Second tour of North India
Acharya undertook another tour of North India from Udupi. On
their way to badari, he and his disciples had to cross the river
gangA without boats. Acharya asked his disciples to hold on to
him and form a chain. Together, they crossed the river to the
great amazement of everybody. Soldiers guarding the other side
of the river tried to prevent him from crossing the river, but
could not do so. They surrounded him and took him to their
muslim king. When the King questioned Acharya, he replied back
in the king’s language that he could do this feat by the grace
of the Supreme God, who was also the controller of the king and
the entire Universe. The King understood the greatness of
AchArya and offered a part of his kingdom as jaghir. AchArya did
not accept his offer but sought the King’s permission to
peacefully pass through his kingdom.
In Badari Acharya had darshan once again of Lord Narayana and
VedavyAsa. VedavyAsa gifted him with eight Saligramas. These are
available even today and are worshipped as VyAsa Mushtis.
While returning from Badari, AchArya and his disciples had to
once again cross the river GangA without boats in a different
kingdom. AchArya left behind all his disciples and walked onto
the GangA River. He disappeared from the sight of his disciples
and reached the other end. The Muslim King of that region was
surprised to see him crossing the river without a boat. His
clothes were also not wet. The king recognized the greatness of
AchArya. He immediately arranged for boats to get AchArya’s
disciples from the other end of the river.
When the Acharya and his disciples passed Kuruksetra, the scene
of the Mahabharata war, he identified a mound and got it
excavated. It contained the mace of Bhima. None of the disciples
could even move it. Acharya easily lifted it and showed that he
was indeed Bhima. He once again had it buried.
He also visited Kashi where he debated with an elderly Advaita
ascetic, Amarendra Puri and soundly defeated him.
On his return home thereafter, he wrote the treatise -
Mahabharata-tatparya-nirnaya.