. Smiling at me, the divine child said:
‘Donate to the Guru who saved your son a village and land in My name. You will be blessed.’
Then, he disappeared. I do not know the name of that divine being. You are a great Mahatma—please tell me who He was and kindly accept the land donation.”
Sri Guru Rāyaru, realizing this was a Krishna-līlā (divine play of Lord Krishna), was overwhelmed with joy and asked,
“Nawab-ji, in your kingdom, is there any village named ‘Krishna’?”
The Nawab responded,
“Indeed, Gurujī! Among my possessions, there is a village called ‘Krishnapura.’”
Rayaru, with a smiling face, replied,
“You are truly fortunate, Nawab-ji. Our Lord Himself has appeared before you. His names are infinite. ‘Krishna’ is one among them. ‘Krishnapura’ is a village in His name! He wishes for you to offer it to us. Let it be as He wills.”
The Nawab, extremely pleased, formally donated the Krishnapura village and some lands to the Guru and felt fulfilled.
Sri Rayaru’s noble qualities—his compassion for all, his universal outreach beyond religious bounds, and his humanitarian virtues—were praised by all, as he had revived the son of a non-Hindu Nawab and, through his grace, demonstrated the greatness of Sanātana Dharma.