The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
111. Sadgati (liberation) to Kanakadāsa who was born as an antyaja (outcaste)!
Śrī Rāyaru was seated in front of Prāṇadevara (Lord Hanuman) to undertake the Chāturmāsya Vrata Sankalpa. The Chāturmāsya Vrata of this great soul, Śrīgurugalu, was nothing short of a session of divine wisdom (jñāna-satra).
One day, Śrīgurugalu stepped outside upon seeing an antyaja (a person from a marginalized caste) standing with folded hands near the flagpost (dhvajastambha) outside the temple, humbly and respectfully. That antyaja bowed from where he stood and said, “Oḍeya” (My Lord). Seeing him, Rāyaru smiled gently and asked, “Oh Kanaka! Why has your state turned like this?”
The antyaja sighed deeply and humbly replied, “Hmm, fate! All this is my Lord Keśava’s divine play, Vyāsappa! Have you forgotten what you told me that day? You had said, ‘You too must take birth again, it’s not over yet! You will surely attain sadgati (liberation).’ Look, O Lord! This is Keśava’s will. I have come as per your command! Enough of this entanglement of worldly life. Gurudeva, now you must show me a path, grant me sadgati, and uplift me,” he pleaded.
Śrī Rāyaru, moved by compassion, replied, “So be it, Kanaka! How can we forget our past bond! Look, tomorrow, bring some offering (kāṇike) and present it to Śrī Mūla Rāma Devaru. Mūla Raghupati will certainly fulfill your desire,” he instructed with a heart full of kindness.
The one who had earlier been Kanakadāsa was now born as an antyaja. When Śrī Gururājaru had incarnated earlier as Vyāsarāja, he had shown deep affection towards Kanakadāsa. Later, when he took on his final incarnation, he had instructed that Kanakadāsa too be born again and serve him. Since he was aware of this divine intent, Śrī Gururājaru now showered grace upon the one born as an antyaja.
Receiving the guru's blessings, the antyaja felt assured of his liberation and joyfully said, “Alright, Vyāsappa,” bowed down and left.
The next day, the Lord of the noble, purifier of the fallen, and ocean of compassion, Śrī Rāyaru, was waiting near the dhvajastambha for the arrival of the antyaja. The antyaja came carrying a little bit of mustard greens (sāsuve) tied in a cloth bundle. Keeping it a little distance from the Guru, he prostrated fully on the ground with reverence and fear-filled devotion.
Śrī Gururājaru, smiling gently, accepted the mustard greens offered with such love by the antyaja and blessed him. He then called the pārupattēdāru (head of kitchen service) of the monastery and instructed him to use that mustard in the day’s cooking.
The Pārupattēdāra (head of kitchen service) was aware that mustard greens (sāsuve) were traditionally considered prohibited for use during the Chāturmāsya Vrata.
Because of this, he stood there, caught in doubt, unable to muster the courage to question the Guru about it. Śrī Rāyaru, realizing the inner turmoil of his mind, smiled and said:
“O Pārupattēdāra - ಪಾರುಪತ್ತೇದಾರ! Mustard is a homa dravya (substance suitable for sacred offerings)! You may freely use mustard in the kitchen preparations. There is no fault in it. Śrī Hari and Vāyu accept it! Not just today, but henceforth as well — during the entire Vrata period, mustard may always be used! This is the command of Mūlarāma himself!”
According to Rāyaru’s instruction, the mustard was used in that day’s kitchen preparation. After the worship, offerings, naivedya (ritual food offering), hastodaka-tīrtha-prasāda (blessed water and food), and bhikṣā svīkāra (accepting alms) were completed for Śrī Mūlarāma Devaru, Śrīgurugalu sent, through the Pārupattēdāra, sacred water (tīrtha prasāda), fruits, mantra-blessed rice (phalamantrākṣate), and prasāda offered to Bhagavān to the beloved devotee — the antyaja.
The antyaja received the tīrtha prasāda and came to stand near the dhvajastambha (flag post). Śrī Rāyaru came out and said:
“You, who have received the prasāda of Śrī Hari and Guru, are indeed blessed. All your karmas have been exhausted. Meditate on the feet of Śrī Hari and give up this body, O Kanaka! You will attain liberation (saddhati) without a doubt!”
With eyes filled with tears of joy, the antyaja bowed again and again to Rāyaru and said, “I am blessed, Gurudeva,” while gazing at the supremely holy form of Śrī Gururājaru. Meditating on Lord Hari, he gave up his body right there.
Through the grace of Śrī Hari, Vāyu, and Guru, in the very next moment, the antyaja ascended to Vaikuṇṭha in a divine aerial chariot!
As people stood witnessing this astonishing event, divine bells rang out in the sky! Hearing this, all were struck with wonder and began remembering the story of Vēṅkaṇṇa. They praised the fortune of Kanakadāsa, who had once been born as an antyaja, and glorified the tapas-shakti (ascetic power), compassion, and loving devotion of Śrī Gururājaru.
They extolled Rāyaru as the great saint who granted liberation (saddhati) to an antyaja.