Kumbakonam Pontiffs Sudheendra Theertha (ST) and Vijayendra Theertha (VT) come to Madurai. ST informs V’s BIL that they heard about V’s antics with the King. BIL is guilty about not informing the episode himself to the Pontiffs but ST informs that BIL need not be guilty. Sometimes the news spread faster than fire. Anyways. ST informs that for Truth, there will always be tests and this was one such test. He asks V to study even further and become as much educated as possible. VT then sees V and blesses him good luck. VT too asks him some basic questions like ‘Who is sanyaasi?’ etc which V answers proficiently. VT asks some questions from his own book too to test V’s understanding of Madhwacharya’s Dwaita philosophy.
Meanwhile, ST tells V’s BIL that a major test for V is on the cards. Although the King was satisfied with V’s ability, some in the Court’s members, who are deemed Knowledge experts want a competition with one of the famed Knowledge Gurus of South India. This person is known never to have lost any debate with anyone and is a staunch follower of Adwaitha philosophy. So, for the battle of Adwaitha Vs Dwaitha where the Learned battle out against the Disciple, the stage is set.
Nov 7, 2010
Venkatanaatha Versus Krishnappa Nayak
Back in Madurai, V is playing his veena in divine mood in Kali temple when Madurai King Krishnappa Nayaka suddenly enters the temple. Listening to the divine rendition, he immediately asks his chieftain to ask V to play the veena in the Queen’s palace. V humbly refuses. He informs that he is still a disciple and his rendition is only for the Goddess and not for Kings and Queens. This infuriates the King and his chieftain. They come to know that his BIL is the guru and BIL is called for at the King’s Palace.
Much debate ensues about V rejecting to play Veena in the Palace. Many think he should have because the King is considered as the God and one should not refuse the God. Many feel King’s fury has no end and it is better to perform as ordered rather than die. But V is a class apart and he does what is right. So when V’s BIL ventures to the King’s palace, V too accompanies.
In the palace, V’s BIL apologises for V’s behavior but V says that there is nothing to be sorry about. He insists that his rendition is only for Goddess Saraswati and is not meant for public entertainment even if the public is the King himself. This impresses the king and he asks V a lot of questions about Dharma, Truth, King, Arishadvarga, etc for which V answers magnificently and the King is very much impressed. Finally the king understands that he was being selfish and V’s actions were indeed correct. So he respects V and lets him go. Everyone at home is relieved and happy about V.
Much debate ensues about V rejecting to play Veena in the Palace. Many think he should have because the King is considered as the God and one should not refuse the God. Many feel King’s fury has no end and it is better to perform as ordered rather than die. But V is a class apart and he does what is right. So when V’s BIL ventures to the King’s palace, V too accompanies.
In the palace, V’s BIL apologises for V’s behavior but V says that there is nothing to be sorry about. He insists that his rendition is only for Goddess Saraswati and is not meant for public entertainment even if the public is the King himself. This impresses the king and he asks V a lot of questions about Dharma, Truth, King, Arishadvarga, etc for which V answers magnificently and the King is very much impressed. Finally the king understands that he was being selfish and V’s actions were indeed correct. So he respects V and lets him go. Everyone at home is relieved and happy about V.
Venkatanaatha refuses marriage
Back home, story of S being tied with V makes waves and immediately V’s mom asks Gururaja to initiate V’s wedding plans. So G goes to Kumbakonam and talks to Pontiff Sudheendra Theertha who tells him about Vasudevacharya’s daughter whose name is also coincidentally Saraswati. But G worries that Vasudevacharya is a rich person and it might not be a best fit. When news comes to V, he flatly refuses marriage.
The story of the Dharmaadhaakari
In Madurai, people are very happy to see V due to his radiance and knowledge. He is answerable to all knowledge questions. In one such instance, there is a talk of the temple’s Dharmaadhaakari being on death bed. People try to get astrologers to check if his life span can be increased but V says that his life has neared its end. But nobody will listen to him. Even astrologer informs that his stars are not in the right position.
There is a push by his (Dharmaadhaakari) near ones to obtain that Dharmaadhaakari post (and wealth) but he is unwilling to give away the post. So his near ones want to get him married to a girl from poor family so that the near ones can control the bride’s life and Dharmaadhaakari’s money. V is totally against this. But the Chief Astrologer informs vaguely that in case the Dharmaadhaakari (D) gets married to this poor girl, his life span might increase. V is angered at this because he knows that that is not true. But no one pays heed to him. D’s brother-in-law and sister and their son is desperate to get the wealth and the one way of doing this is by controlling the poor girl after she becomes a widow.
In spite of V’s valiant efforts, the marriage happens. For V’s ‘butting-his-nose’ attitude, V’s brother-in-law (BIL) gets a mouthful from D’s BIL. So V’s BIL tells V to mind his own business and not poke his nose into other family matters. But V is concerned about the poor girl (Saraswati (S))’s life and especially her life as a widow. So V even comes to the wedding hall but is obstructed and sent out forcefully.
Soon after marriage, D gets to death bed. S is very sad and is trying all in her power to get D back on life but is failing. D’s BIL spreads word around that S is a very dedicated wife and is a very obedient and traditional wife.The idea is that once D dies, they want to convince the world that S, on her own, chooses to do Sati (entering husband’s pyre alive to attain moksha). Finally D dies. As planned, word is spread around that S will enter pyre. S herself is shocked but she is then brainwashed about the difficulties of leading a widowed life and hence she too thinks she was destined for Sati and hence agrees, as if in a trance.
Once she enters the pyre, V enters the scene and appeals to the audience to stop this nonsense which is amounting to murder. He bares all facts and asks if any of the womenfolk present also get into Sati. No one agrees. No man wants it too. Then V informs that S’s entering pyre is all part of master plan from D’s BIL to get the wealth. Then people realize the truth. The Chief Astrologer too comes and tells that when he saw S’s kundali (birth-chart), he found that her first husband will die and in her second marriage, she will attain bliss. Noticing that D was anyhow going to die, he informed all that this was an ideal marriage for both D and S. Now that D was dead, S should be set free to seek her happiness. D’s BIL and family are fuming to see their plan go kaput but sensing that the people around were all against them, they finally succumb and S comes out of her trance.
But although she does not die, she cannot enter hubby’s house because she had decided to do Sati, she cannot go back to parents’ house because she is married. People around ask V to marry her but V is shocked. He says that his role was just to save her life and not that of a hubby. So he asks her to just go away and seek shelter where she finds it best and she leaves the town. Thus ends the story of Dharmadhaakari. It is not clear who finally got Dharmadhaakari’s wealth!
There is a push by his (Dharmaadhaakari) near ones to obtain that Dharmaadhaakari post (and wealth) but he is unwilling to give away the post. So his near ones want to get him married to a girl from poor family so that the near ones can control the bride’s life and Dharmaadhaakari’s money. V is totally against this. But the Chief Astrologer informs vaguely that in case the Dharmaadhaakari (D) gets married to this poor girl, his life span might increase. V is angered at this because he knows that that is not true. But no one pays heed to him. D’s brother-in-law and sister and their son is desperate to get the wealth and the one way of doing this is by controlling the poor girl after she becomes a widow.
In spite of V’s valiant efforts, the marriage happens. For V’s ‘butting-his-nose’ attitude, V’s brother-in-law (BIL) gets a mouthful from D’s BIL. So V’s BIL tells V to mind his own business and not poke his nose into other family matters. But V is concerned about the poor girl (Saraswati (S))’s life and especially her life as a widow. So V even comes to the wedding hall but is obstructed and sent out forcefully.
Soon after marriage, D gets to death bed. S is very sad and is trying all in her power to get D back on life but is failing. D’s BIL spreads word around that S is a very dedicated wife and is a very obedient and traditional wife.The idea is that once D dies, they want to convince the world that S, on her own, chooses to do Sati (entering husband’s pyre alive to attain moksha). Finally D dies. As planned, word is spread around that S will enter pyre. S herself is shocked but she is then brainwashed about the difficulties of leading a widowed life and hence she too thinks she was destined for Sati and hence agrees, as if in a trance.
Once she enters the pyre, V enters the scene and appeals to the audience to stop this nonsense which is amounting to murder. He bares all facts and asks if any of the womenfolk present also get into Sati. No one agrees. No man wants it too. Then V informs that S’s entering pyre is all part of master plan from D’s BIL to get the wealth. Then people realize the truth. The Chief Astrologer too comes and tells that when he saw S’s kundali (birth-chart), he found that her first husband will die and in her second marriage, she will attain bliss. Noticing that D was anyhow going to die, he informed all that this was an ideal marriage for both D and S. Now that D was dead, S should be set free to seek her happiness. D’s BIL and family are fuming to see their plan go kaput but sensing that the people around were all against them, they finally succumb and S comes out of her trance.
But although she does not die, she cannot enter hubby’s house because she had decided to do Sati, she cannot go back to parents’ house because she is married. People around ask V to marry her but V is shocked. He says that his role was just to save her life and not that of a hubby. So he asks her to just go away and seek shelter where she finds it best and she leaves the town. Thus ends the story of Dharmadhaakari. It is not clear who finally got Dharmadhaakari’s wealth!
Venkatanaatha becomes an adult
Meanwhile, Venkataamba is pregnant, just as V had told. BIL and sis are happy and thank V for his prediction. News reaches Gopikamba and she is very happy.
Life goes on and V becomes an adult. Gururaja completes his studies and is on par with his dead father in terms of education. So he takes leave from the pontiff and heads back to his house. Gururaja too becomes a father.
Life goes on and V becomes an adult. Gururaja completes his studies and is on par with his dead father in terms of education. So he takes leave from the pontiff and heads back to his house. Gururaja too becomes a father.
Venkatanaatha vouches for Lower Caste again
Meanwhile, V’s studies go on smoothly. Once, when he is in temple, a lower caste person calls for the priest to assist his ailing cow. Since priest was not present, V gives him Theertha (sacred water), flower, etc although the person refuses. Still V insists. The priest suddenly enters the premises and sees V giving him Theertha and scolds him. But V informs him that in front of God, all Men are equal and there are no distinctions. The priest refuses to understand. He proceeds to complain against him. But V knows that what he did was right and that the Scriptures does not differentiate amongst different Men and hence he is confident that he is right and if he is punished by mortal Men, he shall be left unscathed because of God’s love.
At home, his brother-in-law (BIL) scolds him a lot for getting astray. He teaches him that although God created Fire and Water, it doesn’t imply that Fire and Water is same. Although sugar and bitter guard is created by God, it doesn’t imply that both are same. So each have to be distinguished. Similarly, lower caste and Brahmins are to be divided. But V says that both fire and water have their own uniqueness. Pooja is done to fire and Man cannot live without water. Sugar is used in sweets and bitter guard is used as medicines. So, there is value for everyone. To this, BIL says that since Lower caste people do not keep themselves clean, they are untouchables. To this, V says that lower caste are unclean because of their nature of work. And they are working to give food to Brahmins. If they are unclean, it is the duty of every Brahmin to teach them the best way to lead life. BIL gets angry and asks him to do as he says and follow what he orders as long as he stays in his house.
Narayanachar (Naani) visits Vijayendra Theertha and Sudheendra Theertha. The pontiffs ask what made Naani visit them. Naani tells them that V is asking for lower caste people to attend Temples, etc. Is it fair? Naani is scared about V. The pontiffs say that all will be well. Vijayendra Theertha says that V has seen future light and V has power to lead this light in future. Sri Hari is filled in V and V will be safe. Naani’s concern vanishes.
At home, his brother-in-law (BIL) scolds him a lot for getting astray. He teaches him that although God created Fire and Water, it doesn’t imply that Fire and Water is same. Although sugar and bitter guard is created by God, it doesn’t imply that both are same. So each have to be distinguished. Similarly, lower caste and Brahmins are to be divided. But V says that both fire and water have their own uniqueness. Pooja is done to fire and Man cannot live without water. Sugar is used in sweets and bitter guard is used as medicines. So, there is value for everyone. To this, BIL says that since Lower caste people do not keep themselves clean, they are untouchables. To this, V says that lower caste are unclean because of their nature of work. And they are working to give food to Brahmins. If they are unclean, it is the duty of every Brahmin to teach them the best way to lead life. BIL gets angry and asks him to do as he says and follow what he orders as long as he stays in his house.
Narayanachar (Naani) visits Vijayendra Theertha and Sudheendra Theertha. The pontiffs ask what made Naani visit them. Naani tells them that V is asking for lower caste people to attend Temples, etc. Is it fair? Naani is scared about V. The pontiffs say that all will be well. Vijayendra Theertha says that V has seen future light and V has power to lead this light in future. Sri Hari is filled in V and V will be safe. Naani’s concern vanishes.
Venkataamba wants a child
V’s sis’s (Venkataamba) has not given birth to any child even after years of marriage. So when one neighbour comes and calls her for a newborn’s ceremony, another neighbour scolds her for inviting Venkataamba because if Venkataamba is barren, then the child may suffer diseases similar to the child which suffered diseases since 1 year as a result of Venkataamba touching and caressing that child during it’s new born ceremony. Hearing this gossip, Venkataamba and V are much depressed.
When Venkataamba is crying about this, her husband tries to console her and tells her that since her mother took 10 years to bear children, perhaps she too might take 10 years to bear children. To this, Venkataamba says that just like her mother, she might have to go to Tirumala to seek Lord Venkateshwara’s blessings. Hearing this, V tells her not to trouble herself as she is pregnant and she will soon give birth to a child. His brother-in-law is shocked but his sister is very happy to hear this as she trusts V’s sixth sense.
When Venkataamba is crying about this, her husband tries to console her and tells her that since her mother took 10 years to bear children, perhaps she too might take 10 years to bear children. To this, Venkataamba says that just like her mother, she might have to go to Tirumala to seek Lord Venkateshwara’s blessings. Hearing this, V tells her not to trouble herself as she is pregnant and she will soon give birth to a child. His brother-in-law is shocked but his sister is very happy to hear this as she trusts V’s sixth sense.
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