The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
33. The Reunion of Brothers
Eager to reach home, Venkatanatha asked excitedly, “Narayana! How are Anna (elder brother), Attige (sister-in-law), and Amma? How is little Venkatanarayana? He must have grown a lot by now!”
As Narayana joyfully answered his uncle’s questions, they reached the house. Venkatanatha, filled with anticipation and happiness, quickly entered and walked toward the front hall.
In the center of the padasale (traditional hall), his elder brother Lakshminarasimha Achar and Guru Rajachar were seated on a hanging cot, engaged in conversation. Seeing Venkatanatha approach, his brother called out, “Come, Venkatanatha! See who has come.”
With great reverence, Venkatanatha stepped forward, touched his ears in a mark of humility, and respectfully chanted his formal salutation:
"Chatussagara Parantam Gobrahmanebhyah Shubham Bhavatu! Angirasa, Ayasya, Gautama, Trayarsheya Pravaranvita, Gautama Gotra, Apastamba Sutra, Yajurshakha Adhyayi, Venkatanatha Sharma Aham Bhu Abhivadaye!"
Then, bowing down in full prostration, he touched his elder brother Guru Rajachar’s feet in reverence.
Seeing his younger brother, radiating beauty, humility, and the glow of disciplined learning, Guru Rajachar’s heart swelled with pride and joy. With great affection, he embraced Venkatanatha and blessed him:
“May you have a long life, dear brother! May you be the shining light of our lineage!”
News of Venkatanatha’s arrival quickly spread through the household. Gopamma (his mother), Venkatanamba (his sister-in-law), Kamaladevi, and little Venkatanarayana came into the padasale.
The moment he saw his mother, Venkatanatha rushed towards her, calling out, “Amma!” He fell at her feet in reverence and asked, “How many years has it been, Amma? I finally get to see you! Are you well?”
His mother, seeing her son now grown into a radiant and youthful man, was filled with emotion. Her heart swelled with love and pride as she affectionately caressed his head and said, “I am well, my dear Venkatanatha. Are you doing well?”
He smiled and replied, “By your blessings, Amma, I am well.”
Then, turning towards his sister-in-law, he smiled and bowed, saying, “How are you, Attige?”
Looking at him, now a young man, radiant like Manmatha himself, she was overjoyed. “Venkatu! You have grown so much in just six years! May you live a hundred years happily!” she blessed him, overwhelmed with happiness.
Venkatanatha, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, laughed and said, “Yes, Attige, I have grown! If you had waited another ten or fifteen years to visit, you might have found me an old man!”
Kamaladevi, glancing playfully at her husband, said with a teasing smile, “Did you hear that? Our Venkatu is taking a jab at us with his sharp wit! He’s blaming us for not visiting in six years! Atthe (mother-in-law), I kept telling him for years that we should come see you, but look, your son—he only listens when he wants to!” She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Hearing his wife’s words, Guru Rajachar laughed and said, “Venkatanatha, don’t believe her! Many times, I suggested to Amma that we should visit Madurai to see Akka (elder sister), Bhava (brother-in-law), and you. But she would always say, ‘Oh, leave it! They are like kings there, well taken care of. Why disturb them?’ Now tell me, what could I do?”
Hearing this, Kamaladevi widened her eyes in mock surprise and said, “What is this, Venkatu? Don’t believe your brother! He is just trying to create a playful quarrel between us!” Pretending to be upset, she pulled the edge of her saree over her face, wiping away imaginary tears, before bursting into laughter.
Venkatanatha smiled and said, “Do I not know Anna well? Why do you worry? Your love and affection for me are not something new!”
Guru Rajachar chuckled and said, “True, true! It is my mistake. Since childhood, you have always taken Attige’s (sister-in-law's) side, haven’t you?” His playful tone made everyone laugh, including Venkatanatha. Watching their lively exchange, Lakshminarasimha Achar, Gopamma, and Venkatanamba also laughed heartily.
Little Venkatanarayana, not understanding much but sensing the joyful mood, clapped his hands loudly and exclaimed, “Ho!” before laughing along with everyone else. The entire house was filled with happiness and laughter.
At that moment, Venkatanatha’s eyes caught sight of little Venkatanarayana peeking shyly from behind his mother’s saree. Smiling warmly, he called the boy over, hugged him tightly, and affectionately ruffled his hair. “Nani! You have grown so big! Do you even remember me?” he asked, patting the child’s back.
The little boy clung to his uncle and said excitedly, “Chikkappa! They say you are going to become a great scholar! Amma and Appa always talk about it. I want to be a scholar like you too! Will you teach me, Chikkappa?”
Hearing this innocent praise, Venkatanatha blushed and lowered his head modestly before replying, “Of course, Nani! Whatever I have learned, I will teach you.”
Later that night, after dinner, the family gathered in the padasale for tamboola (betel leaf chewing) and casual conversation. Venkatanatha asked, “Anna, when do you plan to conduct Venkatanarayana’s Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony)?”
Guru Rajachar replied, “It should be done soon. Amma and your Attige have been insisting that we conduct it at the earliest.”
At this, Lakshminarasimha Achar said, “Guranna, since you have come home for Deepavali, let’s complete the Upanayana during an auspicious time before you leave.”
Guru Rajachar hesitated, feeling the weight of responsibility, and remained silent. Sensing his reluctance, Venkatanamba interjected, “Guranna, why are you hesitating? Are we outsiders? Amma, you tell him—shouldn’t we take this opportunity to complete Venkatanarayana’s Upanayana?”
Gopamma supported her and said, “Guranna, my dear, let’s follow Venkatanamba’s suggestion and conduct the Upanayana while we are all together.”
With his mother’s approval and his wife’s insistence, Guru Rajachar and his wife finally agreed, nodding in unison. The family’s decision was made, and preparations for the sacred ceremony began.
Later, Guru Rajachar inquired about his younger brother’s studies. Narasimhacharya, smiling with enthusiasm, said,
“Guranna, your brother’s intelligence, talent, and grasping power are truly extraordinary! Teaching him is nothing short of a blessing! His brilliance in all the scriptures makes it seem as if he had already mastered them in his previous birth. What would normally take twelve to fourteen years to learn, he has mastered in just eight years!”
He praised Venkatanatha wholeheartedly. Guru Rajachar was overjoyed at his brother’s rapid progress in learning.
Four days had passed since Gopamma and Guru Rajachar’s family had arrived. One afternoon, while Venkatanatha was seated in his study room, reviewing scriptures, Venkatanarayana entered and sat beside him.
Venkatanatha glanced at him and asked, “What is it, Nani?”
Venkatanarayana excitedly replied, “Chikkappa, do you know what happened today? When I went to the Vidyapeetha, I saw Nani (a young friend) speaking with some boys. Suddenly, a boy named Samba turned to him and said, ‘Narayana, you always speak about Bheda (duality). But where is Bheda? The doctrine of Jiva-Brahma Aikya (oneness of the soul and Brahman) is the correct one. Your belief is unauthentic! What do you say to that?’”
“A debate broke out between Nani and Samba. After much argument, Samba finally said, ‘Alright then, compose a shloka in response and prove your point!’ So, Nani composed a verse on the spot. After hearing it, Samba admitted defeat and ran away, saying, ‘You win, I’m leaving!’”
At that moment, Narayana himself entered the room. Seeing him, Venkatanatha smiled and asked, “Ah, Narayana! It looks like you have won a great victory today! Tell me what happened.”
Feeling shy, Narayana lowered his head and replied, “It was nothing, Mava.”
Venkatanatha insisted, “Come on, tell me! What was the shloka you composed?”
Narayana hesitated and said, “No, Mava! It’s not worthy of being recited in front of you. It was just something that came to mind in that moment.”
Venkatanatha gently but firmly encouraged him, “That’s alright, Nani. Please recite it.”
Reluctantly, but with a sense of reverence, Narayana finally began to recite in a melodious tone:
"Śrīmān Vedaika-vedyo śubha-guṇa-nilayaḥ doṣa-dūro pareśaḥ |
Brahma-śānādi-nam-pratihata-mahimā Padmanābho Rameśaḥ ||
Jīvo-lalaśakta janimmati-sahito doṣa-pūrṇa sukhī ca |
Aikyaṃ śakyaṃ kimadaśaguṇayutayo bhedayugdhaḥ paratra ||"
(Translation:
"The glorious Lord, who is known solely through the Vedas, is the abode of auspicious qualities, completely free from faults, and the supreme master of all. His glory is unchallenged by Brahma, Shiva, and others—He is Padmanabha, the consort of Lakshmi.
The individual soul, bound by karma and ignorance, is filled with flaws and experiences fleeting happiness. How can such an imperfect soul attain oneness with the flawless Supreme? The distinction (Bheda) remains eternal.")
Venkatanatha listened attentively, his face glowing with pride.
Narayana’s Poetic Brilliance and Venkatanatha’s Musical Genius
Seeing his young nephew’s poetic prowess, Venkatanatha was filled with joy and admiration. He patted Narayana’s back and said,
“Well done, Narayana! Your poetry is impressive. You have displayed intellect far beyond your age. The flow of your verse is smooth and beautiful! The presentation of the subject is both delightful and authentic. This verse, composed in the Sragdhara meter, is the first poetic offering you have dedicated to the lotus feet of our revered Sri Madhvacharya. With the blessings of Sri Hari and Vayu, you will one day become a great poet and gain fame!”
When Narayana explained the details of his debate with Samba, everyone laughed heartily. Hearing the joyous laughter, Gopamma, Venkatanamba, and Kamaladevi came in and asked what had happened.
As Venkatanatha narrated the whole incident, Kamaladevi eagerly said, “Tell me, what was the shloka? Recite it again and explain its meaning.”
Venkatanatha had Narayana recite the verse once more and then explained its meaning:
“The individual soul (Jīvātmā) can never attain absolute oneness (Aikya) with the Supreme Soul (Paramātmā). Why? Because Sri Hari is the Supreme Being, whose greatness is extolled by the Vedas. He is flawless, infinitely glorious, the most revered by Brahma, Rudra, and other deities. He is the Lord of Lakshmi, the eternal, omnipotent Padmanabha.
On the other hand, the individual soul is limited in knowledge and power, bound by birth and death, filled with imperfections, and subjected to suffering. How can such an incomplete being ever attain absolute unity with the infinite and perfect Supreme? Neither in this world nor in liberation is such a unity possible. That is the essence of this verse.”
Then, turning to his mother, he said, “See, Amma! How talented your grandson is in composing poetry!” Everyone beamed with pride and happiness.
Afterward, Venkatanatha, along with Narayana and Venkatanarayana, set off towards the river for their evening prayers.
Venkatanatha’s Mastery in Veena
Once Venkatanatha left, Gopamma turned to Venkatanamba and asked, “Venkata, how skilled is your brother in playing the Veena?”
Venkatanamba smiled knowingly and replied, “Amma, what can I say about his Veena expertise? His mastery and talent in Veena playing are already well-known, even in royal courts. People say he has surpassed even his father in fame!”
Hearing this, Gopamma and Kamaladevi were overwhelmed with joy. Kamaladevi asked eagerly, “Is it true? Has our Venkatu gained such recognition?”
Venkatanamba nodded and began narrating an incident:
“Listen, Kamala, let me tell you what happened just two months ago. Venkatanatha always plays the Veena in solitude. He never performs in public. Only on rare occasions—perhaps four or five times a year—does he play in the temple of Goddess Meenakshi, in the quiet hours when no one is around. After playing, he offers his prayers and leaves. This is his practice.
One day, on the occasion of Ananta Vratotsava, he went to Meenakshi’s temple in the afternoon with our Narayana. Since there was no crowd at that time, he sat in deep devotion before the Goddess and began playing the Veena.
Coincidentally, the Maharaja arrived at the temple for darshan. As he stepped inside, he saw Venkatanatha engrossed in playing the Veena. He paused, standing in a corner, and listened intently.
At that moment, Venkatanatha had begun playing Bhairavi Raga, weaving intricate and exquisite melodies. The depth and grandeur of his rendition left the Maharaja spellbound. As soon as Venkatanatha finished and rose from his seat, the Maharaja stepped forward, folded his hands, and said:
‘Your mastery of the Veena is extraordinary! We have never before heard Bhairavi played with such depth and variety! Today, our ears have truly been blessed! May I ask—who are you? You must be new to Madurai.’”
Hearing this story, Gopamma and Kamaladevi’s hearts swelled with pride, their eyes glistening with joy.
It was only later that Venkatanatha realized the Maharaja himself had been present at the temple and had listened to his Veena recital. With humility, he lowered his head and respectfully replied,
“I am the nephew and son-in-law of the esteemed royal scholar, Sri Lakshminarasimha Achar. For the past eight years, I have been engaged in rigorous study of the scriptures, both at the Vidyapeetha and under my uncle’s guidance.”
Hearing this, the Maharaja was overjoyed and said,
“Are you truly the nephew and son-in-law of the revered Acharya? We have heard from some of our court scholars that you are unparalleled in both the scriptures and Veena playing. Today, having witnessed your talent firsthand, I am filled with happiness. You must perform a Veena concert in our royal court one day to delight us all.”
With great modesty, Venkatanatha bowed slightly and responded,
“Forgive me, Mahaprabhu! I am not a scholar worthy of performing in a royal court. What little I know, I offer only as a humble service before the divine presence in temples. That is all. However, if I receive your command, I shall certainly come.”
Saying this, he took leave of the Maharaja and returned home with Narayana.
Venkatanatha never mentioned this incident to anyone. However, a few days later, when some family members visited the royal court, the Maharaja himself recounted the event and praised him, saying:
“Acharya, your nephew is a prodigy! His mastery of the Veena is beyond comparison. We had never before heard such divine music! When we invited him to perform in court, he humbly declined, saying, ‘My Veena playing is reserved only for the service of God.’ Such rare humility! I wonder when we will be blessed to hear his Veena again.”
Hearing this from Venkatanamba, Gopamma and Kamaladevi listened intently, their hearts swelling with pride and happiness. The mother, overwhelmed with emotion at her son’s growing renown, felt her heart soften with joy.
The three women continued discussing the topic for a long time, sharing their happiness, before eventually turning their attention back to their household duties.