|
The Life Of Yamunacharya * * * * * * * * *
CAST: Narrator, Yamunacharya, 2 Messengers, King, Queen, Kolahara, People, Nathamuni, Rama Mishra, Cook. Narrator: The following drama is the true story of one of the greatest spiritual teachers in the history of medieval India. Ladies and gentlemen, the devotees of the Hare Krishna movement humbly present the life of Yamunacharya!
SCENE ONE The Challenge Narrator: Yamunacharya was born in the year 918 in the city of Madurai in South India. At the age of five, Yamunacharya went to study in the school of the renowned scholar, Bhashyacharya. There he displayed great devotion to God and exceptional intellect. He was loved by all his school friends and soon gained the special favor of his teacher. Yamuna lived peacefully and happily in Bhashyacharya's school.
Yamuna: My dear Lord Krishna, you may make me a king or a poverty-stricken beggar. You may make others respect or revile me. You may give me residence in heaven or in hell. Whatever you do, You will always remain the only goal of my life. No one else will ever become the goal of my life... (enter messengers) Messenger 1: We are the king's messengers. Where is your teacher, Nathamuni? Yamuna: Welcome, sirs! I'm sorry to inform you my teacher is ill. But, maybe I can help you on his behalf. Messenger 2: Ha ha ha! You in your teacher's place? Nathamuni has been challenged by Kolahara, India's greatest scholar, and the Pandya king has ordered him to come to the palace for a public debate. Messenger 1: Everyone challenged by Kolahara has been defeated and has had to sacrifice their right ear as a sign of submission. Messenger 2: So, you want to go in your teacher's place? Yamuna: My teacher is seriously ill and so he cannot
go, but Kolahara will say he has become a coward. So, to protect the
honor of my teacher, I will go instead. SCENE TWO The Debate (King and Queen seated on throne, with Kolahara seated nearby. Enter Yamunacharya. Everyone looks shocked)
Queen: Your Majesty, he's just a boy! Kolahara: What? A mere child? Are you the one who is to debate with me — the great Kolahara? Yamuna: Sri Kolahara, if you judge a person's learning by his size, then it surely follows that the water buffalo is a greater scholar than you! Kolahara: You young rascal, how dare you challenge me! And I must debate with you? What is the difference between you and an ass? (Yamuna paces the distance between himself and Kolahara) Yamuna: Three paces, sir. Queen: I think that today the proud Kolahara has met his match. Just as a small spark can turn a mountain of cloth to ashes, so will this boy destroy the mountain-like pride of Kolahara. King: How can you believe that this is possible? If you truly have faith in the child, then you must make a wager to back your words! Queen: Very well. If the boy does not defeat and humble the proud Kolahara, I will become the servant of your maidservant. King: A mighty wager, indeed. But, I will match it. If Yamuna defeats Kolahara in this debate, I will give him half of my kingdom. Let the debate begin! Yamuna: Sri Kolahara, I will ask you one simple question, if you cannot answer it, then you must accept defeat. Now... (Yamunacharya swoops down and picks up a handful of sand from the stage) ...how much sand is there in my hand? Kolahara: You rascal, this is ridiculous! How am I to answer such a useless question as this? People: Kolahara has been defeated! Kolahara: No, I am not defeated. I do not accept defeat. (to the King) Only if Yamunacharya can answer this question himself will I accept defeat! King: And if he can't? Kolahara: And if he can't, we will consider that he has been defeated by me and, as is the rule, we will have to cut off his right ear! People: No! Kolahara has been defeated. We must cut off his right ear. No, we should cut off his head! Yamuna: Wait! This argument is unnecessary. I can give the answer to this question. It's simple — in my hand I have a handful of sand! (applause) King: Yamuna has answered perfectly his question, and I declare that he has won the debate. Now, as Kolahara has done to many others in the past — Yamunacharya will cut off Kolahara's right ear. Yamuna: Your Majesty, let Kolahara keep his ear. He must simply promise never to debate again to atone for causing so much pain and hurt to so many others. King: Yamunacharya, not only are you learned, but you are merciful as well! You will make a perfect king. I have promised to give you half my kingdom as a prize for this victory, and that promise I will now fulfill. (court applauds. King and Queen get up from throne. King sits Yamunacharya on throne. Servant brings crown on gold plate. King crowns him and puts sword in his hand. Coronation ceremony)
Narrator: The twelve-year-old king, Yamunacharya, became the ruler of half the kingdom of the Pandas. His subjects were satisfied and happy, for he was a shrewd and righteous monarch. Unfortunately, he became distracted from his spiritual understanding by his political dealings and the sense pleasures that go along with his high position. He forgot that this life is but a temporary stage in our eternal existence, and he gradually gave up his acts of devotion to Lord Krishna.
Yamuna: Ha ha ha! Bring me more wine! Why is my
glass empty? Am I not the great King Yamuna? God? I don't need any God!
I am the greatest king. Why should I go to the temple? If God wants to
see me, He can make an appointment like everyone else and come to see me
here in my palace. Now, where are the dancing girls? I want some
entertainment; its getting boring around here. Send in the dancers!
(dance is performed) SCENE FOUR Grandfather's Concern
Narrator: Rama Mishra, being a dutiful disciple, never forgot that last instruction of his spiritual master. As a poor monk, he realized that there was little chance of his even getting to see King Yamuna, and thus he would have to think of a plan to accomplish his mission.
(The kitchen. Head cook center stage with two crazy assistants on either side. Enter Rama Mishra)
Cook: What do you want? Rama: I have heard that the king's favorite preparation is this rare variety of spinach, so I have brought some for you to cook for him. Cook: Yes, it is true that the king loves this variety of spinach. Where did you get this from? Rama: I know a place in the forest where the spinach grows in abundance. I can bring it for you every day if you wish. Cook: Oh yes, please! Thank you very much!
(King Yamuna seated on throne, eating)
Yamuna: Where is that spinach preparation? Why is it not here today? Bring me the cook! (Cook enters) You rascal! Why did you not cook the spinach preparation for me today? Cook: Your Majesty, the monk who usually brings the spinach didn't come today. Yamuna: Who is this monk and what price does he ask for his service? Cook: My Lord, I do not know the name or the dwelling place of that monk. He will accept no payment for his service and renders it out of love for Your Majesty. Yamuna: If this man comes again, show him due respect and bring him to me! I wish to reward him for his service! Cook: Yes, Your Majesty. (Cook exits. King continues eating. Cook re-enters) Your Majesty, the holy man is here! Yamuna: Well, bring him in. Holy sage, I have heard that every day you gather and bring spinach for me and will accept no payment. I want to reward you. Is there anything I can do for you? Rama: I have something very important to tell you, but it must be in private. (King motions — Cook and guards leave) Some months back, your grandfather, the renowned Nathamuni, left this world. Before he departed, however, he left in my care a great treasure to be given to you at the right time. Now I am asking you to accept this treasure. Yamuna: Sir, you are certainly a most saintly person, being so renounced that you have not kept this treasure for yourself! I am ready to go immediately to claim this treasure along with four divisions of my army! Please act as our guide. Rama: Your Majesty, I think it is best if we go alone, incognito. If we go with you dressed as a king, surrounded by so much opulence, it will be impossible for us to find the treasure. It is located several days' journey away; we'll leave tomorrow at sunrise. Yamuna: Very well, then, we shall proceed as you have requested.
(Rama Mishra and King walk around stage)
Rama: We have been walking all day and it is getting late. We should stop here for the night. You set up the camp and I will read from the Bhagavad-Gita, as I do every day. (Rama Mishra walks to the front of the stage with his back to the king and reads aloud. King becomes enchanted and listens, remembering his childhood) Yamuna: It has been so many years since I have heard these sweet words of Lord Krishna. In my childhood, I too used to read them as a regular daily function. Hearing them again from you has brought forward a flood of such wonderful and happy memories! In comparison to such a natural happiness, all my wealth, women and kingly pleasures seem dry! Rama Mishra, I want to experience this happiness again! I want to experience love of God again! I don't want my kingdom, I don't want my position and prestige; these things are a distraction from the real goal of life! I don't even want my grandfather's treasure! I just want to become your disciple and to learn to love God! Please, will you accept me? Rama: No, I have given your grandfather my word that I will deliver this treasure to you. I must fulfil his request, and keep my vow intact. Now, let us continue our journey together. (Rama Mishra leads Yamuna around the stage) Ah, we have finally arrived! What you are about to see is the greatest treasure in the world! But, it can only be appreciated by those who have a pure heart and are free from lust, anger and greed. (backdrop opens at the back of stage, revealing the Dieties of Sri-Sri Radha-Krishna) Yamuna: O my Lord, although I have forgotten You for so many long years, today I am surrendering unto You. I am Your sincere and serious servant, please accept me. My dear Lord, from this day I am Yours! My dear Lord, I may be living within some body as a
human being or as a demigod, but whatever mode of life, I do not mind,
because these bodies are simply by-products of the three modes of
material nature, and I, who am in possession of these bodies, am
surrendering myself unto You. (Nectar of Devotion, page 98)My dear Lord,
I know that the gigantic universe and gigantic space and time within the
universe are covered by the ten layers of the material elements, each
layer ten times larger than the previous one. The three material modes
of nature, the Garbhodakashayi Vishnu, the Kshirodakashayi Vishnu, the
Maha-Vishnu and beyond Them, the spiritual sky and its spiritual
planets, known as Vaikuntha, and the Brahman effulgence in that
spiritual sky — all of these taken together are nothing but a small
exhibition of Your potency. (Nectar of Devotion, page 186-187)Since I
have begun to enjoy these transcendental exchanges of love, which are
always newer and newer, whenever I remember the pleasure of past sex
life, my lips curl and I wish to spit on the idea! (Nectar of Devotion,
page 278) Narrator: Yamunacharya never went back to his kingdom, and from that day onward fully dedicated himself to redeveloping his lost love for Krishna. He composed the famous book of devotional Sanskrit poetry named Stotra-Ratna, from which the above verses are taken. Yamunacharya is remembered to this day as a renowned saint, and his legacy continues to serve as an inspiration for millions who are aspiring on the path of devotion. The End Home Page Table of Contents Next Play
|