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The young Rajagopala Desikan somehow managed to reach Sri Ranganathar in Srirangam Temple. He cried out in anguish to Ranganathar for Darshan but when his cries seemed lost in the air the child felt that there was absolutely no difference between Devanatha Swamy in Thiruvaheendrapuram and Ranganathar in Srirangam but for the fact that the former was in a standing posture while the latter was in a ‘sayana’ (lying down) posture. Feeling let down and lost, the child spent his days on the banks of river Cauvery. His mind and heart ever filled with the thought of the Lord and longing for His Darshan, he knew no hunger or sleep. A pilgrim took pity on the child and offered him his token for free food at the temple. In spite of the fast for seven days Rajagopalan refused it saying to himself, "Why have I come here? Is it for food? No, I shall not eat until and unless the Lord appears before me."

Meanwhile the parents who had thought that the child who had feigned anger would return grew anxious, as he did not. The father contacted a Lakshmi Upasagar (one who could communicate with Goddess Lakshmi) to know the whereabouts of his child. He was told that the child was a ‘Mahapurushan’ (Great personality) and had gone to earn an invaluable treasure and that he would return soon. Soon after this the parents received a message from some friend that Rajagopalan had been spotted at the banks of river Cauvery, in Srirangam. The father rushed there and found his son. The father consoled him and brought him back to Thiruvaheendrapuram. Sri Rajagopalan returned to school and completed his education.

As he grew, Rajagopalan’s longing to have darshan of the Lord deepened. Under the notion that marriage would cure the God-afflicted Rajagopalan, the parents got him married! The bride hailed from the village of Perumbakam. But, alas! the marriage instead of being a distraction became a supportive one as the wife was totally devoted to her husband. She had no desire of her own but lived to fulfill all his desires! Rajagopalan was an adept in the English language and so found himself a job as a school teacher in a British run school in Madras. Rajagopalan did continuous japa of Rama Naama. Once, standing at the bus stop he lamented, "I have no bhakti, I have no bhakti, I have no bhakti" A passerby wondered why a person should weep so much for ‘bhatti’ " In Tamil ‘bhakti’ means devotion and ‘bhatti’means incense stick! " and he bought a packet of incense stick and gave it to Rajagopalan!

Days passed by and the first Deepavali after his marriage, a special occasion for the newly-wed, approached. The employer offered ten days paid holiday to enable him to visit his father-in-law’s home for Deepavali. Rajagopalan’s joy knew no bounds as he decided to make full use of the holiday sanctioned to go over to Tirupathi for the Darshan of Lord Srinivasa Perumal. He packed off his wife to her parents’ home and himself set out to Tirupathi. While he was climbing the mountain on foot he suddenly threw away everything he had, including his clothes, and with only the loin cloth on him, challenged the Lord. He cried out, "Since my childhood I have been crying for you but there seems to be no response. I wish to know whether you exist or not. Tell me. I just need an answer to this query of mine. I want a proof of your existence." He went deep into the forest and sat under a tree. It was all dark but Rajagopalan experienced no fear whatsoever. He did not do any japa (chanting) or dhyana (meditate). All that he demanded was a proof of the existence of God.

Swami Vivekananda used to say, "I want something practical even if it be a devil!"

Meanwhile, a Komitti Chetty, a staunch devotee and upasagar of Sri Srinivasa Perumal, had come for Perumal’s Darshan. He had been suffering from severe stomach pain and Sri Srinivasa Perumal had blessed him, "Come up for my Darshan for 48 days and you shall be cured of your disease." So, he had lodged himself in a room at the foot of the mountain and climbed up the mountain every day on foot to have darshan of his upasanamurthy Sri Srinivasa Perumal. The night that Rajagopalan sat challenging Perumal, Srinivasa Perumal, along with His consort, appeared in the Komitti Chetty’s dream and instructed, "A Mahatma, a Siddha Purusha and a devotee of mine is sitting in the forest up the mountain. There are wild animals in the forest and he may be harmed. I need to protect him. So go over and bring him safely down to your place." The Perumal then, in a vision showed him Rajagopalan and also the place in the forest where he sat so stubbornly! Perumal appeared to this Chetty thrice and repeatedly asked him to bring his devotee safely. The Komitti Chetty immediately set out with a ‘doli’ (palanquin carried by two or four men) and with a man holding a ‘torch’. He soon found Rajagopalan as the Lord had showed him the exact place where he sat challenging the Lord.

To be continued......

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