The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
122. The Decision to Conclude the Incarnation!
Śrī Rāghavendra Swamiji, understanding that the duties he had to perform for the sake of the people of the world had come to a close, resolved—according to the divine will of Śrī Hari—to bring his incarnation work to an end.
To successfully carry out this task, Śrīpādāṅgalavaru summoned his close associates from Kumbhakonam, including Venkatanārāyaṇāchārya, Nārāyaṇāchārya, Govindāchārya, and especially Diwan Venkanna Pant, and one day held a confidential consultation in solitude.
Śrī Guru Rāja informed them all that, in accordance with the inspiration and will of Śrī Hari and Śrī Vāyu, he would soon complete his incarnation work and enter the Brindavana alive, in his physical form.
Hearing these words from the Guru felt like a thunderbolt striking the hearts of all present—they were shaken. Agitated and overwhelmed, they stood confused, stricken with sorrow and despair at the thought that their liberating Guru was about to leave them as orphans. Tears of grief flowed uncontrollably from their eyes. None could find words to speak; all sat frozen in stunned silence.
At that moment, Venkatanārāyaṇāchārya, son of the Guru’s elder brother from his pre-monastic life, filled with anguish, submitted,
“Mahāswāmi, have we committed any offense against you? Is it just to make all of us orphans so suddenly?”
As for Śrī Lakṣmīnārāyaṇāchārya, son of Śrīpāda himself, it felt as if the very sky had collapsed and fallen upon his head. Disoriented and unable to withstand the wave of grief, he washed the Guru Rāja’s feet with his tears, praying:
“Mahāswāmi, please change this decision and protect us all! We do not have the strength to bear the sorrow of separation from our Guru’s feet. Please show mercy.”
Śrī Rāya gently stroked Lakṣmīnārāyaṇāchārya’s head, held his shoulders, and raised him up saying,
“Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa, Vēṅkaṭanārāyaṇa! Why are you behaving like children? You are well-versed in all scriptures and are thoughtful by nature—should you lose composure like this? None of you have committed any kind of offense. This is a decision we have taken in accordance with the divine will (saṅkalpa) of Śrī Hari.
Once someone is born as a human, the debt to this Earth must come to an end someday, mustn’t it? Do you recall the prediction made a few years ago in Kumbhakonam by three astrologers? One of them had foretold that our lifespan would be a hundred years, and that we might become invisible around the seventy-eighth or eightieth year—do you remember that? Another astrologer had predicted that we would live for seven hundred years. Do you not recall that we accepted both of those predictions as true?
Now, both prophecies are going to manifest as true. By entering the Brindāvana in physical form and becoming invisible to the eyes of worldly people, the first prediction will come true. And by being present in the Brindāvana in physical form for seven hundred years, engaged in penance and devotion to Śrī Hari for the welfare of the world, and by protecting those who take refuge in us, the second prediction too shall be fulfilled.
This is Śrī Hari’s will. Hence, it is inevitable. All of you must give up your needless sorrow and distress, and with a smile, assist in fulfilling this noble wish of ours, aligning yourselves with the divine will. It is for this reason that I have called all of you and openly shared this decision. Our decision is final! There is no use in grieving; it may even go against the will of Śrī Hari!”
Hearing this, everyone bowed their heads and sat silently.
Then Śrī Rāya said,
“Now, please listen carefully as we speak about the matters related to the Mahāsaṃsthāna that we are about to undertake.”
Diwān Vēṅkanna Pant, who was seated with his head bowed, folded his hands and submitted,
“Guruvarya, as one who is orphaned, the grief from this matter is unbearable to me. Then how great must the shock be for these dear ones, who from their very childhood have seen your countless noble qualities and compassion, and have considered you their everything? Swami, who can go against your command? Let your will be done.”
Śrī Rāya, with a compassionate and graceful gaze, looked upon everyone and said:
“No one should act against the will of Śrī Hari. We understand your pain—it is a reflection of the profound devotion you have for us. But what can be done? You must endure the grief of our separation. You, who are our beloved disciples and family, must act with courage.
Hmm, one matter has been resolved. Now, we will share with you our decision and thoughts about the future arrangement of the Mahāsaṃsthāna.”
Saying this, he cast a meaningful glance toward Nārāyaṇāchārya—his beloved disciple and nephew from his pre-monastic life. As soon as Śrī Rāya’s words reached him, it felt as if electricity surged through Nārāyaṇāchārya’s body. He recalled the earlier private conversation held in Kumbhakonam with Guru Rāja regarding the future of the Mahāsaṃsthāna, and he was filled with ecstasy.
“This great seat (Mahāpīṭha) of Śrīmadācārya—established by the Supreme Being, Śrī Haṃsa Nāmaka Paramātma, upon which we now reside—is supremely sacred. It must continue to uphold its duties as long as the sun and moon exist, becoming widely revered and engaged in the holistic upliftment of all virtuous people.
Through the teaching and propagation of our scriptures, the ascetic masters who adorn this seat must continue the philosophy of Śrīmadācārya and keep the lamp of knowledge burning bright. For this great endeavor to succeed, just as Śrīmadācārya once did, we too must choose those worthy to govern this Mahāpīṭha. We have already made this decision. Nārāyaṇa is aware of this matter. In due time, our Nārāyaṇa will share it with all of you.
We have selected four individuals worthy to govern this Mahāpīṭha after us. Hereafter, in this seat of learning (Vidyāsiṃhāsana) of Śrī Sarvajña, our pre-monastic lineage shall continue as a tradition. They shall actively engage in the dissemination of spiritual knowledge and Dharma, in the welfare of the world, and in the multifaceted development of the Dvaita Siddhānta.
They shall continue the unbroken tradition of teaching and discourse carried forward from the lineage of Śrīmadācārya, Padmanābha, Jayatīrtha, Vibudhendra, and Vijayīndra. This is the wish of Śrī Mūla Rāma! It is the will of Śrīmadācārya and Tīkākṛtpāda! In accordance with their inspiration, we have made this decision.
Following us, in succession, our dear disciples Śrī Yogīndra Tīrtha, Śrī Sūrīndra Tīrtha, Śrī Sumatīndra Tīrtha, and Śrī Upendra Tīrtha must manage this Mahāsaṃsthāna.”
Hearing this, all began to wonder, “Who might these fortunate ones be?” At that moment, Śrī Rāya looked at Vēṅkaṭanārāyaṇāchārya with a smiling face and said:
“Vēṅkaṭanārāyaṇa, do you know who these four blessed ones are? They are your sons—Vēṅkaṇṇa, Vāsudēva, Muddu Vēṅkaṭakṛṣṇa, and Vijayīndra! And after them, as the fifth in line, this Śrīnivāsa too shall ascend this Mahāpīṭha and earn great fame—this too is the will of Śrī Hari and Śrī Vāyu!”
Saying this, he pointed to the one-and-a-half-year-old boy Śrīnivāsa—grandson of his pre-monastic son Lakṣmīnārāyaṇāchārya—who was sitting on the lap of Śrīpāda Lakṣmīnārāyaṇāchārya, and placed his hand upon the boy’s head, blessing him.
Hearing Śrīyavaru’s words, everyone was overwhelmed with amazement and filled with blissful joy.
A thrilled Diwān Vēṅkanna Pant, his body trembling with hair standing on end, exclaimed,
“Mahāswāmi, then… that Brindāvana!?”
Smiling gently, Śrīyavaru replied,
“Yes! That Brindāvana is reserved for him!”
Vēṅkanna Pant stood speechless, marveling at the Guru’s far-sightedness, profound foresight, and his immense divine glory that enabled him to decide everything in advance.
Śrī Rāya’s decision eventually came to fruition.
Later, after Śrī Upendra Tīrtha, Śrīnivāsāchārya became the head of the Mahāsaṃsthāna under the name Śrīvādīndra Tīrtha, and became universally revered as the “Moon of both lineages” (ubhayavaṃśāchandra).
It was that same beautiful Brindāvana which Vēṅkanna Pant had first prepared that, as per Śrī Rāya’s prophetic words, became the Brindāvana of Śrīvādīndra Tīrtha. Even today, anyone can see the beautiful Brindāvana of Śrīvādīndra, which stands beside Śrī Rāya’s own.
– The Author