Monday, June 30, 2014

Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam - 3

Chapter 3
Shankar Bhatt meets PalaniswamyHis visit to Kuruvapuram
The efficacy of constant meditation about Sreepada Sreevallabha
 
I started from Vichitrapuram due to the mercy of Sreepada Sreevallabha. My mind was eager to visit Parameswara in Chidambaram. My travel continued for three days in a happy way. I was getting food without asking for it. On thefourth day I stood at the threshold of a brahmin’s house and begged for food.
A ferocious house wife came out of the house and yelled that there was no food. I waited for sometime outside the house. The house holder came out and said, “I am not fortunate enough to extend hospitality to guests and visitors. My wife is a great shrew. When she gets angry she breaks earthen pots on my head. In this matter my wife and the wife of my guru stand on an equal footing. However, there is one difference. My wife demands from me the costs of pots broken but, the wife of my guru does not harass him in that manner. Just now some pots are broken on my head. There is no dearth of food and water in our house but, I must compulsorily reimburse the cost of broken pots immediately. This is very troublesome to me. If I could get today some money distributed during religious functions as sambhaavana there would be no trouble. If it is not possible I must borrow it from someone. I must repay the loan whenever I get money through sambhaavanas (monetary honorariums). Out of the money received by way of sambhaavanas, I use a portion of it for repayment of debts and the rest is handed over to her. This system continued for some time. In the recent times she is taking away all the amount of sambhaavanas. Therefore, there is no way to repay the loans. People who know my position are not coming forward to offer me any loan. They are asking me, “How do you repay the loans? Are you thinking that you can repay the debts when you receive money through
sambhaavanas ? That way is also closed now.” As I was rich no one was giving any donation.On the other hand, they were ridiculing me. Now I must pay the cost of broken pots. After scolding you sharply, my wife called me inside the house and said, “There is a pilgrim in the street. You go along with him and bring donation received at any place. Then only you will receive food in the house.” Then that hen-pecked husband told me that he would come along with me. He said that he knew very well all the houses of the brahmins in the village and that they might get meals as well as money as dakshina(a monetary offering). I was taken aback. I thought “Sreepadaa! Sreevallabhaa! What is this horrible test?” I went to each and every house in that village of brahmins in the company of that brahmin. No one offered any meals not to speak of offering any financial help. Then that brahmin who accompanied me lamented, “Till now I am only unlucky. As you joined with me your fortune was also lost and you also became unlucky.” Then I told him “Sree Dattatreya is the omnipotent Lord Who provides food to all creatures! He dwells in Kuruvapuram in this kali yuga assuming the name and form of Sreepada Sreevallabha.I am going there to see Him. Let us sit in the foot of that audumbara tree chanting His name. Let us leave it to the Mercy of Sree Datta.” That brahmin agreed to that. Hunger was scorching in the stomach. We were chanting the name of Sreepada Sreevallabha in a feeble voice. While we were continuing the chant of the name of Sreepada servitors of the King approached us and submitted, “Sirs! Yuvaraja got speech. Dumbness was also removed. The King ordered us to immediately bring you. Therefore, you please come along with us.” I could not disclose our miserable plight to those royal servants. I told them that I could not come alone and that they should take my companion also along with me. The servants of the King agreed to that. They took us seated on the backs of horses with all respect. Seeing this, the residents of the agrahaaram (village inhabited mainly by brahmins) put their fingers on their noses in utter amazement. The Maharaaja said, “Mahaatmaa! Even after knowing that you are a great scholar I sent you with empty hands without honouring you. After you left the prince fell unconscious. We did number of services to him. After a long time he opened his eyes and began uttering “Sreepada Vallabha Digambaraa! Sree Dattadeva Digambaraa!” The prince disclosed that a very tall, extremely handsome Yogi of sixteen years appeared and placed holy ash in his mouth. Who is that Yogi? Where is his residence? What is the relationship between Lord Sree Datta and that Yogi? Kindly tell.”  
I submitted with humility, “In what way can I describe the glory of Sreepada Sreevallabha? He is actually an incarnation of Lord Datta. His form of incarnation is very extraordinary as that of the incarnation of Sree Krishna. What I heard about Him is only very little! I am travelling to Kuruvapuram to have His darshan. I am visiting sacred places and holy men on the way.” 
The learned people of Vichitrapuram wondered at this strange happening. They praised Sreevallabha Swamy in various ways because the King got good nature, they were
rid of the troubles and that their Yuvaraaja’s mutism was cured on account of their austerities for forty days.The King honoured me with donation of gold. The King’s
preceptor said, “Sir, Wisdom dawned on me after so many days. I realised that ‘Saivaites’ by abusing Vishnu and  ‘Vaishnavites’ by abusing Shiva are only amassing sin and that no purpose is served. As aresult of our abusing God we experienced all troubles. With or without knowing we observed austerities for forty days for propitiating Lord Datta, thanks to the advice of Madhava Namboodri. We are very much indebted to you.”  When we took leave of them Madhava Namboodri also expressed his resolve to come along with us. We agreed. We three reached the village. We distributed the gold given to us by the King among the brahmins of that agraharam. The termagnant wife of my friend offered us food after receiving gold. She became a devotee of Sreepada Sreevallabha afterwards. She turned docile leaving her previous termagnant temperament. Madhava Namboodri and myself travelled towards Chidambaram. Sage Agastya took Parabrahma Sastry, a resident of Ryali village situated in the Godavari region, for the priesthood of DharmaSaasta Ayyappa Deva. In course of time vedic scholars from the village Namburu of Gartapuri (Guntur) were invited by the royal families ruling Malayala Desa (modern Kerala). Many brahmins left Namburu and propagated vedic knowledge in Malayala Desa. These people are called Namboodri brahmins. The ancestors of Aadi Shankara also belonged to Nambooru! Namboodri brahmins are famous for their religious observances and traditions; discipline and devotion; proficiency in mantra, tantra and yantra practices but Madhava Namboodri was an unlettered one. He was eking his livelihood working as a cook in the houses of some brahmins. He lost his parents in childhood. Close relations did not help him. He was having an unshakable devotion towards Lord Datta. After hearing about the incarnation of Sreepada Sreevallabha he was eager to visit Him as soon as possible. We heard that some great siddhas were there nearby Chidambaram. We visited Sri Palaniswamy, an old hermit leading a solitary life in the hills. When we arrived at the entrance of the cave Sri Palaniswamy who saw us greeted, “Both Madhava and Shankar are coming together? What a fortune!” We realised that he was a great siddhaa who could call us by own names even without any acquaintance. Merciful Sri Swamy said, “My sons! It is time to cast off this body and enter into a youthful body in accordance with the command of Sreepada Sreevallabha. The age of this body is 300 years. It is the order of Sreepada that I should leave this body and live for another 300 years in a new body.
Even the liberated ones during life, and those who crossed the circle of birth-death order of creation should return when Sreepada orders them to come back! The great resolve that administers the entire creation has incarnated in the form of Sreepada Sreevallabha. His descent will always take place in the subtle worlds of higher regions. To come in human form is rather rare. His is a comprehensive yogic incarnation. Incarnations emerging from a fraction of His infinite powers always take place on this earth to protect devotees.
My son! Shankara! You have mentioned about Sage Kaanaada and his theory of atoms in Vichitrapuram. Please explain in detail.”  The theory of atoms propounded by Sage Kaanaada“Swamee! Please excuse me. I know very little about Sage Kaanaada and his theory of atoms. Whatever I said also came out of my mouth without any effort from me. Swamy also knows that,” I replied.
The compassionate Sri Palaniswamy explained in the following manner. The entire creation is made up of superior atoms. Due to the existence of particles much finer than atoms, flow of electrical currents generate. Just as the various planets rotate in different orbits around sun these finer particles rotate with incredible velocity around their central point in their respective orbits. All the emotional vibrations of living creatures are much subtle than the finer particles. Nothing will remain constant in this pulsating Universe. Change is its nature. Changing every moment is its natural trait. The consciousness of Lord Datta is much more finer and subtle than the above vibrations. It is as much easy and also as much difficult to obtain His grace. When each atom or particle is divided adinfinitum each part of the atom becomes equivalent to a void. The combination of infinite maha soonyaas(great voids) results in this creation. Just as matter is created anti-matter which is entirely opposed to it also exists. When these two get mixed the anti-matter is extinguished. Matter can change its qualities and properties In the case of icons for worship they become alive and active after the ritual of installation of life force is performed. Then they are rendered capable of fulfilling the desires of devotees.All mantras originate in kundalini chakra.
All people think that Gayatri mantra has three lines, but, there is a fourth line for Gayatri mantra. It is ‘ Parorajasi Saavadom’. This four lined Gayatri mantr indicates formless Brahmam(God). Kundalini sakthi creates this Universe with 24 traits. In Gayatri also there are 24 letters. Number 24 is also called ‘Gokulam’. ‘Go’ stands for 2 and ‘Kulam’stands for 4. The form of Brahmam is beyond all changes and therefore, it is indicated by the number 9. Number 8 is a form of maha maaya. Sreepada Sreevallabha was asking people whom He liked “Do Chowpaati Dev Lakshmi.”Parabrahma is the Lord of all. He is the Pati of all. So the Lord ‘Patidev’ stands for number 9, Lakshmi stands for number 8, ‘Do’ stands for number 2, and ‘Chow’ represents number 4. Instead asking
for two chapathis (cakes made of wheat flour), He was asking strangely in a corrupted manner ‘Do Chowpaati Dev Lakshmi’ In this manner He was reminding the living beings about the mysterious number 2, 4, 9, 8. The Parabrahmam (the Supreme Lord) and the Paraashakti (the supreme primordial force) of the Gokulam reside in the form of Sreepada Sreevallabha.Please note that Lord Sree Krishna is Sreevallabha Him-self.We recognise that theGayatri mantra took the shape of His formless sandals.
“My son! Shankaraa! In the gross human body twelve kinds of variations exist. The gross body which can be experienced by all is subjected to the influence of gross Sun. Through the practice of kriya yoga discipline one can obtain bodies with more and more subtler variations. These bodies of twelve different variations are under the influence of dwaadasa aadityas(twelve aadityas).However, as Sreevallabha is far superior to dwaadasas aadityas,
His divine gross body is endowed with wonderful divine vibrations. Even before His descent with human body in Sree Pithikapuram Sreevallabha arrived in this place 108 years ago. He blessed me. He came here in the same form as He is now in Kuruvapuram.
Where is the end to His divine plays? Sometime after Sreevallabha came here, great sages of Himalayas worshipped Sri Badari Narayana in the great holy place Badari with Brahmakamala flowers. I observed that all those Brahmakamala flowers were falling on the auspicious Feet of Sreepada. He is beyond time and space.” Sri Palaniswamy concluded his narration.  
I had an undefinable experience on hearing the sacred sayings of Sri Palaniswamy. I requested him, “Swamee! What are Brahmakamalas? Where are they available? I gather from your words that Lord Datta would be elated if worshipped with them. Kindly clear my doubts.” 
 
Description of Brahmakamala flowers.
 
 Sri Palaniswamy in reply to my query extended his merciful looks on me and said,“Sree Maha Vishnu worshipped Sadashiva with Brahmakamalas. That which was mentioned as the lotus springing from the navel of Sree Maha Vishnu is also Brahmakamala.
If Sree Datta is worshipped with lotus flowers material and spiritual wealth will be achieved.As replicas of the Brahmakamalas in the celestial world, Brahmakamalas are found on earth in Himalayas at an altitude of 12,000 feet. These blossoms bloom once in a year. My Son! They blossom forth only during midnight. This is another wonder. When it blooms an excellent fragrance wafts over the entire area. All the great spiritual aspirants in Himalayas eagerly wait days and months to witness this rare spectacle. From Autumn to Spring season the flowers remains buried in snow. In the beginning of Chaitra month the flowers spring out of the snow. The process of blooming takes place during entire summer. The flowers fully blossom during midnight by the time of Sravana Suddha Poornima (The full moon day of the first fortnight of the month Sravana). It is at this time that the snowy Shiva Linga of Amarnath becomes visible. My Child! Shankaraa! This wonderful miracle takes place now and forever for the benefit of spiritual seekers, great sages and siddhas living in Himalayas.
All sins get destroyed by looking at the Brahmakamalas. Obstacles to yoga cease. This miracle confers instantaneous results. Therefore, yogis and ascetics attain higher status in their respective paths. After it blooms the Brahmakamala flower disappears, after all those who were destined to see it had completely seen it.
My Son! Shankaraa! I want to remain for ten days in complete penance. If any distressed people come here, yourself and Madhava have to arrange for their darshan without causing disturbance to my deep meditation. If any dead one bitten by a snake is brought here tell the people who brought the body as my order that they should leave the body in the waters of a river or that they should bury the corpse in the earth.” 
 Sri Palaniswamy seated there went into a samaadhi through penance. Myself and Madhava were arranging his darshan to distressed devotees in a calm manner. Some of the devotees supplied us with food materials. Madhava said that he would start cooking with the fallen branch of a coconut tree nearby. I agreed. Madhava went with another person. As irony of fate would have it, a cobra hiding behind the bough of the coconut tree, had bitten Madhava when he lifted the coconut branch to carry it. Three persons brought Madhava to the cave. As the command of Swamy cannot be violated I buried the body of Madhava. People of that place cooperated with me. I sobbed. The pure heart, pure devotion, unshakable faith on Sreepada Sreevallabha of Madhava came to my mind and I became very much perturbed. I consoled myself that destiny could not be avoided. After this sad incident I witnessed another unfortunate incident. The relatives of a young person aged about 18 years brought his body. They were crying and shouting with sorrow. The youth also died of snake bite. I informed that Swamijee was in yoga samaadhi and that they should bury the body in accordance with the orders of Swamijee. The devotees there informed the visitors that my friend also died in a similar manner and that his body was also buried following the orders of Swamijee. The distressed people became crest fallen and were blaming their misfortune in many ways. Under the unavoidable conditions they buried the new youth. Every day three or four people used to visit Swamijee. They used to see Swamijee who was in a state of samaadhi in a calm manner, and were leaving without any disturbance. Ten days passed like this. On the eleventh day consciousness was marked in Sri Palaniswamy. In the ‘braahmi muhurtha’ (wee hours i.e. early hours of the day between 3-00 a.m. to 5-00 a.m.) Sri Swamy became fully conscious and called Madhava. I narrated to him all that happened, sobbing and crying. Then Swamy consoled me and looked at me with his yogic power. That yogic look caused a great movement in my spinal cord and created an unbearable pain. Sri Swamy saw me again with placid looks. My pain disappeared. He said, “My child! Madhava does not have the fortune of seeing Sreevallabha with physical body. For the last ten days his subtle body is in Kuruvapuram in the presence of Sreepada. His desire is fulfilled irrespective of what had happened. The sportive plays of Sreevallabha are unimaginable. No one can comprehend the mysteries of time, fate and causes. That is possible only for Sreepada. Sreepada has entrusted me the responsibility of introducing life of Madhava into his gross body. We must perform that task immediately.” 
All the grief which gripped hitherto disappeared in a moment. What more did I want than Madhava regaining life? We came to the place where Madhava was buried. The corpse was exhumed. I was assisted by two other persons. Swamy asked us to move towards the group of palmyra trees on the southern side and cry aloud, “Oh King Cobra that had bitten Madhava! It is ordered that you should come to the presence of Sri Palaniswamy. This is thecommand of Sreepada Sreevallabha.” We followed the instructions of Sri Palaniswamy carefully. Sri Palaniswamy took four tiny sea shells from his loin cloth. They were placed on four sides of the corpse. After sometime they rose from the ground to some height. Afterwards they flew into the sky speedily in four directions making a fluttering sound. We saw a hissing Cobra crawling on the ground after sometime. That snake was very much restless. The four sea shells of Sri Palaniswamy were fixed as if glued on its hood. Sri Palaniswamy asked the snake to remove the poison from the body of Madhava. The snake sucked out the poison from the point in the body where it had bitten Madhava. Chanting the name of Sreepada Sreevallabha, Sri Palaniswamy sprinkled water charged with mantra on the snake. The snake kissed the feet of Sri Palaniswamy, circumambulated thrice and retreated peacefully.
The good results earned by offering food to devotees of Datta .
 
Sri Palaniswamy said, “This serpent was a female in a previous life. She became old.She earned some sin and also some virtue. Once she offered some food to a brahmin who was a devotee of Datta. It is the nature of Datta to be pleased easily. The lady went toYama Loka after her death. YamadharmaRaja asked her, “You have earned some papa(sin) and some punya(virtuous merit). As you offered food to a brahmin who was a Datta devotee you got very great benefit. At present Sree Dattatreya lives in the human world in the form of Sreepada Sreevallabha. He ordered us to make changes in your account of paapa-punyas so that you gain great merit and take less sin. So Chitragupta made changes in your account. Do you want to experience the results of sin at first or enjoy the happiness of punya? For this she replied that she would like to undergo at first the suffering on account of the small account of sins and that she would enjoy the life resulting from punya later. Therefore, she took birth as a snake on this earth. As she was having a mentality of harming others she was biting all those who crossed her way. So she is accumulating more sin. My son! There are four classes of snakes. The first type of snakes will not harm anyone but simply take air as food and live like yogis. Second type of snakes kill those whose shadow fall on them. They become angry when the shadow of any one falls on them. The third class of serpents try to keep away from the view of humans. They run away with fear if any person comes face to face with them. The fourth class of snakes take a revengeful attitude against anyone and bite him even though no harm is caused to them by the person concerned. That old lady was filled with rajo guna. So she bit Madhava who came nearby.She had bitten him due to her previous punya. Madhava lost his life because of sin earned in his previous life. That old woman was liberated from her serpent life soon and attained a higher world. As an embryo jeeva lies in the form of snake. On account of naaga dosha (an affliction caused due to the wrong done to a serpent) mortality of children takes place.” 
 
The merit of donating food to worthy people.
 
“Sree Datta feels happy at tender services. If food is provided in the name of Datta to a worthy person the donor derives immense benefit. A portion of the food essence transforms into mind. Mind, intellect, will, ego and body of the donor of the food gets filled with auspicious vibrations. By that he will be endowed with the power to attract all objects in the creation. Bountiful plenitude of materials comes from the grace of Goddess Mahalakshmi.
The whole creation is governed by subtle vibrations, and fine regulation.” Sri Palaniswamy explained at length.
The Greatness of Sreepada.
How much blessing of Sri Lakshmi showers on chanting the name of Sreepada! How can we describe the luck of those who obtained His grace! On account of the mercy of Sreepada, Madhava remained intact even though he was buried in the ground ten days ago. Now Sreepada is granting him life force. In what way can we describe His mercy, compassion and the divine miracle? Madhava was gaining consciousness. He asked water for quenching thirst. Sri Palaniswamy cajoled him and made him drink ghee. That ghee was also one hundred years old. Madhava refused to drink ghee. Sri Palaniswamy persuaded him by promising to give water after he drank ghee. After Madhava drank ghee completely, he was given fruit juice. After some time water was given to him.
Description of Naaga Loka
Madhava regained his life. Our joy knew no bounds. Madhava was telling thus, “I reached Kuruvapuram in subtle form.Sreepada Sreevallabha is very tall. He is having large eyes. Compassion, mercy and love are overflowing from His eyes continuously towards all creatures.As I was in a subtle body I was invisible to other devotees there who were in gross bodies. Sreevallabha ordered me to move to a central portion of an island in Kuruvapuram. Chanting the name of Sreevallabha I went into the depths of the central point of the island. I found that many mansions existed in the epicentre of the inner depths of the earth. I learnt that it was Paataala Loka(the nether world). For those in gross bodies only gross material form will be visible. For those like me who go there in subtle form subtle world is visible there. The inhabitants there belong to naaga race. They can assume any form. They have the power to take any form they like. Generally they would like to move as serpents. I saw many great serpents there. Some serpents have thousands of hoods. Diamonds decorated the hoods. Light is emitted from those diamonds. Some serpents remained in a posture of deep silence and appeared as if they were in a yogic trance. A wonder! There was a great serpent among them. It was having thousands of hoods. On that serpent Sreepada Sreevallabha was resting like Sree Maha Vishnu. Some of the great snakes were reciting vedic hymns. Sreepada was listening that melodious singing in a rapturous mood. A big serpent by my side was telling me this. 
 
The magnificent glory of Sree Dattatreya 
 
In the ancient aeon, Lord Datta was born as a son of Atri and Anasuya on Anasuya mountain in Chitrakoot of Nepal. He did not end His incarnation but moved in a subtle form in the Nilagiri mountain, SreeShaila mountain, Sabaragiri hill and Sahyadri. Those who wear directions as robe, those who are sky vested are famous as Digambaras. Datta was absorbed in Yoga in Sahyadri. He taught kriya yoga to Gorakshanaath who was a follower of‘Naatha’ tradition. He appeared in a formless yogic form seated in ‘Kechari Mudra’ (an aerial sign or seal). He surpasses time and place. For us who are in the presence of the Lord: past, future and present time elements do not appear differently. Everything is an eternal
present time for us.” 
Viewing Dattatreya along with Anaghaa Devi Another great serpent by my side said, “My boy! Madhavaa! We are
kaala naagas(serpents of a special class) and we are called
rusheeswaras(great hermits). Sree Datta wanted to conceal Himself after ruling over the universe for many thousands of years. He went under water in a river and remained immersed in water for many years. After a lapse of many years He came above the surface of the water. We who were His followers remained there with the hope that He would return with us. We knew that He was trying to conceal Himself from us. He again dived into the water and came out after many years. However, this time there was a goblet of wine in His hand. In another hand He held a beautiful damsel of sixteen years. We mistook Him as a drunkard and one enamoured by women and thought that we were deluded in thinking such a person as God all the time. With that misconception in mind we departed from that place. He disappeared. After He disappeared wisdom dawned on us. It occurred to us that the goblet of wine in His hand was ambrosia of yogic ecstasy and the beautiful damsel was Anagha Lakshmi Devi who combined in Herself the triumvirate of Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati. We undertook a rigorous penance to obtain His reincarnation on this earth. Sree Datta was compassionate and took the incarnation of Sreepada Sreevallabha in Sree Pithikapuram.
Description of Sree Kuruvapuram
 
The place where He went into the water for bath is the sacred Kuruvapuram. Just as He was in watery samaadhi , we were also in a state of yogic samaadhi with finer pulsations in this subtle world. ‘Kuru’ was the ancestor of Kauravas and Paandavas. It was at this holy place that King Kuru was imparted divine knowledge. My child! Maadhavaa! Even AadiSesha cannot describe the greatness of Kuruvapuram.
The previous history of Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy 
 
I paid obeisance to the auspicious Feet of Sreepada Sreevallabha. Merciful Sreevallabha spoke this, “My son!This divine and beautiful appearance of Mine is an extremely lucky phenomenon, which is rarely available.
One of the serpents that spoke with you will take birth as Jyoti Ramalingaswamy in the ensuing centuries. It will disappear also in the shape of radiant light. The other serpent that spoke to you will be born on the earth in the centuries to follow with the name of Sada Siva Brahmendra and demonstrate many miracles.
Sree Pithikapuram is very dear to me. My divine Paadukas (holy Sandals) will be installed in Pithikapuram. My Paadukas are going to be installed in the house of My maternal grandfather where I was born. The acts of my birth are divine and mysterious.They are to be kept as carefully guarded secrets. You visit the place in Sree Pithikapuram where My Paadukas will be installed and from there proceed to Paataala Loka. There you meet the kaala naagas which undertook rigorous penance. You come back after that.” 
With smiles Sree Palaniswamy said, “My son! Madhavaa! Let us talk about ‘kaala naagas’ of Pithapuram afterwards. We must immediately take bath and carry on meditation.
This is the order of  Sreepada  Sreevallabha.”
 
Victory Victory unto Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha!
 
 

Sreepada Sreevallabha Charitaamrutam - 2

Chapter2
Shankar Bhatt meets Sri Siddhendra Yogi and the story of Vichitrapuram. 
 
I (Shankara Bhatt) was recollecting the strange experiences in Marutvamalai and continued my journey while mentally chanting the glorious name of Sreepada Sreevallabha. I visited many holy places on the way. I was getting food without soliciting anyone for it. This was a rare experience. I felt that weight of my body was gradually coming down when I reached the Kadamba forest in the Paandya Kingdom. There was a Shiva Linga of great power. After visiting Eswara there my legs became very heavy. I rested for some time in that Shiva’s Temple and resumed the journey. I found a hermitage nearby. There lived a great person called Sree Siddhendra Yogi. When I prostrated at his lotus feet my body became lighter than a cotton ball. I was conscious of my body feeling but the weight of my body had almost become nil. That great preceptor with a merciful heart stroked my head and blessed me saying, “May you have the darshan  of                        Sreepada Sreevallabha.”  That great Yogi explained, “My son! Shankara Bhatt! The Shiva Linga which you have seen is very powerful. In ancient times Devendra conquered many demons but one of them escaped. He was doing penance. Indra killed ruthlessly that raakshasa while he was in the tapas (penance). Indra lost his lustre because of his sin in killing one doing tapas. Indra visited many holy places for absolution from the sin. As the Shiva Linga in the Kadamba forest of Paandya Kingdom was very powerful all the sins of Indra were removed suddenly when Indra reached Kadamba forest. He wondered at it. With the idea that there was something special and great, he searched the place in all directions. He found a Shiva Linga. Indra worshipped that Shiva Linga with devotion and constructed a temple for that Self-manifested Shiva Linga. So that was a Shiva Linga consecrated by Indra. That Shiva Linga removes all sins and confers all auspiciousness. People with great punya (virtuous merit) can only see that Shiva Linga but for the devotees of Lord Datta meeting with pious people and visiting holy places will take place unasked-for and without any effort.
I again bowed to the lotus feet of Sree Siddhendra Yogi. He asked me to go for the Shiva Linga again. When I went there for the second time, I found a beautiful temple of Shiva. That was not the temple which I visited previously. When I inquired I learnt that it was the temple of Sri Meenakshi and Sundareswara and that I was in the town of  Madhura. I visited the deities and went to the hermitage of Sree Siddhendra Yogi afterwards. The whole area appeared as a thickly populated township. However much I searched I could not find the hermitage of the Yogindra. Recollecting the holy name of Sreepada Sreevallabha I was going random in some direction. The sun-set started. It was getting dark. I saw a focus of light coming from rear side. When I turned back I saw a big serpent with three hoods following me. There were three diamonds on those three hoods. Brilliant light emitted from those diamonds. I was struck with fear. Whenever I stopped the serpent was also stopping. The divine name of Sreepada was swelling-up from the depth of my bosom involuntarily. Similarly the holy name of Sreepada was being uttered from my mouth involuntarily. At last I reached the
ashram
 of Sree Siddha Yogindra. Immediately the divine serpent and the light disappeared. Sree Siddha Yogindra treated me with utmost compassion. He gave me fried chik peas in a plantain leaf as prasaad . I ate bellyful. The palpitation of my heart did not decrease even though I was taking food. Sree Siddha Yogindra massaged my right breast lightly with love. Afterwards, he touched my head with his holy hand. I noticed the slowing down of palpitation of the heart. I also felt as if some foul gases were purged out of my lungs. I also experienced that all bad thoughts and cruel desires were pushed out of my mind. My body temperature increased and I was in a state of stupor.The Greatness of Datta and the qualifications required for obtaining the Grace of Sreepada 
Then Sree Siddha Yogindra stated as following: “Shankar Bhatt! The Shiva Linga which you saw at first and Sree Sundareswara whom you visited later are not different. Sree Dattatreya ordered that you should be provided with this kind of experience. So it was granted to you accordingly. That means that time was rolled back and the Shiva Linga established by Indra and the actual surroundings existing at that time were shown to you. To regard the creation which you witness as real creation is maaya(illusion). Everything is embodiment of consciousness.By the Will of Lord Datta future may become present. The consciousness of Lord Datta is eternal present. Whatever happened in the past, and whatever is happening at present and whatever is to happen in the future will occur according to the Will of Lord Datta. The resolve of Lord Datta is essential for an event to happen, not to happen or to happen in a different novel way. Sree Dattatreya is the personification of that magnificent determination responsible for the creation, sustenance, and liquidation. Now He has taken birth on this earth as Sreepada Sreevallabha. 
The residents of Pithapuram did not recognize Him properly. They failed to understand the philosophy of a Guru. In Kuruvapuram even ignorant persons like fishermen obtained knowledge of Brahman.To get the grace of Sreepada Sreevallabha the ahamkaara (arrogance) within us has to be destroyed. All types of pride are to become extinct. Then only we can understand His power, His mercy and His real nature. 
A merchant named Dhananjaya found the Shiva Linga consecrated by Indra and informed the matter to the ruler Kula Sekhara Paandya. Following the command of Shiva, Kula Sekhara Paandya developed it and built a town there. He named it Madhura. His son Malaya Dhwaja Paandya conducted a sacrifice called‘Putrakamesti’ for obtaining progeny. From the altar of that sacrifice a three year old baby girl emerged as one not born out of womb. She is Meenakshi Devi. She married Sundareswara. The Vegavati River born out of the matted hair of Shiva is sanctifying Madhura town. Maha Vishnu Himself donated the bride to the bridegroom and organised the divine marriage of Meenakshi and Sundareswara in a very grand scale. 
Sree Siddha Yogindra had added, “My son! Shankara Bhatt! Vibrations emanate from every article in the creation. On account of these variegated vibrations, attraction and repulsion takes place with other things. In the gross, subtle and mortal (fleshy) bodies good vibrations due to good deeds and bad vibrations due to sinful acts arise. On account of meritorious virtue desire for meeting pious persons, visiting holy places and interest in righteous deeds will increase. Thereby the virtuous merit gets enhanced. Unless that virtue increases and sin diminishes, we cannot have steady devotion towards Lord Datta.Variety of incidents happen owing to time, accumulated merit or demerit or other causes. You could come here only on account of the boundless compassion of Sreevallabha on you.” 
I was wondering at my extreme fortune and becoming excited in my mind. I was eager to reach Kuruvapuram and I decided not to leave the holy feet of Sreevallabha. When I woke up the next morning I was subjected to amazement and astonishment because I was lying at the base of an audumbara tree(the very sacred Indian fig tree) on a hillock. There was no movement of people in the surroundings. Was my stay during night in the hermitage of Sree Siddhendra Yogi merely a hallucination? Was Sree Siddhendra Yogi a cheat? A magician? Or a devil? Such doubts crept in my mind. The words of Sree Siddha Yogindra about Lord Sree Datta were resounding in my ears. I wondered as to what use it would be for Sreepada Sreevallabha to keep me in such a predicament. Many thoughts were crossing in my mind. I collected my belongings and resumed my journey. My journey continued from morning till noon. I saw a village with small houses. The pangs of hunger increased and troubled me. I am a brahmin and can take meals only in the house of brahmins. I cannot take meals elsewhere. I thought of preparing the meals myself if someone provides the materials. Then I can eat such food. I got a doubt whether any brahmins were living in the village. So I asked some villagers about it. One of them said, “Sir, we are a hill tribe. I am the chief of this hamlet. There are no brahmins in our village. You can accept fruits and honey from us if you have no objection.” There is an adage that one can behave like a low caste sudra on the way during travels. Therefore, I considered that it was not wrong to accept anything offered by anybody in the course of travel. They placed before me fruits and honey from ant hills available in those ravines. When I was about to eat, a crow came from somewhere and started pecking me on my head. I tried to drive it away but in vain. In the meanwhile some more crows gathered. They started pecking my body in all spots in a wanton manner. I was panic stricken and began to run. Those crows were chasing me. There was no one in that village
who could help me. The chief of the village spoke, “Oh! What a strange thing! In our area crows do not harm anyone. We wonder why these crows are so ferocious and obstinate to harm you. You must have abused a siddha purusha or dishonoured him. You are undergoing this punishment because of his curse. If we are to obstruct the course of punishment, we have to incur the wrath of that sage. So we will not
try to change the course of divine play. Please do not misunderstand.” After saying this, the chief kept quiet. I could not take the fruits and honey given to me. My body became blood stained. The crows chased and injured me even though I was running. I felt extremely sad at my dismal state. Has Sree Siddha Yogindra cursed me because I doubted him? But, he had blessed me that I would have the fortune of seeing Sreepada Sreevallabha! Probably, I cannot have the darshan of Lord Sree Datta unless all my sins accumulated from past births are completely destroyed! I do not know how many sinful deeds I had amassed! How many punishments like this I have to suffer if all those sins are to be washed out! Oh! Are so many difficulties and dangers involved in the blessings bestowed for the darshan of Sreevallabha? Oh! God! Still how many punishments you want to inflict on me! Now, who can save me? Sreepada Sreevallabha! Save me! Save me! Saranu! Saranu! Sreepada Sreevallabha! With such thoughts of absolute surrender I slowly reached the root portion of an audumbara tree. I thought that the audumbara tree which is the residing centre of Lord Sree Datta would protect me but, the sport of Lord Sree Datta ran contrary to my hope. An unprecedented foul smell was spreading from my body. Attracted by that odious odour or by the irony of fate big poisonous snakes were coming in a row quickly. They were biting me and leaving quickly. I was troubled by crows before. Now my entire body became poisonous because of bites from venomous serpents. Foam was coming out from my mouth. The strength of my heart began to decline. I thought that I was sure to die at any moment. It was evening dusk. Some washermen were going that way. They washed, dried and bundled the dried clothes. They kept the bundles on the backs of donkeys and were going. They noticed my miserable plight but they hesitated to touch me for some time because I am a Brahmin. As delay might endanger my life they regarded saving life was of prime importance. Hence they seated me on a donkey and took me to their village. For me all troublesome incidents were taking place in a procession on that day. The washermen took me to the colony of cobblers. One of those tanners had knowledge of medicine relating to poison. They kept me on a cot, the bottom of which was laced with cords of ticken. The premises was full of bad smell. That cobbler-physician made juice from some wild herbs. He made me drink that juice. He tied some leaves on the points where snakes had bitten me. He plucked some tender leaves from an audumbara tree. Juice like milk was flowing from those leaves. He kept stems of those leaves in my two ears. I was getting terrible pain. I tried to get up and run away. Two strong men held me firmly. I was helpless. That physician instructed his assistants, “The poison will come into the audumbara leaves. After that you have to burn those poisonous leaves. The man will cry much louder as the poison increasingly gets transferred to the audumbara leaves. So you hold him firmly.” After some time, the poison was neutralised. I became healthy. I stayed in the house of the cobbler all throughout the night. The skin tanner was singing during the whole night “Datta Digambaraa! Datta Digambaraa! Sreepada Vallabha Datta Digambaraa!
” I was lying on the cot. My heart swelled on hearing the extremely melodious names of the Lord. My love for the cobbler enhanced because he became my co-disciple of our guru due to the spiritual relationship. In the next moment I was pained with the realisation that I was born in a superior brahmin caste and that he was a low-caste cobbler.
The teaching of a cobbler called Vallabha Das to Shankar Bhatt
After completing the singing the cobbler came to me. The compassion was overflowing from his eyes. His two eyes were suggesting the experience of self. A doubt crept in my mind whether he was some yogi. He turned to me and said, “Sir! My name is Vallabhadasu. I am an artisan doing work with the hides of animals! I was born in a low caste! There is no doubt about it. Nevertheless, I want to tell you some information. I already knew that your name is Shankara Bhatt and that you are travelling to visit Sreepada Sreevallabha. Not only that. I also know why you were harassed by crows and snakes on the way.”  I was astonished. I thought that probably he made some study of astrology and acquired some proficiency in the subject. Vallabha Das said immediately, “Sir! I am not an astrologer. ‘Sree Kshetra Pithikapuram’ is the birth place of great scholars. It is the holy place where ‘Saanga Vedaardha Samrat Pandit (an emperor in the vedic lore)’ Malladi Bapannaavadhaani actually lived. The vedas while attempting to describe the Supreme Being became tired in the process. They could not pinpoint the phenomenon correctly and simply ruled out every thing saying ‘this is not’, ‘this is not’. Such is the nature of Supreme Being. Pithapuram is the sacred place where that Supreme Phenomenon is born as Sreepada Sreevallabha. Dry philosophy and meaningless debates cannot earn the grace of Sreepada Sreevallabha. There is no need for scholarly excellence to obtain the mercy of Sreepada. On the other hand, pedantic pride will throw us far away from Him. The crows that pecked at you were great pandits who lived in Pithapuram during their previous lives. They could not recognise the divine nature of Sreevallabha and they could not realise Him as Lord Datta. Thus they wasted their whole lives. They could recite vedas upside down, but what use? They were
repeating words like ‘krama, Ghana, jata, swadhya’ and exhibiting their arrogance.After death they went to heaven. Indra praised them. He showered praise on them saying, “Oh! You are ‘kramaanta’, you are ‘ghanaapati ’, you are ‘jati ’, Oh! You are an expert in tarka (argument). What a fortune? How many hundreds and thousands of times you have recited veda? What a merit! What a merit! Only because of that
merit, you could step into Swarga.” All the denizens of ‘Indra Loka’ admired the sky-high. However, these pandits suffered the pangs of hunger. Divine ambrosia was available in heaven. They heard that one is freed from hunger and thirst by drinking it. These people directly submitted their problem to Indra as none paid any heed to them. To that Indra replied, “Veda is the form of Lord’s inhalation and exhalation. Lord is infinite and deathless. Therefore, vedas are also infinite. Vedas are the basis for all dharmas (ethical principles). By chanting vedas you have praised the Lord. As a reward for it we, the celestials are also praising you highly. Otherwise is it possible for you to get encomiums from me?
If one desires food, he must provide food to others. If one donates a grain, we, the celestials enhance it to thousand grains and return them to the donor as a reward. When you have not donated anything how can we help? Because of your vedic recitation, you derived immense benefit. Therefore, you can reside freely in ‘Indra Loka’ as long as it exists. Afterwards you can go to another world. In this way you can remain eternally free. Those who heard the words of Indra faced a difficult situation. It occurred to them that to live eternally without food and suffer prolonged hunger and thirst was indeed an unbearable punishment. Indra said again, “You lived in the holy  ‘Paadagaya Kshetra’ but you performed annual ceremonies to manes of your ancestors without care and concern. You were always calculating the expenditure incurred for such functions. You were also absorbed in the thought that you were eating delicious food items but you were devoid of care and devotion required for the performance of those solemn ceremonies. As a result, your forefathers did not attain noble positions after their death. Your heirs were also behaving like that. Your children also did lament that you lived too long and a large amount of money was wasted on medical facilities provided to you. They even wondered ‘Oh! how much food was wasted?’ 
SreemanNaarayana Him-self incarnated as Sreepada Sreevallabha in the midst of you. When He was showing the way for salvation you abused Him. You indulged in fruitless arguments and counter arguments. Even though all the auspicious traits like omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence and qualities of an incarnation were clearly visible, you became blind people who could not recognise Sreepada Sreevallabha as an avatar of Sree Datta. It is ordained that you remain as crows in the forms of the manes of your ancestors till you drink the blood of a person whose body was purified by the chanting of the sacred name of Sreepada Sreevallabha.” Sri Vallabha Das said, “Shankara Bhatt! It was for that reason they were born as crows and on account of their previous merit they drank your blood and obtained noble status.”  Then I noticed that Vallabha Das was not an ordinary person and that the grace of Sreepada Sreevallabha was completely on him. Sri Vallabha Das added, “Sir! The serpents who were attracted by the scent emanating from your body attained salvation.” 
I said, “Sir! Great Vallabhadasjee! Why should this incident take place? If my body were to be used as food for crows, serpents and other living creatures it would be a harrowing experience for me. I am under constant fear of being attacked by any creature at any time.” Sri Vallabha Das said, “Sir! This is all a sportive play of Sreepaada. Don’t have such fear. Such accidents would not take place in future.” 
Only the One, who gives life, will have the authority to take out life. Therefore, such authority is not vested in any one except God. However, some of your ancestors worshipped Goddess Kaali of the burial ground. With the help of that
mantra they killed many persons whom they disliked. They earned great sin because they were responsible for the unnatural deaths of those people. Due to that sin they took birth as snakes but as you were also born in their family, you were all blood relations. Moreover you obtained the mercy of Sreepada. Because of this small merit this incident took place and they got salvation. A brahmin should be a seeker of truth. A kshatriya should be bound by dharma. A vysya should attend to cultivation, protection of cattle, skilled sale and purchase activities. Therefore, he should be a calm person. A sudra should be a loving one and render services. Even the there is no distinction between caste, creed, rich and poor for the grant of divine grace.
A brahmin can follow the duty of kshatriya and can become a King. When a kshatriya desires knowledge of
Brahman, he can adopt the duty of a brahmin. Had not Kusuma Sresthi who was a vysya chose kshatriya dharma and became a ruler? According to brahmanic dharma killing an enemy is sinful but, in kshatriya dharma it is a prescribed duty. You are a brahmin and a seeker of truth. Therefore, non-violence is a supreme duty for you but not for a butcher. So if a man wants to get proper results from his actions, he should perform the duties according to the dharma adopted by him irrespective of the caste to which he belongs.
As you are at present ill, it is desirable and necessary that you should be with a doctor. That is why you are brought to me. Please note that Sreepada Sreevallabha will observe us every moment. In your childhood you were reciting the prayers about Lord Vishnu. You were prattling with your friends in a funny manner, it is indeed a prayer for Lord Ganesa. For the words in the Sloka
 
“Suklaambaradharam Vishnum Sasivarnam Chaturbhujam
 Prasannavadanam Dhyaayet Sarva Vighnopa Shaantaye” 
you are giving a perverted interpretation for the sake of fun, you were giving the following meanings.
Suklaambaradharam
 = that which bear white clothes,
Vishnum
 = that which is every where,
Sasivarnam
 = white ash coloured,
Chaturbhujam
= four legs instead of four hands,
Prasannavadanam
 = (i) the ass will have a gracious face when it brays, ii) the ass will kick people with its hind legs.
Dhyaayet 
 
= so it’s face is only pleasant to
look at,
Sarva Vighnopa Shaantaye
 = (I pray) for abatement of all obstacles.
 In this way you were jokingly giving a perverse meaning to that holy prayer and extended its meaning as a prayer applicable to an ass. Shankar Bhatt! Lord Datta is a skilled one. The Lord would rectify the mistakes also made by you for fun, in His presence. The washerman brought you to me on a donkey. At that time you were covered with dust and bore an ashen colour. You came here with halting pace and sometimes you walked on all your fours (two hands and two legs) supporting yourself on your hands placed on the ground. Even though you came to the audumbara tree on all your fours gasping for breath you could not avoid the accident. Your hope of escaping from the serpents in this way was belied. You had a placid countenance if you do not convulse with pain. At last you were brought to the village of cobblers. In subjecting you to so many miseries? Sreepada provided entertainment and taught you a lesson. Those tanners were freed from their ignoble births. You were teaching the prayer-sloka of Sri Vishnu to your friend in a  jocular manner. That is the reason why you have come to a position where you have to hear the teaching of a low caste person like me. Now you are here. Tomorrow you may stay in the house of your own caste people. If you disclose this incident even by mistake they will ostracize you. With the good teaching of Sri Vallabha Das the brahmanic arrogance in me decreased. The feeling disappeared that Vallabha Das was a pariah. I had brotherly love for him as if he was my blood relation. I accepted the hospitality of Vallabha Das for two or three days and left the village afterwards. What can I describe about the mercy of Sreevallabha? I was involved in very strange circumstances in a town called Vichitrapuram and came out in a strange way. When I was going on foot from Vichitrapuram some royal servants approached me with humble obedience and inquired whether I was a Vaishnava! Or a Shaiva! I told them that we were smaarthas  who observe no distinction between Shiva and Keshava but, we show some inclination towards ‘Shaivaisam’ and that the pontiff of Southern monastery Sri Sringeri Shankaracharya was our preceptor. They requested me to visit their King. I went with them for the royal audience. On the way I understood some peculiar matters. That King was inviting any brahmin who was seen on that day and questioning, “If this-much is for that-much, how-much will be for this-
much?” No one could give a satisfactory answer to that question. That King conducted a sacrifice some years back to beget sons. Fortunately, he got a son. However, from that day brahmins faced peculiar troubles, as the son born to the King became a mute. The King was of the opinion that because of the defective sacrifice performed by the brahmins, his son became dumb. Therefore, the King got the heads of Shaivaite brahmins completely shaved, marked their faces with the paint of vertical Vaishnavite lines and paraded them on the back of donnkeys. Likewise he got the heads of Vaishnavite brahmins cleanly shaved, marked their faces with horizontal lines made of holy ash, and paraded them seated on the back of donkeys. This situation became unbearable to both Shaivas and Vaishnavas. The King suddenly began to behave in a quixotic fashion.He was donating ‘thotakura (green leafy vegetable)’ liberally to the brahmins. He ordered that thotakura should be cultivated in large acreage of the cultivable land. He was collecting half of the taxes in the form of thotakura. Cart loads of thotakura were collected and kept in the fort. Thotakura was donated in very large quantities and brahmins could not consume it fully. Cooking of rice and eating of other victuals was forbidden for the brahmins. After eating cooked thotakura in the main meals they had to eat cooked or uncooked thotakura as a tiffin. What can the poor brahmins do? All the brahmins who took great pride as scholars in logic, scholars in philosophy and scholars in puraanas(quasi-legendary stories) shed their arrogance and were praying to God silently and pitiably to redress their evil plight. There was a devotee of Datta who was an ardent follower of Datta cult among the brahmins. He said that Lord Dattatreya becomes merciful at mere remembrance and the Lord only can remove their miserable condition. Therefore, all the brahmins observed mandala deeksha (a spiritual discipline for 40 days) and started worshipping Lord Dattatreya. As his son was dumb the King wanted to encourage the language for the dumb. He instructed the raja-guru( preceptor of the king) to write a book on the language of the dumb. That preceptor of the royal court was formerly very haughty. Then he was in a very miserable state and undertook extensive research in the mute language.
 
The discussion between Shankar Bhatt and Maharaja
I was taken before the King. I was perspiring profusely. I thought about how much rigorous test Sreepada Sreevallabha imposed upon me. I was mentally chanting the name of Sreepada without any pause. I was getting courage which I did never possess before. The King posed the same question which he asked all the people. He asked me, “If that
-much becomes this-much, how much this-much becomes?” I replied solemnly, “this-much only for this-much.” The King was taken aback and said, “Mahaatmaa!you are great. I became blessed on seeing you. Only recently I had recollection of the knowledge about my past lives. I was a very poor brahmin in my previous birth. I was growing thotakura in my house. I was offering it freely to all those who asked for it. The brahmins who received it from me were all wealthy and did not suffer from want of food and water. They simply took the vegetable gratis from me but did not cooperate with me on any day. They did not show any mercy on me. Whenever they were deputing me on their behalf for annual ceremonies of ancestors or for marriages, the house holders used to give me large amounts of money and presents. Out of this, the people who were deputing me were snatching 99% and releasing 1% for me. Labour was mine and reward was theirs. In addiotion they were getting free supply of thotakura from my house. I was suffering from acute poverty but continued to donate thotakura as usual. Those brahmins were saying that the vegetable was very tasty and no harm would happen by eating it daily. The circle of time rotated swiftly. As I was donating thotakura inspite of my abject poverty, I am born as a King in this birth. Those brahmins who received that green vegetable from me took birth as brahmins in my Kingdom. In this way I was born many times richer and greater than them. By donating thotakura I became a King. So I am donating greater quantities of that vegetable in cart loads. So I am asking every one what would be the magnificent state I would achieve in future as a result of my present donations. You only gave a correct answer to my peculiar question.” The King concluded his speech. Then I explained, ‘Rajaa! Thotakura was very valuable under the circumstances of your previous life, but considering your present exalted position its value is negligible. Being in a position to donate diamonds, precious stones and gold, you are still donating thotakura. So, however much you donate that green leafy vegetable you cannot get anything more except one hundred times of that thotakura.’ The King was very much pleased with my reply. It gave great relief to my mind that for a casual reply of mine the King gave an account of his previous life. I felt that owing to the great grace of Sreepada the dishonour of riding an ass was avoided. I had already mounted a donkey for misinterpretation of the sacred verseSuklaambaradharam Vishnum…………” for fun in my childhood. I offered salutations in my mind to Sreepada who saved me from riding an ass in a disgracegul condition. Then started the second test. The test was held in the language of the dumb which was very much dear to the King. The raja-guru began to examine me. Showing his fingers the raja-guru questioned me with signs whether it was one or two. I thought that he was asking me whether I came alone or I was accompanied by any one. I replied with signs showing one finger that I came singly. Then he showed me three fingers. That suggested to me about Lord Dattatreya. I assumed that he was inquiring whether I was a devotee of Datta. I felt that devotion should be kept as a secret. So I showed a closed fist and conveyed the message that it was a secret matter which belong to the innermost heart. For that the raja-guru offered sweets requesting me with gestures to accept. I refused to accept and I showed a pack of flattened rice. I took some flattened rice from the bundle and gave them. My idea was that I like flattened rice more than sweets and that they could also partake them. Then the raja-guru in a profound voice praised, “Ra jaa! He is a great Pandit. It is known that he is a great vedic scholar who mastered all vedas. He is a great expert in the sign language of the deaf.” All of this was perplexing to me. Then raja-guru told the King, “Rajaa! I asked him whether Shiva and Kesava are one? Or they are different? Showing one finger he said that both are one. I showed him three fingers indicating that trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara exist differently. He replied by showing his closed fist and questioned, “Are not the five fingers of the hand existing collectively as one?” I offered him sweet meats requesting him to accept me as his disciple. There upon he indicated that he is not bothered with disciples and that he leads a contented life like Kuchela. Saying so he turned down my request and gave me parched and flattened rice.” I was astonished. Oh! I wondered how vastly varied are the methods of understanding minds and thoughts in the world. Then the third and final examination. Raja-guru was reading the mantras from ‘rudra chamaka’ (verses from ‘Rudraadhya’ invoking the blessing of Rudra for grant of various desires) and wanted me to explain their meaning. Remembering Sreevallabha I began to expatiate their meaning according to my perfunctory knowledge. 
 ‘Ekachame’ means one. ‘Trisrachame’ means number three added to previous 1, it is 4 and its mathematical root is two. ‘Panchachame’ is addition of five to the previous arrived four that gives 9 and its mathematical root is three. ‘Saptachame’ signifies the addition of seven to the already arrived number nine. The total is 16 and the root of it is four. ‘Navachame’ means adding nine to the already derived number sixteen. The total works out to 25 and the root is five. ‘Ekadasachame’ involves addition of eleven to the number twenty five already worked out. The total is 36 and its root is six. ‘Trayodasachame’ is addition of thirteen to previous thirty six. The total comes to 49 and its mathematical root is seven. ‘Panchadasachame’ means additions fifteen to the number forty nine. The total is 64 and its root is eight. ‘Saptadasachame’ is 17+64 = 81 and the mathematical root is 9. The other factors are as following:
 ‘Navadasachame’ 
 -- 19 + 81 = 100 its root is 10
 ‘Ekavingsatischame’ 
 -- 21 + 100 = 121 its root is 11
 ‘Trayvingsatischame’ 
 -- 23 + 121 = 144 its root is 12
 ‘Panchavingsatischame’ 
 -- 25 + 144 = 169 its root is 13
 ‘Saptavingsatischame’ 
 -- 27 + 169 = 196 its root is 14
 ‘Navavingsatischame’ 
 -- 29 + 196 = 225 its root is 15
 ‘Ekatriyamsatischame’ 
 -- 31 + 225 = 256 its root is 16 The above details are shown in the following way for better understanding.
Eka Chame
 01 + 000 = 001 its root is
01
Trisra Chame
 03 + 001 = 004 its root is
02
Pancha Chame
 05 + 004 = 009 its root is
03
Sapta Chame
 07 + 009 = 016 its root is
04
Nava Chame
 09 + 016 = 025 its root is
05
EkadasaChame
11 + 025 = 036 its root is
06
Trayodasa Chame
 13 + 036 = 049 its root is
07
Panchadasa Chame
 15 + 049 = 064 its root is
08
Saptadasa Chame
17 + 064 = 081 its root is
09
Navadasa Chame
 19 + 081 = 100 its root is
10
Eka Ving Satis Chame
21 + 100 = 121 its root is
11
Trayo Ving Satis Chame
 23 + 121 = 144 its root is
12
 
Pancha Ving Satis Chame
 25 + 144 = 169 its root is
13
 
Sapta Ving Satis Chame
27 + 169 = 196 its root is
14
Nava Ving Satis Chame
 29 + 196 = 225 its root is
15
 
Eka Triyam Satis Chame
 31 + 225 = 256 its root is
16
 I explained in the foregoing manner the mathematical mysteries enshrined in the vedic mantras of rudra chamaka. (The above explanation brings to light the mathematical genius of our ancestors. Modern concepts of arithmetical progression, geometric progression and other scientific formulae are to be found in the vedic textsTranslator). My explanation was highly appreciated by the scholars of the court. I was amazed at my own explanation. Again I added, “All this is about the mystery of atoms responsible for creation. This was known to Sage Kaanaada. Various metals form according to the different arrangement of the number of atoms.” On account of the great mercy of Sreepada Sreevallabha I came out of the Vichitrapuram in a strange way in the above manner.
 
Victory Victory unto Sri Sreepada Sreevallabha!