Page:Life and Teachings of Sri Ramanujacharya.djvu/321

300

[PART I.

GOLDEN LIVES OP THE EAST. alone, entirely ignoring; the Lend Ranganfttha. The Blessed One happened to notice it, and said to him :

“ Son, see you the grand beauty of the eyes of the Lord?”

Vatuka looked at them and at the eyes of the Master and replied in the words of Sri Sa^hakdpa :

“ He that has gazed even once at the features of my Lord of Immortality can have no eyes for any other object.” The Master was overcome with this instance of superhu- man devotion, and ever afterwards his heart went out to Andhra Pdrna as it did tone one else.

When the Master asked him to partake of the remains of his meals, Vajuka used to receive it w'ith reverence, and instead of washing his hands as usual, wiped them on his head. (§t1 Vaishnavas do not wash their hands with water after they have partaken of the oflFerings to the Lord, when they are distributed in His presence — the magnetism is so pure and beneficial that they cannot afford to throw it away, but they wipe them upon some object near. Again, they do not wash their feet when they return from a visit to the Lord’s house, for the same reason.)

One day the Master chanced to notice it and rebuked him : “ Absurd ! Go and wash your hands.” The next time they happened to be in the temple, the remains of the food that was offered to the Lord was given to the Master. He partook of it and gave the remains to Vajuka, who received it, but called for water to wash his hands. The Master was naturally shocked and exclaimed in amazement :

“ How is this Vatuka? You seem to forget where you

are.”

“ Not in the least,my Ix)rd. I but try to follow, as strictly as I am, your directions to me yestoday. ”