Kaliyugada Kalpataru
Fourth Delight
Sri Vyasa Raja Yati Sarvabhouma
Authored by Raja, S. Gururajacharya
6. Ramacharya-Lakshmi Devi
Balbhanasumati (Ramacharya), a distinguished member of the Shashthika clan, adorned with the Kashyapa gotra, and the authority of the Bannur region, had a wife named Lakshmi Devi, who was blessed with beauty and virtues and regarded as an embodiment of the goddess Lakshmi herself. However, she was childless. Due to this, under compulsion, Balbhanasumati (Ramacharya) married another woman named Akkamma, but she too did not bear any children. This caused great concern for the couple.
Balbhanasumati was in solitude with his wife Lakshmi Devi in their residence. Lakshmi Devi, saddened by her childlessness, expressed her innermost thoughts to her husband. Meditating on Sri Hari, Balbhanasumati lay on a gem-studded bed covered with a pure white veil. Despite many years of marriage, they had no children, which caused them sorrow. They sighed heavily in distress. At that moment, Lakshmi Devi spoke to her husband:
Lakshmi Devi: "My lord, what is the use of fine clothes, fragrances, wealth, and golden ornaments for childless couples? What benefit is there from friends and relatives or the various delicious foods and daily feasts and amusements?"
Ramacharya (Balbhanasumati): "Indeed, Lakshmi, what greater sorrow is there in the world than being childless? The grief of childlessness shuts the door to both worldly and spiritual happiness. My dear, I do not understand why Purushottama is delaying in fulfilling our desire.
As he comforted his wife with sweet words, the right side of Ramacharya's (Balbhanasumati's) body began to tremble with energy. Filled with joy, he said, "Auspicious one! Do not grieve, the trembling of my left thigh signifies something meaningful. Truly, I understand now. This indicates that Sri Hari, the remover of his devotees' fears, is blessing us with auspiciousness in our time of distress! I believe, by the grace of Sri Hari, we will indeed be blessed."
He then caressed his wife's shoulders, reassured her with loving words, and together they experienced the comfort of a peaceful sleep without any disturbances.
That night passed, and as dawn broke the next morning, Lakshmi Devi, having had an auspicious dream, woke up before her husband with tears of joy streaming down her face. She rose from the bed. At the same time, Balbhanasumati woke up, praying, "Mukunda, Murari, Sri Hari, protect us, Lord." As he rose from the bed, Lakshmi Devi greeted him and said, "Auspicious one, today is a very good day. My lord, I just had a dream in which the compassionate and wish-fulfilling Sri Vedavyasa Deva appeared to me. He blessed me with sweet words, saying, 'We are pleased with your and your husband's penance.' He then placed a golden vessel adorned with precious gems in my hand and said, 'My daughter, the revered yogi Sri Brahmanya Tirtha will come and fulfill your heart's desire. Follow his instructions.' With that, he disappeared. When I looked curiously at the gold vessel in my hand, I woke up."
Hearing this, Balbhanasumati, thrilled, said, "My dear! Last night, I consoled you with words as sweet as drops of joy. Now, you have turned that drop into an ocean and are making me sail in it! Ah, the words of the great never fail. I now see the truth of the saying, 'The righteous always see auspicious things.' What can the wish-fulfilling cow, Kamadhenu, of supreme devotion to Narayana not grant? We are truly blessed." He then delighted his beloved wife with gentle and sweet words.
Afterward, Ramacharya (Balbhanasumati) performed his ablutions, worshipped the Sun God, and pleased Yaksheshwara through homa rituals. He then began to organize a grand special worship ceremony for Sri Purushottama in their temple, accompanied by the best of Brahmins, who were well-versed in all the Vedas.