Excerpts from Sri Raghavendra Vijaya written by Sri Narayanacharya and translated to English by Sri G.B. Joshi.

In the sacred apartment of the priests and Maths devoted to rituals and rites as there would be no people, the continuous warbling of birds would be, I think, the discussion about the reality and unreality of the world.

Now the shrines are all well-lit with a series of burning lights. But in future, it will be occupied by the group of owls which vacate it when there is light of the sun. Then, we do not get the sight of learned pundits. This would be the state when you do not accept Sanyasa.

Lo! Now the inner shrine of worship of our gurus is enveloped in columns of smoke rising from the burning of fragrant gum resin and lit by the brilliant lights. But in future they will be lit by the burning mouths of devils holding firebrands.

The altar in the sacred shrine of worship is now usually found grey with the dust scattered by Ketakee flowers hanging down from the high canopy and then it will be grey with the dust from the roads.

I did not get that sort of joy now which I will get when you accept holy orders. Once I come to you, I will not leave you even a moment. I assure you that I shall not remember another ascetic even in my dreams.

You cannot escape this stage of Sanyasa as it is ordained by Brahma, nor can I avoid my subservience to you. Thus, saying Saraswati initiated Venkatanatha to her mantra and disappeared as he was looking at her.

This event happens to be a major landmark in the life journey of our great saint Sri Raghavendra Teertharu.