Page:Life and Teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya.djvu/24

CHAP. I]

§Rt sathak6pa.

3 so it was that, on the 43rd day from the birth of the present Kali Yuga, the Great Saint* came down amongst us. Ananta, another of the Mighty Ones, slightly preceded him, and was visible to mortal eyes as a Tamarind Tree, near the precincts of the temple of Adinatha, in that place.

Sajhakdpa was as unlike any other infant in his worldly ways, as he was found to be, later on, in his spiritual life. He stoutly refused all material sustenance, but preserved a health and freshness that appeared quite extraordinary. His parents were entirely unable to account for this strange phenomenon. They refrained from speculating upon what seemed to them some holy mystery, and humbly bowed in submission to the Divine Will. On the twelfth day the' placed the infant in the presence of the

(^r) When the terrible Kali Yuga sets in and the Tme Faith is defiled by atheists, there will come down upon the Earth, one born of the ray of Vishnu.— Purdna.

(rf) Listen^ ye sages, to a mighty mystery I will unfold to your eyes. Ananta, my couch, will, in a future age, go down upon Earth as a Sacred Tamarind Tree, and I will gladly follow him there as a Bbakta of mine, by name, Sathakbpa. I will throw open the gates of Salvation to all, irrespective of caste, creed or sex, by revealing to them the secrets of the VedAs in the language of the masses.— Purdm,

{€) A spark of the Divine Fire that emanated from the Kausthubha fell down upon the Earth and assumed the resplendent form of §athak6pa. —Mdrkandiya Purdna.

(f) At the beginning of Kali Yuga, SSnb^ will come down upon the Earth to restore the doctrine of devotion to the Lord,-- Vriddha Pddma Purdna,

The date of his birth : —

Era— the 43rd day from the beginning of Kali Yuga. Year— Pram^lthi.