Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

festival days. This form of the Lord is known as the Utsavavigrahaor the Vijaya-vigraha.One night, a short time after the completion of the newtemple, Sri Yadavadri-pati appeared to Ramanuja in a dream,saying, "Ramanuja, I am very pleased with your service, butas My Vijaya-vigraha is not present here I am unable toleave the temple to bestow my blessings upon all of Mydevotees. Therefore, please endeavor to install this Deity,known as Rama-priya, who is at present kept by the Emperorof Delhi, having been carried to the north by the Muslimraiders."Accepting the order of the Lord as his life and soul,Yatiraja departed for Delhi the very next day, accompaniedonly by a few of his disciples. After travelling northwardsfor two months, they finally arrived in that famous city.As Ramanuja's reputation had by this time spread allover India, he was admitted into the presence of theEmperor, who was very pleased by his purity and scholarshipand asked him the purpose of his arduous journey. WhenRamanuja informed him of his desire to return Sri Rama-priyato south India, the Emperor agreed to his request. TheVaisnavas were then conducted into a large halt where manydifferent Deities were kept, all of them having been seizedby the Muslims on their various raids across India. However,even after a thorough search, Ramanuja saw that Rama-priyawas not to be found in that place and returned to theEmperor disappointed.The Emperor then told them that there was one moreDeity in his possession, the most beautiful of all. Thisform of the Lord was so attractive that the Emperor'sdaughter was keeping Him in her own apartment. When Yatirajawas shown the Deity he recognized Him at once as Sri Ramapriyaand fell down to offer his prostrate obeisances. Withthe permission of the Emperor, the devotees took possessionof the Lord and set off at once for south India. They walkedday and night, for Ramanuja was well aware that, if theprincess wanted the Deity restored to her, the affectionatefather might easily change his mind.THE PRINCESS'S DISTRESSIn fact, when the princess, whose name was BibiLachimar, came to learn that some brahmanas had taken theDeity away, she was overwhelmed with grief, and all herfather's efforts to console her were in vain. She refused toeat and grew weaker day by day, until it seemed she wouldcertainly die if something were not done at once to remedythe situation. In great anxiety, the Emperor prepared todispatch a company of soldiers to pursue the brahmanas andtake the Deity from them - by force if necessary. When BibiLachimar heard of this, she begged that she be allowed to99