The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
116. Forbidden Things Became Fruit and Flowers!
It was Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant’s earnest wish that Siddī Masūd Khān, the Nawab, should become worthy of Śrī Rāyaru’s grace.
About four or five days after Śrī Rāyaru had sent his message to Ādavāṇi, Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant visited the Nawab.
Masūd Khān asked him,
“Āyiye, Dīvān-jī, have you made all the arrangements for Gurumahārāj?”
Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant bowed as per court protocol and replied:
“Jī Huzūr, as per your royal command, all the arrangements have been made. Gurumahārāj is very pleased. Huzūr, it is my heartfelt desire that you have darśana of our Guru and receive his blessings.”
Siddī Masūd Khān was already familiar with the glory of Śrī Rāyaru through Rannadullā Khān - ರಣದುಲ್ಲಾಖಾನ್, the great general of Bijāpura.
He had heard how the Bijāpura Sultan, ʿAlī Ādil Shāh, had honored Śrī Rāyaru with extraordinary reverence, awarding him titles such as “Jagadguru”, presenting him with a white umbrella, green banner, royal whisk, and other prestigious honors.
He also knew that Śrī Rāyaru had saved the people of Bijāpura from a devastating famine.
All this deeply impressed the Nawab. Since his lord and master, Ādil Shāh, had honored the Guru with such devotion and reverence, he too desired to honor him, to have his darśana, and receive his blessings.
Moreover, because Śrī Rāyaru was the family Guru of his beloved Dīvān, Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant, the Nawab longed for that same grace and also harbored a desire to test the Guru’s greatness himself.
With a smile, the Nawab said,
“Dīvān-jī, you’ve spoken what was already in my heart. Bahut ḳhūb! Dīvān-jī, acchā! I shall come tomorrow evening for Guru-darśan — will that be alright?”
Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant was overjoyed and replied:
“Of course, Huzūr! I will make all the arrangements for your visit to the Guru.”
He returned home and conveyed the matter to Śrī Rāyaru, who, with a gentle smile, said:
“That’s wonderful.”
Preparations were made according to the traditions of the Mahāsaṁsthāna to receive the Nawab.
As the sun was about to set, Siddī Masūd Khān, accompanied by a small entourage and riding a twin-horse chariot, came with Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant for Guru-darśana.
At the entrance, Lakṣmīnārāyaṇācārya, along with a group of paṇḍitas, welcomed the Nawab with pūrṇakumbha (auspicious pot), Vedic chanting, and festive music and led him inside with honor.
Śrī Rāyaru was seated with divine grandeur on his sacred seat, adorned and radiant.
Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant led the Nawab into the Guru’s presence. The Nawab was stunned, beholding the brilliance and majestic aura of Guruvar.
The sight of that lotus-like face adorned with a gentle smile, that unspeakable radiance — filled the Nawab with bliss and awe.
Instantly, deep reverence and devotion arose in his heart.
Siddī Masūd Khān, overwhelmed by the Guru’s divine presence, thought to himself:
“This is no ordinary man! He is filled with a divine brilliance that can attract the entire world! Such greatness, such fearlessness, such steadiness!
Was it a mistake for me to think I could test him?”
But by the time this realization had dawned in his mind —
Time had already raced ahead like lightning.
The Nawab bowed three times before Śrī Rāyaru and said with reverence:
“Gurumahārāj! I am fulfilled by the sight of you!”
He then sat near the Guru on a jeweled seat prepared especially for him.
After Śrī Rāyaru warmly enquired about the Nawab’s well-being, the Nawab, as prearranged, had his personal attendant place a silver platter covered in silk fabric before the Guru.
Seeing it, a unique gentle smile appeared on Rāyaru’s face.
Siddī Masūd Khān said:
“Gurumahārāj! I have heard of your greatness from our Dīvān-jī and am filled with joy. We have brought this as a humble offering to your revered deity. Gurujī must kindly accept it.”
He gestured toward the platter.
To Śrī Rāyaru, who knew the past, present, and future as clearly as an āmalaka fruit in the palm, the inner thoughts of the Nawab were as clear as sunlight.
He realized that the time had come to demonstrate to this non-Hindu ruler the inconceivable power of the Divine, the sanctity of the Vedic Sanātana Dharma, and the glory of saints devoted to God.
Poor Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant was unaware of any of this. He simply assumed that the Nawab had brought precious ornaments and wealth as an offering to honor Śrī Rāyaru.
But what the Nawab had actually brought was entirely different!
To test Śrī Rāyaru’s virtue, he had placed in the platter items strictly forbidden in Hindu dharma — liquor and meat — concealed under rich fabric, and had sent it through his personal attendant.
Śrī Rāyaru, still smiling, said:
“Very good, Nawab-sāheb! Our Lord has said in the Gītā —
‘Patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
Tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ’ —
If someone offers me a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water with devotion, I accept it.
So, as for what you have brought — our Śrī Hari will accept it in the manner He sees fit!”
Then, turning to the doorkeeper, he ordered:
“Bring the kamaṇḍalu (sacred water pot).”
The doorkeeper brought it, placed it on the pedestal next to Śrī Rāyaru, and stepped back. Śrī Rāyaru then meditated briefly, and sprinkled the sacred water over the platter that the Nawab had presented.
He then instructed the doorkeeper to remove the cloth.
As the doorkeeper lifted the covering, Siddī Masūd Khān glanced at the platter — and was completely stunned by what he saw.
A miracle!
The liquor and meat that he had placed there — intending to test the Guru — had transformed into milk, fruits, and flowers!
Amazed and overwhelmed, he gasped aloud:
“What wonder is this? What kind of divine magic is this!”
Frightened and trembling, the Nawab thought:
“Though I knew he was a great saint, I still dared to test him — I have committed a serious offense!”
Śrī Rāyaru said,
“Nawab-sāheb! Are you satisfied now?
Had I not told you earlier — our Lord will accept your offering in the manner He desires?”
These words struck the Nawab like a thunderous slap of realization.
Burnt with regret and sorrow, the Nawab thought to himself:
“Alas! O Parvardigār! What a reckless act I committed!
In my eagerness to test a great saint, I rushed like a fool — who knows what calamity awaits me now?
Is it any great feat for a saint who raised an orphan into a Dīvān to raise a Nawab into a mere soldier?
What if such a noble soul, pained by my foolishness, curses me? What will become of me then?”
Terrified and full of anxiety, he rose and, according to Hindu custom, prostrated with full sāshtāṅga namaskāra before Śrī Rāyaru. With folded hands, he pleaded:
“Khudāvand Gurumahārāj, please forgive me. I have sinned by trying to test a Mahātmā like you.
Just as you protected Dīvān-jī as your disciple, please forgive and protect this humble servant of yours as well.”
Śrī Rāyaru gently replied:
“Why do you worry, Nawab-sāheb?
It appears our Vēṅkaṇṇa Pant has already spoken much to you about us. That is why you wanted to test and honor us in your own way.
We are not displeased in the least. In fact, because of your testing, the glory of our Lord, the greatness of Sanātana Dharma, the power of mantras, and the holiness of Hindu devotees have all come to light.
Even earlier, the Sultan of Bijāpura — though a follower of another faith — respected our Guru and us with devotion.
But a fellow Hindu, the Prime Minister of Bijāpura, Ghanashyāma Rāya, tested our Guru.
By God’s grace, our Guru triumphed in that test too. He forgave Ghanashyāma Rāya and accepted him as a disciple, showering him with grace.
So you see, occasional tests like these only help the world see the depth of a devotee’s strength, the power of Indian philosophy, and the glory of Dharma and tradition.”
The Nawab once again bowed to Śrī Rāyaru, and humbly said:
“Gurumahārāj, I am blessed to have seen your greatness with my own eyes. From today, please accept me too as your devotee.
Forgive my offense, and tomorrow, please accept my humble offering and bless me with your grace.”
Śrī Gururājaru, pleased by the Nawab’s devotion and humility, accepted his prayer, honored him royally, and gave him phalamantrākṣate as a token of his blessing.