15thJun

Asinchana- a virtue in Rayaru

Asinchana is the quality of a person not to indulge in collection or consolidation of any materialistic objects. It is one of the greatest virtues found in one in a billion. This rare quality was seen, early-on in Venkatanatha, even before he took on sainthood.

They were frequently observing fasting with no regrets. It is said there was a season when they used to face at least 3 to 4 Ekadasis in a week and the rest of the days their stomach was left half filled. Venkatanatha used to take Tirtha in the mutt, skip the meal and walk back home to join his wife for fasting. Attaining abundance was well within reach for Venkatanatha. He could have sought the aid of Sri Sudheendra Tirtharu or his family members.  He could have also chanted the propitious Sri Suktha to get blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, but he willfully refrained from doing it. 

Venkatanatha and his wife Saraswathy were very cohesive in following this Vratha and nothing could deter them. If for any reason somebody offered him any rice and lentils for cooking, he used to take just sufficient for that meal and nothing more. He used to return the excess requesting to distribute to the others in need of it. He never stored it for the next day. He used to cite the example of the cow which when goes for grazing would eat only for that day if available, and not for the next day.

Following Asinchana Vratha, and exhibiting utmost Vyragya with deep devotion, Venkatanatha was blessed with real Gynana to become the greatest saint Sri Raghavendra Tirtharu.