The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12
A Mahatma's Love Affair.


says one of his biographers. and the
celebrated Sramana Bevadutta accords
the highest praise to the famous ma
hatma- ITO have known him was a
liberal education" he writes, land the
record of his teachings forms precious
part OF the secret book of knowledge"
From his early youth Sankara was de-
voted to the study Of philosophy. The
force of will and phenomenal mental
powers which he possessed brought him
to the notice of the masters, and the
path Of knowledge was in some measure
smoothed for him through their efforts.
so that he was yet comparatively young
when called upon to qualify himself for
the higher degrees Of adeptship. Soon
after reaching his majority he began the
study of the two Avatars-Prudurbh
and Avesa.
Years of ascetism had prepared him
for the work of yogi, and he attained
the pothuganika iddi, or psychical pow
ers, with comparative ease. undisturbed
by the terrible phenomena that usually
accompany the first experiments with the
Snakalpa, or will power. He learned to
sit for days in Yogasana with his vital
spirit concentrated until it appeared to
be merely blush spark.
This vital spirit, the hamsa Of the
adopts, he sent at will soaring through
the air like bird in ever frightening
flights; few yards at first, then mile.
then five miles; and finally entirely
around the world, reattracting it at his
pleasure to. his body, which it entered
and left by the nostrils. His expert
ments in the way of influencing others
by his will and Of causing his astral body
to enter and take possession of their
mental faculties were equally successful.
The power Of instantaneously trans
porting his astral body through space
enabled him to pursue his studies in all
parts Of the world with the best effect,
and in the course of a few years he
learned all spoken languages with the
exception Of the English. which. as
everybody knows, is looked upon by the
son that it has no word to express the
occupancy by living persons of another
persons soul.
When he had entered the fifty-seventh
of the sixty-three degrees Of adeptship
and possessed the secret of reading at
will in the invisible archives of the lotus
born, Sankara, as is customary with the
Mahatmas, assumed the responsibility Of
looking after the spiritual interests Of a
new born mortal-one of the elect, Of
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the female infant of the powerful Rajah
Vikrama fell to his lot.
Vikrama was upward of ninety years
of age when his daughter was born, and
childiess. Other children in whom he
had placed his fOndest hopes had died
in their infancy, and he had vowed be-
fore the birth of his daughter that this
child, whether male or female, should
be his heir, especially as, considering his
age, he felt it to be improbable that he
should ever be blessed with another.
Great preparations had been made for
a celebration in honor of the accouche-
ment. A whole weeks holiday was pro-
claimed throughout Gurinam, his CAPT.
tai, and women and children, old men
and young thronged to the palace to
share in the continuous feast that was
spread for all corners.
$50 ii is a girl, after all" unused the
Rajah when informed of the birth of
the infant. Il must look to it that she
has training that will fit her for the
weighty cares Of throne when my time
comes to leave it..
He determined to take the first OPP
portunity afforded for the selection of
tutor for the little princess, who he re-
solved should be well grounded in the
natural science while young. 1t was his
intention to keep the tutor whom he
should select under his eye for year
or two in order to make sure of his
for the responsible task OF
the little princess.
THE Rajah's daughter was beginning
her second year when Sankara, who had
frequently visited with his astral body
the palace in which the princess was
kept. assuming the form Of a white
haired old man, entered the presence of
the potentate with every sign of deep
humility. Frustrating himself before the
throne he awaited in silence an invita-
ton to explain his errard.
well, what is it?" demanded the
Rajah.
Sovereign Of the world" said the
Mahatma, II have come to ask the honor
of being taken into your service as
tutor for your daughter, the princess"
who are your
"Sankara is my name. / am teacher"
81 shall demand a rigid compliance
Rajah, land whether / accept your serv-
ices or not i think that before putting
your merits TO the test / should explain
the conditions to which the tutor Of the
princess must bind himself In the first
place, it Is my intention 10 rear her as If
she were prince. Her teacher must be
concealed from her. She must be In
in all branches of knowledge.
Her tutor must answer every question
that she may chance to ask him, no mat
ter what it is. and to emphasize his re-
sponsibility 1 declare that If after ac-
cepting the task her tutor is unable to
answer any question that she may ask
he shall die. From your appearance /
think that in case you are able to pass
the examination to which
I shall subject you it is possible that l
may engage you. Your great age is an
as 1t will permit. you to pass
about freely in the palace Of the women"
Sankara smiled under his beard and
bowed deeply. The Rajah began sound
ing the knowledge of the applicant at
once, and was surprised at the extent
and depth Of his learning.
You are worthy to rank with the
sages," he exclaimed, after spending
many days in conversing with the Ma
hatma. The Rajah's fondness for San
kara grew rapidly, and from a tutor on
probation the adept finally became the
close friend and companion Of the
Months passed by and the little prin-
1t was the desire of the Rajah that her
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