PENUGONDA - COURT HALL ANNAMACHARYA  

No sooner than uttering in red hot temper, he directed his steps towards the prison. And saw the Acharya in sober mood, vet muttering God's names. Approaching, he directed his officers to put on hand-cuffs again. They did. Wonder of wonders! With the commencing of a tune on his ishtadaivam Srinivasa, the chain crashed down with reverberating sound.

The king eventhough was dumb-founded at that moment, fell at the feet of Acharya and implored him to forgive his folly. It was a tearful appeal. Coming out of the door, the Acharya said - "Dear king, ever make any attempt to taunt or dishonour Hari bhaktas; it is graver than daivadushana. God in this Kaliyuga is gratified with sankirthana alone. You are a Gods deputy; so protect the righteous and rule the subjects with Dharma. And for a man of my type, there is no safer place than Bhagavadsannidhya. So I am going to Tirumala." Finishing his mahopadesa, the Acharya not only left the spot, but Penugonda once for all. And reached Tirumala for doing his daily Srivari Seva - composing sankirthans one each day till his death. 

This miracle not only justifies, rather fortifies the truth - "God dwells not in Vaikunta, nor in the hearts of yogis, but abides permanently where His devotees sing in praise of Him". This spectacular demonstration of the power of devotion is inscribed in gold in Bhakti literature and all-pious worshippers take it as Veda Vak, raising their hands with utmost veneration as a mark of their implicit faith in God and the potency of the miracle. But, for the highly progressive, non-believers, it is a tissue of lies, perpetrated by the god-intoxicated on gullible public. Who are and why, God alone knows! And if the gifts of knowledge is put to right use everyone knows! But...

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