The Fifth Delight
Shri Raghavendra Gurusarvabhauma
34. Sri Vijayindra Guru Arrives in Madurai
On Ashwina Krishna Trayodashi, the Neeru Thumbuva Habba (Water Filling Festival) was celebrated with great joy at Acharya’s residence. After the midday meal, Lakshminarasimha Acharya went to fix the auspicious time (Muhurtam) for Venkatanarayana’s Upanayana. By around seven or eight in the evening, he returned in haste, took a purifying bath (Madi), and completed the Sandhya Deepa Aradhana (evening lamp worship) and offerings (Naivedya).
Afterward, Venkatanamba and Kamaladevi arranged plantain leaves and served a grand festival meal. Once Acharya distributed Teertha (holy water) to everyone, they all sat down together for the festive feast. The women, having finished their meal, gathered in the Padasale (front hall) and sat down for conversation.
As Lakshminarasimha Acharya was about to finalize the Upanayana Muhurta, he encountered the royal court priests in the street. They informed him that Sri Vijayindra Tirtha and Sri Sudhindra Tirtha were arriving in Madurai that evening. The priests then took Acharya along to the royal palace.
At the palace, the Maharaja, along with all the learned scholars, proceeded with full honor and devotion to welcome the two revered Gurus and escort them to their residence.
After settling in, Sri Vijayindra Tirtha and Sri Sudhindra Tirtha called Acharya for a conversation. They inquired about his well-being and then issued an invitation for the entire family to visit the Srimatha for Deepavali, partake in the Teertha-Prasada (sacred offerings), and celebrate the festival with them.
When Lakshminarasimha Acharya respectfully informed them about Venkatanarayana’s upcoming Upanayana, Sri Vijayindra Tirtha smiled and said,
“Timmanṇa’s grandson’s Upanayana? That is our responsibility! We shall conduct the ceremony ourselves. It is our duty. Let the entire family come for the early morning Puja on Naraka Chaturdashi.”
Hearing this, Acharya gratefully accepted the command of the revered Gurus and returned home to convey the news.
As soon as he arrived, he gathered everyone and announced,
“Guranna! This is the command of our revered Sri Guru. We must all humbly follow their wishes and proceed accordingly.”